Silly questions about lifting your truck

[2018NightRam]

I've been scouring these forums about lifting now for some time. I've probably read hundreds of pages at this point and I've pretty much settled on the eibach kit (looks like they're back in stock now) with some RC uca's. I'm open to thoughts/ recommendations because I have a complete 3" RC lift with n3 rear springs already so I even thought about just doing the eibach spring/ strut up front with the RC 1" lift / shock in the back to save some $.

Anyway I've also been one to lower my cars in the past so this is my first experience lifting anything. Through all the pages I've read I haven't seen anything about the possibility of using your spare tire of needed (I have 20" stock wheels and plan to use them with some 295/60/20 tires once lifted). I would assume if the overall diameter is about the same then it wouldn't matter much... but is there something I'm missing on that? And if they are larger (maybe I go with 35") is it going to be a problem?

Also... on a similar theme... do you need to compensate the computer somehow for the new tires?

 

[TXRAM16]

Yes, yes and yes!
If you stay close to the stock diameter tires then you can use your spare. If you jump up to 35's or 37's then your spare won't be very useful. If you are not 4 wheel drive you may be able to use the spare up front for a short distance. If you were to put it on the rear it could possibly damage the rear end, having two different tire diameters on the rear axle.

With my 35's I picked up a speedo calibration tool from Rough Country that corrected the speedo and shift points.

 

[FF1899]

With bigger tires the only thing a stock spare will do for you is an extremely slow creep off the highway or out of a road way to get you to a safe spot the difs will have enough slip to do it slow but to avoid damage make that very slow like walking speed. Dont use it to try to get to a shop, it may work out ok but also may cost you a lot more

 

[2018NightRam]

Gotcha. Yeah it's a 4x4. So can u fit a bigger spare tire under there to compensate?

 

[Krein]

Gotcha. Yeah it's a 4x4. So can u fit a bigger spare tire under there to compensate?

No you won’t be able to fit say a 35 or 37 tire. Your best bet is to throw it in the bed.

 

[22hemi13]

Gotcha. Yeah it's a 4x4. So can u fit a bigger spare tire under there to compensate?

35” fit in stock location most of the time. I have a 35” under mine. I removed heat guard and don’t have exhaust......but really the tightness comes between hitch and sway bar. Air it down helps too. 37” wont fit

 

[ram1500rsm]

I've seen some pics in the other forum with people fitting 35x12x17 i think on the factory spare wheel and factory location. I tried it myself with a 315/70/17 on my aftermarket 17x9 wheel and i couldn't do it. The tire was rubbing in the trackbar. Maybe with more time to cut the bolts that hold the tow hitch and patience trying to squezee the tire in somehow i could have been able to do it.

The bigger issue for me is the thought of accessing the spare in that location while on the offroad trail during a situation that will prevent me access to it so i quickly decided to relocate the spare to the bed initially, that way it wouldn't matter if i'm stuck or in a spot where it'll make it impossible to lower the spare and it's less vulnerable to trail obstacles that may damage the tire/wheel. Now days i can leave it in the bed or move it out to a custom spare carrier swing out i bought from a forum member for those times when i need the space in the bed.

 

[2018NightRam]

Thanks guys! I appreciate it! I've got some thinking to do