Anyone Install Body Lift on Factory Air Ride?

[Basil]

BDS is worth it. I have the 4” BDS air ride lift on my 2018 Night. Still rides like factory and no question asked warrant from BDS is unquestionable. Save the money to do it. You won’t regret it!

 

[Quick_Shifter]

Kingzilla - my apologies, I misunderstood. I was looking for someone who has factory air ride and body lift spacers on all 4 corners not wheel spacers. My bad.

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/steering-extension.168045/

Here's where the can of worms start to open with body lifts. Read it and thought about you. Spend the money....Do it the right way or not at all.

 

[Quick_Shifter]

@Curt Gobbell look for trucks with body lifts and pay attention to where their exhaust pipes are. You will end up doing things you wouldn't really do and just be spending money a little bit at a time. Then when you get stick of that you'll buy the BDS kit and be all in for $7,000 instead of $3,500ish installed

 

[Tunaman]

I guess I'm old fashioned or something but I don't get these body lift kits. I probably will buy a 2500 in the near future for towing my travel Trailer. Gibson Truck World sometimes has decent prices on late model used. BUT I do not want a lift kit, especially if I get a 5th wheel. Trailers haul much better if they're level.

 

[bfill_rebel]

To OP...

If you didn’t see this then it’s worth a look. It’s a Rebel with air suspension who did a body lift

https://www.ramrebelforum.com/threads/ram-rebel-with-pa-3-inch-body-lift.8649/

He has pics. And since he has larger exhaust tips it’s not bad looking at all IMO.

The BDS is superior to this body lift kit. However at cost difference I do feel you need to consider what your reason is for lifting. If you are off roading - BDS. If just want the look and suspension travel, ground clearance arnt as important than a QUALITY body lift isn’t the worst thing in the world. Also based on your current wheels you may need new rims (a factor for me as my stock 17” Rebel wheels - which I like - wont fit BDS kit I’m told). At the end of the day I’ve never heard of someone who is mad about their BDS kit. Based on needs and what you can afford you can make your decision.

I’m in same boat as you and am still searching for reasonable install quote on BDS 4” kit. But have not ruled out level links stacked with 3” body lift. I have 5” exhaust tips so it won’t look odd out back. And I’ll only loose tow hooks up front if I go body lift.

Good luck with your decision. In my research the above thread was only one I found dedicated to air suspension. There are other threads post about body lifts in general. Especially a lot of folks who stack the body lifts (1.5”) on their 6” zone suspension lifts.


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[Curt Gobbell]

Bfill - many thanks. Quick_shifter makes an excellent point about "total cost" vs "upfront costs" regarding body vs suspension.

From all the research I've done, it is clear that 2" leveling spacers will work with factory air suspension in the front , but I've yet to confirm if it will work in the rear.

 

[bfill_rebel]

Bfill - many thanks. Quick_shifter makes an excellent point about "total cost" vs "upfront costs" regarding body vs suspension.

From all the research I've done, it is clear that 2" leveling spacers will work with factory air suspension in the front , but I've yet to confirm if it will work in the rear.

Spacers with hold in center of puck (to allow for air lines to come out) do work with level links (need to set links for height difference to keep stock comfort). Im not sure about rear end. A lot of people just do front to level. Messing with rear too much can get you error messages from what I’ve understood (payload errors, etc...)

No doubt the total vs upfront cost is a factor to consider.


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[Janelle]

I have a 2014 Laramie Limited with factory Air Ride that I would like to lift 2-3".

The BDS option is more than I want to spend, so I'm looking for other options. The DIY section (all 27 pages) hints at this topic, but it isn't fully addressed.

Has anyone on this forum install a spacer type lift on all 4 corners of a factory air ride?

I only put links on the front to level it!! works great

 

[Joes1500]

Dont listen to anyone bashing body lifts. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them when installed properly. I have beat trucks /blazers with body lifts way worse than any of these guys ever thought about. Even wrecked a couple very badly. The body lifts never caused any problems or failed.

And as far as off road clearance, body lifts and suspension lifts do not increase clearance, never have , never will. The only thing that will increase clearance is bigger diameter tires. All the lifts do is give you room for those bigger tires.

 

[bfill_rebel]

Dont listen to anyone bashing body lifts. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them when installed properly. I have beat trucks /blazers with body lifts way worse than any of these guys ever thought about. Even wrecked a couple very badly. The body lifts never caused any problems or failed.

And as far as off road clearance, body lifts and suspension lifts do not increase clearance, never have , never will. The only thing that will increase clearance is bigger diameter tires. All the lifts do is give you room for those bigger tires.

Any experience with the PA (performance accessories) body lifts? They seem like a complete kit and with option gap guards seems to cover all bases. Even has steering shaft extension (issues previously raised here).


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[Joes1500]

Any experience with the PA (performance accessories) body lifts? They seem like a complete kit and with option gap guards seems to cover all bases. Even has steering shaft extension (issues previously raised here).


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PA, performance accessories. Yes they make the best ,most complete kits. They have been making them for years and years.

 

[bfill_rebel]

PA, performance accessories. Yes they make the most best ,most complete kits. They have been making them for years and years.

Appreciate your input as someone with 1st hand experience.


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[Joes1500]

Appreciate your input as someone with 1st hand experience.


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I believe GARY2 has put a couple in 2 different 4th gens. Might try contacting him.

 

[bfill_rebel]

I believe GARY2 has put a couple in 2 different 4th gens. Might try contacting him.

Thanks for that. I have sent him a message and am awaiting his response. I saw his response about his PA body lift in another thread.


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[olyelr]

I put a performance accessories body lift on my 2000 dodge back in high school (and suspension lift). Had that truck 11 years and never had one issue with the body lift.

 

[bfill_rebel]

I put a performance accessories body lift on my 2000 dodge back in high school (and suspension lift). Had that truck 11 years and never had one issue with the body lift.

Thanks for feedback and opinion/experience.


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[Puba08]

PA body lifts are great if you don’t want to spend the money on a true lift. I too was hesitant installing a BL. On my 4th Gen I had Bilsteins set at 2.8 and it just wasn’t enough for me (I did not have air ride though). I had the same concerns as you so I wound up getting the Zone 1.5” body lift (got it for $100 bucks so it was worth it!).
A few things about BL’s that others may have mentioned already....
Having it professionally installed usually costs pretty close to the same price as a full lift kit due to the labor involved. I installed mine by myself in my driveway with hand tools (which I now own impact guns lol).
It is not hard, but the instructions are so so. I used instructions from all 3 companies that make them to make it a bit easier to install (PA, Zone and Rough Country).
You will not be able to use factory tow hooks (I saw somewhere with the RC 1.25” BL you can retain them but it was for earlier year trucks IIRC.
You will have a gap from the exhaust tips to the bumper. This is easily solved with 5” tips (which you should get anyways [emoji1303])
Afterwards you will wish you have went with the 3” BL but you have to take in account the few extra steps the 3” kit requires. I didn’t feel like screwing with the steering shaft extension.



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[bfill_rebel]

PA body lifts are great if you don’t want to spend the money on a true lift. I too was hesitant installing a BL. On my 4th Gen I had Bilsteins set at 2.8 and it just wasn’t enough for me (I did not have air ride though). I had the same concerns as you so I wound up getting the Zone 1.5” body lift (got it for $100 bucks so it was worth it!).
A few things about BL’s that others may have mentioned already....
Having it professionally installed usually costs pretty close to the same price as a full lift kit due to the labor involved. I installed mine by myself in my driveway with hand tools (which I now own impact guns lol).
It is not hard, but the instructions are so so. I used instructions from all 3 companies that make them to make it a bit easier to install (PA, Zone and Rough Country).
You will not be able to use factory tow hooks (I saw somewhere with the RC 1.25” BL you can retain them but it was for earlier year trucks IIRC.
You will have a gap from the exhaust tips to the bumper. This is easily solved with 5” tips (which you should get anyways [emoji1303])
Afterwards you will wish you have went with the 3” BL but you have to take in account the few extra steps the 3” kit requires. I didn’t feel like screwing with the steering shaft extension.



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Great write up. You guys who have used body lifts are reassuring. Especially when the points made are factored in. I spent all summer getting lift quotes and it’s just hard to swallow when the stock Rebel already meets 90% of my off-road needs. The BL is simply to give it taller appearance , avoid stuffed look for 35s, and with the level links it gives me same increase in height roughly. I have 5” tips already. Loosing tow hooks to save $3500 seems damn good too me. My wife’s cousin is mechanic and for a case of beer or two he is always willing to help me wrench on my truck.

OP im not sure on ur timeline for when you were planning to do this but if I do this in the next 4-8wks I’ll def post pics, tips, love/hate, etc...


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[mjscharlotte]

I have a 2014 Laramie Limited with factory Air Ride that I would like to lift 2-3".

The BDS option is more than I want to spend, so I'm looking for other options. The DIY section (all 27 pages) hints at this topic, but it isn't fully addressed.

Has anyone on this forum install a spacer type lift on all 4 corners of a factory air ride?

I have a 2017 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Limited with factory air suspension. I used the CFT links for raise the front end and level it with the back. They were $100 and are simple to install. Here is a pic of them installed with 35" tires.

 

[bfill_rebel]

I have a 2017 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Limited with factory air suspension. I used the CFT links for raise the front end and level it with the back. They were $100 and are simple to install. Here is a pic of them installed with 35" tires.
View attachment 224337

To verify. You just have the front CFT links?


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