NorthernFocus
New member
I run my full size spare 35” or 37” in the rear of my 3rd gen Quad cab (behind passenger). I did a rear seat delete. I wanted to keep the weight forward and low as possible. My 2 cents.
Ram 3500 - Spare tire options for 37s.
- Thread starter Longship
- Start date
Transit720
Member
You CAN run a 37" underneath the bed (at full PSI), BUT you need to have a custom hitch fabricated (Carli doesn't make a "Trophy Hitch" for the RAM).
ALSO, I believe, you have to be running a flatbed (rather than the factory pickup bed) because the added hitch length will interfere with the factory bumper(?). Perhaps this is why Carli doesn't make a Trophy Hitch for the RAM. (I think the fit issue on the RAMS is not width, but length. HD Fords have slightly longer pickup beds.)
All this said, I am positive that you can run a 37 in a custom hitch under a flatbed, because I am doing exactly that.
Specifically, my setup is Ram3500 CrewCab Short-Bed with OEV AlumaTray in place of factory bed and custom hitch to fit 37'.
ALSO, I believe, you have to be running a flatbed (rather than the factory pickup bed) because the added hitch length will interfere with the factory bumper(?). Perhaps this is why Carli doesn't make a Trophy Hitch for the RAM. (I think the fit issue on the RAMS is not width, but length. HD Fords have slightly longer pickup beds.)
All this said, I am positive that you can run a 37 in a custom hitch under a flatbed, because I am doing exactly that.
Specifically, my setup is Ram3500 CrewCab Short-Bed with OEV AlumaTray in place of factory bed and custom hitch to fit 37'.
CatButt
Observer
You'd likely have to dump your exhaust in front of the axle or totally reroute it...when I tried to stuff a 37 under my 5th gen the hitch and the exhaust were going to be the issues.
mog
Kodiak Buckaroo
I've been thinking about that as with 40s no way will my spare fit so I am putting a 40 gal aux fuel tank there. I would prefer to have lots of clearance from the exhaust, so side exhaust would be a great option. I would be interested if someone has done that on a Ram, so I don't have to reinvent the system.
Mild
to Wild?
Or Gullwing wantabe?
p nut
butter
I’m of the same thought (if the scenario is X size tire won’t fit in the stock location).
Slightly undersized tire should get you to a tire shop.
You could also slightly increase the PSI in the spare (relative to the other tires) to get the overall diameter about the same.
mog
Kodiak Buckaroo
I want a full size real spare for trip continuation.
I punched a large hole in the side of my F250's 35/12.5R16 at a fuel stop in Grapeview, CA, 100 miles north of my destination in Long Beach. There was a major fire at Gorman with the I5 being open and closed off and on. It was priceless to be able to swap on a no-limit spare and get to my destination without worries (before the freeway was closed again) and then spend a day in a large city replacing the tire with what I want (no compromises).
And just 3 months ago, when visiting a friend an hour outside of Fresno, I hit a pothole in my Mercedes and punched a hole in the sidewall. While I had the factory spare, it was a space-saver and limited to 50mph. I had no desire to make the 500 mile drive home at 50mph. The local tire shops could only get a replacement in 3 days (special high-speed rating), so lucky being at my friend's house, we drove to Fresno in his car and were able to get my damaged tire replaced with the correct replacement. I now have a 'real' spare, sure it sticks up a little in the trunk-well, but worth the piece of mind.
With my Power Wagon, I'd hate to limp into civilization and be told it is a 3 day wait to get a 40. Sure if it is Moab that you limp into, probably in stock, in many brands, But Cut Bank, Montana, probably not. If you are going large, that is the price you pay in dollars ($1000+ in my case for my spare wheel/tire) and the hassle of carrying it. As always YMMV
renottse
Member
This is an 37” under a 4th gen, good enough.
Yes flatbed, yes custom hitch. You need about 3” clearance into the bumper area… opportunity for a solid discussion about that welder, break and fab table you’ve been needing for the shed… have at it.
p nut
butter
Yup 👍 I’m a bit more tolerant of delays as I see it as part of the adventure. Machine or man, there’s always bound to be breakdowns.
Im not saying I go unprepared. But I refuse to pay $4k for a trophy hitch or custom bumper with so much weight hanging off of it. Chances of failure are minimal and I’m ok with the small risk. 🙂
mog
Kodiak Buckaroo
More YMMV. I got my Road Armor Bumper for free thanks to Jeff Bezos (actual $550 ahead, with selling the Ranch Hand bumper that was on the truck), and building my own swing (to the side, not out) mount so I can access my camper, $50 additional in materials. So I guess -$500 in direct cost?
The wheel/tire has to angle out at 20° when the camper is on to be supported by the bumper and still clear the camper. When the camper is off, it can be adjusted to a vertical (0°) position.
rruff
Explorer
Oddly that doesn't work. The tire circumference is the same regardless of PSI.
Looks like this proves it's a length issue, not a width (between frame rails) issue. Thanks a ton for the detail @renottse!
mog
Kodiak Buckaroo
I agree with @p nut, pretty crazy prices for bumpers, tire carriers or 'special mounts'
For F°rds (or $3,896 if you want to fit 38s)
Carli Suspension created the 2017+ Ford trophy hitch to solve the problem of fitting a full size spare. This 3/16″ and 1/4″ cold-rolled American steel hitch frame is combined with a 3-way tie down to provide users a 3″ Hitch Receiver and fitment for up to a 38″ spare tire in the factory location. This until is direct bolt-in for 2017+ Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks, and was tested to 16,000lbs with no notable deflection giving it over a class 5 rating. This hitch does require modifying the exhaust to exit directly after the over axle segment to fit a 38" tire, but with a 37" tire the factory exhaust will clear. Please see photo above for an example of the modification for 38s. If you want a bolt in setup, we now offer a bolt in exhaust that fits up to a 38" tire
p nut
butter
But decreasing the diameter also decreases the circumference. If I’m thinking about that right. Same tire at 15 psi will sit lower than a tire at 40psi. Effective diameter/circumference will be smaller.
rruff
Explorer
Nope. Run a tape measure around the circumference. That's how far your rig goes with one wheel revolution, and it doesn't matter if your tire is nearly flat or 80 psi.