Lift kit and tire suggestions to surprise my deployed husband?

Call Marie at Headstrong and let her know you want to lift the truck 3'' with the OME setup, tell her the year, body style, let her do the rest. Like others said go OME for a quality and value option for lifting, dakar leafs for the rear option and Upper Control Arms. Once they get here check back in and we can see about TW getting you hooked up with an install. I'd wait on the wheels, let him pick, so for tires I would strongly recommend a good 33'' AT like Toyo Open Country AT2's they are light, have a 60k mile warranty and look nice/peform well. Do you know if he has a Sport or SR5/Offroad? If its a sport you want 285/70r17 if the others 285/75r16. Throw the tires in the back of the truck head to the tire store and install em. Sit back and wait for one super happy excited well deserving husband to show up with a sweet lifted taco in the driveway.

 

In all honesty if you dont know what lift he wants, tires, or size. Dont touch the truck. If my gf did this as a gift i would definitely be upset. Its his truck let him build it the way he wants it. Him coming home to his truck being built completely wrong may ruin his day. I know it would for me.

I would be so upset to come home and see my truck on a leveling kit with 22" rockstars 33" nitto mud tires. Let the man build his toy in all honesty. No disrespect at all just my advice.

 

I agree with giving Marie a call. She is the best at any type of info. Also thank you for your service!!!!!!

 

First I would make sure he hasn't already started buying and stockpiling parts. Folks have a tendency of buying stuff throughout a deployment and letting UPS add to the pile of boxes at home or a friend's house throughout the tour.

Second, as a disclaimer(can't help myself, sorry), try not to blow ALL the tax free money on material things if you're not otherwise taken care of financially.

After that, I'm voting gift certificate as well. He likely has specific ideas in mind of how he would like to modify his truck. Unless you can get that from him, get the gift cert at a place which offers a decent selection of stuff.

If he is handy around vehicles, he can save money and install the parts himself with your help or the help of friends. If not, also do a little bit of research on local 4x4 shops to find someone reputable to do the install.

SE NC I figure you're either at Lejeune or Bragg. I've been stationed at Bragg 4 times and I can't recall anyone raving about shops, but I wasn't looking either. The internet comes up with a couple of local options and I'm sure some folks in the regional forums can recommend something.

For tires, Blacks Tire Service is the local chain around there. If you want a national company for tires, the closest Discount Tire is in Cary(45ish minutes from the north side of Bragg but a long way from Lejeune). In my sampling of one Discount Tire store not in NC, they also offer a decent military discount.

 

Haha, yes, we've been there and done that on our first deployment. I work full time and run a small bookkeeping business on the side, so a good chunk of the extra income is going to pay our debt down to almost nothing before I start nursing school in the fall!

 

Awesome! Good luck with your search.

 

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This.

OP, let's turn things around. Imagine that you told your husband that you were wanting to remodel the kitchen but never went into any details, and then you went on a deployment.

Then you came back a year later after deployment and found out that your husband remodeled the kitchen to "surprise" you, but you happened to dislike everything he did, the colors he chose, the cabinet styles, etc. He had great intentions, but it was not what you wanted/liked.

Let the man handle the truck when he comes back. It will make you both happy at the end.

 

Fair enough, but then that still begs the question of what to do about replacing the tires that are on there now. I can't get bigger tires without a lift, and it NEEDS new tires. Like, I shouldn't even be driving it with my kid in the car needs new tires. And while I don't drive it often, I do occasionally need to. Plus we've had multiple instances of flooding in the last few years where we live, and my car is pretty low to the ground, so in the event that a hurricane does roll through when he's gone, it would be a good alternative vehicle to be able to use. I just don't want to spend $600 on 4 new tires that are going to be replaced in a matter of months bc he wants something else.

 

Maybe you should just email him and tell him that it needs tires now. You can ask what he wants it a lift and tires and still be amazing cause it's done when he is back. Last thing I wanted to do when back from deployment was have anything I had to get done. I'd just want to spend time with the wife and kid.

 

I got a 3 inch OME suspension lift and a 1 inch body lift. I am running 17 inch fuel matte black beast rims and 285/70/17 NITTO Terra Garpplers. It is amazing and I love my build! Totally would recommend for your husband. Especially if he wants to do a lot of 4 wheel driving......Also if you are in AZ I would recommend going to notorious auto designs they did an amazing job for an incredible price! Tell him the Redfoot's sent you and he will hook you up!

 

I recommended 265 tires for the very reason you stated above. The truck needs new tires. The good thing about the 265's is that he can run those tires stock or with a 3" lift and they will still look good on the truck. If he decides he wants different size tires then he can still run those until they wear out and then get what he wants. Its a good solution to both problems. I have 265 75 16 Toyo AT2's as my truck is the SR5 and 16" wheels. Good luck with decisions.

 

I'd hesitate to pick tires for him too. Guys are pretty picky and opinionated about tires and brands. It's awesome what you are trying to do tho.

 

If going 33's I hope the TW bros are going to hammer the pinch weld and do a cab mount chop for you too.

I'd love to come home to a truck that rubs at lock or the first time I flex the suspension - almost as much as I'd like coming home to a truck that had been chopped on by strangers

Agree here 100%

 

Son of a biscuit... I just sold my old tires today. Had I seen this I would of given them to you to hold things over until he gets back! Anyone got any decent 265s they want to part with for a good cause? I know someone in the area has a set sitting around taking up space!

 

If you are worried about tires keep an eye on the classifieds here and check your local junkyard. I've bought 2 unused "spare" tires out of the classifieds here, with rims, for under $50 each. People often sell used stock tires with good tread for cheap when they swap them out.

 

Third gen dosent rub with 33's and a 3'' lift, I see you have a 15, I experienced the same on my 15 and 11 on 33's, not sure what his truck is, and its usually only on full lock, reverse with 2nd gen, you act like its the end of the world, nice try Debbie downer. It'll be fine till he gets back to decide if he wants to chop/pinch/etc.

 

DO NOT LISTEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. Talk to Marie @HeadStrong Off-Road and she will help you out.

 

@kansasgirl it sounds like you need a spy to talk to your husband to get some idea of what he wants

 

Another idea would be just setting aside some $$$ for him to spend on the truck how he wants.

 

Or if he's like me he will change his mind while he's there. I went on R&R and installed the $3000 worth of Jeep goodies I had ordered while deployed, put them all on and then went back for 9 months, during which I decided I wanted a truck and traded the jeep 3 months after I got hom