37" BFG ATs

[Hockster]

The liner isn't the issue here, and offset really isn't eaither...the issue is if you plan to offroad, you need to hammer down the pinch weld BEHIND the liner, and trim off some of the fender behind the flare and some of the flare. If you don't plan to offroad, ever, then you are fine, you will have some rubbing on the liner, but you won't cause any damage.

Here are the pics of the pinch weld once you remove the flare and liner. I will get pics of the cut of fender and flare tomorrow, i have to take it apart, since i got wrapped up in just working on my truck Saturday.

pic1: This shows the pinch weld "protector", so if you did come in contact with the pinch weld, this would give a smooth surface to protect the tire...this get unbolted (see orange arrows) and scrap it.

pic2: the red line indicate relief cuts, the red circle shows an angle cut. Then beat down the pinch weld with a really big sledge.

pic2: The orange shows what i trimmed off on the flare, the orange circle shows the rear liner screw ole i kept, along with one near the front, the rest were cut off.

pic3: Shows towards the front of the truck, notice the flare has been trimmed, no more holes. The flare is still snugly attached with just the pinch clips into the fender. Also notice the orange circle, it shows the front hole for the liner in the fender. also note the cut in the fender above the bolt.

pic4: the rear of the wheel well. no holes in the flare, and the orange circle highlights the rear hole for the liner to attach to the remaining part of the fender (see the angled cut, thats whats left of the fender).

I'll get more pics of the cut fender, which is under the flare tomorrow. Hope this helps.

So, you trimmed off what about 1/2inch?

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

And think of all the cutting this way, it reduces the weight of the truck by at least 5 oz which equates to 10hp and 1mpg more...

---------- Post added at 10:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 AM ----------

So, you trimmed off what about 1/2inch?

On the flare? Yes, 1/2 to an inch...

 

[Hockster]

And think of all the cutting this way, it reduces the weight of the truck by at least 5 oz which equates to 10hp and 1mpg more...

---------- Post added at 10:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 AM ----------



On the flare? Yes, 1/2 to an inch...

and about how much of the pinch weld? 1/2in? or less??

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

and about how much of the pinch weld? 1/2in? or less??

more like an inch, you just cut your relief cuts back to the firewall, and hammer down.

---------- Post added at 10:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 AM ----------

i'll get pics of what i cut on the fender, under the flare. That was about an inch or more there. I cut right were the fender flares out, under the flare. I used a cutting wheel, and i found i was able to make a really straight and smooth cut going with the spin.

---------- Post added at 10:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 AM ----------

I also have the bigger pics if anyone wants to PM me there e-mail address, i'll send them over. Just noticed the pics reduced in size when i uploaded them.

 

[Hockster]

more like an inch, you just cut your relief cuts back to the firewall, and hammer down.

Any reason you didnt feel like adding a 1in bed and cab lift instead?
ITs quite easy now since everything is cable controled. I ran body lifts on all my older trucks from 1/2in to 2 in. I never went higher than 2 cause its hard to make panels look good any higher. A 1in lift on the cab and body would let the 37s clear so it seems. For me, I dont want to do anything to my truck that involves drilling or cutting since I like to upgrade to the newer technology often so I could remove the 37's, return to stock and sell or trade easy.

 

[KaiserM715]

Thanks for the pics. That is exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Raptizzle]

Nice writeup VG.

As my truck is getting worn in, I'm noticing that the rubbing is becoming more apparent with daily driving.

 

[BAJASVT]

Any reason you didnt feel like adding a 1in bed and cab lift instead?
ITs quite easy now since everything is cable controled. I ran body lifts on all my older trucks from 1/2in to 2 in. I never went higher than 2 cause its hard to make panels look good any higher. A 1in lift on the cab and body would let the 37s clear so it seems. For me, I dont want to do anything to my truck that involves drilling or cutting since I like to upgrade to the newer technology often so I could remove the 37's, return to stock and sell or trade easy.

I thought about doing that too, but I'm not sure if 1" would do it. If the top of the tire is making contact, then it sounds like 1" would do the trick. If the back of the tire is hitting on the vertical parts of the flare, pinch weld, fender, etc., then it would probably take more like 2-3" of body lift to gain the clearance.

I guess it depends on where the tires are making contact. Anyone who has not trimmed have tires that made contact when bottoming out the suspension? Where do they hit?

Vanilla - I was under the impression that the pinch weld modifications were recommended for wheeling with the 37" BFGs, but I wasn't aware about the fender and flare trimming. Is this necessary for the BFG too or only the other true 37" tires?

 

[Hockster]

I thought about doing that too, but I'm not sure if 1" would do it. If the top of the tire is making contact, then it sounds like 1" would do the trick. If the back of the tire is hitting on the vertical parts of the flare, pinch weld, fender, etc., then it would probably take more like 2-3" of body lift to gain the clearance.

I guess it depends on where the tires are making contact. Anyone who has not trimmed have tires that made contact when bottoming out the suspension? Where do they hit?

Vanilla - I was under the impression that the pinch weld modifications were recommended for wheeling with the 37" BFGs, but I wasn't aware about the fender and flare trimming. Is this necessary for the BFG too or only the other true 37" tires?

Ya, I havent looked into it much since I dont have the plans to run 37's yet. That might change if I get my money situation fixed which is close to happening.
They are a few thing to consider if a body mount lift is used.
Fuel filler tube since it has a clamp holding it to the body and its a tight connection.
and of course all teh crash sensors, anti roll anything that works to stabilize the truck on the road.
Its a lot to consider and some are 100% against body lifts!

 

[BAJASVT]

Ya, I havent looked into it much since I dont have the plans to run 37's yet. That might change if I get my money situation fixed which is close to happening.

I think I have similar reservations as you to making the mods to fit 37" tires. I've come to accept that I may have to mod the pinch weld; while I'm not wild about it, I guess I'd do it because it will be hidden. The trimming of the flare is a little too visible for me. I'm hoping I can run 37" BFG on the OEM wheels without trimming the flare.

---------- Post added at 03:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:43 PM ----------

Yeah, I think with 1" or less it'd be ok. The bumper heights could probably be adjusted fairly easily or maybe the OEM holes would just need some minor slotting. The fuel filler neck should be accommodating of 1" of vertical shift. The steering intermediate shaft is telescoping and should be ok too, but I'd want to unbolt it from the column or rack to see how much extra stroke it has to be sure. The VCS sensors will be fine and the additional roll to the RSC system from a 1" lift is probably negligible at best.