P500 Need priority advice - tires, wheels, shocks, skids

[gmacaluso]

Just about to have another birthday and my wife surprised me with an ok to get whatever (one) upgrade I've been talking about.

So I'm thinking in order:

• Skids - full set UHMW with arm guards and rockers (I'm not a steep freak but the stuff I find has plenty of rocks)
• Wheels - 5+2 offsets, 12" (no spacers)
• Tires - BH 2.0 26X9X12, 26X11X12
• Shocks - Whatever your experience suggests
• Offer the stocks to the community for cost of shipping. (about 500 miles off new)

Different order? Different selection? Can I make a second purchase with a shrewd buy?

Sorry everyone ... here's a picture ... Stock plus, roof, winch, windshield, honda rear tray with things I've mounted to it. A RAM mount on the interior for Navigation. 350 miles on stock equipment

 

[monaco]

I'd go tires and wheels first. I also drive over a bunch of rocks and have had no problems with the stock skid (fingers crossed.) But those factory tires need replacing.

 

[CID]

Not a 500 but my preferences -
1. Skid, once it's bent it stays bent.
2. If the stock air filter is pleated paper, some sort of oiled foam prefilter (NOT K&N) or you'll be replacing them regularly. If the stock filter is oiled foam this is less important since it's cleanable but still nice to have.
3. A spare tire if there's room, I'm usually solo.
4. I ran my stock tires for 1500 miles before ordering wheels and tires. Not having a spare pushed that up the priority list - I knew I was increasing tire size and didn't want to spend money on a stock spare.
5. I had hoped to be in Arizona last spring and would have had springs and shock valving done while there but Covid put a stop to that. Suspension makes a big difference in your comfort level and the machines safety but stock is usable, many riders never change theirs.

 

[JACKAL]

A picture of your machine showing what you already have would help ( Roof, Windshield, Winch?)

If you already have a winch then definitely 26-27" tires will help, after tires I recommend UHMW skidplates.

If you want shocks the Walker Evan's remote resivior for P500 is the only game in town and would cost more than the skids and tires combined.

Honda Pioneer 500/520 Piggyback/Remote Res Shocks

Built to order, ships in 6-8 weeks. SHOCKS ARE SOLD IN SETS OF TWO. Spring Color is now Silver but varies by availability. At this moment only Silver is available. Honda Pioneer 500 / 16-Way Compression Adjustable Shocks Jaks Kit - Only 10" Red 250 Rate Front and Hyperco Navy Blue Rear...

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[Todd627]

 

[Husker1]

I used stock wheels and spacers with big horn 2.0. In a26 X9 on all 4 corners. Made the ride better but would still like walker evans shocks.i bought the uhm skids off the forum.

 

[lee]

So combining the skid and arm guards is a smart move.
I would never recommend lying to one’s spouse, but they are a set.

Also, tires and spacers would be a set.
For that matter, wheels and tires are probably a set and it would combine performance and looks.
Now that I think about it, the whole point of new tires is to improve performance so probably the shocks belong in this set.

wow, it’s looking like you hit the nail on the head, skid plate, arm guards, wheels , tires and shocks.

Haha, your order looks good.
If you ride in an area with few rocks you could do the tires first.

 

[Mopower58]

Just about to have another birthday and my wife surprised me with an ok to get whatever (one) upgrade I've been talking about.

So I'm thinking in order:

• Skids - full set UHMW with arm guards and rockers (I'm not a steep freak but the stuff I find has plenty of rocks)
• Wheels - 5+2 offsets, 12" (no spacers)
• Tires - BH 2.0 26X9X12, 26X11X12
• Shocks - Whatever your experience suggests
• Offer the stocks to the community for cost of shipping. (about 500 miles off new)

Different order? Different selection? Can I make a second purchase with a shrewd buy?

My first priority would be tires and wheels.

 

[Smitty335]

Just about to have another birthday and my wife surprised me with an ok to get whatever (one) upgrade I've been talking about.

So I'm thinking in order:

• Skids - full set UHMW with arm guards and rockers (I'm not a steep freak but the stuff I find has plenty of rocks)
• Wheels - 5+2 offsets, 12" (no spacers)
• Tires - BH 2.0 26X9X12, 26X11X12
• Shocks - Whatever your experience suggests
• Offer the stocks to the community for cost of shipping. (about 500 miles off new)

Different order? Different selection? Can I make a second purchase with a shrewd buy?

Shocks, your wife will love the improvement in ride and maybe she will see what an improvement that is and let you have another improvement before your next bday! HA!

 

[monaco]

Somebody mentioned spacers, that's a mod that I wish I'd had done earlier. They really do a lot of good for side-slope stability

 

[trigger]

Different order?

That's a good list! Putting it all in the cart and hitting submit would make it a BA machine but if having to pick an order I'd suggest the wheel and tire combo and just as you have it listed. Needs capability first and is the biggest bang for the buck IMO.
Second would be protection, at least A arm guards. First trip to RRB I rode the factory skid, bob sledded it to hell and ordered aftermarket as soon as I got home but it made it through it.
Now it's worthy for a set of WE, at least the fronts. PS fits into this category too.
After spending all that money you might as well complete the list with some bling, led's, whips and a thumpin' a** stereo! 😁

 

[Ridinfool]

Well, you got some thankin to do... ok, if you play this right it could work out well for you. I would do the skid and guards, if you happen to “mess up” a tire now you have to get a tire, but since it’s 4WD you have to get a tire that is the same size, or you will mess up the drive train, and since the “old” tires are wore down a new tire would be taller, so you need to get 2 tires, and if you get 2 tires for just a few bucks more you could get the other 2 tires and there ya go... the shocks on the other hand are a big ticket item, so you might want to score them first then shoot for the lower dollar upgrades.

 

[gmacaluso]

View attachment 219948

Ha, ... so I take it you'd be big on the springs and shocks .

 

[gmacaluso]

Well, you got some thankin to do... ok, if you play this right it could work out well for you. I would do the skid and guards, if you happen to “mess up” a tire now you have to get a tire, but since it’s 4WD you have to get a tire that is the same size, or you will mess up the drive train, and since the “old” tires are wore down a new tire would be taller, so you need to get 2 tires, and if you get 2 tires for just a few bucks more you could get the other 2 tires and there ya go... the shocks on the other hand are a big ticket item, so you might want to score them first then shoot for the lower dollar upgrades.

Like this thinking ... plus the earlier comment ... "once its bent, its bent". Skids then let the tires take the punishment till they "obviously need replacement". Thanks

 

[gmacaluso]

That's a good list! Putting it all in the cart and hitting submit would make it a BA machine but if having to pick an order I'd suggest the wheel and tire combo and just as you have it listed. Needs capability first and is the biggest bang for the buck IMO.
Second would be protection, at least A arm guards. First trip to RRB I rode the factory skid, bob sledded it to hell and ordered aftermarket as soon as I got home but it made it through it.
Now it's worthy for a set of WE, at least the fronts. PS fits into this category too.
After spending all that money you might as well complete the list with some bling, led's, whips and a thumpin' a** stereo! 😁

Trig, maybe you could star in your own re-make of "Pimp My (SXS) Ride". ... Thumpin' stereo ... you're killin' me.

 

[gmacaluso]

Shocks, your wife will love the improvement in ride and maybe she will see what an improvement that is and let you have another improvement before your next bday! HA!

Yep ... she commented on the last trip out as we found the top of a couple of big clanks. Do you get any travel lift with Walker Evan's et al?

 

[gmacaluso]

I used stock wheels and spacers with big horn 2.0. In a26 X9 on all 4 corners. Made the ride better but would still like walker evans shocks.i bought the uhm skids off the forum.

Did you get the skids before or after the tires? GBR

 

[JACKAL]

Trig, maybe you could star in your own re-make of "Pimp My (SXS) Ride". ... Thumpin' stereo ... you're killin' me.

Do it all in one shot, like ripping the bandaid off quickly. Get the pain out of the way 👍

I did everything but shocks as a "set": Jackal's P500 - The Honda Side by Side Club!

 

[Backwoods]

As a former 500 owner I would recommend 27s and 5+2 offset wheels . Get it up higher will help alot , plus with a good tire more side wall will greatly improve the ride. Pretty wheels will make it look good. If your.gonna spend.thousands on it might as well trade it that's what I did. I miss my 500 sometimes.

 

[Montecresto]

Do it all in one shot, like ripping the bandaid off quickly. Get the pain out of the way 👍

I did everything but shocks as a "set": Jackal's P500 - The Honda Side by Side Club!

But how would trigger have done it ALL in one shot....🤣