35s or 33s?

Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Location: Melbourne Australia

Howdy,

Help me out. I once had a pretty firm plan for the following amendments to the Maverick:

- 3" susp lift
- 2" body lift
- 35" MTRs
- 4.3:1 diffs

Now that I have had it a few months I am starting to think slightly differently, maybe:

- 3" suspension lift
- 33" MTRs

Currently running 32" silverstone muddies and not minding them. I figure with 33s I don't really need the diff ratio changed.

The deal is that I can afford to put 35s on, with the extra lift and diff ratio changes that are required - but on the other hand a grand or more extra, plus more work, is as much of a pain in the ass for me as the next guy.

So while I think it would improve the car, I don't know that it would improve the car enough to justify the hassle.

Also, 33s are more or less legal. 35s ain't, and body lift's a real PITA to get legal.

Whatcha reckon?

Jason

Joined: 25 Nov 2002 Location: Golden Square

cant really answer your poll ?? only had 35's for a week and one trip off-road.

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 8:44 pm

I didnt vote for one simple reason...... is that "all" the mods your planning ???, Its a hard call if we dont really understand where you want the rig to be say in a years time from now...

Having said that ... I've had the 35 BFG MTR's on for over a year now and am very happy with the size, BUT ..... I have also had to increase the power plant to drive them at speed and reduce the gearing so I could still crawl, sofar I'm happy with the end result I've achived with the best from both worlds being accomplished.

Best idea of all though is,........

34's Now there's a compromise that works !!!

3" suspension lift and leave the gearing alone !!!

Joined: 27 Nov 2002 Location: Lost in Melbourne.

Depends on what you want to do with the car really...

How much $ you want to throw at it, or can throw at it...

35s pretty much need diffs doing, thats $500ea + labour, which ranges from $500 to $1500 (been calling round last few weeks!) drop the car off and pick up next day...

suspension, or hack the body, etc...

Figure out what you want from your truck first, then go with the plan to get there.

Joined: 22 Oct 2002

Go the 315/75 R16, the legal 35 (at least in NSW, I dunno about QLD)

35s are a definite advantage offroad and with the right setup are fine onroad.

This is what I am working towards but I will need the ratios done for highway work.

I fit 36s with a Dobinson 4" lift (more like 5 1/2") and 40mm body without needing bodywork. It's tight but it works.

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 10:41 pm

Gonna sound like an echo here, but yep, depends on the destiny of the rig and your intended driving.

33's wont get a second glance here in brissy, and will pass any inspection by dot. 35's will snag you in the net with dot, you can run the risk, but heaps of people thought the same thing - and never won.

If you are keen, a second set of tyres will alleviate the whole issue. Only takes around 40 mins the hard way with a trolley jack and wheel brace - quicker with a rattle gun etc.

Joined: 27 Nov 2002 Location: Lost in Melbourne.

Area54 wrote:

If you are keen, a second set of tyres will alleviate the whole issue. Only takes around 40 mins the hard way with a trolley jack and wheel brace - quicker with a rattle gun etc.

40 minutes?? Shit used to take me around 15-20! Jack up center of diff, do 2 at once...

But very good advice.. with things gettin harder and harder to just have fun...

Would be interesting to know what the fine is in Vic for it..

Joined: 24 Dec 2003 Location: Brisbane, Australia

Go the 34's, 255/85x16
Height without too much width and still fit in the guards, heavier Patrols may want something wider though.

Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Location: Snowy Mountains

I drove around in Vic for a bit over a year (about 40,000km) with some Dobinson 4" lift springs and 2" body lift in my GU ute sitting over 35"s and then put in some 6" lift springs and drove around for another year and never once got hassled by the cops when I lived down in Victoria.

Now living in the Snowy Mountains in NSW, I get asked to present my engineers at least 3-4 times per ski seasons and am thinking about getting a copy laminated to keep it in good shape . . . . . The engineers was done with the 4" lift and 33" tyres (was worried it wouldn't pass the braking test with the 35's) but as soon as I pull the engineers report out of the glove box the cops are usually pretty good.

I tend to be a bit more honest with myself and do things right the first time. If I originally wanted 35's then it is unlikely that I'll be able to convince myself to accept a more conservative approach. There is every chance that as soon as the 33's had started to wear I'd be spending more money to do what I should have done the first time around . . . . but that might explain why most of my life's savings are tied up in my ute!

For what it is worth, takes me about 15 mins with a trolley jack and a rattle gun to swap to 38" Boggers when the going's gunna get dirty.

Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Location: Melbourne

Rainbow Warrior wrote:

Go the 34's, 255/85x16
Height without too much width and still fit in the guards, heavier Patrols may want something wider though.

Go a 34x11.5x15 Jungle Trekker 2 Very Happy

Joined: 25 Nov 2002 Location: Golden Square

I have only just got 35's for my shorty GQ, but had 33's for the pervious 4yrs. They worked well it went most place's i wanted to go and where they wouldn't it was only a short winch to get it there. I still havnt changed any of the factory gearing, and the engine is still a TD42 n/a. With the 33's it was rare that I needed the gearing changed or more hp, (except on the highway, always need more there).
With the 35's thats a diff story I think it does need both to be changed. My plan this week is maybe 4.3 diff gears (so I can run 33's as a street/off-road), and a power upgrade of some sort.

Joined: 27 Nov 2002 Location: Lost in Melbourne.

turps wrote:

and a power upgrade of some sort.

wanna buy a Denco System?? Very Happy

Joined: 25 Nov 2002 Location: Golden Square

bogged wrote:

turps wrote:

and a power upgrade of some sort.

wanna buy a Denco System?? Very Happy

Nah was thinking along the lines of VH45. And you will have sold it buy the time I get around to doing anything, wether it be a TD42 turbo'd or go the little V8.
So take you turbo and The Finger

But then again how much are you looking at getting rid of it for.

Joined: 27 Nov 2002 Location: Lost in Melbourne.

turps wrote:

But then again how much are you looking at getting rid of it for.

I'll let ya know on Monday, checking price on my replacement thing first.. Twisted Evil

They will go well with my new 4.6's Very Happy

Joined: 25 Nov 2002 Location: Golden Square

bogged wrote:

turps wrote:

But then again how much are you looking at getting rid of it for.

I'll let ya know on Monday, checking price on my replacement thing first.. Twisted Evil

They will go well with my new 4.6's Very Happy

Now your just bragging. Which way did you end up going with the 4.6's. Did you use either of the factory ones or just aftermarket.

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2004 7:14 pm

Jason,

Add 34's as an option to your poll,
I think the result may be interesting for all of us

Kingy

Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Location: Melbourne Australia

V8Patrol wrote:

Jason,

Add 34's as an option to your poll,
I think the result may be interesting for all of us

Kingy

Done! Gentlemen, change your votes if you prefer 34s.

Thanks for all the thoughts too. In answer to the very legitimate question of what I want to use the rig for... well... (a) it's my daily driver (b) I bought it because I wanted something suitable for a Cape York trip next dry season and (c) I like to go out mudbashing on weekends, but only medium hardcore if that.

I am getting so I don't feel I need the stress of driving something I know isn't legal, and that includes 35" tyres here in the Sunshine State.

Jason

Joined: 01 Nov 2002 Location: Rowville, VIC

34" JT2's are almost 35" tall, and most 35" muddies (bfg etc..) dont actually measure 35"

Joined: 27 Nov 2002 Location: Lost in Melbourne.

V8Patrol wrote:

Jason,

Add 34's as an option to your poll,
I think the result may be interesting for all of us

Kingy

problem with that is, most have voted on the 2 options already adn you cant change ya vote...

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2004 10:58 pm

bogged wrote:

V8Patrol wrote:

Jason,

Add 34's as an option to your poll,
I think the result may be interesting for all of us

Kingy

problem with that is, most have voted on the 2 options already adn you cant change ya vote...

new poll then ???????

or cast a new vote in a post !

Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Location: Melbourne Australia

V8Patrol wrote:

bogged wrote:

problem with that is, most have voted on the 2 options already adn you cant change ya vote...

new poll then ???????

or cast a new vote in a post !

Yeah, I thought you could change votes but I was obviously mistaken - thinking of yahoo groups I think.

By all means start a new poll! Go on!

Jason

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2004 11:07 pm

bias 34's not really a valid choice as a streeter tyre. They flat spot, wear quickly and are noisy like a Cessna, the only thing I object to with my JT2s is the wear rate. You can put up with them, but a radial will be a better choice in the long run, for the same reasons to choose a 33

Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Location: Brisbane

QLD laws may be draconian but they're still laws Rolling Eyes

I'd go with 33's now and if later they're not enough buy some proper play tyres. By then the muddies would have started to lose their edge anyway, still good road/ beach tyres though Wink

I will be doing essentially the same thing soon, only suzuki size = smaller Very Happy