New truck and ready to lift.. help me!!!

[dirtystick]

Hello everyone!

So as the title says.. I have my truck... but I need more POWER!!!! err wait I mean I need more LIFT!!!!! I am looking at a lift kit to add 3-6 inches of lift and new tires that will look good.

The truck will be used for hauling my ATV in the back, interstate driving to/from work and family vacations.

Truck Details:
Color: Patriot Blue
Interior: Grey Cloth
Year 2007
Model: 4-Door ST Big Horn
Engine 4.7L Magnum
Drive: 4x4
Being driven in Indiana weather (snow, rain, ice, heat, humidity)

Needs:
Lift Needs to Improve Stock Ride Quality
Tires need to be able to handle interstate driving both in rain/snow as well as have good tire life. Truck will be offroad some.
Would like some better handling/control. Currently when driving interstate if I hit some bumps or a hole I feel the truck bounce/shift almost as if a slight hydroplane. Not really sure how to describe it other than that.

Looking around I have found tons of tires and lift kits, but want to hear from people who have them and their comments to help make a good choice for tire/lift combination to get the the aggressive offroad look I want while maintaining or improving the ride quality.

In the end I would like an overall 4-6+ inch lift, wide tires that stick out from the truck maybe 1-2 inches giving it a nice offroad/aggressive stance and improve ride quality/handling.


Any help, suggestions or slaps in the face where appropriate are welcome.

 

[The Assassin]

First, welcome to the site.

If you're looking for 3" you can do a body lift rather cheap. 4-6" suspension lift. Check out these guys.

Ruggedly engineered suspensions from Zone Offroad

Tires, you will want a all terrain, NOT a mud terrain tire. And a 35" tire would be a fitting size for you. Nitto, BFG, Toyo all make great quality tires. What sized wheels will you be running?

 

[zack]

Welcome ,I like the pro comp my self what i am running is the 6 inch pro from TGC

 

[dirtystick]

Right now I just have the stock rims, but open to replacing the rims to get the look and ride I want.

 

[The Assassin]

Right now I just have the stock rims, but open to replacing the rims to get the look and ride I want.

Awesome.

In that case you'll want a 35x12.50 tire...and then what ever sized wheel you decide to run...18 20 etc etc.

Also post up in the intro section! Let's see some pix of that truck!

 

[03MopaRamman]

Welcome to RF! 33's will fit the stock Rim and clear nice when leveled, I Loved my Pro-Comp Xtreme AT's until there was Ice on the Road. Sold em Too Dangerous, but want another set for summer (rated to last 42 K miles). With my Duratracs I can launch hard on any winter surface and stay straight every time in 4HI.

 

[dirtystick]

Well I pulled up the Wrangler Dura Trac and think I found the aggressive tire look I want. So the easy part is done as now I just need to narrow down and pick a lift kit, would like to just spend the extra 100-200 and get a 6" over a 4" that way if I decide to add a 1-2" body lift down the road I will have a nice tall truck.

Edit:
Oh yea pictures coming soon as not too much to look at right now, just a Patriot Blue 4-door with dark windows. Tint was the first thing I had thrown on.

 

[03MopaRamman]

Read the reviews. These are the expensive ones and not the irregulars sold at walmart and called Wranglers. Just for info the 285/70/17 is same overall height as the 305/65/17 Pro-comps just not as wide.



This is when I had em on these rims with white lettering in.

Edit: Sorry misread your Text, if your going 6 inch lift definately go with the Tire size recommended by Assassin.

 

[The Assassin]

Well I pulled up the Wrangler Dura Trac and think I found the aggressive tire look I want. So the easy part is done as now I just need to narrow down and pick a lift kit, would like to just spend the extra 100-200 and get a 6" over a 4" that way if I decide to add a 1-2" body lift down the road I will have a nice tall truck.

Edit:
Oh yea pictures coming soon as not too much to look at right now, just a Patriot Blue 4-door with dark windows. Tint was the first thing I had thrown on.

Just keep in mind a few things:

1. The more aggressive the tire, the shorter life span it's going to have. Which is why I suggest a all terrain vs mud.

2. The price difference in the 4-6" kits with Zone Offroad isn't much, I think it's less than 100 off the top of my head.

3. To the best of my knowledge, no one makes a 1-2" body lift for these trucks, just a 3". With that said, Bilstein does make shocks that would add 1" roughly in height to your truck.

 

[Redtruck-VA]

4.7 engine, Danny's tires, 3" body lift and 4:56 gears along with the standard CAI, exhaust and tuner.

Welcome.

 

[dirtystick]

Just keep in mind a few things:

1. The more aggressive the tire, the shorter life span it's going to have. Which is why I suggest a all terrain vs mud.

From what I was reading it sounded like the Dura Trac was an A/T tire, but don't see a mileage rating on discout tire or other similar sites.. since I drive 45 minutes to work and it is mainly interstate need something with a good mileage rating, but something that is going to get me through snow and mud as well when needed.

 

[03MopaRamman]

Rides like a Caddy and very Quiet even at 80 MPH. Mileage rating? I beleive they do not yet have a mileage rating cause they are relatively new but scored 9 out of 10 from customer reviews.

Also they have impressive speed rating (see pasted info):

The Wrangler DuraTrac is Goodyear's On-/Off-Road Commercial Traction light truck tire .... Speed Rating “Q” = 99mph (160kph) 115/112Q.

 

[The Assassin]

From what I was reading it sounded like the Dura Trac was an A/T tire, but don't see a mileage rating on discout tire or other similar sites.. since I drive 45 minutes to work and it is mainly interstate need something with a good mileage rating, but something that is going to get me through snow and mud as well when needed.

Yup yup..they look like an AT tire. And like Greg said gears would help you MPG's with the larger tires, and you could also get a tuner and run the gas saver tune.

 

[dirtystick]

So with a 6" lift will a Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac LT315/70R17D2 121Q B fit ok with no rubbing and still look good on the truck? I don't want a nice lifted truck only to have it look like it has a set of donuts for tires.

 

[The Assassin]

So with a 6" lift will a Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac LT315/70R17D2 121Q B fit ok with no rubbing and still look good on the truck? I don't want a nice lifted truck only to have it look like it has a set of donuts for tires.

That is 34.4" might as well be a 35". Will fit, with out rubbing, just fine.

Metric Tire Conversion Calculator

 

[pavester]

i had a 6" lift and 325/65/18 nitto terra grapplers. I loved the look and to be honest kinda miss it sometimes

other words, dont go with the nitto terra grapplers.... they sucked, tire life was alright but any thing else SUCKED. Got stuck anytime because the tread pattern wasnt aggresive..

heres a pic of waht it looks like with the tires and lift

 

[dirtystick]

When looking at lift kits should I look at kits with or without shocks? I have been shopping the 4wheelparts.com store since it is about 15 minutes from my house for pick and/or install of stuff.

 

[pavester]

would prob be cheaper if you spring for the kits with shocks as opposed to buying the kit then having to price out all 4 new shocks

 

[The Assassin]

Agreed, get them with the shocks.

 

[dirtystick]

Here is a kit I was looking at, but since this will be the first time lifting a vehicle not sure what all I need or to expect.

4wheel parts Pro Comp 6" Lift and is only $1383