Max Tire height without regear and lift question ?

[SoCal_80]

Yes I am a newbie, but i combed the threads over a couple of times nad haven't found a good answer to my question. I am hoping the experts can weigh in and provide me some help. Here it goes:

I recently purchased a '93 80 series and will be lifiting it very soon. I will be using mostly for heading up to the mountains on the weekends and farting around on fire roads with a few minor to moderate obstacles...Nothing major at all. What tire size should i be looking at and will they require me to regear ?

Lastly, a lift question... I am really thinking about this kit from MAF Old Man Emu and 4+Plus 80 Series 3-inch Suspension Kit . I will be bolting on a ARB front bumper soon and a rear sometime in the future....Is this the kit i want ? They also have a "level stance"
kit 80 Series Level Stance Suspension Kits ... What the heck should i do ? I really won't be loading it too much. Towing a pop-up trailer a couple times a year and putting a dirt bike on a hitch mounted receiver every once in a while...

Thank you in advance for you help!!

 

[jfz80]

Everyone has different tolerances for undergeared trucks so its gonna be hard to find someone to tell you what is right for you, and its been asked too many times to be counted. You will certainly get a variety of opinions and thats all i can offer. I prefer the level stance some dont mind a bit of stinkbug. Id get the level stance kit you posted or create your own from any vendor. If your not wheeling obstacles that may cause you to get hung up on the drop brackets then they should not be a concern and will make install even easier. My suggestion is not to go much over a 33'' tire or metric equivalent 285/55 285/65 295/75 and pick a tread pattern most suitable to you. An aggressive all terrain like the nitto terra grappler if you still dd it. For the lift you could go Med/Hev combo many are pleased w/ or the MAF 2/3 level kit is a J/med(?) combo. There are definately threads concerning the hitch mounted bike carrier and pop ups as well. I think many folks opt for supplemental air bag support.

 

[Lka1988]

I stuffed 35's under mine with no lift. They rubbed every time I turned left. Not my tires, unfortunately.

 

[Salue]

I just bought my 80 a few weeks ago and the PO already installed that lift you are considering. Right now it has 285/75/16 (~33's) and there is room to fit 35's. I've test driven a few stock 80's before getting this one and it does ride a little rougher but nothing to complain about. I say get that lift, you won't be disappointed.

 

[SoCal_80]

Hey..Thanks for the reply.
Which of the two lifts did you get ? Do you happen to have any photos you can post or send me ? I really just want enough tire underneath it so that it looks "right"...I.e.- not too small with tons of wheel well showing. I was looking at 295 BFG AT's since i need good wet weather traction when we are up in the moutains.I love the look and ability of mud terrains, but here they can leave a little to be desired when it comes to wet weather.

 

[Salue]

I have the 803 FRABKIT; I can't even tell the rear is a little higher. Since you mentioned you are going to get a rear bumper, this would be the way to go. Here are a couple of pics of mine with the 285's. The link to the kit I have on Man-A-Fre looks like those are 35's on there and they look just right, especially with the MT's. Mine has the BFG AT's.

Salue

 

[bpenn1980]

Hey socal,

I may be installing a lift with you in a few weeks. If you're looking at the BFG AT KO's look at the 295's. They measure just 0.1" over 33" while the 285's are short of 33" by a little bit. Also, the Bridgestone Revo's are comparable pricewise and I believe most reviews have them performing better in slick conditions than the BFG's but they dont wear as well. The Revo's only go up to 285, but their 285 is a true 33". I've got some Revo 275's if you want em, $100/tire

As far as OME lifts go I'm looking at a heavy front (850) and a medium rear (860), though a lot of folks have told me to get the heavy rear (863) instead of the medium rear. I would like to put a rear bumper on it at some point in the future, but its a ways away at this point, so I may go for the medium rear.

later dude

 

[reffug]

as previously stated this is a very subjective topic.

I would stuff 35's under there.

but I am a firm believer in bigger tires.

 

[SoCal_80]

Thanks guys. Ya , i am all for bigger tires, but 35's from what i am told while defiantly require regearing...Is that a true statement ?

 

[mainemike]

.Is that a true statement ?

No.


Lots of 80s out there on 35s with stock gears.

Depending on where and how you drive you may CHOOSE to regear, but you don't HAVE to regear. Sooner or later everyone WANTS to regear as tire size and lift increases..

Lift it and run 35s.

 

[reffug]

you don't have to regear, especially if you don't wheel it hard.

 

[FJBen]

I wouldn't see it as a "MUST DO" but it sure is nice You will most likely go that route, but I wouldn't let it sway you from buying 33's or 35's

Go 35's

 

[cruiserruf]

i agree...you don't really have to regear unless you're at higher elevation. went to calico with a friend on stock gears with 35s. no problem.

don't get the leveling stance from MAF. get some spacers for the front. that'll level it out. it's a lot cheaper.

 

[SoCal_80]

Since i will primarily be using the rig to get us up and down the mountain, i suspect a regear will be almost a must do if i want to make it up the hill in anything but 2nd gear. With that said, i will 33's look "good" underneath it ? I am leaning towards 295/75 BFG AT's since they seem to work very well in rain and icy roads. Would LOVE to put some mud terrains, but from my experience and from what i have read, they tend to perform "differently" in the rain and icy roads.

 

[Nay]

OME medium with 295 Nittos.

Don't lift the front more, don't run 35's. More front lift = fun with caster v. pinion angle, 35's are best paired with FOR, OME J/L, or Slee 4".

The straight OME medium kit with 295's is a nice look and will handle everything you need and shouldn't introduce any other issues. Regear down the road if you really want to.

Having said this, the 80 is just perfect on a 3"-4" lift with 35's, but you really need to expect a budget increase.

Here is OME medium on 35's. The rear will rub without reducing suspension travel because the kit is designed for 33's. Of course, if you aren't flexing it up much, you'd only rub rarely.

The second pic is OME medium on 33's. 295's will be a little bit taller, and they look good on this lift.

 

[Cj80cruiser]

Since i will primarily be using the rig to get us up and down the mountain, i suspect a regear will be almost a must do if i want to make it up the hill in anything but 2nd gear. With that said, i will 33's look "good" underneath it ? I am leaning towards 295/75 BFG AT's since they seem to work very well in rain and icy roads. Would LOVE to put some mud terrains, but from my experience and from what i have read, they tend to perform "differently" in the rain and icy roads.

I don't know how to explain it but I can't tell a difference between the 33's and 35's as far as the need to regear goes. My truck actually feels better on the 35's. Maybe has to do with shift points I don't know.
If you want a mud tire good on wet and icey pavement I'm sure Nay will agree that the TruXus M/T is the way to go. I've also heard Mickey Thompson MTZ's are good for this. That said, I've never owned either but I'm confident it's true.

 

[Cj80cruiser]

I stuffed 35's under mine with no lift. They rubbed every time I turned left. Not my tires, unfortunately.

what rubbed then? I'm racking my brain here

 

[Nay]

I don't know how to explain it but I can't tell a difference between the 33's and 35's as far as the need to regear goes. My truck actually feels better on the 35's. Maybe has to do with shift points I don't know.
If you want a mud tire good on wet and icey pavement I'm sure Nay will agree that the TruXus M/T is the way to go. I've also heard Mickey Thompson MTZ's are good for this. That said, I've never owned either but I'm confident it's true.

I thought 35's were better, also, because they mate the RPM's better with OD off.

That's not because 33's were fine: both were terrible, but I'm at 7,400 ft.

 

[Cj80cruiser]

I thought 35's were better, also, because they mate the RPM's better with OD off.

That's not because 33's were fine: both were terrible, but I'm at 7,400 ft.

Yeah, both are worse than stock but if you're going bigger might as well go 35's. I have 35's with no lift right now but have most of the pieced together 3" lift.

Front 2" or 2.5"(depends on where you get it) Heavy OME

Rear 2"(same deal as front) Mediums OME

FOR(frankies off road) shocks, shock eye adaptors, bumpstop extentions, swaybar spacers, rear brake drop bracket, and 3* caster bushings.

1" spacer from Advance Autoparts.

The shocks from frankies are pricey but I think they will be worth it.