She's coming along nicely

[MN-Ram]

That truck looks great! Those tires actually look really good, regarding size, on that truck.

Nice setup.

 

[BlackWidow]

Thank you! I'm debating on power wagon flares or these with my 20x9 +18 badlands

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

My 5.75bs is +20 offset which puts me a little more inboard than you. Obviously it'll depend on preference, but if you're looking for better coverage of your tire the extend a flare would seem to be the way to go.

 

[reloaderguy]

The tires you removed were only rated 250lb lower (3500 vs 3750) than the tire you replaced them with. It is pretty well known that in order to run 37" tires with a 3" lift you need to trim the plastic fender liner. Larger 37X13.5 tires require more trimming plus some trimming of the pinch weld. I ran 37" tires with the factory PW 2" lift. I'm on a 3" coil now and I only rub the top of the fender liner when completely stuffed with the sway bar disconnected.

Ultimately it is your decision but you could have made the tires you had work for less money and in less time it took to replace them.

 

[BlackWidow]

The tires you removed were only rated 250lb lower (3500 vs 3750) than the tire you replaced them with. It is pretty well known that in order to run 37" tires with a 3" lift you need to trim the plastic fender liner. Larger 37X13.5 tires require more trimming plus some trimming of the pinch weld. I ran 37" tires with the factory PW 2" lift. I'm on a 3" coil now and I only rub the top of the fender liner when completely stuffed with the sway bar disconnected.

Ultimately it is your decision but you could have made the tires you had work for less money and in less time it took to replace them.

I knew there would be some rubbing, I just wasn't completely clear to what extent I'd be dealing with it on my configuration. I thought I had compensated for some of that by using the RA drop brackets to center the front axle better in the front wheel wheel. If I wanted to put the time into making it work I probably could have, but it wasn't worth the trouble to me. Some people are willing to compromise on things to make a bigger tire work, I wasn't. It became clear to me in order to make thing work properly I'd have to go taller and that wasn't in the cards. Whatever though it's too much skin off my back at this point since I sold the 37's yesterday. At the end of the day I'd probably call it a wash since I was able to buy right on both sets of tires. The only thing I'm really out would be the cost of mounting and balancing on one set which I lucked out with.

 

[reloaderguy]

I knew there would be some rubbing, I just wasn't completely clear to what extent I'd be dealing with it on my configuration. I thought I had compensated for some of that by using the RA drop brackets to center the front axle better in the front wheel wheel. If I wanted to put the time into making it work I probably could have, but it wasn't worth the trouble to me. Some people are willing to compromise on things to make a bigger tire work, I wasn't. It became clear to me in order to make thing work properly I'd have to go taller and that wasn't in the cards. Whatever though it's too much skin off my back at this point since I sold the 37's yesterday. At the end of the day I'd probably call it a wash since I was able to buy right on both sets of tires. The only thing I'm really out would be the cost of mounting and balancing on one set which I lucked out with.

Drop brackets only improve ride quality; the radius arm is long enough that lowering them doesn't move the axle forward very much with 3" springs. With 9" wide wheels, 20mm offset, and 13.5" wide tires you need to take 1/4" to 1/2" out of the pinchweld, trim out the lower hump in the factory fender flare, cut the channel out of fender liner, and ziptie the fender liner to the front body mount. It takes about an hour to do the work but once done you can stuff the tires at 3/4 lock without rubbing.

Here is what the trimming looks like before tying the fender back to the body mount.

 

[07MegaCabRam]

Looking good. How is the kit compared to the stock ride? I have a buddy thinking about that kit of the Carli kit. He is leaning more toward the Carli.. kit.

any wobble with the tires?

 

[BlackWidow]

Looking good. How is the kit compared to the stock ride? I have a buddy thinking about that kit of the Carli kit. He is leaning more toward the Carli.. kit.

any wobble with the tires?

Opinions on ride quality are very subjective, and maybe don't always account for all the variables that play into the.

That said in the first few weeks of having the lift on we were riding on the stock 20" wheels with the factory psi in the tires. I felt ride quality was a little better than stock driving the same roads we normally travel. When I say a little better, I mean bumps and road imperfections didn't feel as harsh.

Once we got the new rims & tires on we had stepped down to an 18" rim with a 37" (36" actual) and got the psi dialed in at 40psi the ride went from a little better to absolutely fantastic. Two things played into that, a D range tire with lower load range and running the tire at a much lower psi.

Presently we're running a 305/70/18 (34" actual) (E range) with about 50psi (haven't dialed them in yet) and the ride is a bit harsher than than the 37's were. Several obvious factors play into that, a shorter tire, E load range and higher psi in the tires. We'll see how things play out once I get the psi in the tires worked out.

 

[BlackWidow]

Finally had a chance to snap some pic's of the rear lights. Like I mentioned in the previous post, nothing to elaborate, just a piece of 1/8th thick aluminum flat stock that's 11.25" long and 2" wide utilizing the mounting point of the inner frame horn in the rear.

 

[BlackWidow]

So I recently had an impromptu upgrade on our truck. We were on a road trip to SoCal and had barely gotten out of Illinois when I noticed we had a problem with our Baja Designs light bar. I'm not sure what happened but a 10" section had gone out. Then to add insult to injury I ended up damaging the brackets with I knocked over a stone garbage can when leaving the San Diego Zoo.

As it worked out my rep over there took care of me and I was able to upgrade to a 30" OnX 6 in driving pattern with new brackets. It's a bummer that I had to replace the original light bar but the new bar is a HUGE improvement over what was on the truck so we're pretty happy.

Kinda glad I made sure to pack tools and that I picked up the Arb portable compressor kit. I was hoping for an installed compressor but this portable system has proven it's a worthy alternative being able to support an impact wrench as well as air up the tires in half the time of my old Slime compressor or even the Arb I've got installed on my Rubicon.

 

[RAM_Designs]

I agonized A LOT over what rims and tires to go with and the lesson I learned was don't involve the wife in the decision process because she doesn't care as much as you do. In the end I went with Fuel Trophy rims in 18x9 with +20 offset (5.75" BS) and 37x13.5x18 Cooper STT Pro's.

.

I'm really liking this look. I'm contemplating 37's (12.5" wide) on mine but only have the 3.73 gears...might just have to stick with 35's and no lift. Looks great though, I prefer the meatier looking wheel/tire combo as well. I don't get the purpose of running 20-22" wheels with a lift and 35's or 37's...makes the tires and truck not look as big in pics.

 

[RAM_Designs]

Only think I don't like is the dropped radius arms, I'd rather go for something like a BDS kit that has the new (and cooler looking) radius arms.

 

[AustinB]

Nice!

 

[BlackWidow]

I'm really liking this look. I'm contemplating 37's (12.5" wide) on mine but only have the 3.73 gears...might just have to stick with 35's and no lift. Looks great though, I prefer the meatier looking wheel/tire combo as well. I don't get the purpose of running 20-22" wheels with a lift and 35's or 37's...makes the tires and truck not look as big in pics.

Had I gone with a 12.5 wide instead of a 13.5 wide we might still have 37's on the truck. Oh well, maybe for the next set of tires...

On the plus side even with the slightly bigger, heavier tires there wasn't too much power loss (albeit using a tuner) while driving through the mountains. Just like last year when driving through the mountains in Wyoming when she was still stock we never seemed to be at a loss for power.

 

[BlackWidow]

Only think I don't like is the dropped radius arms, I'd rather go for something like a BDS kit that has the new (and cooler looking) radius arms.

I agree with you there. Swapping out the stock arms & drop brackets is something I'm thinking about for the future.

We'll see how things go. This year the wife's truck got the TLC, next year it will have to be my Jeep.

 

[RAM_Designs]

So you feel pretty confident that 37"x12.5" would be a possibility with that lift? I was looking at the BDS 3" kit for the 2500 gasser and it has 37"x12.5" being a possibility with the proper offset. I like how you didn't do with a negative offset wheel, I really prefer to keep everything under the truck if possible, just looks better IMO. And, with the flares you get some actual protection.

 

[BlackWidow]

So you feel pretty confident that 37"x12.5" would be a possibility with that lift? I was looking at the BDS 3" kit for the 2500 gasser and it has 37"x12.5" being a possibility with the proper offset. I like how you didn't do with a negative offset wheel, I really prefer to keep everything under the truck if possible, just looks better IMO. And, with the flares you get some actual protection.

I don't know about confident but after my experience with the 37x13.5 tires I'm thinking with my set up a 12.5 might give me smidge more breathing room and maybe not rub on the radius arms.