SUGGESTIONS?, TIME TO UPGRADE MY 2012

[bluewagon]

I'd post a pic of my stock true blue 2012 Laramie, but don't think I have been granted permissions to do so. My truck is stock with the exception of the ez down tail gate strut. I just turned 20,000 miles yesterday. It is time for a few upgrades. When I do something I like to do it right the first time. I can search the forum all day but thought perhaps I would be best to ask advice. I love the truck and the way it rides. I use it for hunting, pulling my boat, and general use. I would like to acquire a fifth wheel camper in the future but the miles pulling that would be limited.

I would like to upgrade to 35" tires. I have seen that the Toyo Open Country A/T is a popular one for our trucks. It seems some say we do not need to make any changes to the trucks for clearance while others say we do. Can anyone clarify? If I have to, I am thinking Thuren control arms. I would also like to level the front end. Any recommendation on a leveling kit that WILL NOT change the ride and handling? I will retain stock tires.

Exhaust? I would like a little rumble out of this rig. A little. I do not want the annoying drone while running highway speeds. I do not think my truck should sound like a Prius. I do not want to invest a butt load of cash in exhaust. I am not opposed to leaving it a single exhaust, or going to a dual, however do not want tail pipes that hang below my bumper causing clearance issues when coming through a steep draw. If there is anything that improves performance I'd be curious.

Tuner? I guess if I am changing tires a tuner may be a good idea? I know I can reprogram tire size on the truck from a hand held scanner. I also do not want to see my mpg go completely to hell with bigger rubber.

Paint chips. for only 20,000 miles on my truck my rockers and lower doors are chipped horribly. I am running the larger rubber mud flaps from Dodge. I think that the Dodge running boards would likely help keep the rocks down. I would ultimately like to put white knuckle sliders on the truck, however that is lower on my wish list. Recommendations on the rock chips? This is the one thing that I dislike on my truck. It drives me nuts every time I wash it. I do NOT want to spray bed liner on the lower portion of this truck. If I had a white or silver truck perhaps, I do not think I would like the appearance on the dark blue. I wish that I could find a full set of stainless moldings that cover from the door body line down to the bottom of the rocker. Again, this drives me crazy so if you have a recommendation lets hear it.

My truck is equipped with the back up camera. My truck did not come with back up sensors. I have just recently had a brand new take off rear bumper with sensors fall into my lap at a very reasonable price. Any one add one before? Is it a plug and play swap?

[Cactus Red]

Welcome to the crew!

After a few more posts, you'll be able to post pics, and we urge you to do so!

The AT2 Xtreme has been a very good tire for me, both in traction and longevity. So far they have done everything I've asked of them, and with 17K on them now, I expect to get them thru to next fall before replacing them. I've always replaced tires at the 50% tread depth, and that's where these will be by then. The new Toyo R/T will also be taken into consideration then.

The easiest leveling solution is the Daystar 1.00 inch spacer. It retains the stock springs and ride quality.

Mark

[04Ram2500Hemi]

Welcome to the Power Wagon Registry. Just a few thoughts based off your post:

-I'm thinking about 35" tires too, and if I go that route I'm going to go with the Thuren Control Arms. With just the control arms I think 35's will fit just fine. We've got one member that run's 37" tires with his Thuren Arms and with no other suspension mods he barely rubs the control arms at full lock. I need to be able to run tire chains in the winter, so I think the 35's will be perfect. Regardless of tire size when the time comes, I'll be going with the new Toyo Open Country A/T II's myself.

-After one hunting season I noticed that my rockers had taken a bit of a beating from rock chips (the black paint showed way too much on the rockers). I ended up going ahead and having my rockers coated with Line-X to solve that problem. I did the same thing with my 2004 and loved it, so doing it on my 2012 Power Wagon was a no brainer.

-I'm not sure about the tuner/programmer, but if I jump up to 35's I'm going to have to explore that myself.

Hopefully I was able to help a little. Again, welcome to the Power Wagon Registry!

[bluewagon]

Thanks Cactus Red and 04Ram. So far it sounds like Thuren control arms with the daystar kit running toyo at in 35". Is there anyone out there running this very same set up? Any suggestions on the rest?

[04Ram2500Hemi]

You shouldn't need the Daystar if you just want 35" tires if you go with Thuren Arms. Thuren Arms alone will give you enough room for 35" tires. Take a look at this thread to see our member running 37's with just the Control Arms.

http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/vie ... =13&t=2333

[08TwinStickPW]

I would like to upgrade to 35" tires. I have seen that the Toyo Open Country A/T is a popular one for our trucks. It seems some say we do not need to make any changes to the trucks for clearance while others say we do. Can anyone clarify? If I have to, I am thinking Thuren control arms. I would also like to level the front end. Any recommendation on a leveling kit that WILL NOT change the ride and handling? I will retain stock tires.

Exhaust? I would like a little rumble out of this rig. A little. I do not want the annoying drone while running highway speeds. I do not think my truck should sound like a Prius. I do not want to invest a butt load of cash in exhaust. I am not opposed to leaving it a single exhaust, or going to a dual, however do not want tail pipes that hang below my bumper causing clearance issues when coming through a steep draw. If there is anything that improves performance I'd be curious.

Tuner? I guess if I am changing tires a tuner may be a good idea? I know I can reprogram tire size on the truck from a hand held scanner. I also do not want to see my mpg go completely to hell with bigger rubber.

For the exhaust I would check out Mufflex.com (if your tailpipe has a resonator try the 18", if no resonator go with the 22/24"

For the tuner I would recommend the Superchips, they seem to have better tranny tuning then Diablo.

[Edge8970]

Sorry to jump in but I'm thinking about the same tires (35's) on stock wheels for my 2012. I have the Daystar 1 inch level in front but still have the stock control arms. Can I run 35's with just the level or should I get the control arms as well? I don't want any rubbing, kinda OCD that way. The Thurens are kinda out of the budget though... UGH

[04Ram2500Hemi]

Sorry to jump in but I'm thinking about the same tires (35's) on stock wheels for my 2012. I have the Daystar 1 inch level in front but still have the stock control arms. Can I run 35's with just the level or should I get the control arms as well? I don't want any rubbing, kinda OCD that way. The Thurens are kinda out of the budget though... UGH

I think you'll end up rubbing at full lock with the stock control arms. I think anything over 11.50 width rubs on the stock arms.

[Edge8970]

Thanks for the info. Time to ask the boss for the green light on those as well...