03 2500 larger tires?

[DIESELMAN]

Duck - Actually I adjusted mine a little when I first got it. Was pulling into Houston Mesa Road north of Payson pulling my trailer and an oncoming car was high beam flashing me, so I let him have the real high beams, officer whats his face in that car was impressed! ( I should have noticed the light bar! )



I travel to Gila Bend a lot and get 24MPG going there and about 17 - 19 coming back, all on cruise, never touch the shifter. Usually loaded about 800 - 1000 lbs of gear. I run Sunset point at 75 - 85 and it will draw my round trip mileage down to about 15MPG.



Was yours the one with 2 Blue Polaris 2WD's and all the beer coolers I passed 3 weeks ago??



EOwen - BFG AT 315-70R17. And Yes, I changed the mirrors when I found my extended Cipa mirrors were not adaptable easily. Should have done it from the start, I really like these mirrors.

 

[rbattelle]

Those of you who added the 2 inch spacers in the front springs, how did you remove the springs from the vehicle?



Are they bolted down to the axle, or just held in by the upper and lower brackets?



Service manual says you have to pull the upper and lower suspension arms, front drive shaft, track bar, drag link, and stabilizer bar.

 

[Duck]

DM, was the adjustment easy to do? I'll probably do mine tonight or tomorrow. I just know I'm going to get a ticket for it if I encounter a bored officer. While he's at it, he'll probably harrass me for not having mud flaps.



I wished I would have gotten the trailer mirrors from the beginning as well. The standard ones have a huge blind spot, and a 3" fish-eye would probably cover too much of the mirror to make it worth it. More important upgrades are in front of that one on my list though...



Wasn't me. I pull an 8X16 white custom tandem axle trailer with rear and side ramps. Loaded down with Yamaha and Suzuki quads of all sizes.

Easily could have been though. I'm always buzzing around the Prescott/Camp Verde/Flag/Payson areas.

 

[DIESELMAN]

Duck - Two little plastic adjustment shafts on the back, can't miss them.



rbatelle - Yeah, I used the original shocks but I'm going to replace them at dealer (warranty ) expense. Front left was already leaking. No springs aren't ever attached.



Simple instructions. Remove left rear tail light. Lift truck by frame, jack up axle a little. Install spring compressor and compress spring about 3 inches. You can rent these. Remove buttom bolt from shocks, you may need to remove right drag link to get to the bolt, then remove top nut and three tower nylock nuts.



Lift out shock, lower axle, spring falls out easily. Remove top pad and studs, install top spacer, lift axle back. Ah, you say, no room. But there is, lower axle fully, dont nut the top spacer, put in bottom end of spring last and use a 4 foot prybar to get the axle down the last inch or so.



Then reinstall top nuts, tower, shock, shock bottom nut. Raise axle until shock extendse through tower but don't lift truck off frame jacks. Install top nut, do the other side. Re-install left rear tail light.



Mine took an hour and since I used a compressor, no links are removed and the alignment remains intact.

 

[BHaner]

I think it may be easier to remove and reinstall the rear right tail light. However I could be wrong.

 

[DIESELMAN]

You saw that didn't you?? That's the easiest unnecessary step I could think of, sure beats removing the drive shaft and control arms by a mile

 

[Duck]

As I was reading the instructions, I thought "Oh Man. I didn't remove my tail light before I did mine! That must be why my alignment is off!"

Good one.

 

[jimnance]

May have a lead on 19. 5" wheels. American Wheel makes some, but I have to find out if they have them with a bolt pattern to fit Dodge.

 

[lawdog]

Someone was looking for this thread, so I am bringing it back up ront for them to see. He had a pic of Duck's truck posted... .

 

[Ken B]

Quick question for the guys with the 315's and 2" spacers... . how high does your truck sit now (total height - top of cab)? I should be taking delivery of my new 3500 SRW next week and I would like to go the same route... but I want to make sure it'll fit in my garage. I'll probably catch hell if I come home with my new truck outfitted with aftermarket wheels and tires... . and it won't fit in the garage... help save me the potential grief! Thanks in advance, -Ken

 

[CATCRACKER]

mine fits in the garage i have 315's w/ 2" but it is very close. i will get a measurement and give it to ya.

 

[Ken B]

CATCRACKER,



You're the man! If it's easier to measure your garage opening... . that measurement would work as well.



Thanks, -Ken

 

[randyn]

Just had BFG AT 315s put on. The guy put 45 psi in them, front & back. I may play with pressures some. I like them so far in spite of what struck me as a more lurching ride. The slight vibration I had before at about 70 got worse!!!!!!! May go back & get one tire re-balanced, wasn't happy w/ one of them but was tired of waiting & wanted to go. Maybe more psi will help that. No spacer in front yet, seem fine, but they did rub slightly at full turn. Haven't checked where yet, don't think it's a big deal. One thing of note. The balance guy measured the aluminum Dodge rim as 8. 5", not 8".



RandyN

 

[lawdog]

Just a Post to bring back to top of page... ... .

 

[nickleinonen]

Originally posted by DIESELMAN

dnitzel -



WOW! Get a Group Purchase Going... Gee, we might get them for $314 each. OOOHHHH. Can't Wait, Can YouOo.



What a Crook!



Thanks Duck - Mine should level out quite well when empty, and be less than 1" low in the back when on the overlaods, which should even back out again when I find a bumper/winch that I like without taking out a loan. ( I like Reunel's Bumper, I Like all the options, I like my wife too, shes nice to have around,,,, decisions, decisions... . )

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...arch=false&partnum=17R7ATAKO&fromCompare1=yes

from tirerack.com, $119 each 315/70/17

 

[dunertrash]

Any, help. What about a "E" rated 305 or 33" tire for 17" rim? Thank for any help.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by Task125

I ordered rickson 19. 5s, 7. 50

already bought tires,245s. I hope to go to Maryland and have them installed as soon as my rims are ready. and get a set of grovers mike

Did you order aluminum rims? I'd heard Rickson didn't have anything but steel. Lemme know how you like 'em 'cause I'm thinking seriously about ordering a set. I just hate to be the guinea pig.



$3,000 is a bunch of money to spend on tires just to find out you don't like 'em, they cut the power too much, etc. I'm particularly interested in 265 R70 19. 5 mpg reports, which reduce to final ratio on a 3. 73 to 3. 44. Those suckers are 34" high!



'Course, if you're using the 245s, that won't change your rpms enough to make much of a difference.

 

[brillmtb]

It would be nice to have a 275-285 in a 75 series so that we could go up and not out. I for one dont want rocks and stuff down the side of the truck and I dont want ugly larger extra fenders to stop it.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by brillmtb

It would be nice to have a 275-285 in a 75 series so that we could go up and not out. I for one dont want rocks and stuff down the side of the truck and I dont want ugly larger extra fenders to stop it.

There is a webpage that was furnished to me by a TDR reader that superimposes larger tires and wheels on top of the OEM silouette. Unfortunately, I can't find it. Anybody else got it?

 

[brillmtb]

Yes, I have it.





http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html