99 XLS Lift to run 31's - Give me some tips

[mikeprocopio]

I used to have a 94 sport and was ale to run 31x10.5's without any lifting - eventually i added warrior shackles, but it was stilla ble to run the tires stock.

Now i have a 4 door 99xls and i am wondering if anyone has tried to run 31x10.5 tires on it stock. If not, does a simple 2" TT and shackles take care of it, or am i better of with a 2 or 3" body lift? Thanks.

 

[JoshC]

The simple TT and shackle lift will do you well. I have pictures of mine in my signature if you want to take a look. Good luck!

 

[Stic-o]

it will work

you will have to trim on the front bumper some though. If you do it right you will never notice the trim job.

 

[white96x]

like Josh C. said......if you do a TT/shackles you'll fit 'em no problem, with no trimming, even with out TT/shackles you wouldn't have to trim, but for 50-60 bucks the added clearance will be more beneficial.

 

[briantf]

No lift needed at all to fit 31's

Not sure why anyone suggested trimming is neccessary, since 31's look lost in the wheel well's on a 95-up Explorer. You were lucky to fit 31's on a 94 - that's a hit or miss proposition.

IF you keep your factory 15x7's with the stock offset and run 31x10.5 AT's, you'll have no problems with rubbing. With 31" muds on 15x8's with 4" backspacing (too much, 3.75-3.5 would have been better), there is slight rubbing with the plastic edging on the aft arch of the front wheel wells in tight/lock turns. This on a 98 XLT. The plastic bit that rubs the most got almost knocked off and was kicked back on, which may contribute a bit to the rubbing.

The rear axle will stuff enough to scuff the rear wheel wells, but it's very mild.

Look at 31's on a Toyota FourRunner or Nissan Xterra and you'll see how much room Explorers have in their wheel wells.

Regards,
Brian in CA
PS The twist & shackle combo is nice, but not neccessary. If you do it, it will run better off road but will make the tires look too small for the wheel wells.

 

[Hokie]

Re: No lift needed at all to fit 31's

Originally posted by briantf
The twist & shackle combo is nice, but not neccessary. If you do it, it will run better off road but will make the tires look too small for the wheel wells.

I disagree... have you seen pics of section's truck when he only had shackles/TT and 31's? I think that truck looks pretty daggum good! Also, 4Runners with 16" rims actually come with 31's stock (265/70R16).

 

[JoshC]

Yeah, i think i'm going to agree with HokieBert. If you just have stock setup with 31's, then it looks like a stationwagon, no fender at all. A 4x4 needs to have some room for flex, plus it looks stupid if you no room in there.

 

[briantf]

Flex != Explorer with TT

I will certainly accept that a TT/shackle looks better to you, and will attest that it's better running around offroad since expensive bits are 1-1.5" higher off the ground, but spare me the "flex" argument (heh!).

Bert, Josh - my point about the 4Runners and 31's is that's their stock tire (look at 15" rims, you'll find flotation 31x10.5's on them) and they look like they're an Explorer running 33's. Of course, they have no flex either, so they won't bang fenders with 31's.

My wife's next set of BFG's is going to be 32's b/c there's enough room to squeeze them in with the TT/shackle. There's also an Ex running around here with 33" muds and no other lift, so if you have the right gears, go crazy.

Look at a Jeep Grand Cherokee (WJ or ZJ) and realize they need a 2.5 coil spacer lift to run 31's.

Regards,
Brian in CA

 

[JoshC]

A TT takes away your down travel, not your uptravel.

But i'm not going to get in a pissing contest. It's just opinions anyways.