What Minimum Suspension Mods to Accomodate 285/70/17 and Rims 14x9s

[rodbaron]

Hello all! Lots of cool.stuff here. I'm brand new and have quickly read some about this topic and most of what I'm seeing is with a 16in wheel...3" body lift, TT, shackles and optional 2"-3' suspension lift to accommodate 33in tires on Gen 2s (IN GENERAL and variations thereof).

I basically was given 4 almost new 285/70/17s on 15x9 steelies that I would love to put on my 1998 XLT 4x4.

Can a few of you guide me on this? It's a beater for me and has no A/C at this time so I'm not looking for an expensive off road machine. Just an occasional driving in crappy conditions like rain and a mile.stretch of muddy dirt road near the house at low speeds and snow in Winter. Launching boats and tool truck. Maybe it will change as I love it more. TIA

 

[RangerX]

How much money are you willing and able to spend to fit these free tires is the question.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

for these the cheapest way to fit a 33 is TT shackle and a 3" BL iirc. if not theres the super lift... but thats more $. these are solid rigs that can take an impressive amount of abuse and still come back for more. i think youll fall in love with it! theyre perfect rigs at east for my lifestyle (ie. city commute, fishing and forest roads and some mud, launching boats, and roadtripping on weekends) you can park them, theyre small enough, yet have 4wd, can tow... whats not to love!!! although i would like a full size pickup for the real heavy work, but this gets it done! (just have to overload it here and there...)

 

[tinman_72]

That looks pretty nice to be a beater.

 

[rodbaron]

Thanks! That 4.0L certainly does have alot of power. I was surprised! Would the Super Lift take the place of the 3in BL and TT Shackles or in addition to them? Inquiring newbies like me would like to know. If the ride is significantly improved with the SL then I would consider including it. I think this is gonna look really cool with these wheels.

 

[Explorer2.0]

I'll be "That guy!"

Before doing anything, take the tires/wheels to a shop. Maybe something is out of round. Maybe one can't be balanced. Maybe a wheel isn't true. Check the DOT tags for manufacturing dates. Any recalls? Any passed the recommended "Replace after six years from manufacture" date?

My seven year old BFG KO2s look fine with only 35,000 miles. My EX is garage kept. My understanding is less chance of UV deterioration. I feel safe on these tires because I know their history. BFG recommends replacement after 6 but no later than 10 years.

For a beater? Probably fine.

Be sure of what you have before you invest/build around it.

Good luck!

 

[rodbaron]

I'll be "That guy!"

Before doing anything, take the tires/wheels to a shop. Maybe something is out of round. Maybe one can't be balanced. Maybe a wheel isn't true. Check the DOT tags for manufacturing dates. Any recalls? Any passed the recommended "Replace after six years from manufacture" date?

My seven year old BFG KO2s look fine with only 35,000 miles. My EX is garage kept. My understanding is less chance of UV deterioration. I feel safe on these tires because I know their history. BFG recommends replacement after 6 but no later than 10 years.

For a beater? Probably fine.

Be sure of what you have before you invest/build around it.

Good luck!

This is great advice. I do have a scheduled visit with a shop to clean the throttle body and will ask them to balance the wheels and check them over. Thank you!

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Thanks! That 4.0L certainly does have alot of power. I was surprised! Would the Super Lift take the place of the 3in BL and TT Shackles or in addition to them? Inquiring newbies like me would like to know. If the ride is significantly improved with the SL then I would consider including it. I think this is gonna look really cool with these wheels.

yes! the SL is a 4" suspension lift. i suppose you could do a BL or crank the bars on top of the SL, but there would be no reason to. it is important to note the SL iirc isnt produced anymore, so you would have to find one used, as with tail master. the only currently produced lift is by rough country, but you need to upgrade to 16" rims for that one iirc (bigger brake rotors are used) so your option would be BL and TT shackle or SL

the ride quality with Sl will be factory. with tt shackle imo it makes it a bit firmer, but it certainly doesnt ride like a hay wagon

I'll be "That guy!"

Before doing anything, take the tires/wheels to a shop. Maybe something is out of round. Maybe one can't be balanced. Maybe a wheel isn't true. Check the DOT tags for manufacturing dates. Any recalls? Any passed the recommended "Replace after six years from manufacture" date?

My seven year old BFG KO2s look fine with only 35,000 miles. My EX is garage kept. My understanding is less chance of UV deterioration. I feel safe on these tires because I know their history. BFG recommends replacement after 6 but no later than 10 years.

For a beater? Probably fine.

Be sure of what you have before you invest/build around it.

Good luck!

correctamundo! like everything, with heat cycles and UV it deteriorates! however one thing to keep in mind for cars that sit alot (this is more for seasonal use liek RVs or boats) they develop flat spots. mainly what you want to look out for is cracking or dry rotting

for a beater its probably fine to not balance them... although i suspect this one looks a bit to nice to be a true beater haha

 

[Fix4Dirt]

This is great advice. I do have a scheduled visit with a shop to clean the throttle body and will ask them to balance the wheels and check them over. Thank you!

its pretty easy to check tires. they have a date code. then look for it being out of round, dry rotting, or cracking.