: Horrible Experience with MRT BEADLOCKS---beware


Way
03-07-2002, 04:44 PM
I purchased 5 MRT Beadlocks for my vehicle about a year and a half ago. Ended up that the aluminum ones that they had for my rare bolt pattern, ended up breaking almost immediately after I purchased them. I only used them off-road and literally split the rims the first time out. I have been working with MRT for the last 8 months on a warranty. They have been out of materials and out of the rims that I would like as warranty replacements. However they promised me that they would make the situation right by trading me a set of steel rims for my aluminum rims.

They told me to hold onto my rims, and not to send them in. They said that they were worried that they would misplace them and that it would be best to send them in when the rims I wanted in return were in stock. I dealt with a gentleman named Lloyd there. He was the manager at that time. About 1 month ago I was told that they were expecting the shipment in, in a few days and to call him then so we could reach a resolution. Well I called on the day I was suppose to and found out the Lloyd no longer works there (fired), and that the original owner of the company Lyle Marsh bought back the company. In the past 8 months Lloyd never mentioned that the company was changing owners or that there would be any problems at all.

I spoke with Lyle Marsh a few minutes ago to find out that he doesn’t even know what rock crawling is and that his rims aren’t designed for that application. Any rims sold in the last four years will not be warranted or replaced. What I found the most bizarre about his conversation was that he called the previous company that purchased his original company a bunch of crooks that lied, cheated and stealed, to sell wheels. He told me of numerous accounts of credit card fraud and other criminal activities. Figured I would post this message and carbon copy it to Marsh Racing so that the company despite the owner change, will stand behind there word. I will keep the list posted of any resolutions that may come of it. Who knows what will happen with the company. I gave him the number for Big Rock video so that he would know what rock crawling was and that maybe he can get a clue as to what people are buying his rims for. Maybe the end result will be a better product, but until then, I highly recommend avoiding this company all together. Maybe Lyle Marsh will stand up to his frequent line “I am a person that conducts my business with integrity”. I feel that if that was the case than he would stand behind the companies promises. After all employees are representatives of the company. We will see if after he gets this email that he still feels that I am not his problem to deal with!

Way

Off of MRT Website"

"Lyle Marsh, the founder and original owner of MRT wasforced to take the company back. He will be doing everything he can to restore the good name of the company in the coming season. Production will be necessarily limited in the immediate future, but everything that can be done to provide top quality steel wheels for racing will be done."

jeeper111
03-07-2002, 05:05 PM
Hmmm, reminds me of Stockton wheel...

Way
03-07-2002, 05:12 PM
Hmmm... what was your experience with stockton???? Sounds like another company to add to the s-list.

Every time a have a less than perfect experience with a vendor, makes me wish I knew about good companies like rockstomper, etc. years ago. I don't know what I could have done with all time and money I would have saved!

Way

Way
03-07-2002, 05:20 PM
Modified Hummer rims DOT legal, just need to weld in a new center section with your bolt pattern and desired offset Jason Paule may do this on a custom basis:
http://www.twistedcustoms.com/

Swedish Tirelocs DOT legal, just need to add a second inner tube hole
http://www.jdsoffroad.com/

Mr. Ed's Fiberglass Rock Locks DOT legal, just add a few layers of faiberglass and resin I personally have this setup and it works great.
http://mreds.com/page19.html
http://www.drivenautoparts.com/

Drag racing style rim screws DOT legal, just need to drill a bunch of holes for the screws
http://performanceunlimited.com/customservices/rimscrewing.html
Weld on outer ring (MRT Econoloc)
DOT legal (sort of, not really) weld ring to existing DOT legal ring, but you do *not* cut the original lip off like normal bead locks
http://www.mrt-wheels.com/catpages/page30.html
http://www.rockstomper.com/catalog/wheels/beadlocks.htm

Hutchinson bead locks
DOT legal
http://www.hutchinsoninc.com/


Modify your rims (the "cool" way) This would be the current list of companies that modify your or their rims by cutting off the outer bead and welding on a ring.
http://www.mrt-wheels.com/catpages/page30.html
http://www.championwheel.com/
http://www.stocktonwheel.com/4x4wheels.htm
There are several others, but these are the main ones.

Information sent to me by a great source named Quinn. His hard work made this list. Figured it was worth sharing, but did not want to take the credit away from him and his hard work.

Ben Holloway
03-07-2002, 05:31 PM
http://www.mrtrockcrawlers.com/ show him this web page

Way
03-07-2002, 05:38 PM
What is funny is that they link to it off of their maun site under links (making me wonder if it is under a different name) on their main site (http://www.mrt-wheels.com/).

"A separate site specifically for rockcrawling wheels" is what the link says, however their MRT logo is next to it, so they can't weisel out of it too far.

Here is what a person sent me via email about the subject. Can anyone back it up with experience or possibly a lawyer on the list.

"Just because a company was sold, does not relieve it from it's obligations to it's customers. Lyle purchased the company back, and when he did, he assumed all responsibilities with it. I don't believe for a minute that he doesn't know what rockcrawling is, he makes beadlock rims, we don't cook with them.

Bottom line is, you bought a product and a warranty with it. Just because the company was sold and not dissolved or liquidated, you are still protected under the warranty. I'm no lawyer but that's the direction I would be thinking."

Bindernut
03-07-2002, 08:09 PM
SWEEEEEET!!! It's the new and improved replacement for the old TAP thread! :bounce: :bounce2:

old TAP thread (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2424&highlight=TAP)

CJ Lagos
03-07-2002, 09:06 PM
Geez. I ordered custom mrt beadlocks for my rockwell axles. I spoke with Lloyd a few weeks ago. They apparently have been out of beadlocks, they said within a month. I told them to go ahead and make the wheels and send them to me and ship the rings when they come in. I have the wheels thank god but now I just need the rings.

The other guy I've dealt with was extremely nice but had never heard of me each time I called. They never even told me that they were out of military centers, I found that out when I called. I had to send them centers to have them made. If I can get my rings I'll be happy....give the new owner a chance to set the situation right with you, hopefully he will. I need to call to make sure they are sending me my rings.

CJ

zags
03-07-2002, 09:17 PM
Huh, I guess I got lucky then. When I ordered my MRT's UPS accidentally sent them to the wrong adress. I called and MRT was all over it. They tracked the wheels down, had them returned to them and reshipped them to me. 2 years of rockcrawling later, they are holding up fine. I think their rings are the sturdiest of all that I have seen.

EDIT: When I ordered mine, I was told at that time that they didn't make Aluminum wheels....Hmmmmmm....

ROKTOY
03-07-2002, 09:18 PM
Who is still currently doing fiberglass beadlocks?

Jay

Way
03-07-2002, 10:58 PM
I have a set of five (the ones I keep breaking) that are complete with all new parts. If you have a light weight vehicle you may be able to run them without breaking. The center is aluminum with an aluminum middle. The outer shell and ring are the carbon fiber (really a plastic injection piece) that you are referring to. Don't happen to be needing a 5 on 6.5 lug spacing do you???

:)

Way

AZFord4x4
03-08-2002, 04:00 AM
Originally posted by ROKTOY
Who is still currently doing fiberglass beadlocks?

Jay

Did Rodger quit doing them?

WLD4X4
03-08-2002, 05:10 AM
DID THESE WHEELS HAVE 1/4 OR 5/16 BOLTS HOLDING THEM TOGETHER IN THE CENTER. WE HAVE BEEN USING MRT BEADLOCS IN TRUCK PULLING AND HAVE SPLIT THE ONE'S WITH 1/4 BOLTS, IF YOU DRILL THEM OUT TO 5/16 YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS.
I THINK THERE NEW WHEELS HAVE 5/16 BOLTS.

ROKTOY
03-08-2002, 06:09 AM
Originally posted by Fullsizes Rule


Did Rodger quit doing them?

Dunno....that be Roger Baum?
Jay

Mustard Dog
03-08-2002, 07:08 AM
Originally posted by WLD4X4
DID THESE WHEELS HAVE 1/4 OR 5/16 BOLTS HOLDING THEM TOGETHER IN THE CENTER. WE HAVE BEEN USING MRT BEADLOCS IN TRUCK PULLING AND HAVE SPLIT THE ONE'S WITH 1/4 BOLTS, IF YOU DRILL THEM OUT TO 5/16 YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS.
I THINK THERE NEW WHEELS HAVE 5/16 BOLTS.

Hey newbie:flipoff2: , had to get that out of the way.

Find your cap-lock button and turn the damn thing off :flipoff2:

fj40charles
03-08-2002, 08:23 AM
I talked to the folks at March Racing. They're going to change their name and move to a different building. The story I got was the person that bought MRT a few years ago defaulted on the loan and Lyle was forced to take it back for non-payment.

They are in the process of moving to a new location and will not be able to do much for a few weeks when they'll have the machines setup.

I ordered 5 MRT beadlock rims over a 1 year ago and I had to send the rims back several times because they were not built correctly. Now I understand why the former owner defaulted.
The parts were on back order and I had to wait forever. I still have 1 rim I need to send back for rework. I won't know how I'll be treated until I call them in a couple of weeks.

I currently have MRT rims and they're held up fine.

Charles

Way
03-08-2002, 10:06 AM
I have the 5/15" bolts (i think) I may have to pull down the boxes I have them stored in to double check. Never had a problem with the bolts though. I was always breaking something else first. Maybe if the other parts of the wheel held long enough (at least more than one day!) I would have found out if the bolts were also a weak link in the design.

So far no reply??? Maybe they are not checking there emails since they are moving???

Way

fj40charles
03-08-2002, 10:58 AM
My problem were not the bolts. It was the the out of round wheels when I tested them. For the amount of money I'm spending, I demand to have a true wheel.

I've got the 18 bolt beadlock are fine for strength.

Charles