33s with Manual Steering?

[Prizefighter]

Does anyone have experience turning 33" tires with a manual steering box? I am considering 33x10.50 and have plenty of room to clear them or 35s.

 

[661buster1963]

It's doable but not overly enjoyable. The more the caster the harder it gets, if too little caster and it wanders. I had 2.5” lift and 33” BFG with 4” caster bushings. Gets harder when you air down. In a nutshell easy enough to do if you are 25 and due more than just 12 oz curls. Probably doable at 35, don't go to a smaller steering wheel. I do it now at 55 but it's a Sunday ride and try not to turn. Also have a Nissan exterra box I am working on.

 

[Prizefighter]

Great, thank you. I'm taking it a little at a time and PS is down the list of priorities.

 

[SHX669]

I agree with "buster" - I did it when I was 25 - I wouldn't want to do it now - LOL

 

[lars]

I have not-so-fond memories of severely dislocating my left thumb when I took my just-purchased bone stock 1970 Bronco on a rough trail 25 years ago. Too young and dumb to notice that I was hooking my thumb around the steering wheel. That launched the beginnings of my modification adventures.

 

[Broncobowsher]

The 10.50 part of the tire is probably a bigger factor for street driving than the 33 or 35" part. When I was young I thought it was manly to fight that steering wheel. Even back in the 31 10.50 days.

I was so happy to discover what power steering was about. Parking lots, driveways, and the trail are where it will really shine at. If nothing else every manual steering box I owned was worn out and sloppy as well.

 

[66BlueGoose]

The 10.5 is key, running 31x10.5 for an in town rig and some light trail stuff. Only parallel parking becomes a pain. If a lot of trail time, would go power.

 

[661buster1963]

Good point about width, mine were 33x12.50-15, I imagine 10.5 wide would make manual steering a little easier.

 

[Big Slim]

i had 35/12.5 r15 and as long as you are moving or rolling a little its fine, or in dirt. if completely stopped, its a pain. i also had a smaller grant steering wheel which would make it harder than a larger stock style steering wheel.

 

[nvrstuk]

Get the Nissan box on asap. No real costs there except the pump & hoses. Totally worth it. Mount any pump. 10x better than manual. I ran manual box for 3 yrs. Hated it. Doesn't help that I had rotator cuff issues from pitching back then. Bought my first totalled Bronco-it was arson. Took the pwr strg off it to put on mine back around 1978 or 9.

 

[Prizefighter]

By Nissan box, do you mean the Delphi? https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/produ...ring_System_Deluxe/bronco_Power_Steering_Kits

 

[nvrstuk]

I met the Nissan Box that came on the Nissan trucks

 

[Speedrdr]

I ran 33/12.50/15's in the summer and 7.50/16's (36” OAD) in the winter on the ‘72 I had with the manual steering. Had a 3 1/2” lift. I'm just gonna go ahead and say that the 33's were way harder to steer at lower speeds than the 36's. At highway speeds no problem…but I WAS lifting weights 6 days a week at that time. Not sure I could do that now as I'm 30 years older and have arthritis creeping in. So glad my ‘77 has power steering. Lol

Randy

 

[jerry]

Does anyone have experience turning 33" tires with a manual steering box? I am considering 33x10.50 and have plenty of room to clear them or 35s.

That's how my 70 came. With a tiny (15"?) grant steering wheel.

Like others said - doable, but not optimal. Horrible in parking lots and very slow speeds.