Hey y'all this is my first post and I need some help. I have a 03 Fx4 Reg. Cab 4.6 with a 5-speed and 3.55 gears. I'm currently in the market for some tires and have decided on Nitto Trails 315/70-17 with my stock Fx4 17in rims. My tire guy assured me I could fit those with just cranking the t-bars and a little bit of trimming. Has anyone done 315s with just torsions cranked? I'd love to see some pics .... And I'm wondering what gears I would need, or if I don't necessarily need them. I'm not doing much highway driving and the most I will pull is a little Jon boat. I figured since its a 5-speed, it might be easier on my tranny and stuff than the autos, but I could be wrong... Any tips?
Thanks

 

Welcome to the site bud, I'll share my insight and hopefully you'll help me out one day

Here is a link where users show, and talk about stuffing 35's in the wheel well with just the torsion bars cranked.

https://www.f150forum.com/f6/35s-tbars-cranked-197341/

I will say riding on 35's and having the bars cranked up will dramatically decrease ride performance making it a much more stiffer ride. I have the Nitto Trail Grappler M/T's and there amazing tires. I bit the bullet and paid for better tires.

The bigger tire will ware down suspension parts (ball joints, pitman arm, tie rods, etc.) Over time, so be sure to check out MOOG products because they make replacement parts, but much beefier with more metal. They also have grease inserts so you can grease them up every oil change to keep them "like new" for years on end.

You may have to do a little trimming to fit them on there, but its definitely possible. Have you considered a spindle lift? They keep the CV Axles straighter and don't wear out suspension parts as quick, making it less of a nightmare over time. You'll know what I'm talking about if you've ever done ball joints on your 4x4.

I'm sure other members will chime in, but be sure to look at those people who have already done what your trying to do in that thread I linked above, that way you know exactly what your getting into!

 

plenty of people have stuffed 35s with just a t bar crank and plenty of people run 35s with 3.55s. Is it the best or smartest thing to do? No, but it's doable. If you have the money to regear and don't do alot of highway driving then I would suggest 4.56s. That's what alot of people are going with, plus it gives you room in the future to go with a bigger tire than 35s. If regearing is just to expensive than I would stick with a 33 inch tire. That's what I have with 3.55s and it still feels like it's got plenty of power

 

Welcome to the forums.

I ran 35's with just a T-bar crank, can't say I really liked it lol. They REALLY stuff the fenders, if I'd hit a bump while turning I would rub, getting into my grandparents driveway I would rub in the back, not to mention the ride was horrible. I didn't care that much about the ride as I mainly do an hour drive at a time mostly.
gearing isn't an issue for me and i'm still on 3:55's. If I where to do it again I would get at least a 3" body lift. I got my 5" suspension lift but if you just want to put 35's in there with a little room the fenders save 600 bucks and get a body lift lol.

 

Top of the page is a thread for the pics You are after. I personally wouldn't stay on stock gears with 35s. I have 33s and live in the flatlands. Can't hold od in head wind. Regearing is in my future just for the 33s!

 

I have 315 70 17s with a slight crank on the t bars (8 turns)



The only time mine rub is under full turn and it rubs the frame rail not the fender or bumper

 

For one I would never run 35's and 3.55's with a 8.8. Thats asking for trouble if you do any real offroading.

 

I don't know what kind of off-roading you do but crazycargts is right

 

I have watched 2 good friends blow upp 8.8's in these truck with 35's an 3.55's. One was a manual an the other was a auto.

 

I was shopping around for gears too, and how much would ya think it'd be to get gears like parts, labor, and everything. I still want some pretty good acceleration and I live in flat Florida so I won't have to climb anything besides bridges. The most I'd do is just muddin. So do yall think 4.10 or 4.56? It's mainly gonna be on the road