Can i buy rim guard

[dwalk19]

Can i buy rim guard anywhere and install myself or can only rim guard dealers install it, i live in upstate NY where it gets fairly cold and want to add some ballast to new tractor rear tires

 

[dnw64]

I don't believe you can buy just the product.

Is there a Pete's Tire Barn in the vicinity? If so, and you can wait on their schedule, they will come to your location for no charge. IOW, all you pay is the same price as if you went to their facility. I highly recommend them.

 

[shooterdon]

I tried buying it last year and was not able to. Used WW fluid

 

[arrow]

Can i buy rim guard anywhere and install myself or can only rim guard dealers install it, i live in upstate NY where it gets fairly cold and want to add some ballast to new tractor rear tires

You can buy it but it may depend on where you are. I do not believe there are any federal regulations toward its purchase or none that I know about. My problem is that it came in gross amounts. The last time I inquired which was about 5 years ago, I could buy it but at a minimum of 275 gallons. The supplier only sold it in batches. As I needed less than 50 gallons, it wasn't cost effective.The equipment to pump it in seems to be more robust as a result of its viscosity. The guy filling my tires stated his pump cost over a thousand dollars but he was doing this professionally.
After everything was said and done, it simply was not a practicality to do it myself for a "one off" as I did with calcium.

This was 5 years ago. Things may have changed.

If I had to do it all again, I would buy wheel weights. It may cost me a dollar a pound for them but in the long run, it may end up cheaper especially if you get a leak and have to call a guy in to fix it all.

 

[jeff9366]

Can i buy rim guard anywhere and install myself? Or can only rim guard dealers install it?
i live in upstate NY where it gets fairly cold and want to add some ballast to new tractor rear tires.

Rim Guard distriubors: Find a Dealer - Rim Guard

 

[dwalk19]

Rim Guard distriubors: Find a Dealer - Rim Guard

Thanks guys, yeah i sent them an email to find the closest dealer

 

[PILOON]

Some also like windshield washer fluid.
One source for bulk WW fluid is car rentals as they buy it in 45 gal drums as they always top up the WW bottle B4 every rental.

 

[falfrenzy]

Some also like windshield washer fluid.
One source for bulk WW fluid is car rentals as they buy it in 45 gal drums as they always top up the WW bottle B4 every rental.

Agreed, WW fluid is about 90% effective compared to Rim Guard. Rim Guard is just a little heavier per gallon, but lots more expensive. That really adds up when you pop a bead and your "investment" pours out on the ground.

 

[3Lfarms]

Some also like windshield washer fluid.
One source for bulk WW fluid is car rentals as they buy it in 45 gal drums as they always top up the WW bottle B4 every rental.

I could not find a rim guard dealer close, so I went to the closest quick lube place and asked who their WW fluid distributor was. Got the phone# off their drum. I gave him a call and he brought me a 55 gallon drum of WW fluid concentrate (methanol) for about $180. Mixed with water 2:1 (2 parts water to 1 part methanol) gives a freeze point of -20f.
I only needed 130 gallons to fill my tires, so I mixed it a little stronger. Mine should be good to about -30f.

 

[dnw64]

Agreed, WW fluid is about 90% effective compared to Rim Guard. Rim Guard is just a little heavier per gallon, but lots more expensive.

A little misinformation there.

I don't know what you mean by "WW fluid is about 90% effective compared to Rim Guard"; that seems rather non-definitive. It surely doesn't mean weight; maybe you are claiming that in "average use" 90% of the time you won't get stuck with WWF compared to 100% of the time you don't get stuck with Rim Guard? Even if that were true, it seems to me spending an extra $100, $200, $300 (depending on your tire size) could pay for itself quickly.

I can absolutely say that "Rim Guard is just a little heavier per gallon" is nowhere near true. WW fluid weighs LESS than plain water (typically about 7.6 #/gal) while Rim Guard is 11 #/gal. That's nearly 50% more and I don't think anyone would call that "a little bit more".

OTOH, if the weight you can achieve with WWF is sufficient, there is no point spending more. Only problem is, how do you know, unless you try? If you're going to spend $20-30-50k on a tractor, the extra few hundred seems a high value addition.

 

[kco]

The main reason I went with Rim Guard was the safety from poisoning pets or wildlife. A tire company came out and installed mine. The technician had not used it and read the hazardous materials data. He said it has a zero hazard rating. He spilled some on the garage pad. I easily cleaned it up with plain water.

 

[Looking4new]

When I bought the Kioti, I insisted on R-G. The dealer said he would need to put tubes in the tires. My response was, 'so'?
If you want to sell me a new anything, put the accessories on it that I want. My new 1998 Neon Sport wasn't going to come with a 5 spd AND cruise control, the dealer was whining that cruise was an expensive option with a standard. My response was if you want to sell me that car, you WILL accessorize it the way I want.

 

[kco]

My Rim Guard was installed without tubes in April 2011 and there has not been a problem. However, I learned shortly later that a common problem with Rim Guard was that after a year or two it could rot out the valve stem core. I spoke to the tire shop and he assured me that they had changed the valve stem cores. He said they always did that when adding Rim Guard. I am fortunate the tire dealer knew about it.

 

[Ford850]

Yep, Rim Guard says to replace rubber valve stems with brass valve stems. They say the rubber stems can leak around the rim hole because the RG causes the stem to become slippery and doesn't seal on the rim real well. The main reason to use brass instead of rubber is due to RG dissolving the rubber cement used in rubber valve stems.

 

[FTG-05]

Rim Guard distriubors: Find a Dealer - Rim Guard

Talk about web site retardation.

Autozone
JD
Kubota
O'Reilly's
McDonalds (yuk)
CVS
Rite Aid

I could go on, but you (hopefully) get the point: What do they all have in common?

When I looked at RG 4-5 years, they didn't even have that; I had to call them. Do they want to sell their stuff or not?

 

[lilranch2001]

Rimguard had a website in 2009 when I found a dealer to put it in my tires
:confused3:

 

[kco]

Another source is Bio Ballast from Envirotech Services:

West Region - EnviroTech Services

I contacted them when looking for Rim Guard and they were prepared to ship some to me from the US. Then I found Rim Guard available through the Fountain Tire in Salmon Arm.

It might be an idea to contact some AG dealers and tire shops to see if they sell it.

 

[dnw64]

Is there something missing in the OP?

Rim Guard is a fairly unique product. It requires special equipment to install it. Therefore they sell it only to people willing to buy it in bulk, which saves everyone (manufacturer, distributor, end-user) money.

Unless you are in a position to buy drums/totes, there is no reasonable expectation of buying the "stuff". OK, you may find a dealer wiling to pour out a few five gallon buckets, but my guess is that it won't be any cheaper than having them just put it in for you. And then you need to figure out how you're going to get syrup into your tires.

As I said before, Pete's Tire Barn will come to your site and fill your tires for no extra charge. If they don't serve your area, there may well be a similar service available.

Why are you trying to do it yourself?