Now that the Edge Juice is out for the LLY, I'm about to take the plunge and put my lift/tires/wheels on. As you can see from my current ride, this will be a much-needed improvement: http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/E83_image0021.jpg


Question is, WHICH kit, and WHICH options? I realize this question is entirely subjective, but I'm still going to solicit feedback anyway to see if we can't develop some consensus of the "ideal" 4x4config.


So here's where I'm at: I don't tow a lot, but when I do, I'll want the rear lift for my 27' 5th wheel. I don't take my truck offroad a lot, but when I do, I want it to deliver, and just because I don't 4x4 every weekend doesn't mean I don't want great traction and clearance. However, my bigger concern is the daily driving - on CA freeways in particular. The stacatto effect of the poured concrete freeways here in California and the relatively light rear end on these trucks is beyond description. My D/A is a 4x4 CC and I want to do a 6" suspension lift with 35-37" tires and 17" wheels. I'd like to put dual shocks in too - probably Bilstein 5150s.


I'll just throw some things out here to start the discussion - I'm curious on anyone's feedback on any of these items:


Velvet Ride Shackles: I don't see any strong endorsements for these. And they appear to drop the rear end a bit. Will they do much to help the freeway stacatto problem?


Air Lift Kit: seems to be a good idea for the trailer, but will they do much for my daily driving habbits and the stacatto problem?


Suspension Lift: this one's all over the board. I've heard RCD, Fabtech, ProComp, etc but just don't see much consensus. In fact, aside from ProComp, does anyone even have a 2004 kit yet? Most everything I can see on the web is only up to 2003 for these D/A CC trucks. Last ProComp I had wasn't that impressive and Fabtech seems to have a lot of supporters, but they don't show any 2004 kits on their web site. Anyone have any thoughts on those guys?


Shocks: Bilstein 5150, Rancho 9000 with interior adjust? Any other ideas? What will yield the best ride and do the most to make this freeway stacatto problem go away?


Tires: can you do 35" tires, on 17x8 wheels with a 6" susp. lift without cutting fenders/and front bumper? What about 37" rubber?


Thanks all - I spend way too much time here but you've all taught me a lot and I appreciate it! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gif

dduffy I think your asking for something that doesn't exsist. You say, "I don't tow a lot, but when I do, I'll want the rear lift for my 27' 5th wheel" and then "just because I don't 4x4 every weekend doesn't mean I don't want great traction and clearance." You can't have your cake and eat it to. Your biggest concern should be your 5th wheel and it clearing the bedrails. IMO the only that will work w/ a 5er for sure is the 4" Rancho. A 6" kit may work but I'm not comfortable telling you it will. As far as the freeway issue, go buy yourself a set of Deaver rear springs instead of blocks like most kits provide. Edited by: y2kboti

y2kboti - That's what I was afraid of. Good point on the 4" vs 6" lift - I'd never even considered that. I guess I'll have to ditch the 5th wheel then. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif


So what do you guys think about lift kits? RCD, CST, Fabtech, ProComp? What are the favorites?

Tell us more about these Deaver rear springs....thanks...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


Sir-Col

dduffy my comments about not going to tall were based off my assumption that you already owned the 5th wheel. So do you own one or were you tossing the idea around? As far as which kit is best...it all depends on who you ask. The 4" Rancho is the best of the smaller kits on the market. If you can step up to a 6" kit CST is the way to go.

Sir-Col what specifically would you like to know about Deaver Springs? First off they are not cheap, they'll run you in the neighborhoo of $600/set. They are built to your specs with whatever amount of lift you need. I've had a set on my 1/2 ton for a while now and love them. The reason they ride so good is they use thinner leafs. Running thinner leafs yet more of them gives you the same carrying capacity but a better ride. Deaver is not the only company out there. If you want to shop around you can also contact Alcan, Atlas(I would not recommend them as highly as I would the others) and National Springs. Edited by: y2kboti

Look here for the some really good information regarding lifts..


http://dieselplace.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8650&KW=lift


I've been researching for the past month or so for my 2001 D/A and ending up going with the RCD kit for a couple of reasons. I'd like to preface with I tow a 27' trailer already and all this info is IMHO.. I looked at all kits and really wanted a 4" only as I was looking to fit with 285/70X17's or at most 295/75/16's but I do not like the look of tires stuffed under the truck. My truck sits pretty low up front as it is (factory about 2-2.5" lower than the rear). In my research I could not find a true 4" kit but rather mostly a 5" drop with either a 2.5" block in the back for the 4" or a 4" block for the 6" lifts, tortion bars were used to level the front either direction. That is how Trailmaster sells theirs as well.


I excluded all lifts except RCD, Tuff Country and SkyJacker early on due to the fact that the other lifts extended the track of the truck out much more then the three lifts above (Rancho extends 3" over stock). The 3 lifts above lift by spindle drop and differential relocation as the others drop your factory equipment. Most kits require a 4.5" backspacing for 16" and a 4 & 5/8" for 17". The Tuff Country I think is one kit of the 3 I listed that allows use of the factory wheels, the others do not. The RCD kit I chose will raise my front a minimum of 5" (I'm already 2.5" lower than the rear and I had my tortion bars cranked up 1.5" to bring it up some) and the rear I am going to put the 4" block in for install and then take it to a spring shop to have a leaf added to level the truck using about a 3" lift in the rear only (removing the 4" block completely). The RCD kit came with Bilstein shocks and came recommended very highly by not only 4x4 shops in the area but the retailers I was looking to purchase from (even the ones who couldn't match pricing). I downloaded all installation instructions and be aware that all of these kits will require you to cut at least one component out from under your truck and the three I listed either require the top front ear of the differential to be cut off or an ear of the front transmission torque converter housing etc. All require part of the front crossmember to be cut as well. Skyjacker lists their kit as a kit capable of being put back to factory specs the easiest but they cut components off your truck and the tranny ear I spoke of above is from the D/A combo when their kit is installed. I spoke with all the Engineers at all the companies above and asked all the questions I had for them.





Good Luck with your search..Edited by: mxr515

Deaver is right here in Santa Ana and they make TOP Shelf stuff! The guy who runs it is second or third generation. I guess I kinda like them because you know they're 'real guys like us' and I like supporting the small businesses that really care about what they're doing. They use American steel and some canadian steel too if that means something to you as it does me.


Since your in San Dimas, you should go directly to them and see their operation, its kinda cool, great guys. (Ya know; dog roaming around the shop and stuff, real home-e http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif )


My experience with them was replacing the rear springs on a F-150 7700 (the one that looks like a 150 but is a 3/4 ton).


Anyway, it had a couple whimpy leafs and used an automatic airbag system. Well the bags went out of course so we had Deaver make up a set of springs to replace the whole setup. They did a perfect job that works very well. Now -other than being a Ford- its a real pickup! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif

DDuffy,


I have had a RCD lift on my 2001 HD for two years now. Aside from one of the sway bar end links breaking I have had no other problems. The sway bar end link was replaced under warranty by RCD . The reason for the breakage was the hole was not drilled out to the specified dia. RCD has now changed the sway bar end links. They are a muched improved design. Have a heim joint on the lower end where it attached to the lower A-arm. I have had a friend have one installed after seeing mine. He has not had any problems either.


Mark

Here's mine. I think it offers the best of both worlds. I run a Rancho 4" with 35's, pull a car trailer that easily gets to 9,000 lbs. and am averaging just under 17mpg unloaded at 75 mph. BTW, I'm only 100 miles north of you. Ever want to catch a test ride let me know. Oh yeah, the ride is much better than stock IMO.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/C84_DSCN0259.JPG

BBQuad that truck sits just right!


How tall is it with the lift and 315's and do you see any rubbing with the 315's and only a 4" lift? Will it fit in a standard 7' garage?


This is the combo I want for my HD but I still have to fit it in the garage. I can always leave the 285's on it but I want 315's.


NICE!

032500GMCHD, It fits just right. My garage opening is 83" tall. The onstar antenna clears it by about 3/4". The radio antenna hits but I can live with that.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/A83_DSCN0287.JPG

at our shop we prefer the rancho mostly for ease of installation, the 3" track increase doesn't bother me in drive throughs as much as the length of the truck(167.5"wheelbase). We have put on others, usually pro comp, but IMHO there is nothing as easy as the rancho kit, all holes line up with no problems and the ride and handling aren't affected much at all. Doing one on the boss's 05 2500hd Friday... we're shooting for a sub 4 hour install,best so far is about 4hrs and 20 or so minutes, or in southern speak.... bout 2 1/2 cases of beer, we're tired of squabblin bout who takes the other 1/2 case homehttp://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big%20Smile.gif


As you can see by my sig... I have the 4" rancho... 2 yrs and 25000 miles and not one problem

ockgator, Have you put the Rancho lift on 3500 dually? This is the lift that I want on my dually and I don't know anyone that has it on their truck.

I went with a CST lift and dual fox shocks with 1/2 tons springs in the rear (all they had at the time and came with the kit, turned out to be a good thing for freeways). For towing I will add air bags. Also used 17" wheels and 35" tires.


The ride is night and day difference! It still has a slight bounce to it on the CA freeways but again it's tons better. Certain bumps I hit every morning on the way to work used to almost send me air born, now it soaks them up like nothing.


Off-road it is also an amazing ride. So much smoother through the rough stuff. A friend of mine has the RCD kit and his T-bars are cranked all the way up. His rides like a pogo-stick compared to mine.
He also has blocks in the rear.


CST has a 1 piece subframe, drops everything down 6", and replaces the upper control arm.


Couple pic's:
http://www.sandbros.com/mikesride/chevy/dmax/lift/hoop_install.jpg


http://www.sandbros.com/mikesride/chevy/dmax/super/side.jpg


More pic's here:
http://www.sandbros.com/mikesride/chevy/dmax/super/dez.htm

I can't believe no one has said a thing about that VW yet!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif Where did you come across that picture dduffy?

Hehe - yeah I was kinda wondering too. was one of those many pics you get from that buddy of yours that always sends you the joke emails - you know the one - I think we all have a buddy like that. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

mike330r - are those pics of your ride taken at Glamis? I see that you're down south.

It was at SUperstiton Mtn area.
May have to 'test' at Glamis this weekend.