I did a thing.. AEV.

[turkeybird56]

I raised all my breathers. Trans and transfer case are both above the engine. Front diff is above the driver side headlight. Rear axle is above the fuel door. I’ve had the truck submerged over the headlights before but for a brief couple seconds. Not that I would do that again. The snorkel is more for the cold air intake part for me. I don’t like going in water over the bumpers to be honest. Plus the cab vents are around the same height as the headlights so I’d risk water coming in the vents.

YEAH, river/creek water coming into the truck from vents would kinda suk, LOL. We used to knock out the plugs and hose out the footwells on the hummers, wat a mess, lmao.

 

[crazykid1994]

YEAH, river/creek water coming into the truck from vents would kinda suk, LOL. We used to knock out the plugs and hose out the footwells on the hummers, wat a mess, lmao.

It’s all swamp water here in Florida. Wanting to get up to Georgia/Tennessee and do some true trail riding. I’m not a big mudding fan

 

[turkeybird56]

Just think, maybe U can sell somebody from NY some Swamp land besides the same in Louisiana, lol, best I can do this AM, back hurts, hee hee.

 

[czervika]

Forgive my ignorance, but what makes the AEV kit so much better than your Zone or Superlift?

Not hating at all! I know AEV has a high reputation for making quality products, especially for the ram. just wondering lol.

For me it's a few things. First, the knuckles are aluminum rather than steel or cast iron as the other kits, less weight for the suspension to control. The knuckles also move the wheel hub 8mm forward, and the tie rods are moved up and low profile ends are supplied to avoid any bump steer. Lastly the skid plate becomes a part of the structure moving the differential off the motor mounts while increasing clearance and making the skid plate part of the support system stiffening the entire structure.

 

[czervika]

Just think, maybe U can sell somebody from NY some Swamp land besides the same in Louisiana, lol, best I can do this AM, back hurts, hee hee.

Our quota of NY moving permits was filled early last year. We've thus suspended accepting imports from that location.

 

[turkeybird56]

Our quota of NY moving permits was filled early last year. We've thus suspended accepting imports from that location.

We have a CA/OR problem here, LOL.

 

[czervika]

My main concern is getting the damned thing out of the garage after the lift. I'm leveled on 2.8 Bilstein's, I have an inch from the top of the rollbar. After the lift, I'm going to hit. I believe the tires are going to have to be aired down to rollout.

 

[czervika]

We have a CA/OR problem here, LOL.

Yeah we directed the CA people to TX when I lived in CO. Unfortunately I left in 2009 and the moving ban had since been lifted. Though from 1990 through 2008 we imported a crap load of TX folk.

 

[j-b]

For me it's a few things. First, the knuckles are aluminum rather than steel or cast iron as the other kits, less weight for the suspension to control. The knuckles also move the wheel hub 8mm forward, and the tie rods are moved up and low profile ends are supplied to avoid any bump steer. Lastly the skid plate becomes a part of the structure moving the differential off the motor mounts while increasing clearance and making the skid plate part of the support system stiffening the entire structure.

Yeah for the price difference you paid, that is well worth it!

 

[czervika]

Lets hope..

 

[czervika]

AEV 5100s vs stock Bilsteins.





AEV knuckles compared to stock.




Frame modification pics

 

[crazykid1994]

Looking good. I wonder how those bilstein will feel compared to the regular 5100. Pretty interesting. I want to swap my 5100s to 6112s so bad but buying that snorkel was my chump change for a while.

 

[czervika]

Looking good. I wonder how those bilstein will feel compared to the regular 5100. Pretty interesting. I want to swap my 5100s to 6112s so bad but buying that snorkel was my chump change for a while.

Yeah I hear that.

I'll let you know once the rear is done and I put a basic alignment on it in the garage so I can do a shake down.

Front took nearly 11 hours. I'm hoping the rear is way faster as it's brackets and shocks.

 

[czervika]

Back side is done. Late start to the morning. Anyway. It's this close backing out of the garage.




Balljoint angle with the RC upper control arms.

 

[healthyrx]

Balljoint angle with the RC upper control arms.

I didn't think that the AEV kit would be so dramatically different from the other options out there! I can't wait to see/ hear how you like it.
Are those the stock height or the 3" lift RC UCAs on there?

 

[czervika]

Stock height. I had ordered the 3" to replace my stocks as the ball joint was moving. But then the lift came back in to stock and I figured they designed it to use factory control arms so I should go stock height instead.

I'm still in recovery mode right now. I'm going to go back over all the critical bolts and retorque everything then to a temp alignment in the garage. Hopefully the alignment shop down the road will get an opening in the couple weeks. They're normally booked weeks in advance.


After that I'll get a road report and post pics of the truck.

 

[czervika]

Ok rudimentary alignment done. Set to about 0 camber and 4 degrees caster. Toe set to as close to 0 as I can get it with what I have.

Doesn't pull, tracks nice and straight.

How's it ride? It's weird. It's firm. Like you know it's a truck. Even compared to a level it feels firm. Lots of feedback from the road. Big plus for me. Yet when it encounters bumps like potholes it's surprisingly supple like a Cadillac. Really different.

 

[czervika]

Well last followup. Took it to 4WP for an official alignment. Final number look like this.;



And lastly, they offered a job installing lifts. Apparently they liked the workmanship and the fact that all the bolts being paint marked to show that they had been fully torqued. Unfortunately I can't afford the pay cut.

 

[RJL1]

Lets see some pics of the finished product!

You're install pics look nice and clean. Well done.

 

[czervika]

The day I bought it, March 2021.




After the AEV lift.


First trip out to the swap after doing a string and angle finder alignment in the garage.