New to this, Need help/advice

Mrbutt · Feb 10, 2016

Hi,
My name is Seb and I'm from England. Dodge Rams are fairly rare here so I wanted to get some advice and help.
I've never owned an American vehicle or even a pick-up truck, mainly had cars, motorbikes and vans.

I'm now on the lookout for a 3rd Gen Dodge Ram QC, ideally I want a 5.7 Hemi because I prefer driving petrol rather than diesel. I might tow once in a blue moon, but it won't be often.

What I wanted some help on is this lifting/levelling business, whats the difference? Whats the price difference?

Ive seen this one on here in the gallery (Explicit Player) which I think would be an ideal set up for me, seems like a decent height for what I need and the roads I use.

So how would I get this ride height (2inch level), where can I get these type of wheel arches and what size tyre/wheel would these be to make 35inch like these?
How easy is the suspension setup to install?
I have a few friends in the trade so they should be able to do it if its not too difficult, but they aren' suspension specialists.

Sorry for all the questions but lifted/levelled pick-ups are rare in England, and Dodge Rams are even rarer.

Thanks in advance for any help.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1428207363.419184_zpsrnylyhyz.jpg

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1428207414.760350_zpszejxnapc.jpg

usaf2006 · Feb 10, 2016

First off, welcome to the forum!

Leveling a truck is relatively simple. The main issue you will run into is whether the truck will be four wheel drive, or rear wheel drive. If it is four wheel drive, the front will have independent front suspension that is based around the struts (coil springs over shocks). In order to level this with the rear, you can either A) install strut spacers. These typically run under $100 USD. All you have to do is remove the strut, install the spacer to the top of the strut with the provided hardware, then re-install the strut, and have an alignment done. The other option is B), a set of Bilstien 5100 struts. These come with adjustable settings to level the front of the truck. This requires the removal of the coil spring off of the old strut, and installation onto the new 5100. This will need a coil spring compressor to do so.

As far as the arches (fender flares as we call them), they are readily available, easy to install, and relatively cheap. I'm not up to date on the best brand since I don't have any, but someone may be able to give you some better advice there.

Rims. Those look like they are 17" rims, with most likely 4.5" back spacing, which is the distance of the back of the rim to part of the rim that mounts to the truck (can't think of a single word for that at the moment) The tires are most likely 35"(tall)/12.5"(wide)/17(rim size)s, so you would probably want a 9" wide rim (17x9). The bolt patter for the rims will be 5x5.5.

All in all, the suspension is fairly easy to install. The rims and tires will not be cheap, unless if tires and rims are cheaper over in England.

Let us know if you have any more questions! Hope this helped.

ws

NWRQC · Feb 11, 2016

usaf2006 said:
First off, welcome to the forum!

Leveling a truck is relatively simple. The main issue you will run into is whether the truck will be four wheel drive, or rear wheel drive. If it is four wheel drive, the front will have independent front suspension that is based around the struts (coil springs over shocks). In order to level this with the rear, you can either A) install strut spacers. These typically run under $100 USD. All you have to do is remove the strut, install the spacer to the top of the strut with the provided hardware, then re-install the strut, and have an alignment done. The other option is B), a set of Bilstien 5100 struts. These come with adjustable settings to level the front of the truck. This requires the removal of the coil spring off of the old strut, and installation onto the new 5100. This will need a coil spring compressor to do so.

As far as the arches (fender flares as we call them), they are readily available, easy to install, and relatively cheap. I'm not up to date on the best brand since I don't have any, but someone may be able to give you some better advice there.

Rims. Those look like they are 17" rims, with most likely 4.5" back spacing, which is the distance of the back of the rim to part of the rim that mounts to the truck (can't think of a single word for that at the moment) The tires are most likely 35"(tall)/12.5"(wide)/17(rim size)s, so you would probably want a 9" wide rim (17x9). The bolt patter for the rims will be 5x5.5.

All in all, the suspension is fairly easy to install. The rims and tires will not be cheap, unless if tires and rims are cheaper over in England.

Let us know if you have any more questions! Hope this helped.

ws

Great input! In addition, if your go with an 02-05 3rd gen and it's 4wd it will have a torsion bar front suspension. With that, you would just "crank" the torsion bars to level the truck.

NWRQC · Feb 11, 2016

Oh and welcome to the site.

Hemipower392 · Feb 11, 2016

Welcome!!

Mrbutt · Feb 11, 2016

usaf2006 said:
First off, welcome to the forum!

Leveling a truck is relatively simple. The main issue you will run into is whether the truck will be four wheel drive, or rear wheel drive. If it is four wheel drive, the front will have independent front suspension that is based around the struts (coil springs over shocks). In order to level this with the rear, you can either A) install strut spacers. These typically run under $100 USD. All you have to do is remove the strut, install the spacer to the top of the strut with the provided hardware, then re-install the strut, and have an alignment done. The other option is B), a set of Bilstien 5100 struts. These come with adjustable settings to level the front of the truck. This requires the removal of the coil spring off of the old strut, and installation onto the new 5100. This will need a coil spring compressor to do so.

As far as the arches (fender flares as we call them), they are readily available, easy to install, and relatively cheap. I'm not up to date on the best brand since I don't have any, but someone may be able to give you some better advice there.

Rims. Those look like they are 17" rims, with most likely 4.5" back spacing, which is the distance of the back of the rim to part of the rim that mounts to the truck (can't think of a single word for that at the moment) The tires are most likely 35"(tall)/12.5"(wide)/17(rim size)s, so you would probably want a 9" wide rim (17x9). The bolt patter for the rims will be 5x5.5.

All in all, the suspension is fairly easy to install. The rims and tires will not be cheap, unless if tires and rims are cheaper over in England.

Let us know if you have any more questions! Hope this helped.

ws

Wow! Excellent post, helps a hell of a lot, thanks!

So, if the truck is a 4WD it will have coilovers (we call them that when the spring goes over the shock) on the front, I can just simply install strut spacers which will level it with the rear. Where would I get these?

If the truck is a 2WD, what do I do then?

Fender flares (we call them flared arches), where can I get these?

Is there an online retailer of this stuff? They aren't so widely available in England

Wheels, I think what you are describing we call spacers, basically its to bring the wheel more outwards, is that right? What offset wheel are we looking at?

Thanks for the help already, I think you have explained it very well, seems a lot clearer to me already. Main problem being in England is sourcing these parts.

Mrbutt · Feb 11, 2016

NWRQC said:
Great input! In addition, if your go with an 02-05 3rd gen and it's 4wd it will have a torsion bar front suspension. With that, you would just "crank" the torsion bars to level the truck.

So to be clear, if I get an 02-05 4WD, there would be no need for spacers? Its already adjustable?

Thanks everyone for the welcomes too

blackbeautyhemi · Feb 11, 2016

Mrbutt said:
So to be clear, if I get an 02-05 4WD, there would be no need for spacers? Its already adjustable?

Thanks everyone for the welcomes too

Correct

derekp · Feb 11, 2016

I'm digging the truck you chose to highlight. Good color, 3rd gen, blacked out...yeah, I approve. Lol

usaf2006 · Feb 12, 2016

Mrbutt said:
Wow! Excellent post, helps a hell of a lot, thanks!

So, if the truck is a 4WD it will have coilovers (we call them that when the spring goes over the shock) on the front, I can just simply install strut spacers which will level it with the rear. Where would I get these?

If the truck is a 2WD, what do I do then?

Fender flares (we call them flared arches), where can I get these?

Is there an online retailer of this stuff? They aren't so widely available in England

Wheels, I think what you are describing we call spacers, basically its to bring the wheel more outwards, is that right? What offset wheel are we looking at?

Thanks for the help already, I think you have explained it very well, seems a lot clearer to me already. Main problem being in England is sourcing these parts.

Looking for spacers, check out Dodge Ram, Toyota Tacoma, & Ford F-150 Performance & Suspension - Hell Bent Steel Hell Bent Steel - I'm not sure how getting stuff shipped to England works, but those are affordable and quality products. If you have 2wd, those use spacers as well.

Fender Flares (arches) are available on eBay, Amazon etc. Just google whatever year truck you get. for example "2006 ram 1500 fender flares"

If you are unsure, I would make another thread under the "exterior" section asking what brands are better than others.

You can get wheel spacers that push the current rims farther from the hub. I would check out BORA spacers. Wheel Adapters, Wheel Spacers, Hub Centric Rings | Motorsport Tech - top quality spacers. They're a bit pricey ($50 USD each) but they're best rated. I recommend getting 1.5" spacers, otherwise you will have to trim the studs on the hub so the rim doesn't hit the original stud once you install the spacer. (if that makes sense)

Hope this helps

Mrbutt · Feb 12, 2016

Thanks for all the helps usaf, you have made things a lot clearer for me.

It seems pretty straight forward now really.

Thanks again everyone, I think I'll stick around here

usaf2006 · Feb 13, 2016

Mrbutt said:
Thanks for all the helps usaf, you have made things a lot clearer for me.

It seems pretty straight forward now really.

Thanks again everyone, I think I'll stick around here

Glad I was able to help!

This forum has helped me quite a bit along the way. Hope you find a truck soon!

Lil_Ram · Feb 13, 2016

Rather than get the hub spacers if you like the 35in tire set up switch to a 20in wheel that comes with your desired back spacing it alleviates some other work and you get can some wheels to match your taste I would say go with a -36mm back spacing or something in that range to achieve those spacings. Just my 2 cents since I'm running spacers

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Mrbutt · Feb 14, 2016

Confused with what to do now, just seen this Gen 4 for sale which has pretty much everything I want already done.

Its had a level, got 33inch Micky T's on, the fender flares are done, side steps etc, but it costs a lot more than an equivalent Gen 3 would probably cost me in this country.
Thing is its hard finding one you like when they are so rare in England and this one ticks every box except I'd like some bull bars on it (think you call them Bull nose)

Its a tough call, the dealer has it on for $44k, which in this country is a reasonable price for this truck, I've got the money for it but didn't really want to spend that much on a truck at this point in my life, only wanted to spend around $25k, hence wanting a gen 3 as I like them the same.

What you guys reckon?

Mrbutt · Feb 14, 2016

Whats the difference between a 2012 and 2013?

Are the lights upgraded?

blackbeautyhemi · Feb 14, 2016

That's def a sharp truck! The 4th gens ride a lil nicer than 3rd gens due to different suspension design so you'd be okay going with that instead. And yea the '12 to '13 year they did some cosmetic changes inside and out but nothing major really mechanically other than making a 8 speed transmission available in '13.

New to this, Need help/advice

Mrbutt

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usaf2006

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NWRQC

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NWRQC

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Hemipower392

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Mrbutt

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Mrbutt

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blackbeautyhemi

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derekp

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usaf2006

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Mrbutt

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usaf2006

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Lil_Ram

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Mrbutt

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Mrbutt

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blackbeautyhemi

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