Sanity Check: 2025 Big Bend on 35s — Bilstein 5100s (2.0"/2.5"), Stock Wheels, & BFG KO2s (Load C)

[Snacktime]

@El Diablo would be a good person to ask about K02 not climbing. Its not hate, it's the truth, they are not worth the money.

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[EruptionBronco]

The Big Bend wheels are too narrow at 7.5" for a 315 or 12.5" tire. I would look instead at a 35x11.5r17, 285/75r17 (34") or 295/70r17 (33.6"). Those give you some good options including Falken AT4W, Toyo AT3, and MT Baja Boss AT.

I would also recommend a tailgate reinforcement for the heavier tire (I have the Hammer Built) and a rear track bar relocation bracket like the one from Rock Jock. Lifting the rear end 2" will put the axle off center if the bracket is not relocated. You should also consider aftermarket upper control arms if lifting the front 2" as it will be difficult to keep the front aligned with 2" of lift at the front.

 

[crenca]

A 315/70 tire on the OEM +55 offset BB wheels is going to put the tire extremely close to the UCA...too close for wheeling IMO. I'd consider 35 x 10.50 Kenda.

I wondered about this as well. The stock Sasquatch wheel offset is +30 if memory serves.

Although the OP could consider mild spacers (rather then 10.5/11.5 tires) with his stock BB wheels…

Edit. “…The Big Bend wheels are too narrow at 7.5" for a 315 or 12.5" tire….”

ahhh, yea an 11.5 is probably all the OP wants to go with…

 

[PWillette]

I wondered about this as well. The stock Sasquatch wheel offset is +30 if memory serves.

Although the OP could consider mild spacers (rather then 10.5/11.5 tires) with his stock BB wheels…

Correct on the squatch offset. I ran the the 35 x 10.50s on my no-squatch BL +55 wheels prior to jumping to 37s and they were still very close to the UCA...close enough that I also ran a 1" spacer. Probably be fine on pavement w/o the spacer but when aired down the tire was too close for my liking. The narrow tire also helps scrub radius for rubbing elsewhere.

 

[dgorsett]

Also a non Sas BB owner but IMHO:

Tires: go with 33, you'll gain some clearance without any of the big tire negatives, go with Falkans

Lift: Bilstein 5100s good, nothing over 2" (You'll probably be OK with the 2.5 in the rear). Again, clearance without any of the negatives.

Skid plates: get a Ford OEM kit and add a transmission skid, I use ASFIR, and I have Barnes shock skids too.

And , it may be too late, but It sure is nice to have the rear locker and 4.27s

 

[alenarjad]

A 315/70 tire on the OEM +55 offset BB wheels is going to put the tire extremely close to the UCA...too close for wheeling IMO. I'd consider 35 x 10.50 Kenda.

Thinking of 1 to 1.5” wheel spacers to help with this… thoughts?

 

[alenarjad]

I've had KO2s on all my vehicles and they are awesome on and off road, especially in dirt and rocks aired down to 14 all day. KO2 haters are so weird.

Got it! That’s one vote for bfg’s haha

 

[alenarjad]

X2 on this. I don't do any serious 'rock crawling' (just not my thing)... will hop boulders to get to where I'm going, but don’t seek them out as the reason for going, and BFG's have been my favorites for decades now. Great traction in loose material, good paved road manners, great longevity, good price. Have KO2's on both broncos and KO3's on the F-250.

Gotcha! That’s TWO votes for bfg’s!

 

[alenarjad]

Also a non Sas BB owner but IMHO:

Tires: go with 33, you'll gain some clearance without any of the big tire negatives, go with Falkans

Lift: Bilstein 5100s good, nothing over 2" (You'll probably be OK with the 2.5 in the rear). Again, clearance without any of the negatives.

Skid plates: get a Ford OEM kit and add a transmission skid, I use ASFIR, and I have Barnes shock skids too.

And , it may be too late, but It sure is nice to have the rear locker and 4.27s

Thanks for all of this!

going with falkens at this point. Gonna stick with 35’s with spacers and go for the best

yeah gonna do 2” in front but after researching more, it sounds like 1.5” in the back is suggested in that the BB is raked (rear is lifted 1-1.5” from factory). Don’t necessarily want to completely get rid of the rake so I can haul some gear without sagging.

skid plates will come a bit after this project and yeah…. I know the rear locker project is going to be a bitch but we’ll see when we get there… did you install a rear locker?

 

[PWillette]

Thinking of 1 to 1.5” wheel spacers to help with this… thoughts?

1" will be all you need for clearance. Less is better when it comes to wheel spacers. Make sure they are hub centric.Borla and Titan are good choices for spacers.

 

[crzyhawk]

in the past, you could get a rear locker with 4.27 gears in the big bend as an option. Now, I think you have to take the Black Diamond package to get a rear locker.

 

[alenarjad]

1" will be all you need for clearance. Less is better when it comes to wheel spacers. Make sure they are hub centric.Borla and Titan are good choices for spacers.

Yeah.. I think I’m gonna go with bora 1.25”s. Thank you!

 

[alenarjad]

in the past, you could get a rear locker with 4.27 gears in the big bend as an option. Now, I think you have to take the Black Diamond package to get a rear locker.

Booo.. I’m sure aftermarket would be a bitch I assume…

 

[crzyhawk]

My understanding is both yes and no. I want to be clear, I am not certain about what I am about to say, so make sure you confirm before you assume it's fact.

I don't think it's easy to add a locker to the axle housing. The pinion gear is welded to the carrier, so fiddling around in there will be messy. Additionally, I think you need a different axle housing for a locking rear end. I'm not 100% on that, but pretty sure that's an accurate statement.

That said, you can order the whole thing from Ford Performance and bolt it in. if you're willing to swap housings and wire the locker to an upfitter, I don't think it's hard. I'm not sure if you can get a locker from FP with 3.73 gears though, which might things rough for you. I have a manual with 4.46 gears so it's easy for me. with 3.73 you might have to re-gear the front as well, in which case you might as well just upgrade to the M210 FDU.

 

[EruptionBronco]

Thinking of 1 to 1.5” wheel spacers to help with this… thoughts?

315s should not be installed on Big Bend wheels as the wheels are too narrow

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