Looking to put enough of a lift on my '95 2500 4x4 to fit BFG MT 255/85's (33.3x10). The truck will mostly be used for on road, but when off, lots and lots of mud. No rock climbing or extreme articulation. Also, I need to be able to tow an 8000# trailer occasionally.

What do you think is required lift-wise to get these tires in without too much problems? Can I get away with turning up the bars a bit and slipping some blocks in the rear?

Also, I assume I am going to be needing shocks... Any recomendations?

I put 255/85R16 dunlop mud rovers on 16X7 rims on my 1998 2500. I had no plastic thing under the bumper. Trimed the bumper just a bit, took off the corner that sticks out into the wheel well. On the back side of the wheelwell I cut the finder flare just enough to expose the metal corner of the fender then took a hammer and beat the corner of the fender in about an inch or so. Turned the T-bars up to make the truck sit level and never heard the tires rub.

Were those 16x7's stock rims?

I've been reading about torsion keys on this site quite a bit. Will there be any advantage to using these if I crank up the bars a bit? Based on what I have been reading, they are only useful if you intend to crank the bars beyond their max... but in that case you would subject CV joints & suspension parts to damage...

Any real use for torsion keys in my situation, or should I just crank them up a bit to ensure the tires fit?

I was asking the same question about keys a couple months ago. the function of the keys is to limit wheel travel. in short, it will look cool when it's parked sitting taller with bigger tires, but it will ride really stiff.

You're better off trimming the fenders as needed, or going with a 4 " system. I'd go the trimming route before shelling out big $$

Were those 16x7's stock rims?

Nope

http://www.alcoa.com/car_truck/en/products/product.asp?country_id=999&market_id=29&market_cat_id=369&cat_id=808&prod_id=1188

I had a set of 255/85R16 on my 96 2500, bars cranked and plastic trimed in the front, 1" blocks in the back and aftermarket wheels, rode like a wagon even with 250lbs of bumper and winch...:nutkick:

So are aftermarket rims a necessity when running these tires, or can I get away with factory steel? This is basically a work truck, so I'm not too worried about dressing it up as much as I am keeping it functional.

As of right now, I'm thinking I will go with tightening up the t bars up front and slipping a 1" block in the rear. Any difference in which block I go with... seems to me they are pretty much all the same providing I get solid u bolts and such. For just a 1" block should I worry about it being angled to keep the driveshaft straight?