Guide to Leveling & Wheel and Tire Sizing for 06+ 4wd Ram 1500's

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SERGE PICARD

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Well for reference. This is bils at 2.8" with a 3/4" spacer in the rear on 35x12.5. I love the setup. Use it mostly for towing my motorcycle to the race track. a549e12746f12d8aea7ac0b9c4733208.jpg

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Did you upgrade your UCA's?

Seeing this, then my measurements mentioned above would be off...LOL
This is how I want it to sit.
 

autumnwalker

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ooo so much better! How do you find it handles now on the highway? Is the front end any lighter?
 

martinrk

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It definitely feels better, I dunno the steering/ suspension almost seemed sloppy before, it feels tighter and more nimble if that makes sense hahaha
 

mynameisante

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I've been raking through this thread and am still not 100% certain what to do. I don't know anything about pickup mechanics.

Looking for reassurance for my 2017 1500 4x4...

I want 5100s on the front and I also want to throw new UCAs because I feel safer doing it. What UCAs should I pair with the 5100s?

I also want to throw the 5100s on the rears. Does the rear have UCAs? If so, I'd like to throw new ones on the rear as well.

Does it matter that my truck has air ride suspension? Or something like that from what I remember when I bought the truck. Ah, I'm so confused haha

Thanks

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El_Lobo_Gris1500C

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One thing I think many people have overlooked or missed is assuming the front and rear fender arches are the same level or height from the frame to bottom of fender edge. What if the rear fenders (or front fenders) don’t have as high an arch as the other end of the truck? If this is so, then measuring from the ground to the fender is not going to be accurate to determine rake. Measuring from the flat portion of the frame to the ground at the front and rear will 100% determine the height of the front or rear and rake of the vehicle. The only 100% sure thing measuring from
ground to fender arch will determine is how much you lifted or lowered that end of the truck from the stock height. Food for thought.
 

Wrek

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Leveled using a spacer in front (since 5100s are backordered everywhere), with Method MR701 in 17”x8.5” ET 0, and BFG ko2 in 35”x12.5”.
 

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2014 Ram 1500, 5.7l with ProComp SS leveling struts at 2.75”, Zone UCA’s and Suspension Maxx sway bar links. Stock Chrome Clad 20’s with 275/65r20 Cooper Discoverer Rugged Treks. Stated size by Cooper is 34.7/11.5 so actually larger than most 285/65r20’s. So far they ride great and are almost as quiet as my Discoverer AT3’s they replaced.
 

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DinoT

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Thanks Brandon. My 2016 has 92k miles, and I have a DK2 plow with a front hitch. I was thinking about how a 2in level would be helpful, plus the truck seems to be a little 'wallowy' / soft with turning. Sounds like changing to Bilsteins makes sense. I did measure rake; I have actually only 1.75 in of rake; it could be the weight of the cap on the rear has compressed the rear springs somewhat, so I'm thinking about the 1.4in adjustment. Your thought?
 
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dstock

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Leveled using a spacer in front (since 5100s are backordered everywhere), with Method MR701 in 17”x8.5” ET 0, and BFG ko2 in 35”x12.5”.
I know this is an older post but looks great! Exactly what I want to do, I'd be curious to know the overall height to the top of the shark fin as I would still like to park in my garage with a 7ft door.
 

Wrek

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I know this is an older post but looks great! Exactly what I want to do, I'd be curious to know the overall height to the top of the shark fin as I would still like to park in my garage with a 7ft door.

Thanks! It’s approximately 6’6” from the floor to the top of the shark fin. I say approximately, because I do currently have a bed rack and rooftop tent on the truck and that causes the rear to sag slightly.
AE57C27F-DC67-49BA-97AF-1DF9E67BFA03.jpeg
 

dstock

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Thanks! It’s approximately 6’6” from the floor to the top of the shark fin. I say approximately, because I do currently have a bed rack and rooftop tent on the truck and that causes the rear to sag slightly.
View attachment 490506
Awesome! I really appreciate the info! Looks good, I want to go with a similar setup but have to go with a lower bed rack so I can get in the garage.
 

Wrek

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Awesome! I really appreciate the info! Looks good, I want to go with a similar setup but have to go with a lower bed rack so I can get in the garage.

Not a problem! Thank you. I originally got the rack at cab height because I wanted to fit bikes in the bed with a tailgate pad. I recently purchased a hitch mounted rack and now wish I could lower the tent a bit.
 

dstock

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Not a problem! Thank you. I originally got the rack at cab height because I wanted to fit bikes in the bed with a tailgate pad. I recently purchased a hitch mounted rack and now wish I could lower the tent a bit.
Yeah it's a constant battle between practicality and functionality, and of course what I want versus what I need...LOL.
 

BigDaddy2016

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Thanks for this post! Exactly what I was looking for.

One question: I have a 2016 Ram 1500 Limited ecoD. My truck has the auto-leveling system. Will leveling the front and/or adding spacers cause any issue with that system?
 

Nickm123

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Hey guys, I have a 2016 Big Horn 4wd with a 1.5' leveling kit, just curious from people who have experience. What is the largest mud tire or A/T tire size i can run without it rubbing inside the fender or rubbing on the control arm. I have the stock 20" big horn chrome wheels and not wanting to add spacers. I want them to fill up the fender well but not rubbing at all. Thanks.
 

BigDaddy2016

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Thanks! It’s approximately 6’6” from the floor to the top of the shark fin. I say approximately, because I do currently have a bed rack and rooftop tent on the truck and that causes the rear to sag slightly.
View attachment 490506
Love your truck. What size tires and wheels are those? Spacers?
 

Wrek

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Love your truck. What size tires and wheels are those? Spacers?

Thanks! The wheels are 17”x8.5” and the tires are 35”x12.5”. No spacers needed.

The tires sit fairly flush (a little poke) with the factory flares.
46107C05-0E1B-4B24-B22A-CDA92563760A.jpeg
 

minotto

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Hello guys , i'm looking for a suggest for my leveling kit .
My 1st upgrade was terrible !!!
I placed the rough country kit in both the front and rear springs raising 2.5" and 1.75" and the result was aesthetically very good but the ride became terrible.

Now as a further upgrade I would like to replace all the shock absorbers with bilstein 5100 but without using their leveling because I don't want to preload the spring but I want to place spacers on the upright at most 2". I read the 3d at the beginning and I know that you would have to stack 2 different leveling kits but setting the bilsteins to stock mode and only using the 2" spacers above is that a terrible idea?
With this solution can I keep the ucas stock or will I have to change them?

The solution of using the 2.1" level of the bilsteins scares me as by preloading the spring I think I will have a guide very similar to the one I have today and it is really bad ... I feel vibrations everywhere even on the accelerator pedals and brakes and feel every slightest pothole in the road.

I know how you feel about space strutters but I'm very confused and I hope you will help me find the right setup for my truck

"Stacking Leveling Kits"

The answer is no! Again, this is one of those things where I don't care what your buddy told you or what you think… there's no if, ands or buts. You cannot stack a spacer on top of Bilsteins to get additional front end lift. Typically you do not want to lift your front end any higher than 2.8” without doing a control arm and front diff drop. You will be putting your entire front end out of spec, your control arms and CV shafts will be at ridiculous angles which will be wearing everything out very fast and I doubt any shop will be able to align your front end. If you want that much height you need to start looking into lift kits rather than leveling kits.
 
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