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bimmerc
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2009
Location: Alta, Norway
Vehicle(s): 1992 300GE swb Portals, 85 300GD STT Cab swb
Posts: 102
| Tibus Portals
What a feeling! Portals successfully fitted!
Details of front and rear Portals with brackets fitted.
35" tires, 40mm bodylift and Tibus Portals makes difference from unmodified W463
Edited by bimmerc 6/10/2017 10:38 AM
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brabus g36
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2006
Location: Canada
Vehicle(s): 89 230GE cabrio, 88 280GE LWB, 87 300GD pickup
Posts: 608
| Re: Tibus Portals
Nice |
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colsG55
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2013
Location: Dubai
Vehicle(s): G55 Classic 2000, TD5 110, 200 Series Land Cruiser
Posts: 209
| Re: Tibus Portals
Very nice, out of interest how does it drive on the road.
I alway wonder about the long term reliability of portals, has anyone driven 200-300 000miles or km with a set of portals as I like the idea but also head off the beat track into some remote areas and also like to be about to cruise at 120-130kph.
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bimmerc
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2009
Location: Alta, Norway
Vehicle(s): 1992 300GE swb Portals, 85 300GD STT Cab swb
Posts: 102
| RE: Tibus Portals
I am very happy so far. Do not believe anyone has put any considerable mileage on these yet. If I find the money I will put port on my 460 too! That's how happy I am. I have not driven faster than 110km/h so don't know how it will be at higher speeds. Drives well in all situations and feels precise. Only difference is that the rpms will be higher due to the reduction in gear ratio of 1.16 although the 35" wheels compensates for that. |
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bimmerc
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2009
Location: Alta, Norway
Vehicle(s): 1992 300GE swb Portals, 85 300GD STT Cab swb
Posts: 102
| RE: Tibus Portals
One more detail. This is how we fitted the parking brake wire.
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lgo20153
Member
Date registered: Aug 2016
Location: Chicago
Vehicle(s): G500
Posts: 16
| Re: Tibus Portals
What was the total cost?
Also, you have very interesting fenders. "Bushwacker style" Any more pics? |
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Photoman
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: New Zealand
Vehicle(s): 280GE, ML500, 280SE 3.5
| Re: Tibus Portals
That is awesome!!! |
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techmogogy
Member
Date registered: Feb 2015
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Vehicle(s): 72 Haflinger, 75 710M Pinzgauer, 96 350GDT
Posts: 25
| Re: Tibus Portals
Nice!
More info and pictures on the fenders pls |
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kotton
Regular
Date registered: Sep 2014
Location: California, Orange County
Vehicle(s): 2006 G-500
Posts: 84
| Re: Tibus Portals
I too was as interested in the fenders as the portals. |
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imjustdave
Regular
Date registered: Feb 2012
Location: Bonney Lake Washington USA
Vehicle(s): 2004 G500, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2006 Ram 3500.
Posts: 77
| Re: Tibus Portals
I like.... did you install yourself? Having come from a unimog I really have my eye on these, haven't even owned my g500 a week and I already want these. |
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bimmerc
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2009
Location: Alta, Norway
Vehicle(s): 1992 300GE swb Portals, 85 300GD STT Cab swb
Posts: 102
| Re: Tibus Portals
lgo20153 - 6/12/2017 6:53 PM
What was the total cost?
Also, you have very interesting fenders. "Bushwacker style" Any more pics?
The fender flares are from
http://ala-plast.com/
They do not really fit my setup as they are too narrow and with 35" wheels they touch the tyre so in front of rear wheels. Have ordered new 18cm wide made to fit with the portal installation. Thought I could save some money but no luck! |
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bimmerc
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2009
Location: Alta, Norway
Vehicle(s): 1992 300GE swb Portals, 85 300GD STT Cab swb
Posts: 102
| Re: Tibus Portals
kotton - 6/13/2017 10:01 PM
I too was as interested in the fenders as the portals.
I just mounted the black plastic fenders on the outside of the original but they do not fit ver well with 35" wheels. With 32" wheels they do work, however. But I need 35" to get the rpm's down at highway speed.
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bimmerc
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2009
Location: Alta, Norway
Vehicle(s): 1992 300GE swb Portals, 85 300GD STT Cab swb
Posts: 102
| Re: Tibus Portals
imjustdave - 6/14/2017 3:23 AM
I like.... did you install yourself? Having come from a unimog I really have my eye on these, haven't even owned my g500 a week and I already want these.
I did install myself with good help from a skilled and very experienced mechanic. And also with help from others. The installation instructions from Tibus leaves a few things to be decided so it is not for everyone to Diy. I would have struggled to do it on my own, but then I am not a mechanic.
So far I am very happy with the portals but I haven't exceeded 60 mph yet. Partly due to speed limits and road conditions in my area! |
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colsG55
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2013
Location: Dubai
Vehicle(s): G55 Classic 2000, TD5 110, 200 Series Land Cruiser
Posts: 209
| Re: Tibus Portals
No doubt they will be far better off-road, but I am interested in hearing your thoughts of their on road manner after using them for a decent amount of time. |
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bimmerc
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2009
Location: Alta, Norway
Vehicle(s): 1992 300GE swb Portals, 85 300GD STT Cab swb
Posts: 102
| Re: Tibus Portals
colsG55 - 6/19/2017 1:11 PM
No doubt they will be far better off-road, but I am interested in hearing your thoughts of their on road manner after using them for a decent amount of time.
Don´t hold your breath while waiting for high milage usage as my yearly milage rarely exceeds 5000 miles!
So far I have not found much shared experience with any of the portal manufacturers. Letech and Tibus supply aftermarket portals but I do not know who makes the Mercedes 4x4 squared ones. |
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kotton
Regular
Date registered: Sep 2014
Location: California, Orange County
Vehicle(s): 2006 G-500
Posts: 84
| Re: Tibus Portals
Does your wife like the new brakes? :P |
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bimmerc
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2009
Location: Alta, Norway
Vehicle(s): 1992 300GE swb Portals, 85 300GD STT Cab swb
Posts: 102
| Re: Tibus Portals
kotton - 6/21/2017 6:22 PM
Does your wife like the new brakes? :P
I spent two weeks fitting them so she knows they must be good!😄 |
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Gilamonster
Veteran
Date registered: Sep 2013
Location: New Mexico
Vehicle(s): G #1 (mix of a 460, 461 & 463), #2 is a 2000 G500
Posts: 151
| Re: Tibus Portals
Good to hear that things are going well for you! It looks awesome - wait til you hit the trail..
Here's my Tibus Portal Review; Its what I've learned about the portal world over the last 3 years.
As I understand it Letech's portal system was recently purchased by Mercedes Benz (just prior to 4x4 squared production) and is what is being used on the 4x4 squared - no longer available from Letech. I'd expect MB made some improvements following their purchase from Letech. It's a heavy duty, solid system and you would have to try very hard to break it.
The Letech is a 3 gear portal. The Tibus system is a 4 gear portal.
The gen 3 (2013.3.0) Tibus portals have been proven solid when properly installed. The output shaft bearings are Unimog size and they run nice and cool even at high speeds - I have zero bearing/wheel play after 15k of hard, abusive off-road miles. The gen 3.0 have a remote reservoir at each wheel to accommodate for changes in portal gear oil flow/expansion.
Hire someone that knows G Wagens well and that can rebuild a G axle blindfolded - the install needs to be done perfectly. Pay attention when you are "clocking" the rear hubs prior to welding them on – the clocking needs to be correct and uniform.
Regarding the brakes, the Tibus portal package includes G500 calipers on the front and Iveco truck discs and calipers on the rear - the brakes are included in the price. When installing the Tibus system on a disc/drum 460 it is important to swap the disc/drum proportioned master cylinder for a disc/disc unit - a G500/290GDT master cylinder works. You'll also need to remove the 460 rear drum inline check valve - the rear proportioning valve can remain. Swapping from them small 460 diameter pressure booster to the larger 463 unit makes a big difference. I can now lock up all 4 wheels when I get on the brakes, even on asphalt.
Currently, there is no supploed,bracket to accommodate the parking brake that comes with the portals. You'll have to design, fabricate and install something on your own, based on the correct orientation and alignment of the cables - not too much of a hassle.
None of these brake system mod instructions come with the Tibus Portals and we had to heat up, compromise and replace a portal bearing seal (with improper brake pressure distribution) in the process of figuring it out. The portals come with no instructions or diagrams at all! GFG is currently the exclusive retailer of the Tibus Portals for G Wagens worldwide.. Basically, Wolfgang Tibus got in to bed with GFG during the Gen3 portal development and now they control him as far as G Portals are concerned. It would be great if Daniel Weasel (GFG) put some instructions together. I sense Wolfgang regrets getting into bed with GFG.. Wolfgang is very helpful when you can get him on the phone and responds to emails quickly. Daniel on the other hand always seems to be on vacation...
Durability and performance wise I think the Tibus system is solid. I'm running them on a very heavy rig and I drive off-road like a bat out of hell. I haven't broken them yet - 15k miles... To get the same differential clearance the portals offer I would have had to put on 44" tires. The size of the obstacles I can drive right over continues to amaze me and my seasonal deep mud/water obstacles on the road to my house ismnow boring. The biggest benefit is the added stability. The added portal weight is all very low - below the axle. The width of the "stance"'is 7 1/2" wider than stock and I can corner at astonishingly high speeds now - much more stable that my other two G's which both have pretty fresh, high performance suspensions. The reduction in the portal gearing eases the stress/burden on all the gears and shafts before it and that is a piece of mind.
For anyone installing Tibus portals on an older G I'd suggest a full axle bearing replacement and new kingpin bearings at the time of the swap. CV's are included in the price of the portals so those are covered. Install new poly bushings at the time of the swap too. With portals the rotational forces on the axles/bushings are increased and so they all need to be in optimal condition - and need to be watched like on any G.
And I can't reiterate it enough - hire someone that knows G axles/suspensions well and has the proper tooling for G's. Marc Beyer did my work here in Santa Fe and so far so good - about 3 years now...
So that's my portal 2 cents based on my experiences while running them.
I'll certainly let you know if/when they become a problem.
William
Edited by Gilamonster 6/25/2017 3:46 AM
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bimmerc
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2009
Location: Alta, Norway
Vehicle(s): 1992 300GE swb Portals, 85 300GD STT Cab swb
Posts: 102
| RE: Tibus Portals
Thanks Gilamonster,
Thanks to your early warnings on the proportioning valve we did not have any issues with the brakes. So far I have only little more than 1000 kms on the portals but can say that I am just as happy as you. The portals require front end toe-in and wheel balance to be 100% and I had to rebalance my two set of wheels after test driving them.
Still waiting for new fender flares as my wheels sticks too far out now.
So far you are the only other G-man with Tibus portals I have found to swap experience with.
Thanks for your comments so far.
Regards
Oddvar |
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| Re: Tibus Portals
Thanks for all that great portal info and nice work on the installs!
Based on the number of bent front axle casings I've seen and heard of on pretty much stock G500s, my very first thought on reading this thread was, "I'd use a bit of that extra clearance to gusset the front axle tubes!"
In any case, if possible, I'd recommend finding a place on the hub ends to attach a string from side to side that runs under the pumpkin. Document how the string is attached, and the distance from string to pumpkin to within 1/32". Do this when the kit is first installed and at least if you ever have a question, you'll be able to re-install the string find out of the axle has bent, BEFORE the bearings inside destroy themselves, which is invariably the way people find out they've been driving on a bent axle tube. 
Just a thought. With all that extra love in the axle tubes it'd suck to bend one. They can be straightened but it takes a lot of time and care.
All the best,
-Dave G. |
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