2nd gens on 37" tires

If you're wheeling 37s id say just upgrade the first time your rack blows. I'm currently installing a Tundra rack on a customers taco with 37s, and did another one a few weeks ago. The install isn't too bad.

I'm running a slide rack with howe pump, cooler and reservoir, still only lasted a year... I think I'll probably just put a Tundra rack on and hopefully be done with it, though maybe hydro assist on the slide rack would have saved it? Could be something...

Man it sucks with the long wheel base sometimes!!! Had to winch twice this weekend cuz of the long wheelbase getting high centered. It's why I went 37 in the first place. I plan to back half my truck and shorten the wheelbase around 8". I think that should help a lot. Wish I had an access cab.

 

This was my thoughts in 2015 and 2016 I turned into a stubby truck haha. Hydro assist would help a ton and you would be able to turn while being locked. I would do that before going to a tundra rack. I'm still not completely sold on that idea. I'm still enjoying my hydro though and have been wheeling on it for 3 years now and haven't touched it. But that's not the solution for everyone and I know there is benefit to still having a manual rack.

 

I still do a lot of highway driving so it does scare me a bit. I also think that, with the slide rack, most of my problems stem from the rack teeth pulling schmoo into the seals.

I've spent my ten thousand hours running heavy equipment with fully hydro steering, both front steer, rear steer, both steer, and center pivot steering, so I'm pretty familiar with the characteristics, but never on highway.

 

This has been my experience so just saying for some info into the hydro steering

on a vehicle I build i had full hydro steering and hydro boost brakes.
I ended up putting the fuel lines out to the pump on the front of the fuel cell and the fuel went low
I came to a steep hill and the vehicle shut off could not get it started again and no extra fuel.
I had someone pull me to the trail head and I steered the vehicle as we went along. It was hard as heck but
it did turn the wheels.

my point is there was still some steer ability in my case so i expect there would be with other hydro steer set ups also.
would i want to try to steer any other time than being pulled from a trail. no way. not happening it was long ago but I do remember there was nothing precise about it oversteering/understeering very unpredictable...

 

Stock control arms?

 

no there spc

 

For highway driving, I would be more concerned about the wheels self centering, as it would be pretty sketch to have to turn in and out of every corner, or be having to constantly adjust in a straight line

 

You get better self centering with more caster, most solid axle guys i talk to are 8+ degrees caster. With the JD pivot kit and high caster arms, you should have no problem getting those numbers.
I can do 80mph on the highway and it drives fine, there is a learning curve with hydro and your steering wheel will never be straight.

 

I think there's something weird with my frame, because even with the steering all the way forward, I can only run the long travel arms 1/2" forward from stock before the tierods contact the coilover during compression and turning, so my castor is surprisingly low. like 4 degrees. If I push them any further forward, I have the same tie rod clearance issue. I've been wanting to figure out a way to get into the 6+ degree castor, but only way would be to get new uppers made with the ubj further back, and then re-tub I guess.

I already knew my frame was probably a bit tweaked before the JD kit, but thought that welding it on square would solve the problem. Not sure, but that's where I'm at. I could probably put the tierods into my lathe and take a bit more out of them, but I'd rather not if I can avoid it.

 

You could also cut up your JD upper arms and use adjustable heims. Or you could hit up warfab for his coilover/uca brackets.

Id be surprised if you fucked your frame that much, and your getting similar alignment numbers from both sides. Usually i see one side is fucked and the other is okay.

 

True I could do either of those things.

my frame was tweaked for sure, because that was one of my issues, and I think the JD kit solved that, but it's just limited now a little. not sure, I need to mess with it a bunch more. Lots of projects!

 

This is true. I ripped my front diff mount out if the frame and slapped a hole in the diff. I steered my way off the trail and to the trailer with full hydro. Speed is your friend.

 

I've also noticed the faster I go the better it handles.

 

Yeah i get that too, doesnt seem to be related to engine rpm though.

 

I agree it is all based on road force. I've even notices a difference on concrete interstates and asphalt.

 

Only managed to get 2 trips done on the 37's. Truck has been down due to the spindle failure, and now I'm going to drop it off for repairs and upgrades. Tundra rack is going in, along with new tie-rods. 5.29 gears, and a front locker. Also figured while it's down, I'd get the audio upgraded.

Also any suggestions on 37" winters? They can be 16's, 17's, or 18's. I plan to take the Treps off once the snow hits.

 

Mickey Thompson Baja boss at are snowflake rated. I just got a set for my new Tundra but haven't installed them yet.

Have heard really good things though

 

yep those are the tires I decided to go with, they look a lot meaner in person.
not a lot of experience with them yet but compared to durtrac or the hankook dynapro mt, the side walls are I'd say 3X more stiff. I mounted and dismounted them by hand and I'm under estimating hear. If you like a stiff sidewall at, these are them...

 

So I have been running on 37's for a couple of weeks, not regeared yet, I'm living with it for now. One very big thing I never thought about was where to put the spare. The spare takes up more than 1/2 the bed if its laying down which mine is because i have a tonneau cover. Has anyone come up with an idea to get your bed space back. I don't want to make a hitch or bumper mounted spare. just don't like it

 

Lying flat, it is what it is, if you’re determined to save space then you’ll have to sacrifice the tonneau cover to install something like this.