Remove 6" RC dealer installed lift

[Jacamp]

So, I have a 2017 Ram 1500 4x4. I purchased it lifted. I'm now sick of the lift and want to lower it. My problem is I dont know how to do it, I'm no mechanic. I'm going to have to pay someone to do it. I've been reading that some lifts cannot be removed because they have cut into the truck. Is it completely impossible for me to ditch this lift? Can I maybe replace it with a smaller lift and still keep the integrity of the truck? Trading it off is not an option either. Believe me, I've tried. I just dont know where to start looking for someone to do this in my area, or if I can even get it done at all. Can yall help a sister out?

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[Fast69Mopar]

If you bought the truck new with the lift already installed, I highly doubt they would have used a shop that couldn't install the lift without chopping things up. Alot of the lifts here in Texas are installed by us, the dealer mechanics, and they are complete bolt-in units.

What part of the country are you located?

 

[Jacamp]

If you bought the truck new with the lift already installed, I highly doubt they would have used a shop that couldn't install the lift without chopping things up. Alot of the lifts here in Texas are installed by us, the dealer mechanics, and they are complete bolt-in units.

What part of the country are you located?

I'm here in Texas. Southeast of Houston.

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[JB1]

Unfortunately you can’t remove it and go back to stock but you should be able to lower it a couple inches. We need several pics of the suspension at each corner and full front/back looking straight on

 

[CincyCuda68]

If you bought the truck new with the lift already installed, I highly doubt they would have used a shop that couldn't install the lift without chopping things up. Alot of the lifts here in Texas are installed by us, the dealer mechanics, and they are complete bolt-in units.

What part of the country are you located?

A 6” lift on an IFS truck that doesn’t need the cross member cut? That would be a really crappy lift, the geometry would be aweful.
I can buy that you install 2-2 1/2” bolt on spacers but if you’re installing 6” + lifts that do not require new cross members and at min upper control arms or better yet new steering knuckles then I feel sorry for your customers.

@Jacamp if you can post pics of the cross member, these run left to right under your front diff. We would be able to better help you. Chances are that these have been cut to allow for new cross member, which allows space for the diff to drop.
If they have been cut, this cannot be easily reversed and you are stuck with it.

 

[Jacamp]

A 6” lift on an IFS truck that doesn’t need the cross member cut? That would be a really crappy lift, the geometry would be aweful.
I can buy that you install 2-2 1/2” bolt on spacers but if you’re installing 6” + lifts that do not require new cross members and at min upper control arms or better yet new steering knuckles then I feel sorry for your customers.

@Jacamp if you can post pics of the cross member, these run left to right under your front diff. We would be able to better help you. Chances are that these have been cut to allow for new cross member, which allows space for the diff to drop.
If they have been cut, this cannot be easily reversed and you are stuck with it.

Uugh, ok, I will crawl under there and take some pics and post.

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[17CrewCab1500]

They needed to cut the crossmember to install.
No chance of going back to stock
UNLESS
you cut ones off a truck at a junk yard and have someone weld them in.

 

[Jacamp]

They needed to cut the crossmember to install.
No chance of going back to stock
UNLESS
you cut ones off a truck at a junk yard and have someone weld them in.

I'm going to post some pics tomorrow. Maybe I can get a more for sure answer. At least yall will be able to see what's going on under there. Thank you for your reply.

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[O.R.T.]

They needed to cut the crossmember to install.
No chance of going back to stock
UNLESS
you cut ones off a truck at a junk yard and have someone weld them in.

Or talk to your local non-dealer installer and maybe they can cut the one off their next job a little more carefully so it's salvagable and you can get it a little cheaper. I've done that w a couple 4wd conversion builds.

 

[Jacamp]

Or talk to your local non-dealer installer and maybe they can cut the one off their next job a little more carefully so it's salvagable and you can get it a little cheaper. I've done that w a couple 4wd conversion builds.

Hard to believe they would sell a truck and not disclose it is not able to go back to stock. A lot of people change their truck everyday.

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[buddy guy]

Hard to believe they would sell a truck and not disclose it is not able to go back to stock. A lot of people change their truck everyday.

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I'm thinking 99% of people would see the lift as a plus and extra value. I'm assuming the OP did too until he drove it for a bit. BTW, after driving my Ram for 4 months, it still feels huge and high after driving my little Tacoma for 8 years. Not sure I would want to have a lifted RAM. In my neighborhood, there are a ton of vehicles parked on every available inch on the street and a lot of them zipping around too fast. I take it very slow backing into the street especially in the morning. It can be unnerving the lack of people's attention especially getting kids off to school, half awake driving to work. lol.

I'm curious what the OP didn't like about the lift.

 

[Jacamp]

I'm thinking 99% of people would see the lift as a plus and extra value. I'm assuming the OP did too until he drove it for a bit. BTW, after driving my Ram for 4 months, it still feels huge and high after driving my little Tacoma for 8 years. Not sure I would want to have a lifted RAM. In my neighborhood, there are a ton of vehicles parked on every available inch on the street and a lot of them zipping around too fast. I take it very slow backing into the street especially in the morning. It can be unnerving the lack of people's attention especially getting kids off to school, half awake driving to work. lol.

I'm curious what the OP didn't like about the lift.

Well as it stands, I am the original owner of this truck. I purchased it lifted. I loved it, I still love it, but reality has set in. The expense of tires and maintenance, not to mention arthritis in my hip. Lol I'm stuck in this truck, resale value sucks on Rams for some reason. I traded in the exact same truck for a lifted truck. Idk, maybe midlife crisis? Whatever it was, I didnt see it coming. The tires on this thing are like $295 a piece! So, lesson learned. Now I have to salvage what I can and move forward. Shoulda, coulda, woulda. Lol
Just so you know, no matter how much money you have sank into a lift and tires, dealerships only see what the blue book says, nothing more.

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[buddy guy]

gotcha, thanks for sharing. yeah, i found out i have osteoarthritis in my knee recently and i have a feeling at some point i'll be a candidate for a new knee and hip and i can't stop working in the foreseeable future (driving job with a some frequent lifting involved up to 60lb). So I hear you. From stock is high enough. my first purchase for it was step bars and glad I did. I grab the handle and I use them, going in and out! I wish tires were 295 for mine, even stock size. I looked at bigger sizes for 20" rims and cheapest were like 359 and went up to 500 apiece quickly. I finally found some 275 60 20 Falkens that are about 260 apiece and likely the route I will go when the time comes.

 

[Jacamp]

gotcha, thanks for sharing. yeah, i found out i have osteoarthritis in my knee recently and i have a feeling at some point i'll be a candidate for a new knee and hip and i can't stop working in the foreseeable future (driving job with a some frequent lifting involved up to 60lb). So I hear you. From stock is high enough. my first purchase for it was step bars and glad I did. I grab the handle and I use them, going in and out! I wish tires were 295 for mine, even stock size. I looked at bigger sizes for 20" rims and cheapest were like 359 and went up to 500 apiece quickly. I finally found some 275 60 20 Falkens that are about 260 apiece and likely the route I will go when the time comes.

Wow! That's just crazy tire prices.
If I could maybe take this truck down 3 inches I would be abit happier. But, because I have no idea what I'm doing, I have to rely on the wonderful mechanics of this world. Then I have to figure out if they are over pricing me and taking my money. Uugh

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[buddy guy]

yeah given how the price of a lift seems to go up by the inch, its a shame to have to pay money to drop it down! But I hear you. There are cheap lifts..and there are good lifts.

There's a reason why even with the exchange in dollar value between Canada and the US as a legitimate factor, people go to the states and get new tires installed across the border and drive back. so many that customs keeps a close eye for new looking tires on vehicles. In terms of trying to bring tires across the border, its pretty much not worth it unless you know a guy who will balance and install for you. Canadian tire sellers in general have retaliated against imports by charging a ridiculous balance and install price for tires you don't purchase from them. You'd think they would be happy to get the work but apparently its not worth it if they don't get the profit margin off the tires they sell to do it? Motorcycles its even more blatant. Shops will straight out put on their service cost board a price for installing tires you buy from them and charge for installing tires you buy from anyone else. On my Victory it was for example 50 per tire install if you bought from them. 100 plus per tire if you brought in your own. 140 for the rear if it was a bagger bike.

 

[Jacamp]

yeah given how the price of a lift seems to go up by the inch, its a shame to have to pay money to drop it down! But I hear you. There are cheap lifts..and there are good lifts.

There's a reason why even with the exchange in dollar value between Canada and the US as a legitimate factor, people go to the states and get new tires installed across the border and drive back. so many that customs keeps a close eye for new looking tires on vehicles. In terms of trying to bring tires across the border, its pretty much not worth it unless you know a guy who will balance and install for you. Canadian tire sellers in general have retaliated against imports by charging a ridiculous balance and install price for tires you don't purchase from them. You'd think they would be happy to get the work but apparently its not worth it if they don't get the profit margin off the tires they sell to do it? Motorcycles its even more blatant. Shops will straight out put on their service cost board a price for installing tires you buy from them and charge for installing tires you buy from anyone else. On my Victory it was for example 50 per tire install if you bought from them. 100 plus per tire if you brought in your own. 140 for the rear if it was a bagger bike.

Wow, that's insane. And you are right about the price to drop it. But, it's a service and people need paid for their time. I grew up around mechanics, my dad and brother. They did their own work, and I did learn alot. I can change my own oil and I can change my own tire and I can identify engine parts. But, when it comes to suspension and all that stuff. I have no idea. Lol
So they actually look at the tires when people cross the border? You would think they would be more concerned with the citizenship or proper paperwork.

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[buddy guy]

i agree. work is work..but i try to find a deal if i can. on the border stuff, absolutely they check because its such a common infraction. i lived for 10 yrs about 1/2 hour from montana border and and 1.5 from idaho so I knew a lot of people who did cross border shopping and my ex gf's brother was a cop so he heard many good stories from the border. lots of people got fined plus duties for trying to bring vehicles with new tires across the border. you can do it. you just have to let them know you did it. I thought it was pretty stupid cause the one experience i had bringing across it cost me 60 in duties. the new rims and tires were sitting in the bed of my truck so there was no hiding it. i thought they were made in atlanta so no duties but they were japanese made toyos so I knew i was going to get dinged. but it was 60 bucks canadian. I had safe about 1200 canadian on the rims and tires so it was still worth it. I wish i still lived that close for when i have to get new tires. Its a good 11-12 hour round trip to get to Shelby to get new tires put on. If I had another reason to go i'd do it in a heartbeat.

 

[Jacamp]

I'm going to post some pics tomorrow. Maybe I can get a more for sure answer. At least yall will be able to see what's going on under there. Thank you for your reply.

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Ok, please keep in mind I have no idea what I just took pics of. I really didn't have any reference, so if it's not what you need I'll do my best to pinpoint what it is you are looking for.

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[JoeCo]

I'm thinking 99% of people would see the lift as a plus and extra value. I'm assuming the OP did too until he drove it for a bit. BTW, after driving my Ram for 4 months, it still feels huge and high after driving my little Tacoma for 8 years. Not sure I would want to have a lifted RAM. In my neighborhood, there are a ton of vehicles parked on every available inch on the street and a lot of them zipping around too fast. I take it very slow backing into the street especially in the morning. It can be unnerving the lack of people's attention especially getting kids off to school, half awake driving to work. lol.

I'm curious what the OP didn't like about the lift.

Sounds like a good driveway to back into rather than out of! And the unfortunate thing with these dealer lifted trucks is that they seem to mark them up so much, the people that buy them have to be taking a pretty good hit on them at trade in, I can't imagine that when it's time to take them back that the dealer is kind at all about it having a lift, even if it was done by them. Hope I'm wrong on that, either way good luck to OP on finding a solution here.

 

[CincyCuda68]

Unfortunately you can’t remove it and go back to stock but you should be able to lower it a couple inches. We need several pics of the suspension at each corner and full front/back looking straight on

Ok, please keep in mind I have no idea what I just took pics of. I really didn't have any reference, so if it's not what you need I'll do my best to pinpoint what it is you are looking for.

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your frame has been cut for the new crossmember so there is little chance to go back. See attached pic. I’ll also see if I can share a pic of a 2019 that I lifted for a buddy so it makes more sense for you.