Noob tow rig questions

[BCGPER]

You obviously don't know how weak the stock pump is...

Turning 35's, mine was at it's limits.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Good to know. You're right, I don't know the first thing about big trucks. I'm not an idiot with mechanics, but I have never owned anything bigger than my 4-door 1/4 ton tacoma, so I don't know any of the weaknesses of any of these big trucks, hence my asking.

Anyone know if I can still fit 38x18x15.5s on there if I took out the extra cheezy small front lift springs? I imagine it'd leave me with around 6" of lift? Ideally, I'd like to trade the tires for some 37x12.50s to minimize rubbing on the leaves. I imagine 37s would still rub the bumpers and fenders on bumps.

I'd love to get the right front springs for it, but I can't afford to spend another penny on this truck once I get it (not for at least 3 months). Last thing I need is another money pit.

 

[BCGPER]

From what I can see, it looks like those leaves might add up to an inch, maybe? I think you'll be fine. If I had to guess, I'd bet they were added just to level the truck.

 

[Corban_White]

From what I have seen with your 35's on the taco you can make the 38's fit with a little less lift. It may just fit with no problems.



EDIT: after looking over the pics again I would check out that hitch. If it is a part of the bumper or looks in any way suspect I would replace it and get a hitch rated to tow some weight. (class IV or V) A home-fabbed hitch is not something to be pulling your truck with.

 

[sixstringsteve]

EDIT: after looking over the pics again I would check out that hitch. If it is a part of the bumper or looks in any way suspect I would replace it and get a hitch rated to tow some weight. (class IV or V) A home-fabbed hitch is not something to be pulling your truck with.

THe hitch is a regular hitch, mounted directly to the frame. It's not incorporated into the bumper at all, it just looks like it (I asked the owner, and he verified this).

 

[sixstringsteve]

I got some more pics. It looks like the rears were done right, no blocks, just the way I like it.

But the front doesn't look so hot with those 3 extra spacer/leaf things. they don't even bend to conform to the springs. In my opinion it looks like 3 skinny lift blocks on top of each other. But I think I could yank 'em out, or add a few leaves to the pack or something. Any suggestions without breaking the bank?

 

[sixstringsteve]

From what I have seen with your 35's on the taco you can make the 38's fit with a little less lift. It may just fit with no problems.

THanks. Key difference being that I know a LOT about toyotas and ZERO about fords. I would really like to not have to tub the firewall on such a nice truck. I don't know if those bushwhackers give any extra room in the wheel wells, or if they're just there for bling.

But I would love 37s-38s with a little 4" lift or so. That would be sweet.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I wonder if I could just go with a 1-2" add-a-leaf in front.

 

[sixstringsteve]

After doing some research, it appears that bushwhacker makes some fender flares that require cutting of the original fenders. Sounds like it's more than possible to do some trimming to make the 38s fit with less lift...

But then I'd have to find a way to lower the rear...

 

[zukijames]

just load your trailer tounge heavy and always leave it hooked up with the yota on.. that way if you see a cool obstical on the way to the store or work you could just unload and wheel haha

 

[sixstringsteve]

haha, nice solution James.

 

[LT.]

I would not worry too much about the rear sitting higher than the front. I would remove the extra short leaves out of the front and let it be. It is common for any of the 3/4 ton and larger trucks to be about 2" high in the rear. All of the trucks sit that way so that when they are loaded they will sit level. As far as the 38's go run them into the ground and I still would not be afraid of replacing them with a 37 or so. That should take away all the problems you may have.

LT.

 

[Rot Box]

The only problem I see with lowering it is that it's got 4.56's, and to keep that ratio I'd have to stay with a big tire

I would not hesitate running a 315 with that ratio and they fit with minimal lift on the Super Duty's. Figure a lot of those trucks came with 4.10's stock with 265's. That said 4.56's with 315's or maybe even 285's isn't going to be too far off of the stock gearing.

 

[sixstringsteve]

cool. I think I'll be able to make it work just fine.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Can someone explain to me what this means?

The only thing I need to look at is getting a stiffer spring for my waste gate on my turbo, when the boost gets high it dumps the PSI so a stiffer spring would let the boost keep building.​

Is this an easy fix? Is it even something to worry about fixing for the first year?

 

[sixstringsteve]

Also, I assume I'll have to get it aligned if I drop the front blocks. Is there anything else I'll have to change with the steering or anything like that?

 

[skippy]

the stock wastegate on the turbo is set to open at a certain amount of boost and a heavier spring would let it build more boost but i reccomend against it. I t will just over speed the turbo pushing it out of its efficency range and not really doing any good

 

[sixstringsteve]

Ok, so that sounds like normal behavior, right? to dump the boost at higher pressure? Is that the "whoosh" sound you hear when turbo vehicles shift?

 

[Toad]

I think most of the super duty's with a diesel were 3.73 ratios stock. I have 4.10s in my 1996 with 285 tires I turn at about 2200 rpm @ 68 mph. That is were I drive the truck. I wish that I had 3.50 gears in it. I could go a little faster without lossing the mpg's. Mileage will go down fast with more rpms. I personally would run.

 

[sixstringsteve]

thanks Toad. It also has a 100 HP supechip (whatever that means). It's hard to find a stock diesel these days without a chip. I assume that since the truck has a rebuilt tranny that I shouldn't have to worry about it being chipped.