Well, i guess i made one terrible mistake in deciding what to do to my '95 ram 1500 4x4. I didn't ok it all with my dad first. He says that as long as i'm living with him i won't be driving anyhting with 35's(unsafe, bad handling, bad on the truck, blag blah blah). So i guess i'm back to square one. I think i'll be able to get by with 33's. I'm probably gunna go with a 3" suspention lift(instead of a 3" suspention and 3" body lift combo). I'm gunna use the same wheels(15"/10" alloy w/ 3.25" backspacing) but with 33"/12.5" all terrains instead of the original 35" mud terrains(i can't have mud terrains either because they wear to quick, they handle bad, blah blah blah). I think this will all work fine but if someone could varify i would appreciate it. Also, i still think i'm going to swap my stock 3.55's. I want a ratio that will work well with my 33's while I have them but also when i later add a body lift and get 35's( i don't want to have to swap twice). Any suggestion????
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Anyone?? Will my revised plan of 3" rancho or pro comp suspention lift with 15"/10" alloy wheels(3.25" backspacing) and 33"/12.5" all terrains work on my 95 ram 1500 4x4 without rubbing? And as for gears, how about 4.10's? Will they work with my 33's and also with 35's when i get them later(when i move out)?
Hey Joe, My friend has a Dodge Ram...He is currently running 33x12.50 a/t's under a 3 inch body lift, he has no problem rubbing and is planning on getting the 5 inch skyjacker suspension lift later on and riding on 38's. As far as gearing goes I think you would be happy wtih 4.56 gears since you will be running 35's later on, I have a yota with 35's and before i had the 4.56 gears I was unhappy with it's performace.
Good luck,
Britt
Good luck,
Britt
Thanks, i was hoping that i could go with 4.10's with my 33's because i think 4.56's would be alittle low. It will probably be a long time (several years, if ever) before i add the 3" body lift and replace my 33's with 35's. I think that the 4.10's will be plenty low for the 33's (i don't think my dad will even let me get ggears any lower for 33's) but will they be low enough for 35's if and when i get them or will i have to regear again?
Hi Joe. My Dodge Ram Off-Road has 4.10's and I'm running 33 x 12.50's with no problem. If you go with the 4.10 like you're hoping, this should be no problem for 35's. I just spoke with my local 4x4 shop about getting 35's later and they said the 4.10 gearing with 35's was not an issue.
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Joe, my dad asked me two questions when I told him about lift and tires, "Is it legal? and Are you paying for it?" Ok so I lied about it being legal but he said since its my truck I can do what I want, but if something breaks than its my responsibilty.
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Joe,
In my opinion, the ram is a pretty big truck, and with a 5" lift and 35" tires, my truck hanldes better than before. The larger tires give you more traction on and off the road. The suspension tightens up the body roll when turning and gives you a more firmer feel of the road. Im not sure if you do any kind of wheeling, you need bigger tires and suspension components to be able to take the harsh abuse associated with 4wheelin'. I remember taking my bone stock ram wheelin...boy was I disgusted with the performance...I even didn't feel to safe because I was afraid of breaking something, so I packed everything up and went home...but again...this is just my opinion <IMG SRC="/board/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif">
In my opinion, the ram is a pretty big truck, and with a 5" lift and 35" tires, my truck hanldes better than before. The larger tires give you more traction on and off the road. The suspension tightens up the body roll when turning and gives you a more firmer feel of the road. Im not sure if you do any kind of wheeling, you need bigger tires and suspension components to be able to take the harsh abuse associated with 4wheelin'. I remember taking my bone stock ram wheelin...boy was I disgusted with the performance...I even didn't feel to safe because I was afraid of breaking something, so I packed everything up and went home...but again...this is just my opinion <IMG SRC="/board/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif">
Joe,
I understand wanting to respect your parents wishes but if it is your truck that you pay for and you pay for the insurance and repairs then I would do it the way you want it. There is nothing unsafe about lifting the truck and running larger tires like Tunis said. As long as you keep it all legal I dont see where your dad should have any issues with it.
As for what you want to do 33s with a 3 inch lift would be good. 4.10s with those 33's would be good but I think that if you ever go to 35s or larger you will want 4.56s. I just cant see spending the money to do everything twice or even spend it the first time and not be happy with it.
Bill
I understand wanting to respect your parents wishes but if it is your truck that you pay for and you pay for the insurance and repairs then I would do it the way you want it. There is nothing unsafe about lifting the truck and running larger tires like Tunis said. As long as you keep it all legal I dont see where your dad should have any issues with it.
As for what you want to do 33s with a 3 inch lift would be good. 4.10s with those 33's would be good but I think that if you ever go to 35s or larger you will want 4.56s. I just cant see spending the money to do everything twice or even spend it the first time and not be happy with it.
Bill
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Well I had 33's on my truck with 3.73 gears... great highway gear and pleasant off road gear. Having a good running 350 also helped. i had an automatic trans and really never had a problem... I since then went with a 4 speed with creeper and 4.56's ... Hell I can take a mustang 5.0 off the line but I gulp gas bigtime. Of course I like the 4.56's better but was never disappointed in the 3.73's .. heck I still have 1 14 bolt corp left with 3.73's cuz u never know.....
I guess the big thing is .... I just liked mud and trail riding... rock crawling.. the lower the better....
my 18 cents worth.....
<IMG SRC="/board/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif">
I guess the big thing is .... I just liked mud and trail riding... rock crawling.. the lower the better....
my 18 cents worth.....
<IMG SRC="/board/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif">
I am running 36's(36.4) right now with stock 3.55 open and I do get along ok with it but I do have a massive loss of power!!! I have 4.56's going in this week! I think 4.10's would be perfect for 33's and would be ok with 35's but I wouldn't go with a taller tire with 4.10's and a BFG 35 measures just under 35" like 34.6 or 34.8
Ray
Ray
Joe,
I have a 94 with a manual 5 speed. I have the 5" Skyjacker and 35" Procomps. As far as it being unsafe I can assure you that it is not. Like the other guys have said, these are BIG trucks and the larger tires and lift, to me, brings the truck into its element. That aside.....
Respecting your dads wishes I would say DO NOT do the gear swap yet. I run 3:55's and at 80MPH I an turning a tad over 2k RPM. %th gear is a bit high but 1-4 are just fine..and that is with 35's. 33's should not give you any problems with stock gears. If you swap now, you will be turning high RPM's at lower speeds. Granted you will be quick to smoke the tires but as soon as you go to 35's you will think you under powered by the feel.
My suggestion. Do a 3" body lift and leave the gears alone. why: If you do a 3" suspension lift, you will only rip it out later to put in a 5". It would be wasted. With a 3" body, you can keep it and put on a 5" suspension. This way, its a building process and you keep adding rather than add and remove. When you are ready for the 35", I would do the lift and gears at the same time.
33's with 3:55 gears will not hurt your performance much at all. You will notice a bit of lagg, but not much. And you will still be ale to use your OD as long as you are not towing anything. Also, I get 17-18 MPG on the freeway and 12-15 around town. That is VERY good milage for these trucks. I know as soon as I go to 4:10's I will have lost a bit of that but in return I'll be able to tow heavier loads again. Keep in mind, I have the 5 speed manual so you will not get the same results as me.
Good luck to you.
I have a 94 with a manual 5 speed. I have the 5" Skyjacker and 35" Procomps. As far as it being unsafe I can assure you that it is not. Like the other guys have said, these are BIG trucks and the larger tires and lift, to me, brings the truck into its element. That aside.....
Respecting your dads wishes I would say DO NOT do the gear swap yet. I run 3:55's and at 80MPH I an turning a tad over 2k RPM. %th gear is a bit high but 1-4 are just fine..and that is with 35's. 33's should not give you any problems with stock gears. If you swap now, you will be turning high RPM's at lower speeds. Granted you will be quick to smoke the tires but as soon as you go to 35's you will think you under powered by the feel.
My suggestion. Do a 3" body lift and leave the gears alone. why: If you do a 3" suspension lift, you will only rip it out later to put in a 5". It would be wasted. With a 3" body, you can keep it and put on a 5" suspension. This way, its a building process and you keep adding rather than add and remove. When you are ready for the 35", I would do the lift and gears at the same time.
33's with 3:55 gears will not hurt your performance much at all. You will notice a bit of lagg, but not much. And you will still be ale to use your OD as long as you are not towing anything. Also, I get 17-18 MPG on the freeway and 12-15 around town. That is VERY good milage for these trucks. I know as soon as I go to 4:10's I will have lost a bit of that but in return I'll be able to tow heavier loads again. Keep in mind, I have the 5 speed manual so you will not get the same results as me.
Good luck to you.
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from what i kind find through the web, there arent any bumper height restrictions or lift laws posted(though that doesnt mean there isnt any)for the state of texas. if your plan on regearing it and you do alot of rockcrawling or other offroad that would require really low gearing than go to 4.56 if you plan on running 35's. otherwise if you have 33's and run 4:10 you basically would be any different than the offroad package. since they come come with 32" tires and 4:10 gears. you can do the math to choose the ratio to get you back to the power you had before. you divide your old tire diameter into your new tire diameter multiply that by your existing ratio. for example 35.4divided by 31.6 times 3.55 comes out to around 4.11, so 4:10 gears. 35.4 is the listed height of my swampers, and 31.6 is the height of my oems.
Your math is correct, but you must also factor in the added weight that you have straped on to the truck... The wider rubber means you also are adding to the friction point. ie: a 12 inch wide tire will have more rubber touching the road than say and 8 inch tire. The added surface to surface contact means more power to over come that friction. Also, you are now taller. this means you will have more wind resistance. All of this adds up and quick! If your truck were strickly a trail rig than none of this matters. but since most all of us drive these things to work, it REALLY matters.
I will be going to 4:10's and not 4:56"s ONLY because I have the 5 speed and a killer 1st gear to get the mass moving. Otherwise, I would go to 4:56 or a bit taller.
So keep in mind, you are adding weight, friction, and drag. Good luck to you.
I will be going to 4:10's and not 4:56"s ONLY because I have the 5 speed and a killer 1st gear to get the mass moving. Otherwise, I would go to 4:56 or a bit taller.
So keep in mind, you are adding weight, friction, and drag. Good luck to you.
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to the idea that lifts are bad... http://communities.msn.com/dubgesworld/oooops.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=74 now what would your dad rather you be in, the car, or the lifted truck. If that truck would have been stock... that car would have been completely totaled and the truck wouldnt have looked much better! That truck will need maybe a couple new suspension parts and an alighnment instead of a tow truck hauling it to the shop for a new front clip or worse, a junk yard.. just my $.02
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SMILE AS YOU DRIVE UNDER!!!
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Joe, did you show your dad this picture, http://communities.msn.com/dubgesworld/oooops.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=74, yet... great great evidence that lifts are 100% safe... LOL
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