Want to lift it but...

So I'm kind of at a crossroad. I have a 2016 sport and doesnt make so much as a squeak from the suspension. My 2014 was a nightmare because I was uneducated and bought the truck not knowing the previous owner used spacers. I installed bils but the damage was done and I ended up replacing every control arm.

I dont do crazy offroading. Just light trails and fields during hunting season. But I miss the 2" level. Additionally I dont want to run crazy big tires because I like my 21mpg on the freeway (gotta love MDS).

I'm thinking of a really good 2-3" kit that'll level it out and give is just a little more ground clearance. I just dont want to damage the front end and I definitely dont want to cut for relocation brackets. Growing up I always had friends with lifted trucks. As the "friend in auto shop" I was constantly replacing front end components and u joints.

What I'd like to do is maybe 2.5" bils and possibly a longer spring in the rear to perfectly level it. I dont tow much and when i do it's a light trailer so I cant see that being an issue. What have you guys done in that range? My 35s killed gas mileage but the stock tires looked a little silly with the leveling kit. I figure I'll be needing new tires by next year so that'll be when I do it all



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Bils at 2.1 and 295/60R20's and you're good ... You could go all the way to 2.8, and use a spacer in the rear, but the you might be lookin at UCA's up front


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Fletch125 said:

I'm thinking of a really good 2-3" kit that'll level it out and give is just a little more ground clearance. "



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There are tons of options for this. It really just comes down to how much you're willing to spend and what your usage will be? The cheapest route would be leveling struts and thats what most people do (myself included). Bilstein, Eibach, Rough Country, Rancho all offer somewhat similar style leveling struts (there are probably even more companies that I've left out).

But, there are better options if you're willing to spend more $$. Fox, Icon, King, Radflo, Bilstein 6112s all have coilovers that can accomplish 2-3" lift (again, there are probably even more companies that I've left out). Carli & Thuren have custom tuned options.

If you’re concerned with front end angles etc wouldn’t leveling struts be worse than an actual lift kit since the lift kit will correct for things with the longer spindles and drop brackets for the diff etc?

I know I personally had worse angles with just the bilsteins on my truck compared with how it sits now with a 6” lift.

My truck. Bils @ 2.1. Stock rear. I like it.

really good looking!.....how much rake did you leave in?

This is perfect for you. No cutting no nothing.

https://www.roughcountry.com/dodge-suspension-lift-kit-31200c.html

Here is my truck - Bills at 2.8 - stock rear and 33" inch tires. Sits level.

17CrewCab1500 said:

This is perfect for you. No cutting no nothing.

https://www.roughcountry.com/dodge-suspension-lift-kit-31200c.html

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This looks nearly perfect for me too...
from the look of the install instructions, this kit is setup to use the stock struts again? Is the possible, especially in the front?
This kit is 3" front and rear? I was kinda hoping for an inch or so less in the rear to level the truck a bit...

I have Bilsteins set @ 2.8 and stock in the rear.... Mine's level. I'm running 295/60R20 tires and I think it looks pretty good.

I'm confused..
So '17Crew & Stimpy, you guys are not using that Rough country 3" lift that '17 suggested above?
You are just using Bilstein's coil-overs (what number) in the front? I'm assuming that at 2.8" lift, you are using some kind of aftermarket upper A-arm, right?

My 2016 crew cab has the factory step sides, which my old 2013 didn't have, so all I'm trying to do is gain a little bit more ground clearance for those. When my factory Goodyear POS tires get worn out (projected by me at somewhere around mid/late summer) I'll probably upgrade back to the tires on my 2013 which were Gen. ATX 275-65R20 (which are spec'd at 34.1" tall), retaining the stock Ram wheels.

Wish I would have stolen my old tires off the truck; they were nearly brand new...

I

50BMG said:

I'm confused..
So '17Crew & Stimpy, you guys are not using that Rough country 3" lift that '17 suggested above?
You are just using Bilstein's coil-overs (what number) in the front? I'm assuming that at 2.8" lift, you are using some kind of aftermarket upper A-arm, right?

My 2016 crew cab has the factory step sides, which my old 2013 didn't have, so all I'm trying to do is gain a little bit more ground clearance for those. When my factory Goodyear POS tires get worn out (projected by me at somewhere around mid/late summer) I'll probably upgrade back to the tires on my 2013 which were Gen. ATX 275-65R20 (which are spec'd at 34.1" tall), retaining the stock Ram wheels.

Wish I would have stolen my old tires off the truck; they were nearly brand new...

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I just installed the Bilsteins and have them set @ 2.8"..... Still running OEM arms and haven't had any problems in almost 2 years. I think you really only need to change them if you are going to do a lot of serious off-roading, normal driving isn't gonna hurt anything. Remember, you can only use the Bilstein on 4wd trucks, not on 2wd trucks.

Get the eibach kit with new coils front and rear. The new front coils yield 2.75” lift without having to preload the eibach strut with higher settings, however if you want more they can adjust up to 3.5”. The new rear coils yield 1” lift so you’ll keep a slight rake.

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/eibach-pro-lift-struts.130255/

Thanks JB,
I saw that thread in a forum search I did earlier this morning. That looks to be a cool setup (with the springs) for the limited height increase I'm trying to achieve. I don't do any high-flying off-roading anymore either so I don't really want to sacrifice on-road ride/comfort much if I don't have to (most of my off roading is limited to 2-track hunting types of stuff in northern MI.)
Was that guy in that thread running OEM UCA's with those Eibachs? It kinda looked like it (but they were newer or he painted them up nice and fresh). His ball joints were definitely new.

Right now, from the ground to the edge of the wheel well, measured over the hub/axle center, my front is 2-3/4" lower than the rear (my '16 Crew Cab Long Box 1500 4X4). I'd love to get @3.5" lift up front if I can. So with those Eibach shocks & springs I'm thinking I probably should go with new UCA's for better ball joint angles., right?
Since I'm in the flooring business and I often have a load in my truck let alone when I'm hauling my Cobra, that trailer weights quite a bit on the tongue, I don't want to sacrifice the truck's load carrying ability. I think I heard will the taller springs sacrifice some load carry ability (no?).
Should I just use a 1" rear spacer and keep the rear's OEM setup for the most part? Ready Lift makes a decently strong looking 1.5" rear spacer too.
That, and using the cheaper spacer in the rear will allow me to afford the front UCAs a bit easier..
Sound good? Wrong? Stupid?

This is the whole kit front and rear I believe right?
https://eibach.com/us/i-8814-pro-truck-lift-system-stage-1.html

Take a look at the tuftruck rear coils and do a search here. I think some are using the 1211 or 1223 coils

https://tuftruck.com/products-results/?part_make=7∂_model=117∂_year=68


https://www.ramforum.com/threads/ttc-1223v-coils.65494/

Fletch125 said:

So I'm kind of at a crossroad. I have a 2016 sport and doesnt make so much as a squeak from the suspension. My 2014 was a nightmare because I was uneducated and bought the truck not knowing the previous owner used spacers. I installed bils but the damage was done and I ended up replacing every control arm.

I dont do crazy offroading. Just light trails and fields during hunting season. But I miss the 2" level. Additionally I dont want to run crazy big tires because I like my 21mpg on the freeway (gotta love MDS).

I'm thinking of a really good 2-3" kit that'll level it out and give is just a little more ground clearance. I just dont want to damage the front end and I definitely dont want to cut for relocation brackets. Growing up I always had friends with lifted trucks. As the "friend in auto shop" I was constantly replacing front end components and u joints.

What I'd like to do is maybe 2.5" bils and possibly a longer spring in the rear to perfectly level it. I dont tow much and when i do it's a light trailer so I cant see that being an issue. What have you guys done in that range? My 35s killed gas mileage but the stock tires looked a little silly with the leveling kit. I figure I'll be needing new tires by next year so that'll be when I do it all



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What kind of damage is caused by spacers?

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zhoenixx said:

What kind of damage is caused by spacers?

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Wears out the upper control arm ball joint and works it's way down to your hubs and lower ball joints if enough big pot holes are hit.

RedSRT4Me said:

Wears out the upper control arm ball joint and works it's way down to your hubs and lower ball joints if enough big pot holes are hit.

Click to expand...

You're talking the spacers that go on the springs, not wheel spacers, correct?

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zhoenixx said:

You're talking the spacers that go on the springs, not wheel spacers, correct?

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Yes, leveling spacers or lift springs have the same effect of stretching the front suspension.