Help deciding on lift, or just new truck...

[ap3x]

<-- This truck. I have been planning a skyjacker 6" fr/ 4.5" rr and 3" BL with 4.56 gears and 35's for quite some time now. My total tickets about $2800. I love this truck, but I want something more out of it. I'm always the underdog at the gravel pit when it comes to the trails and mud. Plus I'm sick of my truck bein "that cute little pickup" . My trucks in great shape, and is mechanically sound, but probably won't sell for as much as I would like to see it go for. So I'm at a fork in the road here. Build up my truck and keep it forever as planned, or I could try and sell it and get a full size thats already been lifted, but might need some work (i.e. Bronco, F150, K10 etc.) What do you think?

 

[4.0B2]

look at Legoms buildup on his mazda truck. its a daily driver commuter that is CAPABLE off road. IMO, keep it, build it.. prove them all wrong.

in mud, you're better off. you're lighter... you don't sink as much. in gravel pits, i have no idea! we don't have those. on trails its easier to manuaver the mini trucks around than a full size.


on a different note, what motor do you have? b/c i think you'd want to be at 4.88's for 35's. i'm at 4.56s on 33's and LOVE it... 35's might be ok. idk.

 

[4.0B2]

here's the link to his build
http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75235

he's just NOW started looking to sas it. he's done a lot on the d35 ttb front axle. if you don't have the 8.8 and d35 axles, get those first.. don't spend money on the 7.5/d28. idk what your stock axles are


also, its not always about being the biggest... i've seen jeep TJ's on 33's go farther on rock trails than 1 tonned rigs on 38's. learn to drive what you have, learn its limits, and build it to fit you! you can make a more than capable rig with a "mini" truck

 

[prerunnerwannabe]

X2


Edit: I tried to rep you but it didn't work. Maybe later

 

[4.0B2]

X2


Edit: I tried to rep you but it didn't work. Maybe later

thanks, i would say its the thought that counts...but... in REP, it doesn't work that way!

 

[ap3x]

Wow man thanks much for giving me a link to that build. My trucks damn near identical to that truck at the start.

To be totally honest, I felt almost no change going from stock 235's to 31's. I'm pretty sure my engine is stock (got it at 109xxx). Only thing done to it is the only exhaust left on it is the one pre-cat and a 2-3/4" side exit pipe. Interesting thing is that in a side by side drag vs. my buddies 97' same 4.0 but 2wd, I smoke him. I think for the sake of money, garage time, and the fact there's no rear bumper relocation brackets for 93-94 body lifts, maybe I'll just go with the skyjacker 6" and 33's, no BL, no gear change. Yes it is an 8.8/D35. 3.73 gears stock.

 

[ap3x]

 

[4.0B2]

For 33's you'll want a gear change.. I can tell you that from experience. On 33's and 3.73's my 4.0 b2 got 12 mpgs in town. With 4.56's it gets 17ish. Plus it's more fun to drive.

Offroad; my low range didn't feel low enough with the 3.73's. I had to stay in 4low so I didn't have to hammer the throttle so much. Once you get your tires... You'll find out if you like it or not. Most don't like it to much. 3.73's are perfect for 30's IMO.

However it is your rig so it's your choice. Good luck. Get to building!

 

[ap3x]

That's good input, I appreciate it. I've done a lot of searching all over the interweb on 33's and 3.73. Along with most modifications, opinions vary greatly. Some people say they're fine, others say no way. If I was going to do gear swaps, I'd just get 35's like my original hopes were. After reading the gear change instructions, I figured that it's too much tedious work for my limited time (DD truck) and likely over my head mechanically having never done one before. I'm a basic auto service tech and can get anything done right eventually, but it's not a risk worth taking at this point in time. Plus it's not cheap either and all the little things on this build are adding up. Luckily for me, my drive to work is like 35 miles 90% 55mph, 10% 45mph . So I'm not going to be sitting in traffic burning up the clutch turning 33x12.5's... ever. I'm intending on keeping this truck til death (of the truck) do us apart lol, so maybe when these tires wear out, I'll build up the confidence, time, and money to finish the job and get like 38's or somethin. As for now, my buy 3 get 1 free sale at work is in two weeks, so I'll get those 33x12.5's BFG's for <$600, I'll order the lift kit when my pocket fills back up, and make a build thread for sure! In the meantime I gotta pull my bed off and figure out why I'm smelling gas between my bed and cab...