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Help me select the right specs for my (PW-look-alike) vehicle, please!!!

Old Jun 28, 2007 | 01:10 PM
  #31  
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Default RE: Help me select the right specs for my (PW-look-alike) vehicle, please!!!

ORIGINAL: char_ls

ORIGINAL: speakle

I am saying I would go for the 5.9, others will disagree. As far as axle ratio, unless you do a lot of heavy towing 3.73's are the way to go. 4.11's will give you snappier take offs but cruising your rpms will be (I think) around 200-300 higher which gives less mpg.
Do you concur, then, on putting those 33" tires on a truck with a 3.73
ratio (I won't be doing any towing at all)... will it be fine without dulling
up too much acceleration? The way I see it, the combination of diesel
engine + 3.73 ratio + large tires should produce very good fuel
economy (one of the things I am shooting for).
Was just a bit concerned
that it would mess up acceleration, perhaps something else...

Charles
Sorry I missed this thread... Not true. put on some 33" tires and you are possibly setting yourself up for a hit in mileage. If your going to do 33's then make sure you get a narrow 33 vs a wide one and that the weight of the tire is as close to stock as possible. when you pick your rim, also get the lightest rim but make sure it can handle your loads, 3000 lb load rating would be a minimum I'd think.

when I put on my 33's I lost about 2.5~3 mpg. mostly due in part to the wieght of the tire/rim combo. stock tires weigh considerably less than my setup. this I think contributed to the hit on mileage. reason being is you have a lot more rotational mass & weight to get moving.

check the specs on the rims & tires before plunking down a penny and make the right choice. if your after mileage, stick with the stockers.
 
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Old Jun 28, 2007 | 01:40 PM
  #32  
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Default RE: Help me select the right specs for my (PW-look-alike) vehicle, please!!!

Steve is exactly right, my lie-o-meter said 21.5 consistently before - after the 33's went on it says 19.1 consistently. The33" tire diameter in combination withthe 3.73 gearsmight make an OK final ratio, but there is alot other things to consider when figuring MPG. The weight of the tire and the width really do bring you down. Stockers defiently rollwith less resistanceand just give you the best mileage possible. As far as after market tires go I think steve, sharx, myself, etc. all bought the right tire though, pro comp xtreme all-terrain. They seem to roll alot smother than most. Hardly any road noise usually meens better rolling resistance (you can only hear mine with the windows down in the middle of the night when nobody else is around). I drove with my brother-in-laws 35x12.50/17 pro comp x-terrain's on my truck for a little bit and they were much worse, good tire though.
 
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Old Jun 28, 2007 | 02:09 PM
  #33  
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Default RE: Help me select the right specs for my (PW-look-alike) vehicle, please!!!

ORIGINAL: savage.basher

keep the questions coming, I need something to do while at work, it is a slow day .
THANKS!!! I'm definitely gonna take advantage of that!

- You should buy 5.9L if you are planning on ANY kind of preformance parts (even just a programmer, like an edge juice or something).

- I don't know exactly (cause I don't have a second truck with 3.73 gears) but It dosen't necessarily mean you will get better gas mileage if you rpm's are lower at cruising speed on the highway. Reaching cruising speed with the taller gears may burn more fuel, enough that you may not be able to make it back up by cruising with 300 less RPM on the highway. Typically cruising on the highway the truck is not under a load and really isn't burning much fuel anyway. During acceleration is where you will really eat up your fuel. Don't get me wrong though, cruising down the highway with less rpm (assuming there is no wind resistance to potentially "bog" the taller geared truck down a little) then you will use less fuel.
OK... That was an instance of my assuming incorrectly that an overall
low RPM would enhance fuel economy. Thanks for pointing it out!
So, assuming 33" tires, what's the bottom line for achieving a good
balance between enough power being transfered to the wheels and
good fuel economy with the cummins, 4.10 or 3.73 gears? Can someone
with practical experience of both (with 33" tires) share his wisdom
here?

- the stock 8" wheel can hold a 12.50" wide tire (but that is the maximum). If you are going to replace the stock wheels with aftermarket ones , then just get the cheaper crome clad steel. However if you like the looks of the factory wheel and plan on keeping them, then get the forged aluminum weels. They are very strong wheels, and are definetly worth more than $200 extra. I just got new wheels cause I wanted black, then since I was buying them anyway I decided to go ahead and get 9" wide, it wasn't absolutly necessary though.
I like the looks of the factory wheels. I'll follow your advice and get the $200 alluminum ones... Thanks!

-my tube steps are factory oem black tube steps, after I bought my truck I went back to the dealer and made a deal with them to trade in my gay plastic bedliner that came with the truck for a pair of the tube steps (I put them on though). Alot of people don't like them because they are not much lower than the actuall door sill, and they don't stick out very far. I like them alot though, for those reasons. I basically just wanted something for people to step on so they weren't stepping on the actual door sill of the truck, cause then the carpet gets all dirty and stuff right there. Now people can step from the steps straight to the floor mat. I like to think of them as more like just a rock bar to kinda protect the rocker panel a little when I drive off road. I also like to get stuff that was more less made specifically for the truck (alot of the aftermarket steps are kinda generic and just have mounting hardware to adapt them to certain vehicles) thats just my obsessive compulsive opinion though, haha.
That's actually good thinking. Those steps look very nice on your truck!
Actually, I like very much the way your vehicle looks... I really want to
get something very similar, same flame red color, the only difference
being the alluminum factory wheels...

- I am not convinced that a PW is that much taller, but maybe I'm not sure. A kore suspension system does seem to be the best way to go and the chase system would probably be just right, but all of that computes to $$'s that I didn't want to spend, maybe someday though when I got the money. I thought my truck came out pretty close to a PW look, and relatively cheap too - $90 for 2" level, $32 for steering stabilizer, $1399 for wheels and tires, total $1500.
Nah, I don't have all that extra $$'s to spend... I guess I'll do the same as you did...
Just curious, what do the five 33" tires go for? The fifth one fits somewhere underneath
the truck, right?

- Offroad you can utilize BTM with the auto, but for mild offroading the average joe should do perfectly fine with a 6spd manual (assuming you can drive a stick).
Not only can, I LOVE to drive a stick!

BTM is using the brake and the throttle at the same time to keep the diff from just unloading on the tire that is in lose rock/mud/dirt/sand or just free wheeling in the air. If you are just planning on driving back to a camp site on fire roads or mild trails you'll be fine. I would get the 6spd for longevity.
And that's what I was initially planning to do anyway...

So, let's say I go for a 2500 SLT 5.9 6-sp 4x4 Quad Cab SB...

What remains to be established is, do I need the 3.73 or 4.10 gears?
(keep in mind 33" tires and my wish for a good balance between
power expressed through those wheels and fuel economy)

Someone pointed out that I MUST get the Anti-Spin Differential...
I would also like to get the DVD-GPS navigation system...

What other options should I be including at the time of
ordering in order to get the essentials, but in a way as to
get the most bang for the buck!

Also, since you offered and said you got the extra time ,
can you give me a preview of the essential, not overly money-
draining performance mods (for the 5.9) that it would make
sense I get later on... Also, what do those additions actually
do in terms of enhancing power, improving fuel economy, etc.?

Thanks again...

[IMG]local://upfiles/66350/57F1D03F562040568DB47AC6CDA2025A.gif[/IMG]
 
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Old Jun 28, 2007 | 02:17 PM
  #34  
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Default RE: Help me select the right specs for my (PW-look-alike) vehicle, please!!!

ORIGINAL: steve05ram360

Sorry I missed this thread... Not true. put on some 33" tires and you are possibly setting yourself up for a hit in mileage. If your going to do 33's then make sure you get a narrow 33 vs a wide one and that the weight of the tire is as close to stock as possible. when you pick your rim, also get the lightest rim but make sure it can handle your loads, 3000 lb load rating would be a minimum I'd think.

when I put on my 33's I lost about 2.5~3 mpg. mostly due in part to the wieght of the tire/rim combo. stock tires weigh considerably less than my setup. this I think contributed to the hit on mileage. reason being is you have a lot more rotational mass & weight to get moving.

check the specs on the rims & tires before plunking down a penny and make the right choice. if your after mileage, stick with the stockers.
Thanks for pointing it out, Steve.

I'll stay with the $200 alluminum rims from Dodge... and put on them 33" tires.
Now, keeping in mind that precious balance between power and fuel economy,
what width tires should I select to go with the alluminum rims? Something
versatile, you know, mostly for highway mileage, but handy also for some
occasional and mild off roading every now and then...

Again, I won't be towing any heavy loads... So that doesn't need to be
taken into account...
 
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Old Jun 28, 2007 | 02:26 PM
  #35  
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Default RE: Help me select the right specs for my (PW-look-alike) vehicle, please!!!

ORIGINAL: savage.basher

Steve is exactly right, my lie-o-meter said 21.5 consistently before - after the 33's went on it says 19.1 consistently. The 33" tire diameter in combination with the 3.73 gears might make an OK final ratio, but there is alot other things to consider when figuring MPG. The weight of the tire and the width really do bring you down. Stockers defiently roll with less resistance and just give you the best mileage possible. As far as after market tires go I think steve, sharx, myself, etc. all bought the right tire though, pro comp xtreme all-terrain. They seem to roll alot smother than most. Hardly any road noise usually meens better rolling resistance (you can only hear mine with the windows down in the middle of the night when nobody else is around). I drove with my brother-in-laws 35x12.50/17 pro comp x-terrain's on my truck for a little bit and they were much worse, good tire though.
OK, but the look, the height of the vehicle are important too... It can't
be all about fuel economy, but definitely is about fuel economy in the
context of power and beauty... There must be a balance, IMO.

So to sacrifice about 2 mpg for the sake of that is acceptable...

Steve pointed out the width of the tires has a big impact on fuel
mileage too... so I'm wondering if 12.50 is the right way to go for
me, or should I go a bit narrower for the sake of saving fuel, while
still maintaining a reasonably powerful, versatile ride...

Thanks for suggesting the comp x-terrain's... Now I need to establish
the proper width for my needs.
 
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Old Jun 28, 2007 | 02:59 PM
  #36  
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Default RE: Help me select the right specs for my (PW-look-alike) vehicle, please!!!

Also, sb, what are creative ways to utilize the space available
in the truck's bed? I'll be getting the short bed, and I won't
really use it much for transporting heavy stuff. I am thinking more
of installing something to make it some sort of "secure storage
compartment," so to speak... I've seen things similar to what
I have in mind installed in other brand trucks...

Suggestions? Are there any sites online where I could peek
at what's more or less available for the 2500?
 
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Old Jun 28, 2007 | 03:03 PM
  #37  
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Default RE: Help me select the right specs for my (PW-look-alike) vehicle, please!!!

ORIGINAL: savage.basher

As far as after market tires go I think steve, sharx, myself, etc. all bought the right tire though, pro comp xtreme all-terrain. They seem to roll alot smother than most. Hardly any road noise usually meens better rolling resistance (you can only hear mine with the windows down in the middle of the night when nobody else is around). I drove with my brother-in-laws 35x12.50/17 pro comp x-terrain's on my truck for a little bit and they were much worse, good tire though.

Thanks for the tire discussion. Its helped me a great deal. On another tire note, has anyone had experience with the
Terra Grapplers? I just want to get some real world opinions.

r
 
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Old Jun 28, 2007 | 03:26 PM
  #38  
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Default RE: Help me select the right specs for my (PW-look-alike) vehicle, please!!!

for a good overall tire that should do ok off road and on road, I'd recommend the Toyo Open Country AT tire... I had them on my Jeep (2 sets) andmy 2000 Ram (2 sets). I think they offered a good balance between on road & off road... tilted slightly towards on road. the wear out on them was great, 40~50k IIRC, they were quiet and performed well for trail rides. Keep in mind they wont do well in all situations as they are a dual purpose tire.

Before I stepped into the tire/wheel deal I found for my truck ($1000 bux + my stockers), I was planning on either the Toyo OC AT's or MT's... I'm glad I got what I did as I now have 1st hand experience with the Xtreme AT's and I think they are a better choice over the Toyo MT's. I talked with 2 guys who had the toyo's and they both said they wore out by 30~35k, mine are up to 46k and look awesome, lots of tread left...

hope this helps...
 
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Old Jun 28, 2007 | 03:47 PM
  #39  
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Default RE: Help me select the right specs for my (PW-look-alike) vehicle, please!!!

-My tires are 305/65/17 (which is about a 32.8" diameter and a 12" width). I got them ww.4wheelparts.com , I'm not sure what the going price is right now, but it was he cheapest place I could find about 2 weeks ago when I ordered them. I didn't order a 5th wheel and tire at the time, however I think I am going to put in the order for maybe 2 more now (the tread is directional, and I'm thinking about keepin' a spare for both sides for my serious ofraoding trips, haahah). That size tire will fit in the stock spare tire locaion under the bed, but if you go too big it wil not.I like my 4.10 with the 33" tires, I think it works well for my mix of in town, highway, and offroad driving, again however, I a haven't used 3.73 before.

-I thought that the 2500s allways had anti spin diff, if they don't defiently get it (I think mine says it on the window sticker, but I didn't ever notice if it was standard or optional equipment).

-The GPS seems cool, but one thing to think about is how long will it take for that technology to be out dated, and then become "un cool"?? I know how some people are too, they didn't get something so they don't want other people to get it either, I'm not like that. When I bought my truck, my wife said get whatever one you want, money dosen't matter (cause I am going to keep it for ever). I just thought about everything like you are, before I pulled the trigger. You maybe better off getting an aftermarket GPS system so you can update it with a new one in a couple of years when they come out with something sweeter, JMO though.

-For mods, I started out with the muffler and cat delete $65 at local muff shop. Next Iwill get a new intake, I probably am only gonna get a filter and then gut my stock intake tube,I think the afe filter is like $100 bucks or something. Then I am gonna get an edge juice w/attitude, with my next $800. Then I will probably stop, hopefully I will be happy then .
 
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Old Jun 28, 2007 | 04:29 PM
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Default RE: Help me select the right specs for my (PW-look-alike) vehicle, please!!!

Best mileage, auto w/ 3.73's. The 6spd w/ 3.73s equals an auto w/ 4.10s.

I had the 2" spacer to start, but 35's rub in tight turns. The PW is 3.5" taller than stock. KORE designed their suspension to match the PW geometry so users wouldn't have drivetrain and steering angle problems (3.5"F/1.5"R). I feel you on the price issue, I had the same issue with the kit, but the setup is prettynice on and off road.
 
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