I'd very much appreciate a side shot with the new wheels & tires. I haven't had any luck finding side shot pics of a long wheelbase with 285/70/17's and leveled.

 

Look up about 6 posts, they posted them already.

 

I'm looking for 'from the side' not 'down the side.' Basically a squared up version of the one I included in the quote. From pictures I've scrounged up elsewhere, without a level and on stock rims, the 285/70/17's look small on a 157" wheelbase. From the angles bmtangney posted, his tire & wheel setup looks proportional, so I was hoping he could post one more shot from the side.

 

 

Thank you, it looks good!

 

I am going to be changing out the current leveling spacer which looks to be about 1 inch or so (2 in level kit which was installed when i purchased the truck) because I raised the rear end by installing an add-a-leaf to support the weight of the tools i drive around on the daily.
the truck was basically level. now the rear end sits up about an additional inch and a half, loaded with tools or not I will post photos here.

since i am trying to recoop that inch and a half from the add a leafs, ive purchased new upper control arms (tuff country $340) to handle elevated angles and a 3" leveling spacer ($60). This seemed to also be an economical route since 3.5 inch leveling kits seemed to start aroung 900 bucks.
HERE is where ive encountered my issue. i also purchased some Bilstein 5100s as an upgrade to the factory shocks since i was going to be installing the other components and needing an alignment. my mechanic, says i should return the 5100s because they are designed to extend up to 2.5 inches. I will be at 3 inches.
im wondering if i can use the 5100s. returning them is a nuisance. im not sure what shocks people are using at a 3 inch height and it even seems some are still using the factory shocks at that height. am i wrong? if factory works, then so should the bilstein 5100s no?

PLEASE ADVISE. what shocks should i purchase? (preferably in the same price range as the 5100s ($250 ish)







if anything is unclear, the front measures about 23 inches from fender to center hub and the rear measures about 24.5 fender to hub.

LONG STORY SHORT.....SHOULD I ASSURE MY MECHANIC I WANT TO USE THE 5100s? OR SHOULD I PURCHASE DIFFERENT FRONT SHOCKS AND IF SO, WHICH ONES?

THANKS IN ADVANCE

 

The leveling spacer moves the top of the shock down by 3", which allows you to use stock shocks or the 5100s set to stock ride height. The 5100s use an adjustable spring seat that moves the spring down, but leaves the shock in the stock location. You are good to go with the spacer and the 5100s set to stock right height, like they come out of the box.

 

This is true, should be zero problem. I'm not sure where your mechanic is coming from.

 

Day 1

Day 30

 

right...the upper portion of the truck elevates, so the angle of the upper control arm changes, hence the need to replace them with an arm with the proper angles. but the height and travel of the front shock should be the same because everything below the spacer stays the same.
thats what my guts had told me...thanks for helping me think it through. the mechanic has a good reputation in the neighborhood, maybe he was juggling 5 or 6 other things when i dropped by his shop to go over the parts i have.

i was imagining that maybe i did need a longer shock than stock. would the 5100s still work if that were the case? possibly putting them at the setting above stock...the middle?