Lightman

Hey guys. I'm contemplating upgrading to the Kore Chase with Welds and 35" Toyo m/t's. Wow is the price staggering when you look at the total! Kore just recently raised their TDR member prices on the wheels , was $XX.xx TDR member price and now they are $XX.xx! Nice little $260 extra per set they are throwing in their pocket as of Jan 1st. I have an email from 2 months ago quoting me $XX.xx now that price will not be honored, which was pretty disappointing. Anyway the chase system is $XX.xx, and the tires are around $1500 mounted/balanced, plus an alignment. I mean I like how they look at the reports of the suspension are great, but $6k is a lot of money - a new jetski or quad, box and twins, or a full trans upgrade and a box. To those that have done these upgrades, if the money was back in your pocket, would you spend it again? Greg Boardman - you are not allowed to answer - no offense but you're simply too biased! Thanks in advance guys for your thoughts.


Moderated to remove posting of prices.

cquestad

Nope. Unless you race that truck Baja...why?

Look at my set up....6k will buy you....

Tuff 4.5 with Bilsteens $800 (or $400 fo a level kit)
H2 takeoffs ($600-$800....more if you chrome them, bc them, or something else)

Now...you have spent...$1600 max.

You can have...

TST...$800
Turbo $1800
VB and TC $2000

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM????????????

Lightman

Cq I think we walk a different path. - I'm not looking for all out economy - but trying to figure out if this Kore path is going to be as rewarding as other, non suspension paths... such as should I spend all this cash on wheels/tires/suspension OR some totally different area of the truck, like full trans upgrade or something.. Really looking for input from those that have the Kore setup.

Comparing h2 takeoffs and the kore welds isn't even apples to oranges, it's like raisins to oranges Come on now, the h2 wheels are decent for an OEM wheel but not much better than the dodge wheel (IMO). Their function is that of a reasonably cheap alternative wheel.

I don't really want my truck jacked up - which is why I am looking at the kore setup, instead of tuff country or skyjacker or whatever lift. I like that the kore offers performance as it's main characteristic, not looks or lift height. I want the better performance of the suspension and to fit the larger tire/wheel combo. The roads where I live are honestly like a cement baja half the time. Serious potholes, cracks, and bumps. Much at high speed and the truck feels like it's going to fall apart. Also I do occasionally travel some washboard dirt roads as well. As far as suspension goes, the Kore fits my needs well.

jwtuc

I would get the Kore front spring / shock only -$500 . Shop further for a wheel / tire combo . Example , Eagle 114 18in. 325 / 60 or 65 / 18 Nitto . For the Kore Weld price you could have a top of the line custom Boyd , Budnik , ect. wheel that would look much better ( in my opinion ) .

Lightman

JW - Do you know of any boyd etc wheel that is made to the proper spacing and size for our trucks like the Kore wheel is?

tcr

Lightman, look into Weld wheels. They make every size from 17" on up, in many different back spacing options for our trucks.

jwtuc

According to Boyd , Billet Specialities , ect. No 17in. wheel ( with proper backspacing 6.5 ) will fit due to the large brake cal. Any of their 18in. or larger will work with whatever backspacing you want . Check their web sites and click contact us if you have tech. questions . The Eagle 114 has a 6in. backspacing and will not rub any on stock truck with 325/60/18 . If you are going to do a slight lift you can go to 325/65/18 . This is the wheel/tire I will be getting after my wallet recovers from the Warn heavy duty bumper I just bought .

LinearX

According to some email correspondence I had with someone at sportruck.com, they can get proper backspacing on the wheel to keep them tucked up nicely. Check out this link for the wheels that they said could be made with proper backspacing.

Lightman

Linearx , those infusion ls' look pretty sweet.

Which is stronger/better, forged aluminum (like weld) or billet (like boyd) ?

Lightman

I just called boyd - they say they will custom make wheels to spec, to fit the 40mm positive offset etc of the dodge ram. They say 6 weeks for polished, and 8 weeks if you want chrome. The size is 18x9. Not sure if that will fit without rubbing etc. They are $419 a wheel polished and $498 chrome.

HOHN

ON the KORE items:

I dunno if the Weld Wheels are necessarily worth the money. They are the proper spec, very strong, and good looking.

HOwever, the Eagle Alloy Type 175 is also the right specs, rated to 3200lb and costs about 25% of what the KORE/Weld wheels do. Yes, it's cast, but it's still strong. Unfortunately, it's discountinued from what I can tell (it's gone from their website) so maybe you can find some leftover stock?

The TOYOs are simply the toughest, best off-road tires on the market. Period. Like an MT/R with better street manners and longer lasting tread. They are easily worth the money when compared with other tires in the segment, as they cost about the same ($225 for a 315/75r16 tire).


What about the suspension?? The suspension is perhaps the most significant upgrade you can do to the truck. Tell me, what else can you do that affects EVERYTHING about the vehicle? Ride quality, handling, comfort, towing stability, etc.

You also need to keep in mind that a quality suspension will make the WHOLE TRUCK last longer. That brutal ride quality doesn't JUST affect your comfort or upset the wife. It also affects GREATLY the structural integrity of your truck!

Think about the things that might be enhanced by a premium suspension!


-- Ball joints last longer because they are cushioned more from impact
-- Frame strength is enhanced because of less stress being transmitted to it (less fatiguing)
-- Cab/bed mounts last longer, enhancing fit/finish as the truck ages.
-- Engine mounts/transmission crossmembers under less strain, which ensures proper alignment. Ever lost a pilot bearing (and thus a whole trans) because of a engine mount failure? I've seen it happen at the track.
-- Wheel bearings/axle U-joints last longer when they don't have to absorb as much impact.
-- Less jolting and jarring means that those wires that want to chafe will chafe less or not at all.

This is just a short list. EVERYTHING on the truck is either directly or indirectly (six degrees of separation) related, and thus affected, by the suspension.


For the above reasons, I believe that the KORE suspension is the single best investment a person can make in enhancing the durability of the "Dodge part" of their CTD trucks.


If I were you, I'd go with the KORE suspension (Chase or Race, but Race is really overkill) and stick with stock wheels/tires until you can upgrade the rubber. In the scheme of things, the suspension upgrade is MUCH more significant than wheels/tires are.

HOHN

If the wheels have identical design parameters, the Billet will be slightly stronger from a metallurgical perspective.

Justin

Lightman

Hohn, thanks for your input. I agree that the suspension will be a great upgrade, and I'm pretty set on the chase setup. I guess I'm just questioning the overall order of mods to the truck.

Just a FYI to those interested in the kore weld wheels (which after calling Weld I found out are NOT exclusive to Kore) - I found them from another place for $485 shipped. I'm not sure with the wacky rules around here I can post where, so pm me if you want to know.

I spoke with the ppl at boyd - they custom make their wheels to whatever specs you want. When I brought up the dodge ram he laughed and instantly said something about the crazy size and backspacing required - apparently they have done quite a few for rams. However waiting 8 weeks isn't really that appealing to me.

I think I'm going to order the chase setup and wheels/tires, but just put the chase system on first with the stocker tire/wheel setup. It will eat me up too much to throw away the stock tires since they have a decent amount of tread left on them. I guess I could either run them till they wear out or use them as a winter only rim/tire combo.

I've never had chrome rims before. How does all the road salt/grime/winter affect chrome wheels?

Goggleyed

FWIW - The Toyo's & Nitto's are roughly the same size. I have the Nitto 325/65/18's on KORE Weld's & they rub beyond one full turn on the steering wheel. Regular driving they are great & look great. In a parking lot the inability to turn sharpely is a real PITA. I wish there was a quality 34" tire on the market.

lit up

I have visited the Kore site and it appears that his kit not address the major suspension issues when you lift the front of a dodge. With just 2" daystar spacers, you will notice about a 3/4" to 1 1/4" movement of the front axle to the drivers' side. The only way correct this a drop bracket for the track bar and also a dropped pitman arm to line everything back up. The Kore suspension has high dollar race shocks and neat billet shock mount, but it's hard for me to believe that all the issues are covered as for as alignment. Have not driven a truck with the Kore "Super Special Coil Springs" that cost three times more than any other set of coils, but they might ride great.