rockclimbermi

Update: Sorry for the slow update. I did go with the BFG KO2 275 70 R18 tires and the Bilstein leveling kit with the 5100 shocks. I haven't had any rub. The tires were installed 7-10-21 and the leveling kit a couple of days prior to that. On the negative side, my truck isn't perfectly level. Probably could go up around another quarter of an inch. No big deal. On the positive side. The truck looks good and rides great. It goes over rutted roads with a lot more control. It doesn't 100% control it, but it is hugely improved. The front end going down too far in certain conditions is also gone. The Bilsteins look like a high quality product, as they should be for the price. No paint to flake off, just stainless steel. Hopefully they last a long time. The leveling kit is all built in to the front struts, so there is nothing else to buy or install. I haven't noticed any negatives as far as how the truck handles. Just improvements. Measured heights before kit and tires: Height of just tires: 30.5 (with 50k + miles), 36.5" from ground to bottom of front fender prior to level kit. 39.25" from ground to bottom of rear fender prior to level kit. After leveling kit and tires: Just tires: 32.5 (tire height with 0 miles), 39 from ground to bottom of front fender after level kit, 39.5 from ground to bottom of rear fender after level kit. So in the end the tire diameter increased by 2 inches (1 inch of vehicle height), front end rose 2.5 inches and rear end rose 0.25 inches. Bilstein claims a 1.8 inch front end lift. I would think they should do a full 2 inches, but I think they did a max of 1.8 because more than that would start to cause geometry issues. You can also choose less of a front increase with the Bilsteins. I think there are 3 or 4 choices including factory height.

Sorry if this is a dumb question. I have read many of the posts and I'm more confused now than before. I want to do 2 things: 1. install some sort of leveling kit/ device along with new shocks front and rear and 2. put on the biggest tires that will fit. I was thinking I was going to get the Bilstein 5100's. I thought that these included a method of leveling my truck, but I have seen people mention spacers. Not sure if they mean spacers for the rims or to provide the leveling of the front end of the truck. I have a 2016 1500 Silverado Z71 5.3L with the stock black 18 X 8.5" rims, which have a 24 mm offset. I was also believe that BFG KO2 275 70 R18's (33.2 X 10.8") will fit without rub... hopefully. These are 1.6" taller and 0.4 inches wider than the stock Duratracs on it now. I don't go off road very often, so I suppose it's mostly for looks. I do drive down Michigan dirt roads every day which are almost always rutted. I have noticed the stock Rancho's can get pretty squirley in the rear and the fronts seem to be rather soft. I am hoping that the Bilstein's would help that problem. I don't know, maybe I am better off with something else? Any help or knowledge as to exactly what I need is greatly appreciated. Maybe the part numbers for the front and rear Bilstein 5100's. Do I just get the shocks/ struts or do I need something else? I am more concerned with keeping the truck driving well on regular roads than being some sort of awesome off road beast. Going off roading is fun too though, but not my number 1 concern. Thank you for any help, I really appreciate it!