Off road with a CTD?

[RideSlow2004]

3500 SRW QC long bed, wife wants to go off road..... OK... . I figure I will put some oversize tires on a second set of wheels, and keep my stock set for pulling the trailer.



Don't want a lift or a level, just want to go big enough that I don't bury the front in our NW muck, searched thru the forum, if I am reading correctly, 34 is about as tall as I should go, and 305 is about the max width.



What do you think????

 

[SierraRam]

If you level it you can run upto 35x12. 50 with you stock back spacing. without the leveling 33-34 in height.

 

[04blackcherry]

A nice set of 285 BFG's will go offroad and let you tow the trailer. They are E rated. I don't tow anything more than a couple quads so I went 315's and 2" level in the front. Truck looks good. A set of hoop steps and the wife was happy. I have the stock 17" rims.

 

[ENafziger]

just want to go big enough that I don't bury the front in our NW muck,

You can put 35x12. 50 tires on the stock rims at stock height. You'll get minor rubbing on the control arms at full lock, but nothing serious.

If you really do have "muck", be forewarned that these trucks don't do well without a little agression... the front ends are just too heavy.

If you're serious about the muck, get something like a 35 x 12. 50 x 17 Toyo M/T, and air down to about 18 - 20 psi front and 14 - 16 rear. With the stock rims you'll hold a bead pretty well and the larger footprint will help float a little. The M/Ts are a great tire for traction, offer load E capability, and are quiet on the road. From experience, you really have to give them some wheel speed to get through the stuff.

--Eric

 

[Bob4x4]

If you level it you can run upto 35x12. 50 with you stock back spacing. without the leveling 33-34 in height.

Raising the front with out using longer arms decreases the room in the front fender rear edge

 

[AMcCormick]

I ran Toyo 35x12 Mt on stock wheels and stock suspension, as stated earlier just a tiny bit of rubbing at full lock. Work great aired down and can take a beating. If I had the dollars I would have a set mounted on some bead locks and a 2nd set of stock size street tires

 

[RideSlow2004]

I wanted to keep the stock wheels and tires, my truck will fit in the garage, with about 1/4 inch to clear. (If I ever get all the junk outta there. ) It also pulls a pretty heavy travel trailer very well. I will start looking around, and see what I can come up with, I can't imagine we will be doing that off road stuff too often. I hope I can find a set of wheels that I can mount up with the bigger tires, I don't mind switching them back and forth.



Thanks all, for the info.

 

[RideSlow2004]

Found some wheels on craigslist, supposed to be off a 2002 2500 Dodge. They should clear the disc brakes on a 3500, right?

 

[AMcCormick]

Dont think so. I think the 2nd gen trucks used 16" wheels

 

[Bob4x4]

Found some wheels on craigslist, supposed to be off a 2002 2500 Dodge. They should clear the disc brakes on a 3500, right?

they will not clear the rotors

 

[BLoging]

make sure there the same size rim as your rim's that are on your truck!!
do not know when they changed from 16" to 17" rim's

 

[Prairie Dog]

16 to 17 happened with the introduction of the 3rd gen or 03 trucks.

 

[Riverboy]

Ran 315's all summer, very little rub when wheel was cranked but other then that the ride was better then stock. Just put stock size studded wintercats on for our winters. I am going to sell the 315's, though they rode nice they stuck out more then I like. Good ol Auburn, went to highschool there.

 

[RideSlow2004]

Guy didn't call back anyhow, will keep looking. Lived here since 1977, wifes family goes back to 1904. Decent town, good place to raise kids and grandkids.

 

[RideSlow2004]

Checking craigslist and dealer for takeoff stock wheels, no luck. Might have to bite the bullet and go to some custom wheels.



Momma wants a new TV, so gonna go buy one from costco tomorrow, TV for her, wheels and tires for me? Think it will fly????

 

[steved]

The OE aluminum wheels are about 8 inches wide, the painted OE steel are only 7-inches and probably too narrow to run 35s... something to keep in mind. I don't know how wide the chrome steel wheels are?

Not sure it was mentioned, but 35s on stock wheels (i. e. stock backspacing) will rub the control arm slightly at full lock.

 

[RideSlow2004]

A nice set of 285 BFG's will go offroad and let you tow the trailer. They are E rated. I don't tow anything more than a couple quads so I went 315's and 2" level in the front. Truck looks good. A set of hoop steps and the wife was happy. I have the stock 17" rims.

After pricing out rims, and watching the ads, I am beginning to think what you said is maybe the best way to go. If I do need to stick the truck in the garage, I can just air it down.



Thanks all for the input.

 

[RideSlow2004]

And then I stop by my local tire guy, franchised to Tire Factory now, thinking I would just have him order up some decent tires for me, Cooper SST or ST, and his counter guy has a set of aluminum 17x9's sitting on the floor, used. We pull off my left front, and the wheel fits. Dang it. But it sticks out a bit, and if I put 305's or 315's on it, it will stick out more. So then I search on TDR to see who used fender flares, and discover the rubbing issue. Dang it again.



Sure would be easy to run some 285's, and just store the Michelins in a corner, until I can find a set of stock wheels.



Interview for a new job Monday morning, so I will have a few more $'s to spend, maybe.

 

[RideSlow2004]

Anyone know how far these extend out?



MOPAR FENDER FLARES (SET OF 4)-Dodge Cummins Diesel Truck Accessories – Geno’s Garage

 

[Diesel Gunner]

Ditto on the front end being heavy and prone to burying in the muck. I run 285's and have a 16. 5 Warn. It only yook one time with the Lady being stuck in the snow. It was no problem with her to put the winch on after digging for 2. 5 hours. Just don't wast your money on Road Armor bumpers. They are the absolute worst to deal with i. e. six months from the time that I sent them a check to the bumpers arriving and the rear bumper was the wrong one. There are too many other reputable companies out there to deal with.