What's the upgrade path?

[Msfitoy]

The first thing I always do with 4 wheels is to replace the wheels/tire...stock wheels, not matter how good looking, keeps the "stock" look...nothing wrong with that if that's your strategy...

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[_TraMor]

OP is running a Tremor so he's already on FOX with 32's. I don't think you will get much bang for your buck going to different leafs/coils and you already leveled the front correct?

Have any pictures of the obstacles or details on where you are getting hung up? It might help the folks who have way more off roading experience give you tips.

Right, 2" level in the front.

I don't know how to describe the obstacle other then a mound into a depression. It was a tight spot between trees with a boulder I could not really avoid. Thankfully the full weight of the vehicle wasn't on the steps but the goal would be to offer additional protection in the future. Not that this really ever happens but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[EDIT] I get the irony.

 

[D Fresh]

OP is running a Tremor so he's already on FOX with 32's. I don't think you will get much bang for your buck going to different leafs/coils and you already leveled the front correct?

Aren't Tremors delivered with 265/70 17's? That's only 31 ½".

OP has a leveled tremor. He could probably fit 34's no problem.

Tires and underbody protection would be the route I'd go.

 

[_TraMor]

Aren't Tremors delivered with 265/70 17's? That's only 31 ½".

OP has a leveled tremor. He could probably fit 34's no problem.

Tires and underbody protection would be the route I'd go.

That sounds accurate for tire size. The remaining question is what size? Most of the threads I'm finding exclude information on the Tremor when it comes to tire sizes, unless I'm just missing it.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

The size in my sig will only work if you also have 10 inch wide aftermarket wheels. You’ll need to use the tire calculator to see what width tires you need for stock rims. I’ll let @coloradoranger chime in, he has 33s on stock rims I think.

You're not suggesting you need 10" rims for 285/70-17 tires right? If so that's not correct. Most manfacturers recommend 7.5-9 inch rims for that size.

 

[Smallsoldier]

Seems I need some advice, I'm getting more and more daring with my Tremor, which has a 2" level lift, 1" wheel spacers, a front mount winch, and a tune.

I'm not looking to go crazy but here in the northeast trails are narrow, muddy, and rocky. The issues I face are getting hung up on the underside on rocks and humps. I'm happy with the performance overall but I'm not sure what order to upgrade since I don't have the cheat code for unlimited money I'll be doing things a little at a time.

Here's what I've come up with so far;

1. Remove Tremor side steps and replace with rock sliders ($1k)
2. get larger tires to increase lift ($1.2-$1.5k)
3. install lift kit ($1.2-$3.5k)

I think the goal really is that if I get hung up on something on the underside I'm not going to do an incredible amount of damage, what's your take on the situation?

That is exactly the path I am taking. Fact just waiting for my rock sliders to arrive.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

OP, I'm in eastern Canada and trails here are similar to your area. Tight, rocky mix, mud, stumps, etc. You really shouldn't need full sliders, for typical trails, your tremor bars with steps removed should be plenty.

The RC diff protector mentioned by @ReigleCM in post #9 is a good, relatively cheap addition, and proper skid plates are advised. I have the Shrockworks but they are unobtanium now, so ARB or other similar are recommended.

Tires are a complex issue. Diameter for us maxes out around 33.5-34 inches, depending on the width, and off-set. Factory rims, without width spacers, you have 3 typical options. 255/80-17 will give you the most lift with the least risk of rub or need to do further modification like removing or changing your crash bars. That is a subjective and sensitive subject around here, there is a thread I will link below.

The other options are 285/70-17 or 295/70-17, both of which may require crash bar modification. If you're not sure what that all means, the first number is tread width. 255 vs 285 is 30mm difference, or about 1.2". The second number is profile or how big the sidewall is, and is a percentage of the width. the higher the number, the bigger the sidewall. 255/70 is a tall skinny tire, 285/70 is a wider almost as tall tire. 295/70 is wider again, and and taller then 255/80 but will likely need crash bar and or more mod, especially with wheel spacers. Currently I'm on 285/70 going to 295/70 when these get replaced.

There are lots of tire size calculators on the web, I use this one. Just plug the tire sizes in, and it does the math for you, also giving you a visual of the difference. Keep in mind these are generalizations though, different manufacturers will have slight variation depending on tire and tread design.

https://tiresize.com/comparison/

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/thre...-the-crash-bars-to-install-bigger-tires.4545/

 

[_TraMor]

Tires are a complex issue.

I guess I'd need to pick your brain a little on backspacing then. The Tremor stock wheels offset is +55, are the sport wheels the same offset and backspacing?

Just so I'm clear the 55mm offset with a 1" (25mm) spacer gives +30 offset, right? And while this additional 25mm doesn't directly add to the backspacing it will increase clearance to the knuckle and control arm?

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

I guess I'd need to pick your brain a little on backspacing then. The Tremor stock wheels offset is +55, are the sport wheels the same offset and backspacing?

Just so I'm clear the 55mm offset with a 1" (25mm) spacer gives +30 offset, right? And while this additional 25mm doesn't directly add to the backspacing it will increase clearance to the knuckle and control arm?

Ranger wheels are +55 offset, Tremor wheels are +42 off set.

Correct +55 off set with a 25mm spacer will give you +30 off set.

Incorrect that it will not add to the backspacing though. Back spacing and off set are the same thing, just measured and defined differently. Increasing either will increase the other (although technically it is defined as decreasing off set).

Off set is the difference between mounting plate and the center line of the rim, back spacing is distance from the mounting plate and back of the rim.

For example if you have an 8 inch rim, with the mounting plate will be dead center with 4 inches in front and back. The back spacing would be defined as 4 inches, the off set would be =/-0. If you move the mounting plate toward the outside of the rim by 25mm (1 inch) the offset would be -25mm and the backspacing would be 5 inches.

Adding to off set moves the rim toward the center of the center of the vehicle. Adding backspacing moves the tire away from the center of the vehicle.

 

[_TraMor]

Incorrect that it will not add to the backspacing though.

Ah, okay, I get it now. Thank you.

 

[Frenchy]

Ranger wheels are +55 offset, Tremor wheels are +42 off set.

Correct +55 off set with a 25mm spacer will give you +30 off set.

Incorrect that it will not add to the backspacing though. Back spacing and off set are the same thing, just measured and defined differently. Increasing either will increase the other (although technically it is defined as decreasing off set).

Off set is the difference between mounting plate and the center line of the rim, back spacing is distance from the mounting plate and back of the rim.

For example if you have an 8 inch rim, with the mounting plate will be dead center with 4 inches in front and back. The back spacing would be defined as 4 inches, the off set would be =/-0. If you move the mounting plate toward the outside of the rim by 25mm (1 inch) the offset would be -25mm and the backspacing would be 5 inches.

Adding to off set moves the rim toward the center of the center of the vehicle. Adding backspacing moves the tire away from the center of the vehicle.

Yes and no. If changing the effective offset with a spacer I can promise the back spacing is still the same for the wheel. The only way to truly change back spacing is by getting a different wheel

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Yes and no. If changing the effective offset with a spacer I can promise the back spacing is still the same for the wheel. The only way to truly change back spacing is by getting a different wheel

Obviously adding a spacer between the rim and vehicle doesn't change the rim itself. The rim is a solid piece of metal, adding a backing plate won't change that.

Adding a spacer does increase backspacing between the tire and the vehicle.

An 8 inch rim with 4 inches of backspacing plus a 1 inch spacer will have the exact same backspacing as asn 8 inch rim with 5 inches of backspacing.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

The size in my sig will only work if you also have 10 inch wide aftermarket wheels. You’ll need to use the tire calculator to see what width tires you need for stock rims. I’ll let @coloradoranger chime in, he has 33s on stock rims I think.

Spacers are perfectly fine as long as they are quality and you routinely check the torque. I had 1 inch spacers on my 4-rubber on 35s that I beat the crap out of off-road for years and never had a singe issue with the spacers.

I do however agree with Frenchy big time. Changing the suspension is like the best mod you can do to your truck. But once cry once, as they say. I have the OME kit and couldn’t be happier, Fox, Eibach, anything is better than stock.

(@coloradoranger also has a set of nice Eibachs for sale for a killer deal)

I will assume you mean me... You're tagging some rando. I do have Eibachs for sale. They will let you fit 285/70r17 under the truck. I currently run 285/75r17 (34") on OE wheels with no issues at all. You will need to make a choice about the intrusion beams (get clearanced ones, remove them, whatever).

I started with skids, sliders, and a diff skid and you can do a lot when you aren't afraid of damage to the underside of the truck.

 

[CurbStein]

question? im running 17x9 with a +12mm offset backspacing being 5.5in on 285/70r17. i want to get the grimm UCAs but it requires a backspacing of 5.75. will my backspacing compared to OEM be 5.5in or 7.2in because of my offsett

 

[Frenchy]

question? im running 17x9 with a +12mm offset backspacing being 5.5in on 285/70r17. i want to get the grimm UCAs but it requires a backspacing of 5.75. will my backspacing compared to OEM be 5.5in or 7.2in because of my offsett

In general you will be ok. A backspacing of 5.75 on a 17x9 would be a +18 offset. Since you are sticking out a little more you should be fine

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