It looks like--god willing--someone is buying my BMW 2002 finally, so I'm going to be sitting on a little bit more free cash than I anticipated. I just ordered my 90k service parts from Beno and will be getting the hundy in the shop next week, and while I was only planning on getting new tires before we go out to Tahoe in December, now I'm toying with the idea of perhaps doing some suspension work, too.
I've been reading Mud for the last week or so trying to decipher all the debate about tires and what not. I've decided to paint my stock 18-inch rims--I called around to price powder coating and it's way too expensive compared to painting, which is pretty much twenty bucks and a lot of labor--and I thought I was settled on 285/60/18 Terra Grapplers, but now I'm starting to wonder if it might be smarter to do the suspension upgrades I was planning on doing next year, which throws the whole tire selection process out of whack.
So consider this another "spend my money" thread!
Here's the context: In May, my girlfriend and I are planning on hitting the Pan American Highway for a year or more. Until then, I'm probably going to be hitting some Oregon trails and such so clearance is welcome, but hard core rock crawling isn't a priority. And even on the PA, we're going to be spending the lion's share of our time on the highway.
Still, a lift and new shocks seems like a wise upgrade. And if I'm going to do that, maybe I could move to a different tire. I'm still thinking something taller and thinner than wider--still want to keep gas mileage as reasonable as possible--but I'd love to get some feedback on your suggestions on a lift and shocks, as well as different tires if that makes sense. (I'm leaning towards Bilstein where I can; I've heard too much good stuff from other hundy owners.)
I'll almost certainly be adding bumpers, an RTT, drawers, etc. next year, so building out in anticipation of a higher curb weight makes sense.
Appreciate the time and consideration.
I've been reading Mud for the last week or so trying to decipher all the debate about tires and what not. I've decided to paint my stock 18-inch rims--I called around to price powder coating and it's way too expensive compared to painting, which is pretty much twenty bucks and a lot of labor--and I thought I was settled on 285/60/18 Terra Grapplers, but now I'm starting to wonder if it might be smarter to do the suspension upgrades I was planning on doing next year, which throws the whole tire selection process out of whack.
So consider this another "spend my money" thread!
Here's the context: In May, my girlfriend and I are planning on hitting the Pan American Highway for a year or more. Until then, I'm probably going to be hitting some Oregon trails and such so clearance is welcome, but hard core rock crawling isn't a priority. And even on the PA, we're going to be spending the lion's share of our time on the highway.
Still, a lift and new shocks seems like a wise upgrade. And if I'm going to do that, maybe I could move to a different tire. I'm still thinking something taller and thinner than wider--still want to keep gas mileage as reasonable as possible--but I'd love to get some feedback on your suggestions on a lift and shocks, as well as different tires if that makes sense. (I'm leaning towards Bilstein where I can; I've heard too much good stuff from other hundy owners.)
I'll almost certainly be adding bumpers, an RTT, drawers, etc. next year, so building out in anticipation of a higher curb weight makes sense.
Appreciate the time and consideration.
