zone 2" level 285/75r18 rubbing crash bar frame mount
11-27-2018, 09:25 AM
#11
Flaccid Member
Stock wheels are +44... but they’re not 9” wide. They’re more like 7.5” or maybe 8”. I’ve never owned a lifted truck. I know lots who do, but I can’t think of a reason to add a full lift kit if it’s just for going off-road. If anything, clearance in thick stuff becomes a problem.
11-27-2018, 01:38 PM
#12
Member
Thread Starter
well I plan to lift it to keep it out of the water. my old truck was a 2003 super duty with a 4" skyjacker lift that I wound up with 5.5" of lift after it was installed. I had a few places on the right of way that I would have water just a few inches below my air intake. Usually the bottom is solid so the main concern is not flooding the engine. I do not off road for fun but wind up in muddy situations at work. I also had a few places i could go in a lifted truck that i cant in a stock truck because my front or rear bumper would catch coming into or out of the situation. I appreciate everyone's help. I still don't feel safe with wheel spacers so I guess I will get her to find some wheels she likes with an 18 or 24 offset.
01-07-2019, 09:10 AM
#16
Member
Thread Starter
Thank you, I will keep that in mind. My wife said she would rather deal with the rubbing than for me to cut the crash bars and she is currently the one driving it. If she decides she wants new wheels I will go with that size.
01-07-2019, 02:34 PM
#17
Senior Member
1) Offset matters. A lot. And if you're rubbing with a 285-series tire on a 18x9 wheel and a 2" spacer, I'm guessing you went +0, or more likely, negative. +18 would work fine.
2) Leveling spacers are for looks, not for better-off-road capability. In even moderate off-roading with a leveling spacer, you're going to be subjecting your suspension to excessive down travel because strut spacers push the whole assembly downward. They also limit up travel. Get a leveling struts/coilover (like a Bils 5100 or 6112) if you're trying to raise the front end and still want to wheel it without breaking something.
2) Leveling spacers are for looks, not for better-off-road capability. In even moderate off-roading with a leveling spacer, you're going to be subjecting your suspension to excessive down travel because strut spacers push the whole assembly downward. They also limit up travel. Get a leveling struts/coilover (like a Bils 5100 or 6112) if you're trying to raise the front end and still want to wheel it without breaking something.
With the bilsteins, you end up with the same maximum downward position as stock and because of the preload, you still have less upward travel so the overall range from one extreme to the other is less travel. But hey, you limit that extreme droop.
There are benefits to both. less issues with suspension angles wearing components faster with the bilsteins but you lose overall travel to achieve that.
