2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Can I clear 315/75's with a 2 inch spacer?

[Seed Guy]

I have a 1999 2500 Quad Cab 4x4 and i was wanting to put on a 315/75R16 tire. Can this be accomplished by adding a 2 inch leveling kit to the front with no additional mods? IF more are required what would they be. Also if i would need different wheels what backspacing is recomended?

 

[Chipstien]

If you don't mind a rub at full lock you can run them with nothing. I am. With the right offset wheels and 2 inch spacers you shouldn't rub at all. Good luck.

 

[Maximus]

When I put 315/75R16 (35") on my truck they rubbed a little too much. Started tearing up the fender linner. It would hit just pulling into a driveway with a slight turn. I added 2" daystar spacers in the front and haven't had any problems since. You should replace the shocks with a slightly longer one even though they say the stock shocks will work!



When I was looking at purchasing these tires I looked a several different manufactures tires of the same size sitting side by side and they do very in size (height and width). I noticed about 1/2" difference between them in height and width. My next set of tires are going to be the BFG Mud Terrains. I like the agressive tread on them.



Just be aware you will most likely loose 2-3mpg with these tires taking into account tire size differences (~13% from stock).



I have 8" Centerline rims. I don't know what the offset is though. A good tire shop should be able to assist you.



PM me if you want to see a picture with this size tire.

 

[dieselboy25]

My 295's rub on my mudflaps at full-turn.

They do not rub on the wheelwell though.

Eric

 

[NVR FNSH]

315/75s on the stock alum wheel w/o any lift. Only rubbing is on the control arm before full steering lock. I don't abuse my truck off-road but I do haul a 36ft 5th wheel to the desert & other OHV campground/staging areas - not the flattest places - w/o any fender liner/mud flap rubbing.



Brian

 

[lawdog]

What kind of performance decrease will I see when I change from 265's to 295 BFG's or 315 BFG's. I have a slightly bombed 2000 qc sb 4X4 w/3. 55 gears. I pull a 30' enclosed snowmobile trailer about 13,500-14,000 GCW. .

 

[JHansen]

Amen to Chipstein and NVR FNSH-my experiences are the same as them. I pound my truck back into places where sane people fear to tread as part of my job-and no rubbing yet other than the control arms.



lawdog-you will see a performance drop-but nothing you can't BOMB out of . I can't quantify it into #'s for you-if I dropped back to 265's now I'd probably soil my underwear at the extra power I suddenly seemed to pick up but I wouldn't trade back anyways.



Jason

 

[rono]

I installed the 2" spacers because of posts indicating that there would be rubbing with the 315's. Since adding the 2" spacers and installing the 315's there is absolutly NO rubbing at all. I also have the Bushwacker flairs (sp) and the tires clear them as well.

Ron

 

[cmckinney]

2" spacers

I see that alot of you guys are running the 2" spacers on your trucks. Have any of you had problems with alignment and excessive tire wear? I had thougt about just buying SkyJackers 2" lift coils instead of spacers they should funtion the same as the spacers correct? Guys at 4Wheel Parts said that it would push the axle out of alignment hence the steering articulation would be out of spec.



-CM

 

[Rob Thomas]

CM,



Your better off with the coils, there's only $60 differance between the two. The spacers ARE ILLEAGAL IN SOME STATES, THIS IS A FACT! The spacers are not a safe choice, hence "illeagal". It make no sence to use them, at all. It's the same as using blocking, not a safe option. Do it right the first time, get the coils, and be done with it.



Later, Rob

 

[rono]

The spacers I had installed from Jack-it were very heavy 1/4" steel that fit both up inside the shock tower and down into the spring. There is no way they can come out or off. I had the front end aligned when they were installed (48k on truck), had new tires and wheels installed at the same time and now (56k) tires are wearing completely even. Rotated at 54k. I have many complements on how the truck sits and looks now.

Ron

 

[Rob Thomas]

Originally posted by rono

There is no way they can come out or off.

Ron

Well, I guess they were considered unsafe 'cause of the color then, or maybee the law makers just wanted to give us truck guys a hard time. I hope you don't have a problem with them, I'd hate to say "I told ya so" while yer on a hospital bed.



Later, Rob

 

[MJawsman]

Well, I guess they were considered unsafe 'cause of the color then, or maybee the law makers just wanted to give us truck guys a hard time. I hope you don't have a problem with them, I'd hate to say "I told ya so" while yer on a hospital bed.

Rob,



I've been a 4 wheeler for 20+ years and have never heard of this with coil springs. Leaf springs and front lift blocks-yes. I've heard many horror stories and accidents. I'm only curious as to where you heard this information? I'm not choosing sides here, and I'm certainly not saying that you don't know what you're talking about. But I'd like to be informed before I make a seemingly fatal mistake too. Thanks much.



Mark



P. S. I'd really rather replace the springs anyway!

 

[SS]

Rob is right - technically coil spacers are illegal in some states. But, I suspect that the reason is more because a spacer could be simply that - just a spacer. Not bolted in and without provisions to locate the spring. A quality spacer as Rono mentions cannot "escape" even when the force of the spring is not holding it in position - but the politician's easy answer is to outlaw them all. The axle geometry is the same with a lift spring or coil spacer.

 

[Rob Thomas]

Thanks Steve, how did your tractor fare in the race?





Mark,



The information I got was in a 4-wheel mag awhile back, and listed state by state the laws, along with phone#'s and who to contact for questions for each state. However fer the life of me, I can't seem to locate that particular issue. You should be able to contact your state and find out that way.



Or I'm sure theres enough guys here that read that issue, maybee they'll let you know which one it was. I also have been off-roading for quite some time, and HAVE been in a truck where the spacer decided to leave, while we were drivin'. It's just a good thing we were on the trails, and not the road. And NO it was not my truck.



To each his own, but I just don't see the benifits of the spacer in the first place. I would love to hear them tho.



Later ,Rob

 

[SS]

The December 2000 Petersen's 4-Wheel and Off Road had the state lift laws compiled.



Rob,



About the spacer that parted company with the vehicle - would you say that it was a "hack job" spacer or was it something legit? Part problem or jumpin' the vehicle too much?





I didn't have the fastest tractor, but the stack was a big hit (and I tried to cheat a lot! So did everybody else. ) Great pig roast and beer though!



Steve

 

[MJawsman]

I've been getting Peterson's forever it seems... I'll see if I still have that issue around somewhere. Thanks for the info. I still think that springs are the best. Spacer's are easier to make and I'm sure have higher $$$ margin for the manufacturers. They also shouldn't settle, take up less space in inventory, etc. As for the law... .

 

[Rob Thomas]

Thanks again Steve, for locating the source of the spacer laws.



The coil that took a flyin' leap, was on a Bronco, it was not a hack job coil at the time, I didn't think, but who knows, the truck is long gone by now. We may have gotton a little air-borne when it decided to split. Thats all I needed to see, no coils for me thanks. BTW it was a very rough landing without a spring, (it didn't have a shock through the coil) and did some pretty good damage to the wheel well/fender.



I love the stack on your tractor, I still think you outta' make it a smoker tho. I read somwhere in the fourms, that a guy installed a 20hp Kohler in his tractor, that could be yer ticket!



Later, Rob

 

[SS]

I'm not sure which is easier to make. A simple coil spring (non-progressive rate) is pretty easy. A quality spacer has several parts to be cut to size, hole drilled, held in a jig, welded, etc. - might actually take more time to build?



Same as anything - there are quality springs and garbage out there. Quality spacers and some junk, too.



Steve

 

[SS]

Come to think of it, I do know of a lift spring on a Wrangler that fell out while doing some serious rockcrawling in Moab. The axles were at max. articulation at super slow speeds. The thing fell out and rolled away and nobody noticed until the vehicle was on level ground and was listing badly to the right. They looked for it for 20 minutes and only found it when one guy had to relieve himself 300 feet away. I guess the moral of the story is that the suspension need to work as a system - it's all related.



Yeah, Rob, jumpin' is bad isn't it - usually it's the landing that gets you - not having parts fall off while you're in the air!





I did drop a couple of smoke bombs in the stack at the beginning of the race - haven't seen any pics yet. One guy did change pulleys and installed quad tires - he could do wheelies and tear up the grass pretty good!



Steve