Down side to a body lift

[surfnturf]

I have a 2012 1500 4x4 with a 2.75 level lit (spacers). BFG 315/70/17. It still did not get enough rake out of it and it does not sit quite high enough. (going for a ford Raptor look). I am now considering a body lift. Install looks easy enough. Are there any down sides to a body lift?

 

[Musclemckeester]

Welcome to RF.

I have a body lift, and there's no real downsides as long as you stay 3" or below. You'll get a lifted look for a reasonable price.

 

[surfnturf]

My level may be a 2.5 now that I think about it. I am in the negative rack camp. I dislike the kicked in the butt look. I will post up some pics soon. Wife is in it today while I do mods to her 4runner. I must say, folks here a WAY more friendly than the 4runner people.

 

[Silver Beast]

yea i was looking into getting a 3 in body lift myself...if i have a 6 in suspension lift will i need extra parts (i.e. steering stablizer/ extention) if i put the body lift on?

 

[quietpeen]

if you can find bilstein 5100 adjustable yo can get the front a little higher with them.

the only downside i can see to a body lift is you engine will site further down in the engine bay making it a longer reach to things for maintenance (if you even want to consider that a downside...lol)

 

[surfnturf]

So what are my options, 1.25 or 3? any other sizes? I think 3 might be overdoing it for the look I want.

 

[DisturbedGator]

I have ze 1.25 and blisteins, i installed the 1.25 by myself in my garage. Just make sure you have several drill bits and a jack that goes high enough and youre golden

 

[surfnturf]

Promised pics Dirty truck!

 

[surfnturf]

She looks like a fat girl with little feet from the front. What about wheel spacers?

 

[OneShot201]

I like your truck, I don't think it looks like a fat girl with little feet, it looks stuffed, looks great as is, imo.

I would get negative offset wheels before I ran spacers though.

 

[0212353]

body lift...........I agree - LOTS of drill bits. I would use air tools, impact, etc. Even with all the right stuff, still took us 5 hours. Was fun, and well worth it!

 

[Docwagon1776]

There are downsides, but not that most users will ever encounter.

Suspension lifts give you extra flex as well as extra height, body lifts just give you wheel clearance. If you are doing some serious off roading, obviously more flex is better. The blocks are also under quite a bit of stress if you are taking hard turns, hitting dunes hard, etc. Taller blocks = bigger levers = more force applied to the bolts, blocks, and attachment points on the frame and body.

Cosmetically, they also create a gap between the body and the bumpers (or just the rear bumper, depending on the truck and the kit) that looks like poo if not property addressed.

Generally you don't need extra parts if you stay with a smaller kit. Taller blocks may require longer brake lines and adjustments to the steering line though.

If you don't plan on doing anything real serious offroad with your truck (like dune jumping) and keep the body lift to a reasonable amount you'll probably never really notice the downsides, though, and you'll enjoy the upside of leaving more $$$ in your pocket for other mods.

 

[0212353]

Cosmetically, they also create a gap between the body and the bumpers (or just the rear bumper, depending on the truck and the kit) that looks like poo if not property addressed.

The RCX 1.25" came with new brackets for the bumpers, so no gap. Exhaust gap, sure - but thats easily fixed.

 

[Sagebrush2500]

Yeah - the "kicked in the butt" look is for racecars.

Your truck looks pretty good but I agree that a lift will make it look better. WIll look forward to seeing the finished product!

 

[LURE1N]

Go with the RCX 1.25'' body lift ! Comes with everything you need to make your bumpers look like factory. I love the one on my truck ...go for it!!!!

 

[LoneStar210]

From reading on forums, the RC 1.25 body lift is looking real good to me.

 

[flyhiguy85]

+1 on the RCX 1.25" BL!! Got that and my RCX 6" suspension ordered. Have it all installed this week!!

 

[bloombloom88]

The only real downside I can think of for a body lift is frame exposure. But from what I've heard the 4th gens frames are hidden pretty well so it's not too much of an issue

 

[slodsm]

I had mine BL'd 10,000 miles ago and I have zero complaints. I did the 3" because I plan to end up at 9" sometime later this year when my 35's wear out. Even with the BL you see less frame than you do on a factory height F150 or Chevy truck (I have owned both).

At work I routinely drive 20+ miles down dirt roads that are nowhere near maintained to the point of staying in 4hi for 5-6 miles. Everything is still tight, bumpers are still level etc. All in all I have no complaints excepts I wish I could hurry up and go bigger.

 

[ben.orts]

I can definitely see the Raptor influence in it. It looks really good but like people say, the bigger the better.