ABSOLUTELY YES !!!
no changes at all were made to the 2004 FX4 Level II suspension
I kept looking for rubbing but there was no physical evidence
on full lock I sort of hear something, but I can't find where it might be touching

anyway - lots of people were asking for pictures so here they are and then some

 

you can hear them, that's for sure
it seemed to get louder since I broke them in a bit
also a mite 'squirley' on off ramps and high speed maneuvers
not so much of a weight transfer, but you notice it when they flex over

performed very well this weekend in Pennsylvania
only used 4x4 two, maybe three times and once was for down hill braking traction

I like them, they are LIL BLUE'S summer tires

 

You went with 10.50's, right, Neil? I don't think you can do 33x12.50's without rubbing.

 

it's all in the width Bob, all in the width
if they made an 11.5 I might have tried it, but even that 1 inch would likely cause rubbing
closest spots are the front inside and the rear outside under flex
I put her through all the paces this weekend - no problems at all

 

wow those do look really good... and you were not kidding about how much they fill up the wheel wells... b d

 

damn.. wish i had known they'd fit last november.. i would have tried for them too. lookin good!!

 

Damn Neil...

I like the looks....

Maybe it the sway it rubbin on...

I would like to get 33's to

 

That looks awesome........Love the pics

 

Is the suspension a lot different on the FX4's or will 33's fit on my 99 4x4 with the Off Road package? That would be sweet if they would fit...
Chris

 

It's very similar suspension, comparing Neil's truck to mine in the parking lot at HIE there appeared to be no differences in suspension dimensions except the taller tires. He gained almost 2" of ground clearance with those bad boys!!! ( I just happened to have a tape measure and the urge to do it!) I have a '03 FX4 non-LII so my suspension pieces are really similar to even a '99 with Offroad, I don't think you'd have an issue...thats the size I'm going with when my A/T's are worn...33x10.5x15

Way to go Neil being the guinea pig for everyone...you've caused a run of 33x10.5 tires!

 

good for you

 

that is not possible. his other tires were 30.7" tall... his new tires are 32.8" tall...

that is a difference of 2.1"

and tires have two sides on the wheel... meaning a ground clearance gain of half the diameter increase...

2.1 / 2 = 1.05"

so he gained an inch of ground clearance...

and not to burst the bubble of this being the first time of someone running 33x10.50's, stock, but it's been done by many people for the last 4+ years... since i have been on ranger boards...

daveandjulie has run them for a long time...

 

yes - I posted on a few boards for clarification and support before I dropped the cash on the new rubber
even though others have run this size - not many of them had actually gone off road to any extent
I knew they would fit; problem was rubbing under the 'natural' flex of off road use
'poser' flex is just not the same - vehicle dynamics really can go out of whack when you are traversing very uneven terrain especially at a high gradient angle

anyway they worked great – no physical rubbing at all
with the stock Alcoas they are tucked nicely into the fender wells
I have tons of sidewall to air down and the exact rim diameter these tires were designed for
not that I did air down – these babies are filled with nitrogen…..

 

well, i am actually glad to see real offroading pics of them. i had considered 33x10.50's, but since i already have 15x8's and 32x11.50's i think i would rather have the extra 2" of footprint than 1" width loss, so i will either lift for 33x12.50s, try to run them stock.. or just go with 32x11.50's again..

 

Gosh...I really try to not make claims on this silly forum based on a vague opinion at best.

I do however know how to read a tape measure and as I said "Almost 2 inches "

But alas here I am NOT being the bigger person and replying to the post that insinuates I don't know what I'm talking about or the FACTS I observed were not real and I did not actually observe them...

Perhaps you should look at the photos of Lil Blue next to my truck and then decide for yourself, I for one KNOW that it was a huge difference and was really impressed with Lil Blue and his owner!

In the end it doesn't really matter...Neil is thrilled with is new tires and I am glad he let people know that they can indeed fit...if some people already knew well thats great!

(The preceding was based on actual events, the names were not changed in order to point out the real differences achieved by running a larger tire)

 

Neil, your truck rocks!!! Nuff said

 

Not to get in a pissing match over ground clearance, but I was walking around the new car lot at one of my dealerships (Sunrise Ford, Ft. Pierce) today and I noticed that among similarly equipped trucks, even with the same tires, some of them just sat higher, in both the front and rear. I'm certain that how long the springs have been supporting the weight of the truck make a difference, as well as what batch the springs/torsion bars came out of. Ford is notorious for changing specs mid-production year, so I have no doubt there could be a difference between an 04 and a 99, even with the same size tires.

 

The dealer here...

They got the rangers on 255/75R16 how...

 

I have to say I did witness Jeff crawl under both trucks with a tape measure while they were parked next to each other on the fairly level ground of the HIE parking lot

anyway, LIL BLUE loves her new BFG MT tires and has not gouged or cut them at all with her fender walls, king pin or spindles

 

To end the argument: the difference between Neil's old tires and his new ones is 1 inch of lift (approximately) over what he had with the stock tires.

And Jeff DID measure two inches of height difference between his and Neil's truck, for reasons unknown. If Jeff put's the same tires on is truck, he'll come up another inch also.

I suggest you both look at your SPR codes on your B-pillar info sticker. Maybe you actually got different spring rates? Also, the springs do have a wide variation as was previously posted.

 

Neil they look so good, I am so jealous.

How bad do you think they hurt your acceleration ?

 

I want them rims you go Neil... damn those stock on the Level II's right? I know Ford would want a g-damn arm and a leg, and maybe an ear for those.

 

Hey Guys,

I wanted to get a larger size tire on my truck, but I am afraid if I order them they won't fit and I will be stuck with almost a grand of rubber, and nothing to use them for but a expensive tire swing. I have a stock 1994 Mazda B-4000, same suspension as a ranger for that year, as well as the stock 1.5 blocks in the rear. I want to get 15X10 rims & mount BFG 33" X 12.5 MT's on them, I deffinately know I am gonna need an offset rim, but how much I don't know. Also will this fit under a stock suspension. When I measure my current tires, a bit oversized to beign with, they are 27.5", so I figure they were 28's before I spun rubber off of them, and I want to go to a 33" that tells me I need 3 more inches of clearance to run without rub, and probally a good 3 more inches to accomidate for sway and angled driving. So I guess the question is, what offset do I need, and what would be a reasonable lift, I don't wana take my tires above the 33" mark, but I don't want a high truck with baby tires. I am looking at a 4" lift with 4inch offset 15X10 rims, Mickey Thomsons, I think that will work. Just running it by you guys to see what you think. Also I am looking for anyone who is selling 15 X 10" rims, steel or alum. I need cheapness, can always upgrade later , and if they are skinned with used BFG 33" MT's it would be great, don't have a ton to spend and always looking for used equitment to test out before I get 100% new.

Let me know!!
- Brian

 

I got the rims off eBay
A tire dealer in Michigan was selling them as take offs from a new Level II
Paid $415 for all four shipped to my door
The tires came from COSTCO (whom I would recommend to everyone for tires)
They were special order, came in a week, and were installed for $159 each (+ filled with nitrogen )

so far I am very happy with them
there is a loss of performance (now I realize at all speeds) and for the life of me I can not see how guys turn them with a 4 banger or a 3.0
there was also a loss of braking power
not terrible hands on the dash we are going to rear end someone, but I immediately noticed it and continue to notice it
no doubt this means that brakes will wear much faster, but hey they wear out anyway