Lifting on a budget.

Just join the forum, and tight on my budget. (Who isn't these days)
With that said, I would like to jump on this expensive hobby. I have done tons of research on leveling my 2011 RAM 1500 Crew Big Horn. In addition to implicating my concerns, I will also disclose the cost of the material I have found on the net which might benefit to those in a tight pinch.

So here we go. My final goal is to have a Zone or superlift 6" lift in the near future. But Spending $5000 at one shot is not an option for me right now, I am archiving it in stages. I need to know whats that largest wheel and tire combo I can fit for my first stage which I dont have to replace my tire and rim down the road to achieve my goal.

1st Stage: Leveling and focus on parts I can reuse for my 6" lift kit. (Bilstein 5100 front $204/pr Ebay, Set at 2.1" MevoTech UCA $100/pr @ RockAuto. Tire Rod End Links $20/pr Ebay (My factory sets are loose time to change them). I am not touching the rear atm because nothing is reusable for my rear when I install my 6" kit. Am I missing anything?

So with $320 spend I have money for wheels and tire. I doubt a pair of 20X12 -44 Fuse Mavericks will work now, but I know they will work with the 6" lift, If thats true, I will settle with 20X10 -24 @ $1000, I just picked up a set of used Nitto Terra Grappler 295/60R20 with 6-8/32" thread for $140 (craigs list). Will this combo fit me for the leveling phase? if not I will reconsider rims with lesser offset. -19 maybe??

I think this is the cheapest (or best) way for me to go, I can't speak for everyone, just want to make sure they can fit before I order my rims as they are the most expensive part for this leveling build.

Thanks in advance.

I did a very similar time line with mt truck. Installed bils @ 2.1, then saved up for lift (6" zone). Found a cheap set of 315 70 20 terra grapplers off craigslist for like 125. Slapped those on my factory wheels with 1.5" spacers til I could afford a set of 35x 12.5 toyo MTs. Lastly, bought the rims 20x10 fuel kranks -24. I'd be leary of ebay parts, just my opinion. And the 20x12 -44 with just bils at 2.1 is gonna be pretty gnarly. Dont think you'll get away with that without tons of trimming. They will work post lift though- but even then probably a little trimming.

Thanks Solid State, So may be I should wait until my 6" lift before I buy those 20X12 with -44 offset from Fuel. now I am presented with 2 options..

1: should just use my factory with the used 295X60R20. luckily my factory wheels are 20" do you know if I need to buy spacer or the 295s will rub against those new MevoTech UCAs?

2: If your 35X12.5 with the 20X10 -24 works fine with the 2.1 Bils. I will just go buy the Fuel Mavericks at 20X10 -24 and call it a day. (For now) and start saving for the Zone or SuperLift depends on the price when I am ready.

Thanks.

I believe most 6" kits call for at least 5" backspacing. Make sure wherever wheels you buy will have the correct backspacing or you will have to buy wheel spacers (which is an added cost).


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I would run the 295 on stocks till lift, mevotechs are stock replacements so it’ll be fine too

Just my .02, but I find the piece meal projects tend to cost more in the long run when you run into things that don't work with the added changes later on, honestly I would save to the mod budget till you have the $$$ to do it all at once, that way you are not set with having wheels that work on a level but later find out they conflict with the 6" lift.... or if what you want on a 6" set wont work and you compromise just to get wheels.... Get what you want or you will not be happy with it and spend more later to change it. again thats just my .02 from my experience of wasting tens of thousands on cars throughout my life

sunkiz said:

Thanks Solid State, So may be I should wait until my 6" lift before I buy those 20X12 with -44 offset from Fuel. now I am presented with 2 options..

1: should just use my factory with the used 295X60R20. luckily my factory wheels are 20" do you know if I need to buy spacer or the 295s will rub against those new MevoTech UCAs?

2: If your 35X12.5 with the 20X10 -24 works fine with the 2.1 Bils. I will just go buy the Fuel Mavericks at 20X10 -24 and call it a day. (For now) and start saving for the Zone or SuperLift depends on the price when I am ready.

Thanks.

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1. I believe those tires will fit those wheels fine with no rubbing and no spacers. That is with bils @ 2.1 setting or 2.8

2. I didnt have the fuel rims when my truck only had bils, put those on after it was lifted. But, with that offset (-12, -24) you should be able to run those G2's without much trimming. Pretty sure there's a few guys on here running that set up.

And just fyi, the difference between the 20x10 -24 and the 20x12 -44 is abut 1.5 inches further out from your fenders. 20x12's are gonna stick out aprox 4-4.5" past your fender.....thats alot, lol.

Pics for reference

Solid State said:

Pics for reference

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The last picture with the wheels and tires? What exactly is done in that picture? Sorry, what offset are those wheels? Actually, what are those wheels? They are pretty bad ass.

Sweet looking Lift! and Thanks for all your replies.

As for the rims, I think I am fine with 20X10 with -24 Offset. I do agree 20X12 with -44 will look ridiculous with out fender flares. And I dont want to get pull over by cops.

Since all those parts I choose to buy now with the leveling kit can be "reuse" when I do my Zone/Superlift 6" lift. I am not wasting any money. Those used tire will need to be replaced by the time I save enough for my kit. So I am not wasting $ on that neither.

Once I have saved up my $3000, I will spend $1800 on the kit, upgrade my back shocks with Bils 5100 + 5" Coil Spring @ $200 And spend $1000 on buying a fresh set of new tires 35X12.5R20. That should complete my lift goal.

Without the wheel spacer, I dont think the Nitto can fit on the factory 20s, and I dont want to ride with spacers, therefore; I will go ahead to order the rims if indeed 295X60R20 can be mounted on 20X12 -24 with Bils @ 2.1 without series rubbing.

Thanks.

17CrewCab1500 said:

The last picture with the wheels and tires? What exactly is done in that picture? Sorry, what offset are those wheels? Actually, what are those wheels? They are pretty bad ass.

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Those look like Fuel Krank!

Are you a hard worker? If so, buy something you can’t afford and then you’ll work your ass off to make things go around!


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17CrewCab1500 said:

The last picture with the wheels and tires? What exactly is done in that picture? Sorry, what offset are those wheels? Actually, what are those wheels? They are pretty bad ass.

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Thanks! 6" zone lift w/5" rear coil. Bils @ 2.8 20x10 -24 offset fuel krank wrapped in 35x12.5 toyo MT's

LonghornSwede said:

Are you a hard worker? If so, buy something you can’t afford and then you’ll work your ass off to make things go around!


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Yes I am, but kids are expensive when they have college coming up.

My opinion you do it all or nothing...i’ve Went down the other road and it just wears items out in the front end but the time you get around to doing the lift. The lift kits are designed to keep everything square and in line. You lift it a little bit then things aren’t true and they wear...trust me. Just my two cents. Trying to help honestly. It’s your truck and your money though...

sunkiz said:

Yes I am, but kids are expensive when they have college coming up.

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I’ve read it here so many times. Save and do it right. You’ll end up spending more in the long term if you try to “cheap it out”!


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That’s EXACTLY what I’m saying....a thread saying “budget lift” is not gonna end well. Lol

sunkiz said:

Sweet looking Lift! and Thanks for all your replies.

As for the rims, I think I am fine with 20X10 with -24 Offset. I do agree 20X12 with -44 will look ridiculous with out fender flares. And I dont want to get pull over by cops.

Since all those parts I choose to buy now with the leveling kit can be "reuse" when I do my Zone/Superlift 6" lift. I am not wasting any money. Those used tire will need to be replaced by the time I save enough for my kit. So I am not wasting $ on that neither.

Once I have saved up my $3000, I will spend $1800 on the kit, upgrade my back shocks with Bils 5100 + 5" Coil Spring @ $200 And spend $1000 on buying a fresh set of new tires 35X12.5R20. That should complete my lift goal.

Without the wheel spacer, I dont think the Nitto can fit on the factory 20s, and I dont want to ride with spacers, therefore; I will go ahead to order the rims if indeed 295X60R20 can be mounted on 20X12 -24 with Bils @ 2.1 without series rubbing.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Honestly, if you could have waited until you had the money for lift/wheels/tires you could have saved money.

The zone 6" lift with 3" rear coils requires no bilsteins to be level so eliminating that saved you $200 plus alignment. Since you wont need bilsteins you wont need new UCA's since the angle will be stock, that saved you $88. If you hadn't bought the used 295's you could have saved that money and put it towards your lift/wheels/tires goal. The Zone 6/3 fits 35's easily, heck a 4" kit will too for that matter, you definitely don't need the 5" rear plus bilsteins to clear 35's. To me your budget build is kinda wasting about $500, but I guess it cures an itch to lift for awhile.

I concur with the do it all at once.

Expensive but for the long run it’s the right move. Don’t want to ruin things before you get the correct lift on. Then you have A LOT of problems once you do get the lift on and it nickels and dimes you to death. Trust me I went down that road before....