2016 Ram 2500 - Leveling Kit and Tire Sizes

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Robert66

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I'm new to the forum and Ram trucks, but it looks like I made a good decision to buy one and become a member here. Anyhow, I just bought a 2016 Ram 2500 Cummins Crew Cab Long bed 4x4 and am looking for some advice what I what I am looking to do.

2 to 2.5" Front coil spring spacers (possibly by hellbent steel)
Bilstein 5100's on all 4 corners
Toyo Open Country AT/2 in 285/75-18 (installed on factory steel wheels) These are approximately 34.9" high and 11.3" wide.

I definitely want a higher and level ride (without the major expense of a full lift kit), taller tires that don't rub and better than factory shocks. Do I also need an adjustable track bar or trac bar relocation bracket to keep the front axle from being shifted to one side. I have seen the Tuff Country 3" leveling kit Model: 33131 includes the trac bar relocation bracket and a dropped pitman arm. I would go for this kit, but don't want to get my suspension too far out of alignment. I figured it would be best to get some advice here before I spend money doing the wrong thing.

http://www.ramforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=80146&stc=1&d=1479440380
 

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brandonjansen

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You'll be far better off getting leveling springs rather than spacers. On the new radius arm suspension spacers are prone to making the OEM spring sit crooked. Not to mention they often decrease ride quality.
I would recommend Thuren progressive rate coils with longer shock and an adjustable track bar. That will give you a really good setup with a better than stock ride quality and addresses all the issues geometry wise.

With only a leveling kit I definitely wouldn't recommend a track bar drop bracket and pitman arm drop as that will put the track bar bracket too close to the front diff and could risk hitting it at full compression. An adjustable track bar is all you need with a leveling kit to correct the geometry.
 
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Robert66

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Very good information. Thank you. I'll check into those parts and see what I can come up with.
 

danh63

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Thuren will have their 2" spring going out around Christmas time. They now have a 3" set up
 

brandonjansen

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Thuren will have their 2" spring going out around Christmas time. They now have a 3" set up

OP has a Cummins not a hemi. Thuren has both 2" and 2.75" springs in stock for a Cummins equipped truck.
 

danh63

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MY attention span is getting smaller! :) Thanks for the correction!
 
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Robert66

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Thanks, I'll give them a call and see what they can do for me. I know this route will be much better than the spacers. Glad I asked before I went another route.

Has anyone tried 285/75-18's on the stock chrome wheels. I'm hoping since they are a bit narrower than the 35-12.50's, that I should not have the rubbing issues.
 

theviking

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FYI, I have 1.5" spacers and 35x12.5r20 Cooper ST Maxx mounted on the stock rims. Nothing rubs. I had 275's prior and it looked way to narrow and tucked in IMO. The 12.5's look so much better, although you obviously take a significant weight penalty.
 
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Robert66

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I was trying to avoid buying new wheels so soon. I have read that 35"-12.50's have to go on a 8.5 to 9" wide rim. The stock 18" rims are only 8". Thanks for the info, I definitely want to get this done right he first time and on a reasonable budget.
 

danh63

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I ran 37x12.5 - 17's on my last truck with the stock rims. Rubbed on the control arm at full lock a little is all
 

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Robert66

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Nice looking truck. What did you use for your leveling kit. How's the ride with it?
 

theviking

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I was trying to avoid buying new wheels so soon. I have read that 35"-12.50's have to go on a 8.5 to 9" wide rim. The stock 18" rims are only 8". Thanks for the info, I definitely want to get this done right he first time and on a reasonable budget.

That's what's recommended but I haven't had any issue with a 12.5 on the 8" rim so far. Would have been nice it they made the factory rims 9" like some of the 1/2 ton wheels.
 
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Robert66

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Yea. My last truck was a 2006 2500 Chevy Duramax. They put alloy 16x6.5 wheels on that from the factory . Looked absolutely silly.
 

brandonjansen

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You can run 12.5 wide tires on your stock 8" wide rim no problem. You just need to adjust the air pressure to compensate for the difference in rim width. I run 37x13.5 Toyo MT's on my stock 17x7's during the winter and there's no issue with that setup at all.
 

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