Total newb...

[cane.mba]

Is there a good site or thread that explains the difference between a body lift, suspension lift, what size tires will fit what size rims? I've read a bunch of threads here and I am still lost. Is there a good "Lifting your truck for dummies thread or website"?


I have a '14 Express Black Out 4x4, and I'd like to do a 2 to 2 1/2" lift and level. I'm worried that my stock tires will look dumb, but with less than 2k miles I don't really want to replace them.


Thanks,

Mike

 

[Westwind1124a]

I was afraid that the 2" lift would make my stock 33's look small too, so I went with bilstein 5100's at 1.4. In my opinion the tires don't look too small. However, I wish that I'd gone with the 2.1 setting and will probably change it at some point.

Here's a link to the post at 1.4. hope its helpful

http://www.ramforum.com/f40/bilsteins_1_4%85_done-41199/

 

[Cruizer]

Do you have the air suspension? If so, I think you're stuck with a body lift at the moment. Leveling is easy enough and not real expensive. Body lifts would be the next in complexity and cost. Full suspension gets a little up there in cost and complexity of installation.

On most 4th Gens, it seems you can get 35's under it with just a level if you have the right offset on the wheels. For OEM wheels you'll probably need a spacer for clearance issues.

Some say it will looked stuffed with 35's on just a level though. I've seen some 34's that looked real nice with just a level. I'm going with the level I have on now and a 3" body lift to get a good look sittin' on 35's.

Really depends on what you want it to look like and what you want to spend. Have any ideas of how big you want to go or what size tires you're looking to get in there?

 

[boomer135]

What do you use your truck for? These answers will help with your decisions and might save you some $

 

[mattmaxx877]

I had a 2012 Ram Laramie Limited with a 2.5" Daystar Level and 3" PA Bodylift. I had 20x10 Moto Metal's wrapped in 35x12.5 Nitto Trail grapplers. Absolutely no rubbing and smooth ride. That setup is comparable to a truck with a 4" lift, but no where near the cost.

 

[cane.mba]

Thank you all for the info! I use the truck primarily on the road, I'm an IT guy by trade. However, I do use it to pull our 24' boat, and this summer I want to introduce my boys to camping. The ultimate goal for camping is the well off the beaten path in the Blue Ridge Mountains, or the Appalachins. I also do a lot of landscaping, and have around 20-25 stumps I need to pull out of the ground. Now most are only 3-6", I'll leave the 36" plus stumps to the stump grinder.

So no hard core off-roading or mudding, I really just want to level the truck and lift it a couple of inches for appearance. My major concern is towing the boat, I don't want the rear end squatting and the nose pointing to the sky. Guessing the tongue weight is around 700 lbs (10% of total weight! trailer, 50 gallons of gas, boat, and all the crap the family has to have on the lake).

Correction to my earlier post, the 2014 Express Black Out has 20" wheels.

 

[sausec17]

Front level, body lift, and rear air bags...boom!

DONE!

 

[cane.mba]

Sausec17, I think you nailed it. Start with a level, add the air bags, then a body lift for extra height later. I live on Lanier, so the boat sits at my dock most of the summer. However, once we start camping we want to start visiting other lakes. So the air bags aren't a priority now, but, they will be, by next summer...

 

[Ramguy65]

I had Bilsteins on my 09 set at 2.1. Here is a pic of it with stock size tires. I also had 1 1/2" Lift Icon shocks and Coils on the back. But the front will give you an idea of what it will look like.

 

[sausec17]

hell yeah man! I work in flowery branch. But yea, I think that you should bring the front up and get it level, then add the rear airbags for when you tow, then add the body lift if you think you need more height. They have 1.25, 1.5, and 3" body lifts available.

Or compensate for the rear end sag and get taller rear springs, but then you'll have rake again.

 

[boomer135]

Front level, body lift, and rear air bags...boom!

DONE!

With what your using the truck for I agree! And you can do all this at home, saving even more cash.

Bilstein 5100's set @ 2.8 - $220.00
Zone 1.5 Body lift - $140.00
Air lift 1000 - $100.00

Your main $ will be ******* in wheels and tires. If your doing 35" tires do the 1.5 BL if you want 37" do a 3" BL

I suggest with your truck being on the road more, choose 35" tires to save some MPG loss over the 37's

 

[hemidon]

Is there a good site or thread that explains the difference between a body lift, suspension lift, what size tires will fit what size rims? I've read a bunch of threads here and I am still lost. Is there a good "Lifting your truck for dummies thread or website"?


I have a '14 Express Black Out 4x4, and I'd like to do a 2 to 2 1/2" lift and level. I'm worried that my stock tires will look dumb, but with less than 2k miles I don't really want to replace them.


Thanks,

Mike

This is the second time I'm posting this useful link for others to read from the Z forums. Apparently the mods or someone decided to delete it....not sure why you'd keep useful info out of people's hands?!

http://www.ramforumz.com/showthread.php?t=159597