Dodge Off Road 7" lift kit

[Andler2008]

So I've been shopping around looking for the best lift kit possible to keep from re-buying, and replacing pieces. I was going to just bite the bullet, and get the rough country lift for 5" and work my way up to my hopeful 7"-8" lift. But the lift is a very umm.... half assed lift kit. I'm sure it can be used, but I'm afraid that if I get too crazy out in the mud and trails that it'll possibly cause me issues. I'm looking for a one and done solution that I can beat on and not have to be scared about blocks coming out, or drop brackets coming loose or whatever.

So I accidently found dodge off road and realized that was the DOR lift kit that was mentioned in the lift basics topic. Peaked my interest. The 7" lift will run me about $3500 with all the goodies. I was wondering if anyone else here on the forum has ever used this lift and how well it worked for them. Installation times, and general maintenence over time. I just want to get as much info as possible before I drop more money on a lift kit than I did for the truck itself.

 

[heavymetal]

im gathering parts right now for a 7 inch lift aswell, im going to make my own long arms (to save on shipping) but i plan on using his long arm brackets, they are BEEFY. i'll also be getting his track bar and shackle flip. i have put a few of his products on dodges over the years and the parts outlast the trucks up here due to all the salt we use on the road.

i would say if you want to go 7 inchs and beat on your truck without issue, buy a 7'' kit thats ment to be beat on, get the DOR

post pics!

 

[Davy120]

Smart move on not going with the rcx their lifts are garbage especially for offroad. As for 7" lift i dont know of any but if this dor lift seems good (price makes it seem well built) go for it. Otherwise id suggest a bds kit.

Camo Ram

 

[Andler2008]

Yeah BDS was my second choice to DOR. Depending on how everything pans out job wise this spring, I'm hoping to get either or. Both seem quite heavy duty enough to handle my shenanigans out in the woods. So now I'm just saving money and getting as much info as possible on both to see what my options are.

 

[Stangshcky12]

Don't expect to get it any time soon
Just read a thread earlier on another forum that a guy has been waiting over 6 weeks for his and hasn't received a reply to his email and quite some time

 

[Andler2008]

Ahhh man that sucks. Looking at the pieces it looks like a very well built setup. I expect waits times to take a month or so, but no reply to emails, thats a no go for me especially with the amount of money it costs.

 

[Andler2008]

On a side note, it looks like they're moving shop around a little, so they may be backed up from moving shops and what not. DOR that is.

 

[Merc225hp]

I have looked at his kits for years now and unless his welds have improved not a chance I would buy those parts from there. You do realize some of the parts in the kit are Sj, it's a whole lot cheaper to make you own longarms.

 

[Andler2008]

It would be cheaper to make my own long arms, but how would you know the correct lengths of said arms to create perfect articulation with the front end?Hell most of the stuff I've seen could be made very easily. I have no issues building most of the pieces, just the specific measurements and placement of some of the brackets is where it'd throw me a bit.

I'm new to the truck thing. I started out with a 1976 Ford Maverick then stayed with cars upgrading, albeit slightly, to a 1998 camaro. My main thing has been motorcycles for the past couple of years though. There's no real trails where I'm located, so a truly dedicated trail rig has never been worth any time or money.

 

[Merc225hp]

It's not that hard to figure out where things go, heck just look at some of the pix posted and you will get an idea where they go. How do you wheel your truck, mud, rocks, snow?
I am building my own long arm's over the winter and will post info as it happens.

 

[Andler2008]

I know where the long arms go, it's just the length that brings some issues to the table. Like how long should they be per inch of lift. That kinda thing. I look at 7" of lift, and make a bracket that rivals the one from DOR, and it begs the question of the equation used to make the perfect length arms. Hell at the rate I'm going, I might as well build some extra brackets and coil over mounts and set up the rear end on a 4 link setup. That's a very long term goal though. 1 thing at a time.

I'm going to head on over to Pirate 4x4 to see if i can dig out some more info. I want to be able to hit the mud and the rocks. A nice mix of both worlds. Unfortunately my part of town a nice rocky trail is non existent, but I know theres some stuff not too far from me that I could get to.

 

[Merc225hp]

Well you seem to have most of it figured out so I am no help to you. Good luck with your build.

 

[Okiespaniel]

Danny's been around a long time and has been building 2nd gen trucks with big lifts since 2000. He's used pretty much everyone elses stuff in his builds before striking out on his own, so he knows what works and what doesn't...and why.

How do I know this? He was one of the first on the Pavement Sucks site to go big...REAL BIG. He can be a bit bullheaded but he's walked the walk. I respect what he's doing....how many other places still build real suspensions for 2nd gens, then test them offroad where body damage is expected?

I've seen some of his early stuff and while it's pretty crude, I've never heard of any failures. He's attempted to improve as he's grown. Some of my welds look like crap too, but I've never had one break. I've also seen textbook perfect looking filets fail instantly under stress tests.

Merc, there's no doubt you have mad skills, know your stuff, walk the walk... and you're pretty much as bullheaded. Gotta call it as I see it sir. But if you've got a better solution at a fair price, offer it to the rest of us and put your name on it.

 

[Merc225hp]

Danny's been around a long time and has been building 2nd gen trucks with big lifts since 2000. He's used pretty much everyone elses stuff in his builds before striking out on his own, so he knows what works and what doesn't...and why.

How do I know this? He was one of the first on the Pavement Sucks site to go big...REAL BIG. He can be a bit bullheaded but he's walked the walk. I respect what he's doing....how many other places still build real suspensions for 2nd gens, then test them offroad where body damage is expected?

I've seen some of his early stuff and while it's pretty crude, I've never heard of any failures. He's attempted to improve as he's grown. Some of my welds look like crap too, but I've never had one break. I've also seen textbook perfect looking filets fail instantly under stress tests.

Merc, there's no doubt you have mad skills, and you're pretty much as bullheaded. Gotta call it as I see it sir. But if you've got a better solution at a fair price, offer it to the rest of us and put your name on it.

I am most likely more bullheaded than he is, I have been doing this kind of stuff for decades not years. See there it is lol. I am a ex red seal millwright, a power engineer, and have been in the marine business for a very long time.

Yes I do have attitude problems lol.

His new pix do show that his quality has improved but there is no way I am paying over $900 for a set of longarms. I like his kit very much just too costly.
To get that kit up here man it would be close to $1700 by the time it got here, but thats not his problem is it.

I have the shop, I have the skills, what I don't have is a good body for doing this kind of work anymore.

I am making up my own long arm setup this winter and if it proves to be a worthy setup YES I will offer it out to the public. But is has to prove that it works and must pass all inspections.

 

[Okiespaniel]

I am most likely more bullheaded than he is, I have been doing this kind of stuff for decades not years. See there it is lol. I am a ex red seal millwright, a power engineer, and have been in the marine business for a very long time.

Yes I do have attitude problems lol.

His new pix do show that his quality has improved but there is no way I am paying over $900 for a set of longarms. I like his kit very much just too costly.
To get that kit up here man it would be close to $1700 by the time it got here, but thats not his problem is it.

I have the shop, I have the skills, what I don't have is a good body for doing this kind of work anymore.

I am making up my own long arm setup this winter and if it proves to be a worthy setup YES I will offer it out to the public. But is has to prove that it works and must pass all inspections.

LMAO...I'd want to read that discussion....as would a lot of other old timers in the 2nd gen world...or those who still have 2nd gens. But since there's dam few of us left... instead of fighting we should keep building, and teach others to strive for a higher standard than "spacers and rear blocks".

There's a real need for a mid priced 5-7" long arm suspension that is a quality and easy to install piece. It also needs to clear the front body mount. I can't afford Danny's stuff either but I'm not going to put another RC (TGC), hard to find BDS, Fabtech or something cookie cutter on my truck.

**** Cepek used to be the standard, but his stuff is out of production. There was an issue with the front mount, but that lift rode like a Caddy.

 

[Merc225hp]

I am glad to see you are lmao at this.

Yep that darn body mount is right in the way of things, I hate to cut that and then reinforce it. We have very strict laws up here when it comes to lifting trucks and I am trying to stay within those laws for a longarm kit. If I mod that mount my insurance is null and void.

I would like to help all the 2nd gen guys with this kit, just need the time and a few good body days to go play in the shop.

See no bones about it lol this is on my back window.

 

[Okiespaniel]

Funny...I used to have those eyes on my steering stabilizer to warn the rocks to back off...must've worked too, cuz it lasted lionger than the one before it.

You probably have noriced that Danny offers a bend in the upper link to clear the mount. Pretty much borrowed that from Thuren's new 4th gen lift.