I have a 09 gmc and I want to lift it. What lift is the best I tow a 28 foot enclosed race car trailer so I need it to still tow good and would like to run at least 35 inch tire. What lift would uses recommend. I would like to get a none torsion bar lift I have been looking at the cognito lifts but want to see what use think

How high do you want to do? I have a full Cognito setup and my suspension and steering is SOLID.

I want at least a 6 inch kit so I can clear 35s Because I think that is what I need to do that from what I have read so far.

Is your truck a 4x4?

yes, you will want to go 6'' for 35s if you dont want to worry about alot of trimming. cognito and tuff country are both great and very reasonable. i would also recommend doing at least bilsteins. great shock for the money and the best you can get without going reservoir in my opinion. let us know what you decide to do.

Yes it is a 4x4 so the tuff country lifts are good also I want to buy the right stuff the first time what a bout bds lifts I have seen the threads about the fabtech lifts I think that I will stay away from them Seen that the cognito is the most popular. And thier stuff looks like it is top notch

How much you wanna spend?! If it were my truck I would:

Cognito 7-9 NTBD lift kit
Cognito UCAs
Cognito HD Tie Rods
Single FOX reservoir shocks
Deavers for the rear

That setup would be SICK!

I would like to do what you just said but will it still tow all right I have a 28 foot enclosed trailer with race car golf cart and a load tool box and with that much lift would it still be all right.

I believe with Deavers Air Bags are recommeded when towing

that would be an awesome setup but towing with the deavers would create some serious sag and might cause stability issues. airbags with that setup would be the way to go. that would be an awesome truck though.

Were would be a good place to buy this set up from or should I buy it direct from cognito.

Call Nor Cal Nick or Cognito direct.

If you go with that setup let us know. I'm considering the same. Wondering about total cost.
You don't necessarily have to go with deaver's BTW, they are supposed to give improved ride when empty, but as other have mentioned they sag when loaded so airbags are necessary.
You can use 5 1/2 inch rear blocks, they are cheaper and you keep your current rear springs.
Also just so you know the Cognito lift is a 7" not a 6", but from what I've read you are better off with the 7". A whole lot of guys on here have had to do some significant fender mods to clear 35's on 6 inch lifts. Its all dependent on the wheel diameter and backspacing. If you buy a neg offset wheel and 35X12.5 tires expect to do some trimming on a 6" lift; you may even need it on the 7 depending on your wheel.

Would the 4-6 lift work also with 35s

I'm going to go with bmf wheels and I want the 20x10s with 5 in back spacing

With some trimming of unseen sheet metal, you can clear 35's with a 3" lowering kit. The key is going to be your wheel width and offset. Have to tuck the tires under the truck to get them to clear properly. If you're a "wheels hanging out of the fender" kind of guy....then you'll need the big lift.

Me personally, I like to to keep the truck lower to the ground for towing. A stock truck trimmed for 35's will have the same ground clearance as a lifted truck with 35's....so I don't really see the benefit of a lift other than for looks.

Link to lots of trucks with 35's and no lift:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=320674&highlight=35%27s+stock+truck

It's your call.

I'm going to go with bmf wheels and I want the 20x10s with 5 in back spacing

With that wheel you will likely need to do a fair amount of trimming to clear a 35 x 12.5 tire, even with a 6 inch lift. Less backspacing would be better.

I had to cut out a half moon section on the bottom metal part of the front-rear section of fenderwell to fit 35/20 wheels with 4.79 BS. No rubbing with lift set at 4.5. BB pic in my garage of the cutout kinda hard to see.

I'm in the same boat. I'd like to do the BDS 7", it's got a lifetime warranty (including warranty and abuse!).

However I tow a 5th wheel so that's out unless when I take my final measurements I can fit under it with the 7".

I've decided on a rancho 4" because it allows use of 35" tires (I think it's closer to a 6"?). I wanted a NTBD kit, but cognito just seems a little pricey...

I'm in the same boat. I'd like to do the BDS 7", it's got a lifetime warranty (including warranty and abuse!).

However I tow a 5th wheel so that's out unless when I take my final measurements I can fit under it with the 7".

I've decided on a rancho 4" because it allows use of 35" tires (I think it's closer to a 6"?). I wanted a NTBD kit, but cognito just seems a little pricey...
if you dont want to drop the bank for the cognito why dont you look at tuff country. a good solid lift for very reasonable. upgrade to bilsteins and you will have a sweet ride. i have seen guys run 35s under a tuff country 4'' and it looked great. if you want bigger go with the 6''.

When you guys say the Deavers will sag without air bags, for those people who tow with a lifted truck are they better off using the stock leafs with an iron lift block to achieve the rear lift they want? maybe even an air bag kit with that combo since it will still ultimately be cheaper than doing just the deavers alone.

I had to cut out a half moon section on the bottom metal part of the front-rear section of fenderwell to fit 35/20 wheels with 4.79 BS. No rubbing with lift set at 4.5. BB pic in my garage of the cutout kinda hard to see.


Very nice looking truck that is the ride height that I'm going for were did you buy your kit and if you do not mind how much was it. I was looking at the bds lifts today and for thier 7 inch kit it was $2020 with thier rear spring. And that is a non torsion bar drop style lift it looks nice but dose any one run thier kits are they nice. And my truck has stabiltrac will lift kit mess that up.

When you guys say the Deavers will sag without air bags, for those people who tow with a lifted truck are they better off using the stock leafs with an iron lift block to achieve the rear lift they want? maybe even an air bag kit with that combo since it will still ultimately be cheaper than doing just the deavers alone.



With a large lift block you will get alot of axle wrap. that is some of the reason I do not want to run a lift block

Very nice looking truck that is the ride height that I'm going for were did you buy your kit and if you do not mind how much was it. I was looking at the bds lifts today and for thier 7 inch kit it was $2020 with thier rear spring. And that is a non torsion bar drop style lift it looks nice but dose any one run thier kits are they nice. And my truck has stabiltrac will lift kit mess that up.

I run the BDS and love it. The kit looks alot cleaner than others with the NTBD. I got the kit for 1750 and IMO it is really clean. I have it down to a 6" not a full 7". My shop strongly suggested it and they usually use RCD on the Dmax and are Cognito dealers.

what shop you use in TexaS?

Thanks Orange. I picked up mine from Norcal. I am running 4 inch deavers with a 2 inch drop shackle and airbags in the rear. Also added tie rods, longer front driveshaft etc. Not sure what this would run today- I bought in 08. Might be worth a call to Nick just to explore options.

what shop you use in TexaS?

Planet Pickup in San Antonio...

I run the BDS and love it. The kit looks alot cleaner than others with the NTBD. I got the kit for 1750 and IMO it is really clean. I have it down to a 6" not a full 7". My shop strongly suggested it and they usually use RCD on the Dmax and are Cognito dealers.

A few questions for ya.
How much wider is the front wheel track with your BDS lift?
There website states that there is a narrow track spindle option that is offered but with an increased turning radius, which do you have, and how much is turning radius increased?
Price on the website is ~ $2000 for the 7 inch kit with 5 inch rear blocks, this is comparable to a Cognito 7-9 NTBD, what is the highest you can go with your lift? I'm planning on 35's but I don't want to do ANY trimming, I'd rather go higher to avoid it.

A few questions for ya.
How much wider is the front wheel track with your BDS lift?
There website states that there is a narrow track spindle option that is offered but with an increased turning radius, which do you have, and how much is turning radius increased?
Price on the website is ~ $2000 for the 7 inch kit with 5 inch rear blocks, this is comparable to a Cognito 7-9 NTBD, what is the highest you can go with your lift? I'm planning on 35's but I don't want to do ANY trimming, I'd rather go higher to avoid it.

I was told that the narrow spindle option DECREASES the turning radius. My shop did one and said it was a biznitch to turn around. They wound up taking it off and putting on the standard spindle. On the track width I would say 1" - 1 1/2" each side. My rear tire sticks out about 1/2" and front about 2" maybe, but I am running tires that are 13.39 wide. A true 12.5 would b tucked a little better. I had slightly modded my fenders for 33s before the lift, but 35s will easily fit with this lift. Mine are 35.04 tall and I do not have my bars cranked at all. I also have a 4" block in the rear, not the 5" it comes with. It is said that with the kit set at 7" you can run a 37" tire, so I dont think you have to worry bout fitting 35s, but with it set at 6" it will ride so smooth. Hope that helps ya...

So I have narowed it down to the bds 7 inch lift or the cognito 7-9 lift I want the rear springs. I do not know which one to buy. I know that the bds in not as popluar but is the cognito really worth the extra money. I want to run the dual shock mount and fox shocks and I do not think that the bds offers the dual shock mounts so would have to mix match bds and cognito parts to make this happen so should I just buy all cognito parts.

So I have narowed it down to the bds 7 inch lift or the cognito 7-9 lift I want the rear springs. I do not know which one to buy. I know that the bds in not as popluar but is the cognito really worth the extra money. I want to run the dual shock mount and fox shocks and I do not think that the bds offers the dual shock mounts so would have to mix match bds and cognito parts to make this happen so should I just buy all cognito parts.

There have been a few guys here on the forum that said the dual shocks up front were too stiff. Might want to get some feedback.

The dual shocks definately add a cool factor, but they're not needed. If you just got to have it, might as well go with the Cognito. Personally, I am leaning toward BDS now with helper bags for when I tow. I don't need to pay for a name.

any pictures of the cv angles on that BDS kit? Could you fit 37's?

they advertise you can run 37s and there is a pic of a black truck on their site with 37s on it I believe. My shop told me i could, but your bars will be up high and ride will suffer. The pic on their site with 37s is with the M16 tires on it and I think they are narrower than most 37s.

99781
99782

there u go.

Awesome pics! angles are great! I am sure your right about the 37's you'd probly have to squeeze them in there lol

I order the bds lift kit to day and I should have it next week I will post a bunch of pics of the install can't wait.

I order the bds lift kit to day and I should have it next week I will post a bunch of pics of the install can't wait.

Did you ever get a total price for a comparable Cognito setup to the BDS kit you ordered?

Also can anyone tell me how much front track width is increased with a Cognito 7-9 NTBD kit? Another poster said the BDS is about 1.5 in per side, I'm wondering if the Cognito is any better.

Did you ever get a total price for a comparable Cognito setup to the BDS kit you ordered?

Also can anyone tell me how much front track width is increased with a Cognito 7-9 NTBD kit? Another poster said the BDS is about 1.5 in per side, I'm wondering if the Cognito is any better.

Cognito 7-9 is +1 per side