here is the lame law here in Massachusetts and i was just wondering if you guys think my truck will be too high with a body lift and possibly shackles with 33x12.5x15 tires

540 CMR: REGISTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLES
540 CMR 6.00: ALTERATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE HEIGHT

Section

6.01: Purpose
6.02: Scope and Applicability
6.03: Definitions
6.04: General Requirements
6.05: Maximum Combined Mechanical and Tire Lift
6.06: Violations

6.01: Purpose

(1) The purpose of 540 CMR 6.00 is to provide rules and regulations for altering the height of four wheel drive motor vehicles by elevating or lowering the chassis or body more than two inches above or below the original manufacturer's height.

6.02: Scope and Applicability

(1) 540 CMR 6.00 is adopted by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles under the authority of M.G.L. c.90 s. 31 and pursuant to the provisions of M.G.L. c.90, s 7P to regulate alterations to the height of four wheel drive vehicles with an original manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of not over 10,000 operated on any way as defined in M.G.L. c. 90, s. 1.

6.03: Definitions

Four Wheel Drive Motor Vehicles: Any vehicle that is capable of providing torque to all four wheels.

Mechanical Lift: Modification to the chassis, suspension or body by any means exclusive of tires, rims, and load, affecting the height of four wheel drive motor vehicles.

Original Equipment: Any items of motor vehicle equipment, including tires, which are installed in or on a motor vehicle, or available by option for the particular vehicle from the original manufacturer at the time of its delivery to the first purchaser.

Original Manufacturer: Any person engaged in the manufacture or assembly of motor vehicles for delivery to the first purchaser.

Original Manufacturer's Height: The highest distance inclusive of the largest tires and highest suspension available as standard or optional equipment for the particular vehicle from the original manufacturer. The distance shall be measured between the lowest edge of the center line of the operator's door, or to the lowest point where the door would meet the body on vehicles without doors, or to the lowest point on the floor panel directly below the operator's position on vehicles designed without doors, and the level surface on which the unladen vehicle rests, as determined by the Registrar.

Reconstructed Motor Vehicle: Any four wheel drive motor vehicle constructed or ass3embled principally with used parts or components.

Wheel Base: The shortest distance between the center of the front and rear axles.

Wheel Track: The shortest distance between the centers of the tire treads on the same axle. On vehicles having different axle widths, the measurement shall be made on the widest one.

6.04: General Requirements

(1) No motor vehicle shall be altered or modified in any way that may cause the vehicle body or chassis to come in contact with the roadway, expose the fuel tank to damage from collision, or cause the tires to come in contact with the body, chassis, or steering components under normal operation. The horizontal plane, front to rear, shall not differ more than two inches.

(2) Alterations or modifications to the original braking, steering, or suspension system, which result in the impairment of the safe operation of the motor vehicle, are prohibited. All replacement parts and equipment used shall be designed and capable to perform the function or purpose for which it is intended and shall be equal or greater in strength and durability than the original parts provided by the original manufacturer.

(3) The wheel track may be increased by the use of tires and rims for a maximum total increase of four inches beyond the original manufacturer's specification. The use of spacers to increase the wheel track is prohibited. Fractions shall be excluded in all measurements and final calculations.

6.05 Maximum Combined Mechanical and Tire Lift

(1) The maximum mechanical lift for four wheel drive motor vehicles shall be calculated by multiplying the wheel base times the wheel track, and dividing the product by a safety factor of 2200:

i.e., 92" w/b x 58" w/t = 5336/2200 = 2" (maximum mechanical lift).

The outside diameter of the largest tire size available from the original manufacturer as standard or optional equipment for the particular motor vehicle may also be increased up to an amount equal to the maximum mechanical lift calculated.

(2) The maximum combined mechanical and tire lift shall be no greater than the sum of the maximum mechanical lift and increased tire size calculated for the particular vehicle.

(3) Reconstructed motor vehicles shall be limited to the maximum combined lift allowed for the particular chassis used, in accordance with the applicable provisions of 540 CMR 6.05 (1) and (2), i.e. a vehicle having a 65" track, 105" wheel base, and an original manufacturer's door height of 21" is allowed a maximum combined lift of four inches above the original manufacturer's door height. Accordingly, the lower edge of the door, door edge line or floor panel, as stipulated in the general requirements of 540 CMR 6.00, of any unladen body mounted on such chassis may not exceed 25" above the level surface upon which the vehicle rests.

(4) In doubtful cases, or in any case where the original manufacturer's specified height is not known or available, or where a motor vehicle is assembled without using a particular body and/or chassis (i.e. homemade), the Registrar shall determine the allowable maximum height and may issue a permit authorizing the operation thereof.

(5) The Registrar shall periodically provide the specifications of the approved maximum altered heights.

6.06: Violations

(1) Due to the slight variances in production tolerances, violations must be in excess of one inch beyond the Registrar's specifications of approved maximum altered heights.

(2) The Registrar, in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 90, s22, shall suspend the registration of any motor vehicle equipped, altered or modified in violation of 540 CMR 6.00, and shall refuse to register any motor vehicle that the Registrar has reason to believe is equipped, altered or modified in violation of 540 CMR 6.00.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

540 CMR 6.00: M.G.L. c.90, ss1, 7P and 31

 

got to love indiana. that all sounds confusing

 

yeah it does. i am keeping my stock wheels so i can run those for inspection. i know i will be fine with the body lift but i don't know if the shackles will push it unless i find a place that will pass it just because lol.
i would measure the wheelbase and wheeltrack now but its raining/ ice/snow right now which sucks.

 

I've got 124" for WB, 58" for WT, add all that crap up it comes to 3.26".

From what I understood of that you can raise the suspension 3.26", as well as add 3.26" to the stock tire size of the maximum size from factory.

I believe 31's are the biggest the ranger comes with, if so, then you can run 33's, 35's might be pushing it because you're only going to be allowed 3.26" of lift, or at least by my measurements.

Those measurements are with a 2000 ext. cab., with 31x10.5 tires.

 

You think they will really measure your truck and tires? I wonder if they have something that tells them the stock height of vehicles.

 

nah..."mechanical + tirelift may not be greater than calculated mechanical lift". i honestly hate this state. im just going to do my BL with 33s and if i find a nice inspection place ill throw in the shackles

but i think they may measure the vehicle since it won't look stock i am not sure......they can be real ****** man. some guy almost failed me cuz i had one of those smoke plate covers LAME

 

ranger wheel base is 126 on an extended cab.

I thought WMS to WMS was 59.5

 

What I get out of that is that basically if your figures are like mine at 3.26" you can raise the truck a TOTAL (With tires included in the height difference.) of 6.52". But 3.26" of lift has to come from tires, 3.26" of lift has to come from suspension or body lift.

 

i looked it up and found 58.5 but i may be wrong.....so i got 3.35. ill go with the 59.5 to squeeze as much as i can though haha

 

That's the problem, the BS of the wheel as well as the tire size will make it vary.

I'm just going by what mine measured out to be.

What is the point of this inspection anyway?

 

yeah i hear ya...thanks for all the help guys. im just going to risk it and throw stock tires on for inspection next year to lower myself down haha

 

Good idea. That's what I was about to suggest. Stupid inspection laws.

 

just take out the front drive shaft when you get it inspected. it looks like the law only applies to 4x4.

 

lol yeah but when the guy gets in he will see the 4x4 switch and the manual locking hubs on the front wheels lol

 

Are they that smart? lol

Just tell him the switch doesn't do anything, you just put it in so you could play with it, I've got one, I just like to play with it while I'm driving.

 

it says the definition of being able to deliver torque to all four wheels. seems like it wouldnt matter what equipment you have, you cant put the torque to the front end. those laws suck though. this kid at my highschool drove a suburban on 52s, much bigger than what is allowed in your state

 

I would imagine the lift laws would be more strict on 2WD's than they would be on 4WD's.

i could be wrong tho', they might not even have any lift laws for 2WD's in that state.

 

That all sounds confusing to me but these two pictures should answer your question.

Jimmyd1050- MA resident 4" superlift with 33's


Yuke175- MA resident 6" suspension 3" Body with 33's

 

yeah im just going to do it whatever. and some places they are "smart" but i will try and go to a place my friend goes to with him....his dad knows the owner and he passes inspection all the time with some stuff thats not legal

 

Indiana kicks butt.

 

haha screw all you indians with your "inspection" we have inspection around here too, it consists of walking around your truck and making sure everything is to a T.

 

You'll be fine. All this state cares about is money, all the shop that inspects it cares about is money and covering their ***. As long as junk isn't falling off (heck even sometimes when it is, ever see the cars in Lawrence / Worcester?) you'll pass.

Yet another reason why I hate this state and its bull**** laws!

 

lol i agree. and yes, i have seen those cars lol

 

me and my frields get our trucks inspected at the local place here in Haverhill mass and i also told Tireiron about the place and they seem to pass you frield has a lifted dodge ram with 34's and no cats and loud as hell and passed him, my tires stick out to far i have HID's illeagal tint and illeagal exhaust exit for mass and he never sais anything to us. he told me he will pass me if i had a 3" BL and 35" tires but he knows me a little been going there for years.

Just do it! it will look awesome i want to do it on mine but i always think i'm going to get a bigger truck lol i'm running shackels and 285/75R16 tires so like 32.8x11.6r16 with wheel spacers.

 

yeah im def. going to run the bl...but i don't know if the shackles will make the *** end of the truck stick up more than the front with maxed bars
whats htis place called in haverhill? just so incase i don't get passed lol