This is from a PM I received from ExpoScout and felt it was pertinent to the thread. Remember any information is my opinion formed from my experience. YMMV.
ExpoScout said:
Hey Jim, just wanted to pick your brain for a minute about my tundra situation.
I like what you've done with your truck and would like to do something similar. I think the 255/85s look good and are what I'd eventually like to run but there's a lot of opinions I've been wading through about lifts, tires, etc....and it's all a little fuzzy.
There is a lot of info out there, some of it I agree with, some I'm leary of. I know what has worked for me, and it has worked flawlessly with both 255/85s and 285/75s.
ExpoScout said:
I really don't want to have to do UCAs and other somewhat extensive mods. I need this truck to be capable but as close to stock/reliable as I can get. I have a scout that is going to be my warm weather toy and I'm not afraid to go crazy with it, but the tundra will be my DD....so I'm sure you can understand where I'm coming from.
Unless you go crazy off road, or lift it a lot, you won't have to do the UCA's. As a DD, this can be a very reliable truck with a good amount of offroad capability. My truck has always had to be a DD first and offroad machine second, so everything I've done has to not affect its ultimate reliability or driveability.
ExpoScout said:
What exactly have you done for your lift? I'm thinking of 5100s, AAL in rear...maybe 1.5" lift or so as you stated you have. I was initially thinking of running the largest tire (265) as I could stock and leaving it at that, but I don't think I'll be happy in the end. So a mild bump in height and 255s would be great. I just don't want to have to deal with regearing or anything.
My current lift is:
Front: Donahoe coilovers set at 1.5" lift over stock. You do not have to go the racing coilover route! I did only because I got a smokin' deal. I ran a Daystar 3/4" puck (gives a 1.5" lift) for about 70,000 miles before that. The Bilstein 5100's are an excellent budget choice.
Rear: Deaver 3 leaf AAL with a AirLift Aircell for the bumpstop. The Deavers evened out the lift but they are soft, and I had to crutch the springs with the
AirCells to haul camping gear on rough forest roads. If I had to do it over again I would call Deaver and special order a spring pack to suit my needs.
What I recommend to anyone who DD's their Tundra:
Keep the lift low. Everyone wants to go the full 2-1/2" to 3" and It's unnecessary to run a slightly taller tire. It kills CV's, boots and ball joints quicker. Run the least amount of lift to fit the tallest tire you can. With a low lift I ran the
original CV's, CV boot's and ball joints for 170,000 miles. I did have to do the boot clamp on the big end of the inner boot, no diff drop necessary.
Wheels with a 4" or less backspace. You can fit a 285 without rubbing the control arm with a 4" BS, 3-3/4" even easier.
A 265/75/16 will fit with no lift. Especially with the 4"BS wheels
A 255/85/16 will fit with a minor (1-1/2") lift. On an 03, you will have to do the pinchweld mod.
A 285/75/16 will fit with a minor (1-1/2") lift. On an 03, you will have to run the 4" BS, do the pinchweld mod, and trim your front flare.
A regear with any of these tires is not needed unless you really, really want it.
The downside to a lower lift height:
A little more work to run bigger tires
No one, I mean, NO ONE notices - until you're parked next to a similar truck. 'Cool Truck" compliments are hard to come by. The 285's look proportional to the lift compared to the 265's and factory ride height.
If you go with the taller lift, you
MAY not have to do the pinchweld, and you
MIGHT need to consider the diff drop, you
WILL PROBABLY have to do the boot clamp mod, you
WILL have to keep an eye on your CV's, the CV boots and your balljoints.
Hope this helps you in your decisions, good luck and keep us posted.
