More lift Q's.

[Ebstard944]

Dont want to thread jack facetimes thread. I have a 6" lift on my 72. The tires are shot and I was just about to buy another set of BFG K0 35/12.5/15, but doing some shoping I saw that you can get a set of 33/10.5/15. I hate how rough the ride is with the 6" (could be the shocks), and think it is kind of silly to put a new 4" lift to replace the 6", but I plan to own the truck till I die, so if I can get a skinnier tire and a soft ride it would be worth it. Any recomendations for a soft ride lift? Am I being a moron for not just getting the 12.5 wide tires and new shocks? No offroading planned exept dirt roads and snow.

Thanks
Erin

[Ebstard944]

Now I have been looking around trying to find pictures of 6" with 33/10.5. Am I going to look 90's gansta with little tires? Anybody have pictures of that set up?
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[66crewcab]

not knowing what size rims are on your 35's...33-10.50-15's should go on a 7-8 wide wheel...not a 10"....as for your lift...again not knowing the brand...sometimes you can remove a leaf or two to lower it and somethimes makes it ride better so I hope this help.I run a Skyjacker soft ride 2.5 lift with gas shoucks..It rides and handle very well.

[Ebstard944]

Thanks 66. I dont know what size rims are on it now, but I have a set of 15x8 rallys waiting to go on. I had not heard of a softride lift, but that sounds like what I am looking for. And I dont know what kind of lift is on it either. It was on it when I got it. Im going to crawl around it some more and try to figure it out.

[Ebstard944]

Ive been all over that thing, and still no idea what brand/kind of lift it is.







The tires look low miles, but rotten. I dont see any blocks if I understand blocks correct. The shocks are rancho 5000's that look spent. Maybe I just need new tires and shocks? Well, I do need new tires and shocks, but I would rather run a 10.5 wide over a 12.5 if I can justify the cost (to my wife) of a different lift kit. Maybe ill just buy the 33/10.5 and drive it and if it looks OK, buy shocks, and if it looks stupid start saving for a 4" lift kit.

[Mint68]

I think 2'' tuff county lifts looks good with 33x10.50 tires, and they are supposed to have the softest spring rate. I have heard good things about the sky jacker 2.5'' also, just haven't installed either to know. The rancho rs9000 adjustable shocks are supposed to be a big help to a smooth ride.

[RED 1970]

I have run Tuff Country 4" and 6" springs and the 4" are much nicer.

Looking at your springs and shocks form the outside I'd say that at the minimum you should replace your shocks. If they look that bad on the outside I can only imagine what they look like under the boots. Take the boots off and see what the piston looks like.

Why do you want to run the 10.5 over 12.5? The 35x12.5 BFG AT is one of the best riding tires in my opinion, I have them on my 1970.

If you decrease the diameter of the tire to 33" then you are loosing sidewall, this will decrease the ability of the sidewall to flex and soften the ride, I'm not sure who told you that a 33x10.5 will ride better than a 35x12.5, I would put a small amount of money that they are wrong.

When you look at spring rates you are viewing the amount of weight that is required to compress the springs one inch. As the arch of the spring increases the spring rate will also increase, that is why a 4" will always be softer than a 6". The typical front 4" spring is around 4-450# spring rate. The Tuff Country springs are rated at 325#'s. That is significantly less.

And If I were you I wouldn't drive on those tires another mile....

[Ebstard944]

No, it isnt getting driven at all on those tires! The 10.5 12.5 thing is me. I have seen on this forum where turning the wide tires can crack the frame, and I try to be in motion when turning, but sometimes you cant help it. I also grew up in snow (AK) and skinny tires were prefered. The only reason im looking at 33 over 35 is for that. But yeah, the shocks are done. They look just like the steering stabailiser (sp) in the pic. See the puddle under it? lol. I like the info! Thanks!

[RED 1970]

I would stick with the 35x12.5... It is a great all around tire, the 33x10.5 will be out of proportion on a K5 with 6" of lift in my opinion.

As far as wide tires being the cause of frame cracking without seeing the thread I'd call it a wives tail. Here's my reasoning.

The K5 weighs a set amount, for argument sake the weight distribution is 50/50 and the curb weight is 5,000lbs. Each tire is going to support 1,250lbs.

A wider tire will have a broad (shorter) contact patch with the ground. A skinnier tire will have a longer contact patch, looking more like a footprint. Without flexing my physics skills too hard you can imagine that the contact patch will be the same for both tires, just in a different shape. So why would turning a wide tire be any less stressful than a skinny tire when stationary. It would all depend on the compound of the tire and the design of the tread.

I can see that most offroad tires that are really wide are aggressive, like boggers, thus the wider tire would cause frame issues however not because of the width, but because of the tread design and the specific compound.

On a side note I've got a steering stabilizer set just like what you've got that is taking up room in the garage.... Ran it for about 2,000 miles then replaced an axle. PM me if you want to make a deal.

[DustinU]

Originally Posted by Mint68

I think 2'' tuff county lifts looks good with 33x10.50 tires, and they are supposed to have the softest spring rate. I have heard good things about the sky jacker 2.5'' also, just haven't installed either to know. The rancho rs9000 adjustable shocks are supposed to be a big help to a smooth ride.

I switched from the gas shocks that came with the 4" Superlift springs to the Rancho RS9000... HUGE difference in the ride. I recommend them often, their expensive but worth it.

[Ebstard944]

I have been looking at those RS9000. Good info! Thanks everybody.

[Mint68]

I just purchased rs9000 shocks for my truck. Rancho is running a rebate for them now if you buy 4, you get a $100 prepaid visa card....so 25 off per shock, fairly decent deal. I purchased from my4by.com, cause they were the cheapest I could find at the time. Two of them showed up used, but they corrected it immediately, but a hassle all the same. I purchased an all spring lift kit from sd truck springs and they were the cheapest I could find, with free shipping. Sorry to ramble, but if you shop around a bit, it can save some serious money.