My lift plan question

[JCARTER7]

I have a 2011 1500 laramie. I currently have BILS set at 2.1. I am looking at installing a ZONE 6 inch lift kit. Zone is telling me that my truck will be level if I do 5 inch springs in rear. They say that cause my rear sat 3 inches higher then the front end when stock. But they are telling me Id have to set BILS back to to the stock height before lift. Is this true? And the 5 inch rear springs dosent make sence. I was thinking if the rear sat 3 inches higher then front at stock Id figure 3 inch lift springs would make more sence?

Also I want to put 37x12.5x20 tires on my stock chorme Laramie rims. Will these fit and clear?

THANKS ALL

 

[homebrew]

I'm in the process of installing a zone 6in with 5in coils. I got the back finished, it netted 7 inches of lift. I'm hoping the coils will settle a bit. In the front I'm upping my bils to 2.8 from 2.1. I'm running 35s on stock wheels with 1.5 spacers

 

[JCARTER7]

I'm in the process of installing a zone 6in with 5in coils. I got the back finished, it netted 7 inches of lift. I'm hoping the coils will settle a bit. In the front I'm upping my bils to 2.8 from 2.1. I'm running 35s on stock wheels with 1.5 spacers

What made you decide you needed to go 5 springs instead of 3?

 

[homebrew]

Reading around, seemed like the most popular set up from what I read so I just went with it. It's going to be a beast, if you don't have or haven't though of getting steps I would. Here's a picture with just the back done

 

[JCARTER7]

Reading around, seemed like the most popular set up from what I read so I just went with it. It's going to be a beast, if you don't have or haven't though of getting steps I would. Here's a picture with just the back done

Well how much lift dose the kit do for the front? And how did you truck sit stock? How high was the rear compared to your front?

 

[homebrew]

Prior to the lift I was running bils set at 2.1 which put me at 39 1/2F 40R. lost an inch in the front due to natural sag and the addition of a westin winch grill guard which is fairly heavy. Which put me at 38 1/2 in the front and 40 in the rear. From what I've been told/was told when I ordered my kit, bils at 2.8 with 5in coils will give me a leveled stance. As far as actual lift I'll have to wait till I get the front done and break out a tape measure

 

[brandonjansen]

Zone is wrong. Their 6" kit with the 5" rear coils will be no where near level on a Ram 1500. Having the Bilsteins set at 2.1" with the 5" rear coils will have the truck sitting closest to level. Keep in mind that you don't install the Zone preload spacer on the Bilsteins, just the strut spacer.

 

[homebrew]

Called the tech support line, said basically the same thing. Bils at 2.1 no preload spacer. Said it may be better to drop down to the next level on the bils to prevent issues with the upper ball joints. I have 10k miles on the bils at 2.1 with no issues so I should be ok maintaining that.

 

[RamWrayzor]

Zone is wrong. Their 6" kit with the 5" rear coils will be no where near level on a Ram 1500. Having the Bilsteins set at 2.1" with the 5" rear coils will have the truck sitting closest to level. Keep in mind that you don't install the Zone preload spacer on the Bilsteins, just the strut spacer.

Agreed. Mine are at 1.4 and I have about 1" of rake. Going to put mine at 2.1 soon.

 

[Ox69]

I've got the 6/5 zone lift also. Jacked my 5100's up to 2.8 the front sits about 3/4" lower the rear now.

 

[JCARTER7]

so long story short, ZONE 6" lift 5" inch rear springs with BILS at 2.1" will give a close to level setup. But DO NOT install the preloaded spacer just the strut spacer.

What is the differance between the two?
And dose anyone have a picture of this set up? I am thinking about running 35s with this set up. I may need to add a plow to the front of my truck next season. i am wondering if i may be to high for an HTS western plow.

 

[JCARTER7]

can you guys post pics of ur set ups?
THANKS GUYS!

 

[brandonjansen]

so long story short, ZONE 6" lift 5" inch rear springs with BILS at 2.1" will give a close to level setup. But DO NOT install the preloaded spacer just the strut spacer.

What is the differance between the two?
And dose anyone have a picture of this set up? I am thinking about running 35s with this set up. I may need to add a plow to the front of my truck next season. i am wondering if i may be to high for an HTS western plow.

That is correct.

The difference betwen what two things? The preload and strut spacer? Or the rear springs?

can you guys post pics of ur set ups?
THANKS GUYS!

I was running a 6" RCX lift with Bilsteins at 1.4" with 35's on my old 2012 1500. That setup is equivalent to a Zone 6" kit with the 5" rear coils and Bilsteins at 2.1" so your setup would look almost identical to it lift wise.

 

[JCARTER7]

That is correct.

The difference betwen what two things? The preload and strut spacer? Or the rear springs?



I was running a 6" RCX lift with Bilsteins at 1.4" with 35's on my old 2012 1500. That setup is equivalent to a Zone 6" kit with the 5" rear coils and Bilsteins at 2.1" so your setup would look almost identical to it lift wise.

that's an awesome look, i love it! your a truck dictionary. i was wondering with the bils your leaving out the The preload spacer. but using the strut spacer. what is the difference between them. how would i know what is what.


or should i go with the RCX kit. its a bit cheaper?

 

[brandonjansen]

that's an awesome look, i love it! your a truck dictionary. i was wondering with the bils your leaving out the The preload spacer. but using the strut spacer. what is the difference between them. how would i know what is what.


or should i go with the RCX kit. its a bit cheaper?

Thank you sir!

You'll definitely notice a difference between the two. The preload spacer essentially looks like a ring. It's a approximately 5/8" thick and would be installed between the spring and the upper spring seat on the front strut. The strut spacer is essentially a large leveling spacer if you've ever seen them. It will be made of steel and have a plate on each end with 3 holes drilled in them. One side will be installed onto the Bilstein and the other will need studs put into it to install them in the truck.

You're definitely better off with the Zone kit. RCX use to be a good choice (around 1.5 years ago now) when they offered full rear coils like the Zone kit. They no longer do that and only have spacers for the rear lift which is definitely not as good. IMO the Zone kit is one of the best "bang for your buck" kits out there for a Ram 1500. I wouldn't hesitate to run it if I ever have another 1500.

 

[RamED]

I have the Zone 6" front 5" rear with no bilsteins yet. It sits about 1.5" lower in the front. Question - If I had the lift installed without the bilsteins, do I need to remove either the strut spacer or preload spacer to install the bilsteins?

 

[brandonjansen]

I have the Zone 6" front 5" rear with no bilsteins yet. It sits about 1.5" lower in the front. Question - If I had the lift installed without the bilsteins, do I need to remove either the strut spacer or preload spacer to install the bilsteins?

Yes, when you have Bilsteins installed you won't use the preload spacer. Your OEM struts will need to be disassembled to use the hardware on the Bilsteins anyway so it's no issue to take the preload spacer out at that time. The strut spacer then gets installed on the Bilsteins before they're put back in the truck.

 

[JCARTER7]

Yes, when you have Bilsteins installed you won't use the preload spacer. Your OEM struts will need to be disassembled to use the hardware on the Bilsteins anyway so it's no issue to take the preload spacer out at that time. The strut spacer then gets installed on the Bilsteins before they're put back in the truck.

Thanks Brandon for the info! I am waiting for my refund check and the lifts going on! I will let you know how it goes. Should be done in the next few weeks. That's the set up I'm going to run.

I am wondering, if u happen to know, why they offer a 3 or 5 inch rear spring. What determines what one you need to be able to sit level. On the phone they said some trucks sit different stock. My front end stock is about 2.5 inches lower then the rear. I dont know you have any input on that part?

 

[brandonjansen]

Thanks Brandon for the info! I am waiting for my refund check and the lifts going on! I will let you know how it goes. Should be done in the next few weeks. That's the set up I'm going to run.

I am wondering, if u happen to know, why they offer a 3 or 5 inch rear spring. What determines what one you need to be able to sit level. On the phone they said some trucks sit different stock. My front end stock is about 2.5 inches lower then the rear. I dont know you have any input on that part?

That'll be sweet man!

They offer the 2 different options for guys who want different amount of lift. The 6" kit with the 3" rear coils will sit close to level by itself. The 6" kit with the 5" rear coils and then Bilsteins at 2.1" will sit level and obviously sits about 2" higher all around as well. So it's essentially a 6" (5.5") lift vs an 8' (7.6") lift.

 

[JCARTER7]

That'll be sweet man!

They offer the 2 different options for guys who want different amount of lift. The 6" kit with the 3" rear coils will sit close to level by itself. The 6" kit with the 5" rear coils and then Bilsteins at 2.1" will sit level and obviously sits about 2" higher all around as well. So it's essentially a 6" (5.5") lift vs an 8' (7.6") lift.

Damn its really a 8 inch lift! Awesome. I'll keep you posted!!!

Last thing I saw that your wheels stuck out a bit. What size where they. We're you running spacers? It's a perfect look!!!

THANKS