35” vs. 37” tires and belly scraping

[Camaroboi13]

Correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t a Sport come standard with 31” tires so going to 35’s will result in a 2 in net lift..

You are 100% correct, but the OP is comparing 35s to 37s. That’s where the 1” comes from.

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[GMag]

Getting your moneys worth out of those Rock Hard sliders?

Yes sir! They are quite stout but they took a beating on Mottino wash. It made them look like they've been on for a couple years when I jut got them for Christmas. I have their rear control arm and shock skids as well. Will be doing fronts soon.

 

[John in the Woods]

I ran 35s for the first 45K miles with a 2-inch Mopar lift, then upped to 37s with the same suspension. I’m plated up underneath, with beefier rock sliders and a relocated dampener, and I find I drag and smack a lot less on the bigger rubber. The 35s were KO2s, and the 37s are Mickey Thompson Baja Boss, so the gain might be a little more than an inch. Still plenty of road manners, and now over 86K miles no apparent extra wear from the bigger setup. I’d make the leap.

 

[tom.mary.glad]

Correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t a Sport come standard with 31” tires so going to 35’s will result in a 2 in net lift..

Yes. Mine came with 245/75/R17 which online calculator tells me are about 31.4” x 9.6”.

 

[PuddleJumper]

The first time I took my new $70k JTRD off road at my old stomping ground, Big Levels in Virginia, it was like Ralphie finally getting his Red Rider and then immediately shooting himself in the eye. The stock truck was worse than my teenage years 91’ Nissan on 32s, by a lot. I had realistic expectations. It’s not a JL, but it’s not even a Tacoma in terms of break over and departure. The truck is goofy long. I had the additional problem of the diesel’s essentially defective factory suspension.

I can’t compare 35s to 37s. I went straight to 37s after my first disheartening and disappointing trip. There’s no comparison between a TJ on 35s and a Gladiator on 45s. You can’t jack a Gladiator high enough to compensate for its length. They’re going to scrape. They will never be Wranglers, but I can carry lots of crap with me. The Gladiator is the best overlanding platform there is IMHO, and it can tow well, and it can be practical, and it rides well on road. The tradeoffs are worth it to me. But it will scrape and get high centered.

I would recommend 37s AND an aluminum belly skid from Artec or Next Venture. I’m going to get mine this spring along with diff sliders. You can certainly wheel the 37s without a belly skid but you will scrape in rock gardens and over ledges. The first armor I got was real rock sliders. With the Gladiator I’m less concerned with scraping than getting getting high centered in between frame crossmembers and getting stuck, especially when I’m alone. I want the belly skid as much to have a smooth surface under the truck so I can actually get off of obstacles. Also consider most belly skids actually increase ground clearance a bit.

I’m personally not going out West to the Rubicon or Moab until I get the belly skid, diff sliders and probably LCA sliders. I’ve also smashed up my AEV drop brackets in Virginia although they seem otherwise unaffected. I’m debating fabricating and welding armor to those too.

If I keep the truck, I will eventually make the $30k leap to 40s or 42s. The moral of the story is that if you want to wheel it seriously, go as high as you can reasonably afford and still expect to scrape all the time.

p.s. If you overland/car camp it, I would strongly recommend you consider a lift that’s overland geared, like Clayton or AEV. AEV’s 2.5 lift is more like 3 inches. A lot of manufacturers 3 inch lifts are more like 2-2.5 inch lifts. The 3” AEV lift is closer to 4-4.5”. They’re designed for loaded trucks. With an AEV 3” lift and fully loaded, mine retains a slight rake. You don’t want your ass sagging when you’re loaded down and trying to off road. A lot of lifts sold by shops are designed to just meet the requirement of getting size x tire under the truck.

Even if you don’t carry a RTT, fridge, and tons of camping crap, the Gladiator allows you to carry more and better recovery gear, jacks, bikes, etc. All the adds up too even if you’re not loaded down like the Clampetts. Armor, winches, bumpers, etc., also weigh a lot so consider heavier springs.

I took my stock Mojave thru big levels and it was super easy and a blast. Also did Poser Rock with no issues. went right over like it was nothing. first time i didn't take the bypass. with my 37s I'd like to try the side by side shortcut up. I saw a gladiator on 40s do it quite effortlessly.

 

[Wolf Island Diver]

I took my stock Mojave thru big levels and it was super easy and a blast. Also did Poser Rock with no issues. went right over like it was nothing. first time i didn't take the bypass. with my 37s I'd like to try the side by side shortcut up. I saw a gladiator on 40s do it quite effortlessly.

CJ’s and TJs on 40+ tires, and buggies break driveshafts attempting to go over poser rock at Uwharrie, but some make it. Any vehicle with decent approach angle can drive up one side. Zero chance you “went right over like it was nothing” in a Gladiator. ?. I’m throwing a flag on that claim.

A stock Gladiator is fine at Big Levels. I made a wrong turn and ended up on a wash (I hadn’t been there in years). Still l, I’ve done the washes between switch backs in other vehicles without any issue. I almost high centered (stopped before it was too late) on a side trail at Flagpole. The stock truck just doesn’t have the breakover it needs for my comfort level and its length is a liability. But I’ve seen forest rangers drive 2 wheel drive trucks drive up Big Levels. You can do a lot of trails in a bone stock truck if you’re spending someone else’s money.

I did Potts Mountain alone on 37s, despite watching the videos. I didn’t find it as difficult as the they imply but I did scrape a lot at the rock garden. Although even there I seemed to have less issues. I didn’t get stuck at the big rock climb/descent at the entrance/exit to the garden which hates long wheelbases but I was going South/down it and scraped center entering from the top. I’m not sure if I’d have had worse luck going up. Potts Mountain was the final straw that made me decide to get a full belly skid prior to going out west. On a Wrangler there’s this sense that almost as soon as the front tire leaves an obstacle the back tire is hitting it. On the Gladiator, there’s this loooonngg transition which reminds you it’s not like a regular Jeep. Of course, I would never had been able to justify bringing an Ooni pizza oven and Ukeg up a trail, so the Gladiator wins.

 

[PuddleJumper]

CJ’s and TJs on 40+ tires, and buggies break driveshafts attempting to go over poser rock at Uwharrie, but some make it. Any vehicle with decent approach angle can drive up one side. Zero chance you “went right over like it was nothing” in a Gladiator. ?. I’m throwing a flag on that claim.

A stock Gladiator is fine at Big Levels. I made a wrong turn and ended up on a wash (I hadn’t been there in years). Still l, I’ve done the washes between switch backs in other vehicles without any issue. I almost high centered (stopped before it was too late) on a side trail at Flagpole. The stock truck just doesn’t have the breakover it needs for my comfort level and its length is a liability. But I’ve seen forest rangers drive 2 wheel drive trucks drive up Big Levels. You can do a lot of trails in a bone stock truck if you’re spending someone else’s money.

I did Potts Mountain alone on 37s, despite watching the videos. I didn’t find it as difficult as the they imply but I did scrape a lot at the rock garden. Although even there I seemed to have less issues. I didn’t get stuck at the big rock climb/descent at the entrance/exit to the garden which hates long wheelbases but I was going South/down it and scraped center entering from the top. I’m not sure if I’d have had worse luck going up. Potts Mountain was the final straw that made me decide to get a full belly skid prior to going out west. On a Wrangler there’s this sense that almost as soon as the front tire leaves an obstacle the back tire is hitting it. On the Gladiator, there’s this loooonngg transition which reminds you it’s not like a regular Jeep. Of course, I would never had been able to justify bringing an Ooni pizza oven and Ukeg up a trail, so the Gladiator wins.

i hear ya. i got a vid somewhere. I came from a full size pickup so to me the gladiator has all the breakover angle. ? I'm use to dragging and scrapin. as the old adage goes "rubbin is racing, scraping is wheeling" I haven't tried Potts yet.

 

[PuddleJumper]

CJ’s and TJs on 40+ tires, and buggies break driveshafts attempting to go over poser rock at Uwharrie, but some make it. Any vehicle with decent approach angle can drive up one side. Zero chance you “went right over like it was nothing” in a Gladiator. ?. I’m throwing a flag on that claim.

big level's poser rock. proof.

 

[Wolf Island Diver]

big level's poser rock. proof.

That’s not poser rock. That’s just along the trail at BL. I don’t think mine scraped that. I only scraped, and almost got stuck along some wash my confused ass went down. Poser rock is at Uwharrie in NC. No Gladiator is making it over that.

 

[PuddleJumper]

yeah i was about to say. who needs 40s for that?

That’s not poser rock. That’s just along the trail at BL. I don’t think mine scraped that. I only scraped, and almost got stuck along some wash my confused ass went down. Poser rock is at Uwharrie in NC. No Gladiator is making it over that.

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That’s not poser rock. That’s just along the trail at BL. I don’t think mine scraped that. I only scraped, and almost got stuck along some wash my confused ass went down. Poser rock is at Uwharrie in NC. No Gladiator is making it over that.

Ok yeah thats a rock I've never seen before. The rock i went over, the first group i went with all drove up it for pic and then backed off and went around. they said that was Poser rock for Big Levels. I haven't been to NC to wheel yet. And quite frankly I dont think id go for that rock

 

[Zachanadandy]

As far as gearing and 37s, stock 4.10s and about 1300lbs of gear, people, dogs, water, wood, etc. Pic came our a bit blurry, but cruise control set at 85mph, flat freeway, ~2050rpm, 8th gear no problem. Yes it downshifts for hills, etc like it's supposed to, it's a double overdrive transmission. Maintains 85mph for 8 straight hours even on the steepest grades, might downshift all the way to 5th gear there. 5.13s in 8th gear are just 4.10s in 7th with nowhere to upshift under light loads.

 

[PlayfulBird]

Don't portals cost like $25k?
And you still need a lift?

I have seen it done for less, but drop off at shop and pick up with axles will run you 20-25. Thats the number given to me. There is some work on adjusting length and connecting sensors brakes etc No lift needed as all the portal does is move the wheel out and down. It is the best way to actually increase clearance.
Your axles and pumpkins do not come up that much with bigger tires and the lift does nothing for that, just helps with angles
Lift and bigger tires plus gear ratio will only do so much if you measure from the ground to the pumpkin for example, but will also run you a good tab

 

[Deadpool392]

That’s not poser rock. That’s just along the trail at BL. I don’t think mine scraped that. I only scraped, and almost got stuck along some wash my confused ass went down. Poser rock is at Uwharrie in NC. No Gladiator is making it over that.

I haven’t gone since adding my lift, but I was also kinda confused when he was talking about going over poser rock. I have been to Uwharrie many times…

 

[aristobrat]

I haven't been to NC to wheel yet. And quite frankly I dont think id go for that rock

You'd have fun at Uwharrie National Forest in NC! There are a lot of trails, some with obstacles, some without. Most big obstacles have bypasses. I don't think anyone goes just for Posing Rock. That's just a fun place to take pics.

 

[PuddleJumper]

You'd have fun at Uwharrie National Forest in NC! There are a lot of trails, some with obstacles, some without. Most big obstacles have bypasses. I don't think anyone goes just for Posing Rock. That's just a fun place to take pics.

sweet. I'll have to get the gang to give it a whirl sometime.

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