New-ish From CT

[steveroche]

Hey everyone,
I purchased my 03 TB LT about October last year. So far i have been able to get the 2in BDS lift on as well as bumper cover removal and i painted the steel bumper and grill with rhino liner and a new stereo to replace my crappy factory one. Just ordered this morning are the Markmc 1.5in wheel spacers and at the end of this week i will be upgrading my bald highway tires to some 255/85/16 BFG Mud terrains. Up and coming upgrades i can for-see so far are MDB bumper rad and oil skid plate, CB radio, front bumper fogs, roof rack fogs, hidden subwoofer/amp combo under passenger seat, rear bumper brush guard, front bumper mounted winch in the receiver hitch(warn winch), Painting rear bumper and side trim with rhino liner and any other mods i can possibly think of over this summer.
I am located in Ridgefield, CT so if there is anyone near me who wants to take a little trip to a nice trail 10 minutes away from me just let me know and we can set up a time. It is a pretty extensive trail that a couple people with jeeps and a guy with an FJ take. Got some nice mud as well as good climbs and rocks.

[steveroche]

Here are some pics of the stuff i have done so far...

[Diacom]

Nice work so far, keep it up.

Welcome to the Site.

[janesy86]

Welcome from Ma! I frequent the West Haven area, GF's rent's live there, so possibly meet up sometime. I wasn't aware of many legal trails in CT, so if the place your talkin bout is, I'd be down sometime for a trail ride.

[steveroche]

Pretty sure it is legal...it has a sign that says "land for sale" but no "posted" or "no trespassing" signs. So my take on it is, if anyone asks, I am surveying the area for a potential future purchase haha. Also I have very good local police connections, so not much to worry about.

[Trail X]

...at the end of this week i will be upgrading my bald highway tires to some 255/85/16 BFG Mud terrains...

I think those will fit with the stock wheels and spacers, but you will have some good trimming to do. 33s are generally not suggested for only a 2" suspension lift.

[steveroche]

...at the end of this week i will be upgrading my bald highway tires to some 255/85/16 BFG Mud terrains...

I think those will fit with the stock wheels and spacers, but you will have some good trimming to do. 33s are generally not suggested for only a 2" suspension lift.

Perhaps i will just play it a little safer and do 265/75/16 still a step up from stock but safe enough that i(hopefully) won't need trimming...

[Trail X]

Perhaps i will just play it a little safer and do 265/75/16 still a step up from stock but safe enough that i(hopefully) won't need trimming...

Those probably won't require trimming.

[steveroche]

cool, those should work for me then. I just need a good quality off roading capable tire that will fill up some space in the wheel wells. Eventually when the tires wear out i will get some new rims with better backspacing and what not and possibly get bigger tires....who knows i change my mind about stuff every day haha

[navigator]

dang Steve, I've been up to Farmington 3-4 times the past several months for a client though when we are up there we don't usually have much free time.

The 265/75/16 is about where I want to be as well.

[steveroche]

Haha next time you plan on coming up let me know and we can take some trails.

[steveroche]

BTW here is the guy who i saw running the 255/85/16 bfg mud terrains. He only uses the Markmc lift and spacers. viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1879
I mean i know he has that extra .5in over my BDS kit but he seems to be able to run it fine, perhaps he hasn't taken it on trails yet to find out there could be rubbing under compression.

[Trail X]

I haven't seen him on any trails. I mean, look at his headlights... looks like a cruiser to me.

From my experience with 32s and BDS, 33s should work, but as I said, you'll have to do trimming and under full compression it will probably hit the top of your fender. People with 32s generally have to do trimming. With 33s, its basically unavoidable.

[steveroche]

Yea, that's why i decided to lower down to the 265/75/16. I dont want to have to worry about rubbing when im out driving or off roading. Hoping to get them this weekend but then i realized sunday is easter....costco probably won't be open on easter haha so ill have to wait till monday or later.
Also i know it's a little off topic/ random... but any word on when the next TECORE meet-up will be? i have been looking through all the pics and vids of the previous one and it looks like a lot of fun. I am an Eagle Scout, so camping and the outdoors is in my blood!

[Trail X]

As long as you trim, you shouldn't have rubbing. Just a matter of how much trimming you can stomach.

Tecore - there's a new thread somewhere around here about it (found it: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1976&hilit=tecore). To summarize... not sure if my schedule can handle it this year, but I'll try. No promises.

[steveroche]

Cool, sounds good to me. I bookmarked that thread, i'll keep an eye on it for updates. In my case, the further into the summer it is, the better. I start 2 summer jobs in june/july that pay much better than my near min. wage job now so i will be able to get everything i need to be ready for the trip...aka mta bumper/skid package.

[navigator]

Hi Steve, I was checking out your build thread and I think you are about where I would like to end up with the 265/75/16. Do you have any rubbing issues?

[steveroche]

No rubbing at all, the guy at the tire center checked my clearance and said i had about 2 fingers between the tires and my frame. More than enough room all around.

[navigator]

very nice, I think that is my goal as long as plans don't change.

[steveroche]

Nice, I really like the way it sits right now. Perfect height for the mix of 30 minute school commute 3 times a week and off roading on the side. The guy at Costco told me the tires were going to be really loud but i find that its just a low humming and I actually kind of like the way it sounds. The Mud Terrains are definitely a good tire, on the trails I notice performance is greatly increased but I still need a new axle with a locker in it, otherwise i get stuck in certain spots and can't advance through the trail...