The half ton axles will snap like toothpicks with 44's hangin' off the ends...... You wanna run tires that size, you will need to upgrade to D60's on both ends, and even those won't really care much for 44's.

 

really? that sucks what do you think i could put on ? like the biggest

 

35's are about as big as you should really go on the D44 up front. The rear is a bit stouter, but, different sized tires on a 4x4 doesn't work very well. (at all...)

 

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/3050226796.html

this is the truck ! is it a half or a 3/4 ton ... sorry im new and just buying the truck i figgured i would do all my sreaserch on my up-grades early ... D60's are mad expensive ... and when you said that they wouldnt care much for them do you mean it would still effect the D60's or it wouldnt effect them at all ?

 

Nice truck.... already has some lift... but, it IS a half ton.

 

ok thanks
D60's are mad expensive ... and when you said that they wouldnt care much for them do you mean it would still effect the D60's or it wouldnt effect them at all ?

 

You can pick up a set used for a under a grand, if you look around. (buy the whole truck for that....) I have seen sets for for as little as 300 bucks for both.

44's would still strain 60's, and you would prolly go thru ball joints, and hub/bearing assemblies quicker than you would like. Rear is full floating (axle doesn't support any weight, just move the truck.) so, not so much of an issue.

Do the free-spin conversion on the front though, and don't go dune jumping, and they would at least survive the experience.

 

To go bigger than 35's and not break the axles (especially with off-roading), you need to get dana 60 front and a dana 60, 70, or 80 rear axles. Upgrading the axles with bigger shafts, etc. is definitely recommended if your going for more than 38" or so.

To fit 44's you'll be throwing in around $10,000 (at least) for a custom lift, axles, axle upgrades, gears, tires, rims, steering upgrades, etc. And that's on top of the price of buying a truck. I'd re-think what your looking to do with the truck your buying unless you actually have that kind of money to spend.

And D60/70s aren't too expensive here (around the east coast). There's a few sets on craigslist for around $400, some of the ones in better condition are like $300-$400 a piece. That's cheap.

here's and example: http://newlondon.craigslist.org/pts/3014491791.html He says its a D60 front and D40 rear but I think he mean D70 for the rear...

and another: http://newlondon.craigslist.org/pts/2976948916.html

 

I honestly think $7k is too much, especially for a private seller, heck, the local Dodge Dealer in town has a 2500 Diesel (not sure on the year, either 2000 or '01) with a new dashboard and they only want $10,500.

But it is a nice truck.

 

I agree, I would not pay $7000 for that...
You'd be better off buying a Ram 1500 for like $5k and building up yourself, and keep that extra $2k for lifting it or what not. Or if you wanting to spend $7000+ on a truck alone, step up to a 2500 since it already has D60s on the gassers and D60/70 (or 80) on the diesels.