Just thought I would give some feedback on new lift. My rig - 2004 2500HD CC LB LLY 4x4... Put the Rancho 4" with BFG AT's 305/70/16 on Welds... Looks and drives awesome - much more stable than before and I think it even feels better than stock. I also put on the Helwig Helper Springs for towing and used a 3" Block in the back instead of their 2 1/2" block to keep the back end up slightly, again for towing purposes. Everything went great and Im really pleased with how it came out - I will post some pics later on...

Does anyone know if 315's will fit with the 4" Rancho without any torsion bar lift ? It looks like they could fit but it might be deceiving

Yes, I know, and no, they won't. That is, if you want to have clearance when turning. I now have 295/75R 16s. Nominally, they are 33.3" x 11.7". I have one inch of tire clearance when the steering wheel is turned most of the way. A 315 is more than an inch taller and .8" wider. You will likely need an inch or a bit more additional t-bar lift to clear the 315s with at least an inch. You would also probably want to regear if you are towing with 315s.


Do this. Check out how little clearance you really have with the steering wheel turned between 3/4 and full. You'll see what I am talking about. Now, imagine a tire that will be 1/2" closer to the wheel well, if it was the same. Then look again at how much more clearance you would lose with a tire 3/4" wider.


BTW, could I get you to measure from the ground to the underside of your rear wheel wells? I am curious as to how much aditional lift you got with the 3" block and the helper springs.Edited by: afp1

I have seen many (20 or more) 2500HD GM tracks with 315/75/16 tires mounted on stock wheels to as wide as 8" with nothing more then torsion bar adjustment and or green key replacement. And depending on the back spacing, they work!


Check around here, there are a few running the 315/70/17 Hummer tires and wheels combo with no lift other then the torsion bar, and it seems to work.


It will depend on the type of off roading you plan to do. Also the back spacing, and if you are willing to trim the valance and maybe even the bumper.

Yes, and those rigs have tire rubbing problems. Been there, done that. Further, every time I see one of those rigs and press the owner, they all admit to tire rubbing problems. What astounds me is many of these guys don't think rubbing is a big deal. I suppose such a set up is fine for pavement, but not for a truck that will be used on rough roads. And pray such a truck never needs to use chains.......


Once again, here is a pic of just 285s on 8" rims with 4 3/8" backspacing. This is with a measured 2" of t-bar lift w/aftermarket keys, tied back and reformed wheel well liners, and an aftermarket front bumper. Steering wheel is turned about 3/4 of a turn.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/AF1_100_0164A.JPGEdited by: afp1

I've got a 4" lift and also 2" of torsion lift. I've trimmed the front air-dam to minimize rub, however it's still there slightly. It only rubs if I compress the suspension quite a bit. Runing around town and pavement is fine, but off-road is another story. Also I've used the cut-out bushwacker fender flares that make the rear of my front wheel well 1 1/4" longer. I need to trim about 1" off the bumper and then I won't have any rub, but the rub is still there for now!


So in answer to tbone1227's question, no the 315's will not fit with only 4" lift.

I have 315 H2's / green keys and have no rubbing during daily driving. They will rub slightly when cranked off and going over rough terrian. Not bad but they do.


I think even lifted trucks have rub problems because of the way the wheel wells and airdams are made. Stuff just seems to get in the way.

afp1-





295/75/16's ?

Yep, BFG AT KOs. Toyo makes some in this size too, as does Nitto.

AFP1 - just got back from a trip but i believe the height from ground to bottom of the rear fender molding was around 45" - I will check in the AM for extact measurement

Thanks!

TBone, do you have any pictures?

I just took some but cant figure out how to get them on a post - any one got that info, thanks

Tbone,


Did you get a final measurement?


To add a pic, click on the second to last button on the right in the row of buttons above where we type in our messages. The title that will pop-up when you put the mouse pointer on it is "Image Upload". Click on that and follow the directions.


BlaineEdited by: afp1

Blaine - it measured 45 3/4 inches from the ground to the bottom of the wheel molding... Pics should be up tomorrow

My truck measures 43 7/8" in the rear at the rear wheel wells and 43 1/4" at the front. I'm tempted to install my 1" blocks in the back.


Can't wait to see your pics--hopefully a side view on level ground. I need to take some more pics of mine with the BFG 295s.


Blaine

Afp1,


I've been considering your exact combo (Rancho 4" w/BFG 295's). By the way thanks for your excellent write-up on suspensions lifts - one of the most thorough reviews I've seen anywhere.


Currently, I'm running Green keys adjusted up about 1.5" from stock with BFG 285/75-16's. My wells measure Front 40 1/4", and rear 41". One of the guys at a local 4x4 shop told me the Rancho 4" (RS6548) only raised the front 2.5 to 3", and the rest was netted from torsion bar adjustments. Does this sound right? To get your 43 1/4" front height, how much torsion bar adjustment do you run?


The think that's kept me from moving ahead with the lift is the 3" increased track width - I just don't like looking down the side of the truck and seeing tread sticking way out. My Centerline rims have an offset of 4 5/8"; maybe that will minimize the protrusion, I'm not sure. What offset are your running with your rims?


I'd love to see a pic of your setup from the front or rear view looking down the side of the truck; maybe the wider track doesn't look so bad in porportion to the height...


Doug

With green keys/springs and 285 75 16`s my wheel wells are 41 1/2" front and 43 1/4" rear.


From what I have seen the Rancho lift is a true 4" lift, meaning that the front is lifted 4" and you can get 6" by adjusting the torsion bars.

tbone1227, i wanna see a pic? !

Rickles & Blaine - I will post some pics up tonight, if possible maybe from work today - I will try....


Doug - The rancho lift is a true 4" lift for sure, some of the others arent exactly what they say but the Rancho is definitely all of 4" for a lift, keep in mind that I put bigger blocks than what they come with on the back and put helper springs as well to keep the back end up slightly for towing purposes. Also, the extra track width up front isnt a bad thing at all, i thought that as well but after having it done and driving on it and towing, its an upgrade in my opinion as its very stable and feels good.

Thanks guys for the feedback.


Tbone, I agree the wider track only adds to the stability of a lifted truck, and that is important to me.


Doing some loose math:
<UL>
<LI>Afp1's truck is 3" higher in the front than mine (43 1/4 vs. 40 1/4) </LI>
<LI>His 295's vs. my 285's account for about 1/2" of that, so</LI>
<LI>Installing the Rancho 4" lift now would put my front just shy of 43" high</LI>[/list]


Tbone, I'd like to see a pic of your setup down the side, as well as Afp1's. Netting 3" of lift to 1.5" increased track width may look pretty good.


Doug

Hi,


For what it's worth, if you want the big tires....go the extra height. I put the CST 6-8 inch kit on my 2003 2500HD crewcab, sb dmax. Added 315 BFG at's on WELD 16x8 wheels with the stock 4 5/8 backspacing. The only other change was i did not like the 5 inch blocks on the rear and changed out to 6 inch lift Deaver springs. The only rub, on or off road was the plastic crap up front which had the corner trimed. Shocks are Rancho 9000x's.


Bottom line. The CV angles are at stock, the ride is GREAT, and i expect with the 1 piece sub-frame of the CST lift that alignment will hold well.


I have run the 4 inch Rancho lift on a S10 blazer for 170K miles and that still has had no CV or boot problems up front. But it runs stock angles. The rear broke the $&amp;%# axel fliping shock bracket twice, but never will a third. The Rancho kit has also held alignment well, but only after i got the alignment shop to torque it to the D*** manual value. They NEVER torque it sufficently. Had the same problem with the 2500HD.


Erwin