Newbie: what's the best way to make 37x12.50R17 fit? (1 Viewer)

[TulipGambia]

Hi all!
I have a '98 HDJ100 with AHC and want to mount 37 tires.
Yes, I am aware it's all together a big mod. I have garage facilities, a grinder and mig welder (and not scared to use them).
At the moment I want to create the space for this rubber. Later I will import the tires (not available here) and maybe maybe re-gear.
Was thinking of 50 mm bodylift and fender/footwell cutting.
Am also considering to modify the IFS bottom control arms to get the wheel 25 mm more forward for space (and about 3 degrees extra caster).
It's an old clunker driven every day on the Gambian muddy dirt roads. Abuse gallore, no pavement princess.
Here in The Gambia there is no roadworthy check so ALL mods are street legal

I am looking for advice from people who also fitted 37s.

 

[Dparo]

Buy an 80.

 

[nukegoat]

Follow your dreams

 

[TulipGambia]

? Not dreaming at all.
Maybe new to this forum but 25 years experience, of which I was ARB dealer in The Netherlands for 15 years.
I like complicated challenges

 

[nukegoat]

? Not dreaming at all.
Maybe new to this forum but 25 years experience, of which I was ARB dealer in The Netherlands for 15 years.
I like complicated challenges

Just an expression

 

[GatorBait1551]

I believe @MTKID has done it with lots of cutting

 

[MTKID]

Fair amount of cutting and 1” (25mm) body lift. I was looking at trying to go bigger than 37’s just before it went away and I liked the thought of a sloped body lift. Taller spacers in the front than the back. Maybe 50mm sloping to 25mm would work well? That’s what I was leaning (no pun intended) toward. I wanted to keep it as low as possible. My dream rig is Swag Offroad’s 80 on 40” tires without lift. Then everything you do after to fit or flex is a cake walk. This is my personal preference with our primary trips having been in the winter/deep snow. Not a lot of flex needed. Although the rear of my truck would droop like crazy

 

[ClassyJalopy]

? Not dreaming at all.
Maybe new to this forum but 25 years experience, of which I was ARB dealer in The Netherlands for 15 years.
I like complicated challenges

Just an expression

@TulipGambia I think what @nukegoat is suggesting is to be not afraid to modify the truck to make it the way you want. Look at his truck, where he chopped off the independent front suspension and swapped in a solid axle with lots of cutting, grinding and welding.
Here's his build thread

Builds - Hammersaurus Lex - The LX470 gets tons

Edit: current pic: I was just sitting in my garage minding my own business and my plasma cutter slipped and cut my IFS off! This project is a ton of work but honestly not much more than Marshmallow was. I've just condensed it all into the past week so I'm exhausted. Still in flight but I...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[lehiguy]

Plasma cutter. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

A lot of cutting. If you want to make it look decent, it'll take some fab work

 

[suprarx7nut]

I want to see where this one goes. Please share your progress @TulipGambia !

 

[knewstance]

Just re-title this as HDJ100 SAS on 37's, a solid axle is about the only way you'll get truly big tires to fit without issues.

I know its a little bit of a buzzkill, but there are plenty of people on here that run 35's without too many issues.

 

[MTKID]

Just re-title this as HDJ100 SAS on 37's, a solid axle is about the only way you'll get truly big tires to fit without issues.

I know its a little bit of a buzzkill, but there are plenty of people on here that run 35's without too many issues.

What issues are you referring to with 37’s under IFS? Sorry, I thought I proved it could be done w/o issues.

I agree plenty of people run 35’s w/o too many issues, but I don’t understand the narrow-minded view that 37’s shouldn’t be attempted, when understanding what the limitations are and what is involved to get there.

 

[knewstance]

What issues are you referring to with 37’s under IFS? Sorry, I thought I proved it could be done w/o issues.

I just skimmed through your build thread. I applaud the effort and you have me a little jealous. But with that said, I would not say that you "proved it could be done w/o issues". You should know better than anyone that you ran into plenty of obstacles and issues during your journey in the world of 37's.

 

[MTKID]

I just skimmed through your build thread. I applaud the effort and you have me a little jealous. But with that said, I would not say that you "proved it could be done w/o issues". You should know better than anyone that you ran into plenty of obstacles and issues during your journey in the world of 37's.

I hope what I accomplished allows others to try it knowing what is involved. Also, taking the much smarter course, locking & re-gearing the axles early on to maximize the longevity of everything

However, as I went, it was still daily driven, and didn’t sit for days or weeks while I tried to figure out how to fix something I didn’t expect. I would do it all over again, but with the re-gear and locker up front sooner. (And maybe try to cut even further initially since we were cutting anyways).

And I would rather own a SAS’d 100 if all things were equal

 

[Cola]

Fair amount of cutting and 1” (25mm) body lift. I was looking at trying to go bigger than 37’s just before it went away and I liked the thought of a sloped body lift. Taller spacers in the front than the back. Maybe 50mm sloping to 25mm would work well. That’s what I was leaning (no pun intended) toward. I wanted to keep it as low as possible. My dream rig is Swag Offroad’s 80 on 40” tires without lift. Then everything you do after to fit or flex is a cake walk. This is my personal preference with our primary trips having been in the winter/deep snow. Not a lot of flex needed. Although the rear of my truck would droop like crazy

Don't want to steal the thread or blow your mind, but he listed the 80 in July For Sale - 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser With Factory Lockers On 40" Tires…100% Stock

 

[MTKID]

Don't want to steal the thread or blow your mind, but he listed the 80 in July For Sale - 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser With Factory Lockers On 40" Tires…100% Stock

Yeah, I follow that thread for sure but it isn’t in my budget. Thanks for mentioning it though. I hope it finds a good home and continues to get some new parts and further exposure

 

[Dparo]

Just re-title this as HDJ100 SAS on 37's, a solid axle is about the only way you'll get truly big tires to fit without issues.

I know its a little bit of a buzzkill, but there are plenty of people on here that run 35's without too many issues.

I thought about trying 35’s but in the end decided to stay with a slightly larger 33.

 

[nitteo]

35s are the limit for 100s with extended bumpstops and washer liquid relocate, after that its major cutting, body lift and modding.

 

[TulipGambia]

I want to see where this one goes. Please share your progress @TulipGambia !

Still preparing. But when I start I'll definitely put it on this forum.