Ok everyone, so I've been working on this build plan for a long time now and I'm just about to have the money I need. I'll outline it here, and I hope you guys can help me with some questions and whatnot, maybe some complications I haven't foreseen.

My Truck: 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 5.9L v8

Wheels/Tires: 37" Military Humvee Tires on 12.50x16.5 steel rims
Reasoning: Cheap, large and durable tires with strong and also inexpensive steel rims.

Suspension: Rough Country 5" Suspension Lift, 2" or 3" body lift.
Reasoning: I need to clear those tires, and the 5" Lift only clears 35" tires.

Differential: 4.88 gearing in both differentials, a Detroit Locker in the rear.
Reasoning: I have read that the stock Dana 44 and the Chrysler 9.25 are tough enough to handle the larger tires and a rear locker, so long as you don't have a lead foot. I was thinking about replacing the Dana 44 with a Dana 60 but it seemed unnecessary.

Drivetrain: NV4500 Manual Transmission replacement, NP205 transfer case replacement.
Reasoning: My auto transmission slips and we all know how these 2nd gen transmissions go. The transfer case is also busted right now so I'm running around the woods in 2wd and it's pissing me off.

Does this seem reasonable to you guys? Any problems or things I've overlooked? Thanks a lot for reading and helping me out!

 

I can't say 100% on this but I think 37" tires are too much for your stock axles. From all the conversations on here it seems that 35's are about the largest tire you'd want. If your set on the 37" Wranglers then I would look at getting Dana 60's front & rear. Also what 16.5 rim are you going to use with your stock axles? If you're saying the Humvee rims are cheap they have the wrong bolt pattern for your truck. They are an 8 lug BP that would work on Dana 60's but then they also have 8" of back spacing so I doubt they would work. If you're going to get new rims somewhere else it is real hard to find 16.5 rims anymore and even if you do find some they have very very weak outer beads so you run the chance of popping the bead if you air down when you're off road. And last question is why are you going to go with a NP205 transfer case? The manual tranny swap idea is great but why not just get the NV4500 with the correct NP241 that came stock behind it? They are just as strong as a NP205 and if you're worried about the slip yoke rear driveline you can always do a SYE swap.

 

Thanks for the long thought out comment!
I was planning on using new 16.5 rims and not the humvee ones precisely because of the bolt pattern issue. I've tried to find a way around it but I haven't yet. But if they are hard to find then I'm not sure what to do...
Thanks for the idea about the t case. I'll just use that instead of the np205. As far as the axles go couldn't I just replace the front dana 44? The 9.25 seems sturdy enough.

 

I'll let the guys that know more about your axles weigh in on the strength of the Dana 44 & 9.25.
You can get rims that will work with those tires. There are companies out there who will recenter the Humvee rims in any bolt pattern you want. And the plus of it is you can get inserts that make the rims dual beadlocks. Just do a search online for Humvee rims and you'll find all the info you need.

 

Those tires are way to much for the stock axles. Also don't get a body lift and 5" lift should be more than enough.

 

I'm not going to weigh in on the whole body lift debate.

 

We'll keep in mind that I'm not doing any extreme wheeling at first. I just need to get down muddy fire/hunting access roads in Montana. Once I start hitting more serious trails I'll get some dana 60s. As far as the body lift goes, rough country says that the 5" lift only clears 35s...... Shouldn't just trim the fenders then?

 

I have the superlift 5" kit with no body and mine will clear 37's easy !

 

What about wheel back spacing? In pretty fuzzy on that topic

 

I'll chime in...37s are completely doable on 9.25/44 combo. Biggest issue is wheel backspacing, as that leverage is where you run into trouble NOT from actual torsional breakage. The rear can handle 37s, locked. It is on mine and I'm not kind to the truck. The front needs to be kept open, the stub shafts and so on are a bit small for such a tire. And I can't say this enough, keep your wheel backspacing as inboard as possible, you will save yourself so many headaches.