Hey! Great site! I was wondering what you guys would do? I have a 95 Ford F-350 4x4, regular cab, 460 efi, dana 60 front, sterling rear. Its basically stock now with a tow package and has BFG's AT 285/R16 that are worn out. This truck isn't my daily driver. I want it built for offroading, camping and hunting. I was thinking a 6 inch Skyjacker all spring suspension lift. How big of tires can I fit on with that lift? Would this lift clear 38" tires without trimming or would I need to trim? Also I'm thinking of 38" Ground Hawgs because I been reading your posts that they last a longer than any other bias ply. I would like to go to 15" rim because of the safety bead but will this rim fit on a Dana 60 axle with ABS? Otherwise I will go 16 1/2" rim. Any other suggestions are always welcomed!

Matt

 

6" will fit 35's fine but prolly nothing bigger than 37's! yo will need to look into a body lift (ahhh, i can't believe i just said that) but i would trim before i put a body lift on it

the 38" Hawgs are more like 36.5 or 37 so they may fit but i doubt you will have a lot of room to flex and all.

no 15" rims will not clear the calipers on your front brakes....I am gonna grind them down to make 15's fit cause 16.5's suck.

if you get a suspension lift get skyjacker....they are one of the best companies for our style trucks. Check out my gallery as i have a 6" lift in the front and shackle flip the rear (saved me about $500 an I get a LOT more flex outta it!)

-jason-

 

thanks jason! what year is your truck so I can take a look at your gallery? Yeah I hate body lifts, to much work, look funny and I heard bad things about them. I was thinking of also ordering a reversal shackle lift from www.offroadunlimited.com that gives you 2 inches more lift in the front and smooths out the ride. But I would need to order 8" springs for the back to make the truck sit level. Is that wise grinding down your calipers it sounds like some trouble just for some rims ya know? I like the Iroks you have, maybe I'll just get 39" ones with a 16" rim. How wide of a rim do you have for your Iroks? Also how much lift?

 

Ok I checked out your gallery. Love the Iroks! That shackle flip is cool for the rear. How much lift if any did it add? I love the flex your truck has. Did you have to trim the fenders for the 39" Iroks? Great job man!

 

my truck is an 85 f-300

there was a post a week or so ago on the front shackle reversal i have never done one but from what i heard it w3asn't worth it. Try searching or browsing back

if i was you I would do a shackle flip in the rear (about 4-4.5") and then order a lift KIT, not system. you don't want the rear springs...they are too stiff! then since you are running stock leafs in the rear go ahead and get an ad-a-leaf to get it about 1-2" up some more.

it doesn't take too much to get 15's to fit but it is not recommended to grind your calipers if you are gonna use the truck to tow b/c the extra metal is there to be able to allow for a lot of pressure and pulling a trailer can easily double it. it doesn't take too much just have a 15" wheel with you and just keep grinding and checking. yea it's a lot of work (not hard work) but once it is done it is done.....you can any kind of 15" rim you want.

no fenders are not trimmed....yet. i may trim them in the near future.

I am running 16.5" rim and they are pretty good but i would really like to go to a 15" rim soon.

I am running skyjacker 6" lift front with shackle flipped rear and stock 3" block. I am about to get rid of the block by moving the front hangar of the rear axle down about 4" then i can get rid of my bling bling blocks!

-jason-

BTW....thanx for the compliment

 

That sounds like a great idea! It will save me some $$$ as well! What do you think about the idea of running the 39.5" Iroks on a 16" steel rim? I love the black steel rims and only cost $65 from National. Are these rims any good? I have heard some bad things about the cheap steal rims not running true. Should I get a 10" wide rim or 8"? I'm thinking 10" wide because the tire is a 13.50" I don't have a grinder and it seems like a hassel to fit 15"s on. I wish Super Swamper made a 42" tire or a 44" in a 16" rim that would be sweet!

 

the only problem with running a 16" rim is there aren't many other mud tires for 16's they are either 15's or 16.5! I am running them on steel rims rightr now and have no problems whatsoever. i have yet to get them balanced...haven't needed to! Get a 10" rim, that's what I have. actually the tire calls for 9.75" wide rim but 1/4" shouldn't hurt it too bad!

look for me posting about rims in the near future b/c i will prolly go ahead and do it! nothing hard just take a few hours (from what I have heard) and i will tell you what i did and how i did it and how long it took me! if ya briong'em to me i will do it for ya for a small fee. How much? you have to promise me a day of wheelin'

-jason-

 

jason i gotta disagree with ya on this.... for the 85-97 f-350's all you need is a 2inch lift to run 35's...3-4 to run 37's. with 6 inches you can run 38's easily. go look arounf the 1994-97 forum on ford-trucks.com and search aorund for pics. youl see alot of the truck running 2-4 inches with 35's. 4 inches with 35's is waay overkill.

i dont know cuz i aint done it...but with 6 inches im pretty sure you can run 39's at least. only problem i could see you having is rubbing the bumper(you an trim it or shim it)

 

I have to agree with ho on this one. I think you should be able to fit at least 38's or maybe even 39's with a 6'' lift. I have seen stock suspensioned 80's-mid 90's model f-250 and f-350 fit 35s with VERY little rubbing. one add-a-leaf in the front would have solved the rubbing problem.

 

yeah thats what i'm thinking to. I have no lift on it now and it easily clears 33" tires or 285/r16 BFG AT's but i did measure these and they are a true 31". Would it be possible to go with Skyjacker 3/4 ton lift springs? I'm sure they would flex more than the 1 ton springs I have now. I also heard that the after market lift leaf springs have smaller leaves and flex better. The stock one ton springs are only 3 thick leaves and are stiff as hell!

 

97 F250 (basically now a 350)
6" lift with 35's, could easily go 37's possibly 39's as long as I dont go too wide.

 

Wow yeah you can easily fit 37" on there! I would like 38" or 39" tires. Maybe I will just have to get the lift and size up the tires to it and trim what rubs. I would really hate to trim perfectly good sheet metal though. I'm considering putting on Skyjacker 3/4 ton 6" lift springs because I think they would flex better, but then again I like Fish's idea. His truck seems to flex very well.

 

ok then i will shutup now. sorry man thought i could help! i just remember on my 93 f150 I cleared 33's with a 6" lift and maybe 35's with running. Maybe 3/4 and 1 tons are different!

-jason-

 

Yeah 1 tons come alot higher than the half tons. People always ask, "how much lift do you have on that thing?" and they are shocked when I say, "None!" I like your ideas Jason because of how much flex you have on yours. But I think I may just go with a 6" Skyjacker lift system, its an easy bolt on and no fabrication. Hey MJWhip2 does your truck seem to ride better than stock with that lift?

 

yea the one tons sit alot higher. they look about like an f-150 with a 4inch lift. i get the same "how much lift you runnin" thing quite often on my 97.

just for the record...the skyjacker 3/4 ton and one ton lift springs are the same

i wish i had bought 35's instead of 33's since i have 4.10 gears in mine(to help keeps the revs down),
im not really sure how i would have lifted it it up 2 inches for the 35's though.. since theres so many options. theres aal for about 2in and a harsher ride, shackle reversal up front for 2-3 and a smoother than stock ride, f-450 springs for baout 3 inches and a sstiff ride(but cheap route), or 2 inch tuff country springs. the rear i dont know wut id do since i use this thing to pull our 4000lb gooseneck with lots of different junk on it(5-7000lbtractors, bobcats,&trucks). i wanna keep the tension shackle design cuz its by far the best for carrying heavy stuff, rear lift springs would make it too soft and you would loose the factory overload leaf. and blocks are iffy because it alreayd has a 4 inch stock block. alot of people slap a 6 inch block in there but i dont htink i could stand it...unless i built some ladder bars. for me itd either be a rear aal (stiffer ride, less axle wrap than stock) or a 6 inch block and some sort of traction bars and beefed up ubolts

axle wrap is a big concern for me, especailly since i will be around 350 rwhp and over 600 rwt soon