Ideal level height?

[FL-RAM]

What is the ideal level height? I've seen leveling kits ranging from 1" to 3". What is generally considered ideal? Also, what leveling kit do you recommend? The local tire place says they will level, but the customer has to provide the kit. Thanks.

 

[BOWERSFJ]

Depends ... How much rake do you have front to back now ?

There is no ideal level ... Some people want exactly level ... Others leave a little rake, so when the have stuff in the bed, they aren’t rollin nose high lookin silly ....

I went with Bils set at 2.1”, which left 3/4” of rake

Bils can be set at 4 different levels


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[FL-RAM]

Depends ... How much rake do you have front to back now ?

There is no ideal level ... Some people want exactly level ... Others leave a little rake, so when the have stuff in the bed, they aren’t rollin nose high lookin silly ....

I went with Bils set at 2.1”, which left 3/4” of rake

Bils can be set at 4 different levels


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I have no idea how much rake I have. It's stock.

 

[BOWERSFJ]

I have no idea how much rake I have. It's stock.

Well, then it’s time yo go dig out that ole Stanley tape measure ...

How ya gonna know how much to lift the front, if you don’t know how much rake ya got ?

And yes, it does vary from stock truck to stock truck


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[FL-RAM]

Well, then it’s time yo go dig out that ole Stanley tape measure ...

How ya gonna know how much to lift the front, if you don’t know how much rake ya got ?

And yes, it does vary from stock truck to stock truck


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Should have done that to start with. Just measured, it's 2".

 

[BOWERSFJ]

Should have done that to start with. Just measured, it's 2".

Then if it were my truck, I’d buy the Bilstein 5100’s and have em installed at 1.4”


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[GRN69CHV]

Mine had 2" difference, I went with 1.5" MaxTrac front spacer which visually made it look nose high. I then added a rear 3/4" spacer and a set of Airlift Airbags (which I keep at 8-10# and only pump up if I'm hauling anything more than 500#). So when said and done, truck now has about 1.25" rake, but overall sits notably higher, which to me looks like a truck should.

 

[FL-RAM]

If I just want a 1-2" lift in the front, all I need is a pair of those $60 donut spacers, correct? I don't need new shocks or anything.

 

[BOWERSFJ]

If I just want a 1-2" lift in the front, all I need is a pair of those $60 donut spacers, correct? I don't need new shocks or anything.

Those top spacers are not the best way to do it ... Your choice tho


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[kurek]

The manufacturer could have made the truck any height/level they wanted, and they have a ton of engineers who know a lot more about the topic than random people on a forum. So objectively the "ideal" height is how it was shipped to you from the manufacturer.

Any change from that - aesthetically speaking - is a matter of opinion.

 

[GRN69CHV]

Gonna be honest, I disagree on not using spacers as long as the amount of lift is limited to 1-1/2" or less. A 1.5" lift spacer is only 1" thick, IIRC, the Bilsteins and the Rough Country struts are about 1" longer than stock struts. When I checked front end travel, there was well over an inch of additional travel at full extension with the strut disconnected. As I referenced prior, I used the Maxtrac 1.5" front end lift spacer. This is a steel fabricated piece with a small opening that fully supports the upper strut mount. Mine have been on for 2000 miles now, not one issue.

Going above 1.5" front end lift , completely agree, increase the ride height either through higher rate springs or spring preload.

 

[kurek]

IIRC, the Bilsteins and the Rough Country struts are about 1" longer than stock struts. .

Monroe OE replacement front struts (4x4) are 21.62" long extended and 15.43" long compressed.

Bilstein 5100 height adjustable struts & Bilstein 4600 OE replacement struts are 21.40" long extended and 15.12" compressed.