Alex2015sierra

So far the 5100s and tires are the only changes I've made to the suspension. When the ball joints wear out I'm planning on getting new arms, and at that point I'll either up the lift to the 4th setting or get some 6112s and install them at the 4th setting (both are supposedly the same at 1.85" of lift). When I do that I'll lift the rear also, but I have the blocks sitting around so I might do the rear first to see how I like it. With the shocks on the top setting and the rear blocks installed, I should see around 1/2 inch more rake. Right now I have 1.5 inches of rake with the bed empty. Measuring from the center of the hubs to the top of the wheel arch I'm at 22.25" up front and 23.75" in the back. My goal for the front suspension is to increase the total wheel travel and regain the down travel I lost because of the lift. I really like the way the 5100s dampen out bumps and ruts, but sometimes I feel like the front wheels "fall" into holes and down off of of ledges, causing the front of the truck to fall and then rebound significantly. More down travel should help with that and offer a more controlled ride, but I'm not a chassis or suspension engineer so I don't know.

I'm glad you started this thread! I would also like to continue upgrading my suspension and I'm curious what other people have done and how they use their trucks. Mine is a 2015 Sierra double cab standard box. I've had my 5100s installed for about 60k miles and I'm very happy with them. My truck sees some light off roading on fire roads, beaches, and some poorly maintained forest roads while on camping trips. It is also my daily driver and what I used to tow my 12ft box trailer as well as my el camino from Jacksonville to Maryland. I have the 5100s on the third highest setting and the stock rear block. I'm considering taking them up to the highest setting and installing a 1 inch lift block in the back, but I haven't found a reason to yet. The truck was definitely nose high while towing the El Camino on a UHual trailer, but other than that it sits fairly level when towing 1500 lb box trailer. 25k miles ago I got 275/70R18 KO2s on the stock wheels and I have also been happy with those, but they did hurt my mileage, especially around town. My truck has 3.08 gears though and they don't help. I'm putting some pictures in this post so you can get an idea of the what the 3rd setting looks like with the stock rear block and 33 inch tires. Right after tire install: This is with around 1100lbs of scrap wood in the bed: This is probably 500lbs in the bed: This is towing the El Camino, about 4500lbs but the weight is biased forward on the trailer:

Not sure why that is sideways

Thanks. Here is a pic with two of the lids open. Everything fits really snugly so I'm not going to install latches unless it gets loose over time. Nylon loops will be the handles for now.

Finally finished this project. It turned out the way I was hoping.

I've got 5100s on the 3rd setting with 275/70/r18 tires. Approach angle (without the air dam) measured 30 degrees and lowest ground clearance was at the rear dif at 9.5 inches.

What part number did you go with? I’m only seeing options for the 2018, but i figure it will probably work on my 2015 Sierra. Thanks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So finding brackets with a 1/2 inch hole for the seat studs is proving difficult. None of the major hardware stores in my area have anything that will work. I even tried out west marine and local cabinet shops. I may need to rethink my mounting plan.

Thanks I'll have to look into that carpet. Is it pretty durable? I'll have a lot of stuff going in and out and I'd like the carpet to last a long time.

Since my dogs ride in the back way more often than any people do I decided to remove the rear seats and start building a “Load-Flat” floor with integrated storage. Started today with cardboard mock-ups and got the first two pieces cut. I need to find some brackets that will allow me to mount the side walls to the seat studs. Then I can start the from cross member and internal supports. The plan is to have 3 hatches on the top, one the driver and passenger sides and one that runs along the back for access to the jack. I want to finish everything in a marine grade carpet, including a piece that will hang on the rear bulkhead where the seat used to. If anyone has seen anything like this please let me know. I’ve done a lot of searching but haven’t seen anything so I’m shooting from the hip. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

All good points and a very nice truck. The whole point is that everyone likes what they like and can pay to get it if they want. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

275/70r18 BFG KO2s on stock wheels with Bilstein 5100s on the 3rd setting (1.25” lift) and stock rear height. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just got my KO2s in 275/75r18 about 4 days ago. Very happy with them so far. The 275/65r18 is about 5lbs lighter and 1.2 inches shorter (https://tiresize.com/tires/BFGoodrich/All-Terrain-TA-KO2.htm) than the 275/70 . Mine ride better than the stock Goodyear SR-As did, but I also have bilstein 5100 shocks installed on the 3rd highest setting (had the stock tires with those shocks for ~50k miles and the KO2 is more comfortable). They are quiet at highway speeds too. I can only hear them when doing 20-40mph, after that I can't hear them over the wind. You will see a decrease in city mpg because these tires are much heavier than the stock tires (my SR-As only weighed 35lbs). I still see about 21 hwy mpg with 3.08 gears.

Finally got my KO2s! Still have the 5100's on the 3rd highest setting and stock rear block in. KO2s are 275/70r18

If you plan on bringing them up to the top setting I'd just do that from the start. It's not worth having to pull the struts out and compress them again. But that's just me. Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk