im pretty new to lifting trucks and putting mudders on it. i got a 97 ram regular cab 318. i was wondering what all i needed to get some super swamper boggers 44x19.5x16.5 on it. i have a 4" suspension lift but am looking into the skyjacker 7" lift and am getting ready to install a 3" rough country body lift. ive also looking at yukon 4.56 gears but dont know if they will be strong for that size tire. and when it comes to the backspacing and offest for the wheels, im lost. any help would be awesome. thanks

 

All very well-worn subjects in here so you might first try doing some searches and reading a few existing threads. Welcome to the forum.

 

phew.. where to begin.

first off, 4.56s are good for 35" tires (i would still go with 4.88s with my truck on 35s), with 44s and a 318, you should be looking for AT LEAST 5.88s.

I dont think there is a kit availible for dodge to clear 44" tires. i have seen it done, but they were all custom jobs. although you may get away with really stuffing a set using a 7" kit with a 3" body kit, MAYBE.

Another thing to consider is tire width. these trucks like to rub tires on the control arms. you will need to do some good calculations to get the proper wheel offset to keep those 19.5" tires off the truck. although, if you have to fab up the front links anyway, you may be able to move them out of the way.

I dont mean to discourage, but there is a lot to think about when you venture away from the aftermarket prepped kits. I would love to see what you come up with though, cant wait to see it.

 

Try an axle swap to hold up a 44x19.5x16.5 tire!! Fining a rim that wide is going to be a long shot. 10" wide rims I see all the time up you need at least a 15" wide rim. You might be able to get away with 5.13 gears. Before doing gears I would buy new used axles. Dana 60 or 80's for that matter or rock well 1.5 tons. What a tire that big weight in at? Hell one tire alone is going to set you back 400 at least. Gears there is well over 2k for them, axles $$$$. If i were you I do do leafs on all 4 corrners and shackle flips and you still might not get what you need. How the hell are you going to get up in that thing? No little giant ladder will get you in there! I know where you are at I'm all about big lifts and mudders but there is a line. What are you going to use this truck for?

Get on here and ask this guy what he did. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/738298
He has a 14" lift. Not index ring will get you near the drive line angles you need. So right there you are looking ay custom drive shafts. There is a huge cost.

 

dont discourage the guy, lol, i think its a cool idea. I forgot to mention the axles. if you plan on doing any wheeling at all you will need to step up to a pair of Dana 60s at least. that truck in the pic has a lot of body lift too.

 

ANYWAY... long story short. if you are new to this, which you already stated you are, you need to go to a custom 4x4 shop and ask them. you wont find anything off the shelf to do what you want.

 

I'm not trying to but it takes some hard core planning. Skip the dana 60's. Yea he has a 14" lift and a 3" bd lift. So 17" total. You could get away with only doing a 12" lift.

 

The OP is ambitious, I'll say that. Seems to me any work I have done for customers who wanted sky high trucks, the weak point is always the axles. Lifts,mounts, and the other stuff is mostly fabrication off the axles. But yeah, getting in touch with a good 4x4 shop is recommended. Just bring a BIG checkbook with you.

 

One additional thought, MORE POWER!! Hemi at least, big block if possible !

 

Absolutely, Those 1/2 ton axles wont hold up to much over a 33 with any real wheeling. Start witht eh basics, Get the heavier dana 60 front adn go with a 60/70/or 80 rear. They were all made for our trucks. 80 were for the diesels. Get them regeareared and get the lift together, then just make a project out of it.