This is the third time I am posting this. I have also sent private messages and emails to Nick. And I can get no help. I would not of even known about Cognito without this site. Please help me.

Trying to decide betwwen Cognito 4-6 or 7-9
I have a 05 crew cab that is getting lifted within a month pretty much decided on Cognito but can't decide what height. Would love to run 35's.
Also I pull with the truck some with the gooseneck hitch. Wondering what the tailgate height difference between the 2 is. And if anybody has did much pulling with these 2 lifts. Also I would like to keep the ride very good. Thanks

I have a 6 inch lift and fit 35's no problem. I can't tell you the difference in tailgate hight but if I was to guess I would say 2-3 inches. I pull a 30ft enclosed trail a lot in the winter with no problems. I think it actually rides better with the weight of the trailer on it.
Hope that helps.

if you dont plan on running anything bigger than a 35 go with the 4-6. if you think you may want to go with a bigger tire go with the 7-9.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=324541

Here is a bunch of info on lifted trucks and pulling a fifth wheel...

I can not comment on tailgate height, but you do not need a 7-9" lift for 35's.

Nick will respond he is just very busy dealing with all us guys. go to his site norcaltruck.com and call him.

This is the third time I am posting this. I have also sent private messages and emails to Nick. And I can get no help. I would not of even known about Cognito without this site. Please help me.

Trying to decide betwwen Cognito 4-6 or 7-9
I have a 05 crew cab that is getting lifted within a month pretty much decided on Cognito but can't decide what height. Would love to run 35's.
Also I pull with the truck some with the gooseneck hitch. Wondering what the tailgate height difference between the 2 is. And if anybody has did much pulling with these 2 lifts. Also I would like to keep the ride very good. Thanks

If you are going to be pulling a lot I would go with the 4-6" and 35's. I know Cognito recommends 33's but I know for sure I could fit 35's on my truck with the correct wheel. I can tell you the tailgate height I have currently on my truck with the 4-6" Cognito with 2.5" rears blocks and 315's on H2 wheels and I can give you a fender height of where my truck sat with the Cognito 7-9" with 6" deavers in the rear with 37's if you think that would help you. Also check out DA INFERNO's truck, he has the 7-9" with 6" deavers and 35's and pulls a 5th wheel quite often from what I have read on here with no issues.

I can guarantee that Norcal Nick is not ignoring you but the simple fact that he is super busy. I've done business with him quite a bit and have never had any doubts with him. His customer service is top notch and he doesn't just try to throw parts at you, he will explain exactly what they do and why you might want/need them.

Get the 7-9 and leave the angles flat. With the 4-6 cranked up to a 6" it won't ride as good.

If your going to run 35's on the 4" kit you are going to be trimming a lot and have it cranked up to six to make it work. I don't know if you will like the ride. Some people love their cranked up ride. IF it really needs to be cranked to six why not just get the 7" kit and run it flat?

Get all those measurements from Swampfox, that will help you alot. But he was running 37's with his 7" kit.

I debated long and hard about the tires that I wanted to run and then the lift that would be required. From everything I have read here, the 4-6 lift set on 4-5 will clear 33's with the proper wheels, no problem. 35's at this lift height, even with the right wheels is going to require trimming. Now, if you take the 4-6 on up to 6 or 6+, then this will reduce/minimize the amount of trimming for the 35's, but, done correctly (in Cognito's terms), will require UCA's to preserve geometry.

Long story short, I brought home some 34" tires (275/65-20) and set them beside my stock rubber. Then my mind started racing about how much I was going to change effective gear ratios, how I would miss the power, all the un-sprung weight at each corner, the extra cost for the full 6" (UCA's).... and I chickened out.

So, now I have the Toyo MT's in a 33x12.5 sitting in the garage along with some new Eagle Alloys 18 x 8.5 w/5" of backspacing. On my way here in a minute to go pick up my Cognito NTB 4-6, tie rod ends, shocks, etc. The plan is to go up to 4-5 and run this 33" set-up for awhile. At the next set of tires, I may choose to go up to the 35's and opt for the UCA's. Let's see.

I hope to have some before/after pics up at the end of the weekend.

If your going to run 35's on the 4" kit you are going to be trimming a lot and have it cranked up to six to make it work. I don't know if you will like the ride. Some people love their cranked up ride. IF it really needs to be cranked to six why not just get the 7" kit and run it flat?

Get all those measurements from Swampfox, that will help you alot. But he was running 37's with his 7" kit.
False. I have a 4" lift with 315/70/17s and torsions turned down so my CVs are a bit negative and they absolutely do not rub under any circumstance

I debated long and hard about the tires that I wanted to run and then the lift that would be required. From everything I have read here, the 4-6 lift set on 4-5 will clear 33's with the proper wheels, no problem. 35's at this lift height, even with the right wheels is going to require trimming. Now, if you take the 4-6 on up to 6 or 6+, then this will reduce/minimize the amount of trimming for the 35's, but, done correctly (in Cognito's terms), will require UCA's to preserve geometry.

Long story short, I brought home some 34" tires (275/65-20) and set them beside my stock rubber. Then my mind started racing about how much I was going to change effective gear ratios, how I would miss the power, all the un-sprung weight at each corner, the extra cost for the full 6" (UCA's).... and I chickened out.

So, now I have the Toyo MT's in a 33x12.5 sitting in the garage along with some new Eagle Alloys 18 x 8.5 w/5" of backspacing. On my way here in a minute to go pick up my Cognito NTB 4-6, tie rod ends, shocks, etc. The plan is to go up to 4-5 and run this 33" set-up for awhile. At the next set of tires, I may choose to go up to the 35's and opt for the UCA's. Let's see.

I hope to have some before/after pics up at the end of the weekend.
That is not true either. Go look at your suspension! You CAN NOT in any way crank your torsions up and have good front end geometry. Its not possible. You either have to lower the truck, or get a good lift (Tuff Country or Cognito) and keep the torsions turned down.

Do your tires equal my Toyo 35x12.5 wide tires? Asking because I don't know. I can see how we are only talking 3" difference in lift, but damn, I'd have to trim a bunch it seems if my truck was 3" lower. Do you have any pics with tire turned in front all the way (both ways). That would be good to see.

Mine are 34.2" x 12.5" wide so theyre just a hair shorter. Wheel backspace often times determines how much they rub. I only had to trim my fenderliners, not front bumper or anything and thats because I hunt with my truck

Thanks for the input I just really need to get it right because I do pull sometimes and the tires I am currently running only have a month in them so I don't have long.
Thanks

Mine are 34.2" x 12.5" wide so theyre just a hair shorter. Wheel backspace often times determines how much they rub. I only had to trim my fenderliners, not front bumper or anything and thats because I hunt with my truck

What is your backspacing? Mine is 5" with a 9" rim width. I had to trim my front valence just a little bit. You can see it in my garage.

Thanks for the input I just really need to get it right because I do pull sometimes and the tires I am currently running only have a month in them so I don't have long.
Thanks

I would stay at 4" with a 5th wheel.

Its not really a 5th wheel it is just a gooseneck ball which makes it a little different

lcochren, Sorry about any PM's or Email's. This past week or 2 have been very busy and yea I have been laying low on the forum. BUT you did the right thing, started a post. I know people sometime feel weird starting a thread because someone might say your idea is wrong but really many people have been in your shoe's at one point. The long story short when people suggest what you can do for lift size and tires you have to concentrate on the little things that add up to be the big end result. Here is what a person in your shoe's needs to look at:

- Tire true size. Not what they call it but the true stated size the MFG. states it on there site. Height and width is VERY important.

- Wheel size, width & backspacing. Get away from offset because that is more needed in the lowering world to make sure your tire/wheel clears the outer fender lip. In the lift world suspensions are built with and with out spindles and every company has a stated clearance for a wheel and tire on the inside to the UCA and spindle. The trick is to pull the wheel in as much as possible but with out rubbing.

- Lift's- again deferent lifts will have deferent stated clearances per wheel and tire combo's. Careful of the FINE PRINT! Many state tire sizes that sound like what you want but then the fine print says the tire has to be on a really narrow wheel and tire:(. Most of us don't want that so then after saying ...oh it should work out you end up with a suspension that is "cranked" higher than stated. This leads to many bad things depending on how much the suspension is "cranked".

In the end pick the suspension that best suites your COMPLETE wheel and tire over all spec and if you are not sure of what tire and wheel you want then pick the lift and find the best wheel and tire spec that suites the lift kits recommendations.


With out getting detailed with either your wheel and tire over all spec or what lift you really want you are stuck. A well build suspension package that will be long lasting and a great ride is all built from these criteria.



All this and maybe I could have just asked what wheel size you are thinking of:lol:

If you are going to be pulling a lot I would go with the 4-6" and 35's. I know Cognito recommends 33's but I know for sure I could fit 35's on my truck with the correct wheel. I can tell you the tailgate height I have currently on my truck with the 4-6" Cognito with 2.5" rears blocks and 315's on H2 wheels and I can give you a fender height of where my truck sat with the Cognito 7-9" with 6" deavers in the rear with 37's if you think that would help you. Also check out DA INFERNO's truck, he has the 7-9" with 6" deavers and 35's and pulls a 5th wheel quite often from what I have read on here with no issues.




x2 ^^^

Plus you'll need the tire size reprogrammed to keep the ABS happy, regardless of the kit.

18X9 Rockstars with 35" Toyo's is what I really want to run but in the end if I can not pull the trailer I will have to go with 33". I really need the measurements so that I can do some measureing with my truck stock and the trailer to see how that will affect it.

That is not true either. Go look at your suspension! You CAN NOT in any way crank your torsions up and have good front end geometry. Its not possible. You either have to lower the truck, or get a good lift (Tuff Country or Cognito) and keep the torsions turned down.

Jordan, you are right that the UCA don't do anything per se for improved geometry - but do have some benefits for an improved ride (add'l travel accommodation due to the bump stop design).

However, the point of my post was pointing out that the popular cognito 4-6" lift, while fine at 4" (because that's the real lift amount), will likely have you wanting UCA's if you want to run it up to the 6".

I got some measurements with my 4-6" Cognito with 2.5" blocks in the rear with 315/70/17's on H2 wheels.

From ground to tailgate with tailgate down is 39.25".
From ground to top of the bed rail is 58.5".

With the 7-9" with 6" deavers in the rear with 37" Toyo M/T's the fender measurements were 50.5" front and 49.75" rear.

Here's mine...

Height Specs:
Roof - 83”
Front Fender- 43”
Rear Fender- 44”
Front Body Line- 38 ½”
Rear Body Line- 39 ¾”
Head Light- 48 ½
Bed Rail- 58”
Bed & Tailgate- 39”
Top of Hitch- 22 ½”

from...
http://www.norcaltruck.com/cognito-4-6.html

I really need the measurements so that I can do some measureing with my truck stock and the trailer to see how that will affect it.


Yea once you know that then you can find out what will work in size of lift and it will all come together from there. Copter's & Swampfox's spec's will help you play with numbers vs. what your trailer will work with.

I dont have a Cognito but running a CST 6-8". I was running 315/75/16's on 16x10's with 4.5" bs. I also just purchased a 5th wheel Toy hauler and wanted to lower the truck down a bit. It was set at about 7.5" and cleared the 35's with ease. I turned the bars way down(smaller blocks) and now have the CV's pretty much flat. My lift height is about 5.5" now and rides great. I also swapped the wheels/tires out for 305/55/20's(33x13.0x20). What I like about this set up is if I want the height back...no problem just turn the bars up a bit and swap back in the bigger blocks. Here is some specs and pic:

Front fender...44.5"
Rear fender....45.0"
Top of bed.....58.5"

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii132/rockhog/IMG_0603.jpg

If you want your truck tall, buy a tall lift do not crank the bars. Kills parts

:exactly: