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Need tire/lift help! Yes...I've searched and read stickys

Old Sep 25, 2011 | 09:14 AM
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Default Need tire/lift help! Yes...I've searched and read stickys

I'm limited to reading the board on my phone so I could have missed something...if I did, link it and I'll read.

Here's what I'm trying to figure out. I want to keep stock rims. The widest tire I can go with is 12". If I lift, will that allow me to go wider in the tire? I'm looking at a 3" body and possibly a level, 2" or 2.5".

The truck is a 08 4x4.

Thanks for your help gents.
 
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 09:25 AM
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Lifting has no bearing on tire width, it's your coils and A-arms combined with the lousy backspacing of the cheazy stock wheels that limit you on width...

It's spacers or nothing for 12" + wide tires on stock wheels.

Also, do yourself a big favor and limit the budget boost part of your lifting to 2", over that and many have vibration issues, not to mention it puts the CVs at very poor angles...
 

Last edited by HammerZ71; Sep 25, 2011 at 09:27 AM.
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 10:17 AM
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Thanks hammer...I was hoping you would chime in.

I think I'm going to go with the advice of many on here and not level more than 2".

So...no matter how high I go, I can't get more than 12" width with the stock rims due the coils n stuff?

I also want to confirm what I read on one if the stickys. If the above is true and I can't go wider than 12", that is 12" measured, NOT what the tire says? It may be possible for me to fit a tire that says 12.5" but actually measures 12"? or a tire that says 12" and measures less?
 
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 10:23 AM
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If you are that obsessed with trying to stuff 12.5s under there lose the stock wheels. The backspacing is terrible, they have really poor strength to weight ratios and I don't even think they look good, myself.

I don't think you're gonna get much more than 11.5" measured with the stock wheels myself, not and get full turn, anyway. But of all the various front end types on Rams (torsion front IFS 4x4, coil front 4x2, coil front IFS 4x4 and SFA 4x4) I have the least experience with the coil front 4x4s.

But 'dog did his homework in this sticky and I'd use it as a guide if it were me:

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...dodge-ram.html

You also have to keep in mind, there is a BIG difference between getting a tire to fit and actually being able to use it. Fit is fine if all you are gonna do is go cruise the junior high's for chicks, but you've got to have room for flex and articulation if you are going to use your truck as a truck...
 

Last edited by HammerZ71; Sep 25, 2011 at 10:27 AM.
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 11:18 AM
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You could also look into the Bilstein leveling shocks for the 06-08 4x4's instead of a spacer. Personally I would just get a whole kit, which I have. Because if you look at the stock components I was amazed at how small they are and I was surprised they even held the truck up haha. Basically I understand why there is a rake in front on stock trucks now lol.
 
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 11:25 AM
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Thanks again hammer...think I've read through that sticky a 1000 times, but I just want to make sure before I spend all this cash on tires and a lift...

Think I'm settled on 3" body lift , 1/4" spacers with 35x12 trail grapplers or toyo Mts.
 
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 11:45 AM
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If I end up with a level, it'll be the 5100s...
 
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 12:09 PM
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The 5100s and the Rancho Quicklift are high quality products.

Yeah, there is NO substitute for a full suspension lift, the better ones do replace a LOT of stock components with much stronger/beefier ones not to mention use drop brackets to keep angles at or close to stock. BUT they cost $$$.

A body lift/mild level is a good combo for someone on a budget who doesn't off-road much or hard. Keep in mind that a body lift alone does nothing for the stock rake. If you want to get rid of the rake, it'll take a body/level combo...
 
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 02:30 PM
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Yeah, everything Hammer said already...haha
 
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Old Sep 25, 2011 | 03:35 PM
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Originally Posted by dirtydog
Yeah, everything Hammer said already...haha

No comment on my "cruise the junior highs for chicks" comment? You're slippin' boy...
 
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