Newbie Question - Help and info needed

[White Ram1]

Sorry if this has been asked before, I tried looking through past threads but didn't see any absolute answers, just some talking around the issue.



I take delivery of an 05 CTD 2500 Crewcab Short bed 4X4 Larime either Friday this week or Monday next week. This will be my first Dodge truck. I've been a Ford Turbo D driver in the past. I can't wait to pick up this truck.



Questions are this... .



1. As the truck sits, bone stock, what are the tallest and widest (without sticking out of the fenders) off road style tires that can fit on the truck?



2. If I put the 2" leveling kit on the truck what are the tallest and widest (again without sticking out of the fender wells) off road style tires that can fit on the truck?



3. I read something about the 2" leveling kit shifting the rear end out of whack by 3/4's of an inch..... Does the 2" leveling kit REALLY do that?



Thanks in advance for any input and answers!

 

[MMcAnulty]

I can't answer any questions, but congrats on the new truck!!

 

[rbattelle]

1. I have the stock Michelin's for now, which are 265/70/17, and anything wider than that will stick out slightly. In that size you can get BFG Long Trail T/A, Rugged Trail T/A, Dunlop Radial Rover A/T, a variety of Wranglers (including MT/R's), BFG All Terrain's, Bridgestone Dueler's, Dunlop Radial Mud Rover's. HOWEVER: NONE of these are load range E tires. They are, at best, D range. Most people have no trouble with range D, but I wouldn't recommend it if you tow (read: possible death wobble contributor?).



2. Since the 2 inch leveling kit won't change the track width, you're still limited to 265/70/17 if you don't want to stick out of the fenders.



3. That statement is false. A leveling kit with no track bar change will shift the axle toward the driver's side a bit. This thread addresses the issue in much more detail.



Good Luck!

 

[wyosteve]

I have BFG 315/70/17's mounted on stock wheels. They don't stick out anyfurther than the 265's that I can tell. I do not have a leveling kit and have no problem with them rubbing. My . 02.

 

[rbattelle]

I was out looking at my tires this afternoon, and perhaps I was underestimating the depth of the wheel wells this afternoon. Now, I've seen trucks with 285s and in my opinion they run just about flush with the fenders. Steve, I don't know how you can say a tire that is a full 5cm (2 inches) wider than a 265 doesn't stick out any more than a 265... seems like a physical impossibility to me. But I do think 285s will fit without sticking out...

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I will try to clear this up a little.

rbatelle. You have stock tires on a stock truck so you really only have an opinion of what might work. Right? I have run BFG 315's and that was on a not lifted stock truck. With the 2" levelers in, I put on a set of warn out 37" Goodyear MT/R's. No rub. I now have a T-Rex system custom built by Kent Kroker for my truck. I can stuff 37" MT/R's all the way into the fenders without rubbing. The only rub is on the lower control arm at full lock. Not a big deal to me. Niether tire sticks out past the fender on my truck... Not the 37's or the 315's. I run the stock wheel with the stock offset. If you are looking for tires and wheels go to www.trexengineering.com to find a set that is built for your truck. They will not stick out past your fenders. For $500 you can buy a leveling kit with an upgraded shock. Springs and shock. Great improvement over stock. For $2500 you can get a complete system that will greatly improve the agressive ability of your truck. For $3500 you can put in the ultimate off-road system and jump your truck repeatedly. The improvement increases with the Bling bling!!! Spend more, Get more!!



Greg

 

[rbattelle]

I will try to clear this up a little.

rbatelle. You have stock tires on a stock truck so you really only have an opinion of what might work. Right? I have run BFG 315's and that was on a not lifted stock truck. With the 2" levelers in, I put on a set of warn out 37" Goodyear MT/R's. No rub. I now have a T-Rex system custom built by Kent Kroker for my truck. I can stuff 37" MT/R's all the way into the fenders without rubbing. The only rub is on the lower control arm at full lock. Not a big deal to me. Niether tire sticks out past the fender on my truck... Not the 37's or the 315's. I run the stock wheel with the stock offset. If you are looking for tires and wheels go to www.trexengineering.com to find a set that is built for your truck. They will not stick out past your fenders. For $500 you can buy a leveling kit with an upgraded shock. Springs and shock. Great improvement over stock. For $2500 you can get a complete system that will greatly improve the agressive ability of your truck. For $3500 you can put in the ultimate off-road system and jump your truck repeatedly. The improvement increases with the Bling bling!!! Spend more, Get more!!



Greg

Greg,

You are absolutely correct: I'm talking about things with which I have no experience. I sincerely apologize to you, wyosteve, and Ryck for any misleading I might have done. In hindsight, it was unwise of me to assume what 315s might do just by taking guesses off my stockers. I was wrong, and Ryck should listen to those who actually have the larger tires.



In the future I will be more careful.

-Ryan



On edit: BTW, I didn't mean to imply that larger tires will rub... I was just speaking in terms of what I thought would stick out wider than the fender well.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

Ryan,

No hard feelings. I just wanted to help the new guy. If I were to do it over again. I would go straight to the T-Rex and the 37" tires. I just spent 20 minutes bombing throught the desert for fun. Wow. 11PM ladies... do you know what your husband is doing? It sure is fun to launch a 40K truck..... woooohooooo!



Greg

 

[White Ram1]

Thanks to all for the info and help.



Does anyone think the 2" leveling kit makes the front of the truck higher than the back?



Greg, is the T-Rex a complete lift kit? If so how much lift? I went to the website, but kinda confusing, couldn't really make out what is what, and how much for what parts.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

$500 you can buy a leveling kit with an upgraded shock. Springs and shock. Great improvement over stock. For $2500 you can get a complete system that will greatly improve the agressive ability of your truck. For $3500 you can put in the ultimate off-road system and jump your truck repeatedly. The improvement increases with the Bling bling!!! Spend more, Get more!!



Greg

It levels out your truck and makes it work better. For the $500 you get a set of shocks, and some t-rex springs. Call them and ask some questions. I would tell them how you intend to use your truck. They will recommend a system for you. I wouldn't call it a lift kit. It does lift the truck but it vastly improves the performance of your truck. It is a performance suspension system like non other. There is nothing comparable on the market for any make of truck. Do a search on T-Rex suspension. You will have some reading to do... . !



Greg

 

[LightmanE300]

Greg I particularly like your consecutive comments - 'can stuff 37" all the way in WITHOUT rubbing' and the next sentence says it rubs on full lock. Sounds like SOME rubbing to me

 

[NIsaacs]

I think Greg was talking about fender rub, however I am only guessing, I got no facts





"NICK"

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

That must be why you are the Lightman. You see everything so clearly!!! No Fender Rub!!! Only control arm.

 

[Dukenrock]

Look at the Rickson 19. 5's!