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Gibbs
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2003
23:56:20
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 Subject: Tires
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Hey I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota SLT with a 3 inch body lift.Right now I have 31x10.50R15 on.I want to know if I can fit 32x11.50R15 or 33x12.50R15.I've been to a couple dealerships and they all have different answers.Someone told me you could crank up your torsian bars but it will give you a firmer drive and the steering is allready pretty bad when i blew the steering out mudding and hit the bottom bank of the river,so I don't want any firmer.I want to ask people like you who know what their talkin about.So give me an answer if anyone knows.Thanks-
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brandon
Dodge Dakota
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4/09/2003
00:22:24
| RE: Tires
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hey gibbs, you might could get a 32 under the truck using an 8 inch rim. but if you wanted 33 like i have, then you will have to crank the t bars. everyone told me it would effect the ride, but i really didnt notice any change. also, i am using a 16x10 inch rim, so i had to trim a little more. if you use an 8 the you prolly wouldnt have to trim as much. but thats my opinion, whats everyone else think??.....
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97_blk_dak
GenIII
4/09/2003
01:38:26
| RE: Tires
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It depemds on what wheels you get. Backspacing is the key. If you run them on a 15x8 or a 16x8 with a backspacing between 4" and 5", you shouldn't have to do any trimming and probably wouldn't have to raise your t-bars, unless they are set pretty low from the factory. If you raise them enough to level out the truck from front to back I am sure you will be fine. If you run a lower backspacing wheel like I did, (3.25") you will have to do some trimming. Or if you go with a 10" wide wheel, you will definitely have to do some trimming. This is all assuming yours is a 4x4 of course.
1997 5.2L V8 4X4 CC
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Gibbs
Dodge Dakota
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4/09/2003
23:49:34
|  RE: Tires
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Message:
Hey yall thanks for the advice.I really aprreciate it.Trimming my fenders was another thing I was thinking about.I have a feeling I will have to trim but i don't know how much that costs.If anyone knows???By the way my truck is 4x4(those who are wondering).And my tires are getting bald and I plan on geting BFGoodrich Mud-terrains.I wanna know if anyone recomends these tires or kno of better.I know a couple people with them and I've heard good results and bad results.Reply if anyone knows anything.-Thanks
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97_blk_dak
GenIII
4/10/2003
00:39:22
| RE: Tires
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The BFG Muds are very good tires, but won't last very long. If you do a lot of off-roading, I would definitely get them. If not, I would go with an all terrain tire because they will probably last for more than twice as many miles. I almost bought the BFG Mud terrains last time because they look so much more aggressive than the all terrains, but since I don't do that much off-roading, they really weren't that practical for me.
As far as the trimming, you just do it yourself with a dremel tool that you can get at Wal-Mart for about $30 if you don't already have one. Atleast that's what I did.
1997 5.2L V8 4X4 CC
My Pics
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Dally
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2003
11:01:45
| RE: Tires
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The BF/MT tires are great for mud and deep snow,I have a buddy that loves them. look at the Goodyear AT/S and Goodyear MT/R
The AT/S is the tire that I run every where, they don't wear to bad and they are prolly the best all around tire you will find. If you are in extreme mud and snow most of the time, then MT/R or the BF/MT will serve you better. both will give you a lot more cabin noise than the AT/S.
(The BF/MT's do look great on) Hope that helps.
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A.J.
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2003
14:53:50
| RE: Tires
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Does anyone know about how long the bfg m/t's last on the road. I wanna get them cuz they look awsome but i dont go off road a whole lot. Mud terrain tires for me are not needed but they are just one of those things that look like i have to have. I ve heard that they can last up to 50,000 miles on the road. True???? How long are the BFG A/T's rated for. THanks guys
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97_blk_dak
GenIII
4/10/2003
15:22:24
| RE: Tires
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I could be wrong here, but I think the Mud Terrains will last between 20k and 30k, and the All Terrains will last between 60k and 70k. Maybe Hawkeye will post on this thread. I'm pretty sure he knows.
1997 5.2L V8 4X4 CC
My Pics
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forexfour
GenIII
4/10/2003
15:38:36
| RE: Tires
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When was the last time you saw Hawkeye around here? I have not seen him post for a while here.
My buddy Dj and I were talking about the BFG MT's he has on his Dakota and he has about 40K and they still look good. I was amazed when he said that they had that much miles on them.
The AT's will go for 50K but it all comes down to how good of a job you do rotating and making sure they are aired up good.
Never late for a Tee time or wheelin with my buddies! Always ready for both!!!Forexfour's home
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A.J.
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2003
15:44:41
| RE: Tires
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COOL..... hearing that is making me want to get them even more now. I was reading another post (i dont remember which one it is now) and one guy said that he has had around 3 sets of the bfg m/t's and on each set he got around 50,000 miles. He rotates them often. If and when i get mine, i will most likely rotate them pretty often as well. Thanks guys
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Gibbs
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2003
22:45:55
|  RE: Tires
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Hey yall thanks for the advice.I'm ordering the new BFGoodrich M/T new style KM's tomorrow.I believe I'm going to crank up my torsian bars up to where i can fit 32x11.50's.A buddy of mine told me you can barely even notice the steering difference and actually help level my truck out a little bit since my rear end of the truck is higher then the front.I doubt i'll have to do any trimming though.Give me any thoughts or suggestions on anything aight.-Thanks
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Dally
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2003
11:10:06
| RE: Tires
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Okay, I've been talkin to lots of suspension specialists, and the general story is:
If your Dak sits level, don't touch the t-bars. You can crank them up level to the factory rear, but no more. The stress that gets added to the ball joints and CV's when you crank past the factory level point, will reduce the life of these parts by as much as 50%. I believe this to be creadible info, because it comes from people who would make more money off of me, if I wore these parts out faster, but instead they are saying "don't do it, or get a kit and do it right" (these people don't sell kits either)
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Kyle
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2003
13:48:24
| RE: Tires
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How/where do you adjust the tbars?
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ian
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2003
15:13:47
| RE: Tires
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the reason dakota ball joints wear out is because they are sh!t. once they are replaced by moog joints there is no more worries. by the way, my T-bars are cranked over 2", everything is fine so far, but i am counting on my BJ's going out in the future.
to crank up the torsion bars, locate the large bolt that attaches them on under the driver and passenger floor boards. lift the front end of the truck off the ground using the frame or diff. then turn the large bolts, clockwise on half or one full turn at a time. you will need to drive the truck arount the block then measure the height in order to make sure they are level, right to left. the only real concern is that the suspension doesn't rest on the travel stops.
by the way, factory settings(according to the dodge 500pg service manual) is no closer than .5" to the upper travel stops. that should give you an idea of exactly how much adjustment you have and still remain within spec.
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97_blk_dak
GenIII
4/18/2003
04:53:01
| RE: Tires
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I totally agree that Dodge ball joints are crap! I just had mine replaced today. I was going to go with Moog ball joints, but since it was still under warranty, I just had them replace them with the same crappy Dodge ball joints since it was free. I doubt they'll last for long, so I will eventually be replacing them with the Moog ball joints.
1997 5.2L V8 4X4 CC
My Pics
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SaharaScott
Dodge Dakota
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4/18/2003
20:27:28
| RE: Tires
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Actually I just replaced my OEM ball joints this weekend with Moogs. I had to first grind of the old ones. Then I painted the A Arm because I marked it up pretty good with the grinder. Next I used my friends drill press to enlarge the mounting holes within the Moogs to 3/8". After that I ran to the local hardware store and bought new grade 8 bolts, nuts, and lock washers. Finally I installed the new ball joints. I have been running on them for all most a week and they made the steering from what I could feel a lot stiffer/more responsive.
The ball joints where $90.23 out the door from rockauto.com. I have an 01 QC so I ordered the 99 ball joints (since they don't make aftermarket ones for 2000+ Daks) and they work great.
Also the part number for the ball joints is K7242
01 QC 4x4 4.7 bone stock (other than the K&N air filter, new Moog upper ball joints, powerslot rotors, and hawk pads.)
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forexfour
GenIII
4/20/2003
13:56:02
| RE: Tires
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I agree Dodge OEM sucks. I also agree that you can crank your torsion bars and run them with no problem. Bad driving habits wear the ball joints the fastest.
I as well am going to MOOG's and ordered them from rockauto. I am replacing mine due to the boots being cracked. They have held strong with all the abuse and added stress I have put on them.
I have ran 33's for over a year now torsion bars cranked the whole time until now since I have the Rancho lift.
Never late for a Tee time or wheelin with my buddies! Always ready for both!!!Forexfour's home
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Cuffy
Dodge Dakota
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4/21/2003
08:14:10
| RE: Tires
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I put a PA 3" body lift on my 98 sport 4x4 and 33x12.50 Mastercraft Courser MT's on stock rims. I had to do no trimming. I did crank the torsion bars to try to keep them from rubbing on frame but it didn't work. But even before I cranked the t-bars, I wasn't rubbing on the fenders. Go figure.... BTW, love the Coursers. Much cheaper than BFG's and I've got a lot of compliments. Even from die hard BFG fans.... Only have a couple hundred miles on them. Need a few more miles to really see if they were worth the savings.
Later
Cuffy
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Dally
Dodge Dakota
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4/21/2003
10:48:17
| RE: Tires
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Forexfour: why then did you buy a rancho lift,if the t-bars can be cranked with no ill effects. there has got to be a reason that you spent that kind of $$$. Please help me out here, I just wanna do it correctly the first time.
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forexfour
GenIII
4/21/2003
23:38:00
| RE: Tires
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I was not able to fully articulate (stuff the front tires) all the way up in the well. I topped out barley. I was always having to go a little easier on it. Could not pound some dunes and stuff.
Most people only lift for the looks and tires. I want Off road performance. DJ, Arthur, Craig and the others I wheel with know how little the top out really happens but I want to hit it good and hard I got HAD to let off a bit. Not anymore!!!
The most important reason I got the SUSPESION LIFT is because I have always wanted a lifted wheeler and my opinion is a body lift just does not cut it. Think I got one now. Some may not agree but what do I care! Everything I have done to my truck is for Off Road and I also kept the crappy Dodge OEM parts in mind when upgrading.
Chris
Never late for a Tee time or wheelin with my buddies! Always ready for both!!!Forexfour's home
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Dally
Dodge Dakota
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4/22/2003
09:46:45
| RE: Tires
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So what you are saying, is that to crank the t-bars, is not a good way of gaining usable and functional frame height? To do it right, use a real lift kit. Thanx for the clairity.
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ian
Dodge Dakota
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4/22/2003
11:32:41
| RE: Tires
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no, what he's saying is, you can crank up yout Tbars for height but it won't allow for any more wheel travel.
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forexfour
GenIII
4/24/2003
10:39:27
| RE: Tires
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It will not allow FULL articulation, Flex, without topping out with a Torsion bar cranking.
I agree that 33's are a great tire size. I do not agree with 12.5's and I am getting ride of all my wide tires for better off road perfomance. 12.5 in my opinion gives you nothing more than a look than performance. On the dunes airing down to 12 psi with the 10.5's gives plenty of traction. Plus to run a 12.5 you need less backspacing and that changes the whole tire turn radius in the wheel well so now you have a different issue with rubbing.
Never late for a Tee time or wheelin with my buddies! Always ready for both!!!Forexfour's home
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