Best Riding Lift

JDCGMC · December 13, 2009

Hey Guys,

I am new to this site looks like a great one. I have a 2007 new style 2500HD with a leveling kit in it and 33 12.5 on 20in. The ride is brutal! What to put a 4 inch lift in it that will ride good.

What is the best for ride?

I am sure this has been answered but I did look but did not find much.

Thanks for your help! J

blackout07 · December 13, 2009

Hey Guys,
I am new to this site looks like a great one. I have a 2007 new style 2500HD with a leveling kit in it and 33 12.5 on 20in. The ride is brutal! What to put a 4 inch lift in it that will ride good.

What is the best for ride?

I am sure this has been answered but I did look but did not find much.

Thanks for your help! J

First of all, welcome! Unfortunately you had to burn money to learn that indexed "leveling" keys are a waste. If the ride is that bad, I would turn them down, or "de-crank" until you are ready to move on to a suspension lift.

I'm sure you have learned that you are very limited in the selection of 4" suspensions. The reason that is, is that there just isn't the demand for them, which also makes them cost as much or more than a 6" suspension. I would strongly recommend that you forget about a 4" and go straight for the 6". Lifted trucks are notorious for "shrinking." What I mean is that as time goes by your truck will start to look smaller and smaller to you, which will make you want to lift it a little more. The point is, is that if you go with the 4" now, in a few months time you will wish you had gone with a 6-incher. And when it's time to get new tires, those 35's will look much better than a new set of 33's, etc. With that being said, I would look at Fabtech, BDS, or Superlift.

JDCGMC · December 13, 2009

Hey Guys,
I am new to this site looks like a great one. I have a 2007 new style 2500HD with a leveling kit in it and 33 12.5 on 20in. The ride is brutal! What to put a 4 inch lift in it that will ride good.

What is the best for ride?

I am sure this has been answered but I did look but did not find much.

Thanks for your help! J

First of all, welcome! Unfortunately you had to burn money to learn that indexed "leveling" keys are a waste. If the ride is that bad, I would turn them down, or "de-crank" until you are ready to move on to a suspension lift.

I'm sure you have learned that you are very limited in the selection of 4" suspensions. The reason that is, is that there just isn't the demand for them, which also makes them cost as much or more than a 6" suspension. I would strongly recommend that you forget about a 4" and go straight for the 6". Lifted trucks are notorious for "shrinking." What I mean is that as time goes by your truck will start to look smaller and smaller to you, which will make you want to lift it a little more. The point is, is that if you go with the 4" now, in a few months time you will wish you had gone with a 6-incher. And when it's time to get new tires, those 35's will look much better than a new set of 33's, etc. With that being said, I would look at Fabtech, BDS, or Superlift.

Thanks, How does your truck ride? Close to stock? My only issue is that I pull a heavy trailer almost every day. Will the extra hight cause issues later. I know it will drink lots fuel it already does. Thanks J

hockeypro1411 · December 13, 2009

Hey Guys,
I am new to this site looks like a great one. I have a 2007 new style 2500HD with a leveling kit in it and 33 12.5 on 20in. The ride is brutal! What to put a 4 inch lift in it that will ride good.

What is the best for ride?

I am sure this has been answered but I did look but did not find much.

Thanks for your help! J

First of all, welcome! Unfortunately you had to burn money to learn that indexed "leveling" keys are a waste. If the ride is that bad, I would turn them down, or "de-crank" until you are ready to move on to a suspension lift.

I'm sure you have learned that you are very limited in the selection of 4" suspensions. The reason that is, is that there just isn't the demand for them, which also makes them cost as much or more than a 6" suspension. I would strongly recommend that you forget about a 4" and go straight for the 6". Lifted trucks are notorious for "shrinking." What I mean is that as time goes by your truck will start to look smaller and smaller to you, which will make you want to lift it a little more. The point is, is that if you go with the 4" now, in a few months time you will wish you had gone with a 6-incher. And when it's time to get new tires, those 35's will look much better than a new set of 33's, etc. With that being said, I would look at Fabtech, BDS, or Superlift.

Thanks, How does your truck ride? Close to stock? My only issue is that I pull a heavy trailer almost every day. Will the extra hight cause issues later. I know it will drink lots fuel it already does. Thanks J

I'd strongly recommend that you do not lift your truck then.

Nytemare · December 13, 2009

My buddy at work has a lifted 2500 ram...35's and a 6" lift.

He tows a fishing boat...its a 32 footer that sleeps 6. He has no issues hauling it...I believe its 12000lbs including trailer...could be a little less though. He has a diesel though..I don't know if you have a big dirty or a gas engine....so that will make a big difference.

modifymore · December 13, 2009

I have been interested for a long time doing a lift on my truck but dont want to go to the full 6" lift myself. I tow 5th wheels, load dirt and sport bikes and a full 6" lift would cause my truck to be way too high.

My last truck was a 2004 gmc crew diesel and had done the 2" level, the ride was ok, but trying to avoid it. Cognitio has a kit that replaces the upper control arm and will increase your travel and giving the 2" lift. Also when doing this, the ball joints on them are replaceable. not like factory that are just press in, making you replace the whole upper arm anyways.

Cognito also has a kit that can be adjustable from 4-6". So if you find that the 4" is not the look you are going for....lift it some more. This will be the route that i go myself. They have great reviews.

Here is a link

http://cognitomotorsports.com/store/4inchkit.html

http://cognitomotorsports.com/store/media/images/4-6_NEW.JPG

JDCGMC · December 13, 2009

My buddy at work has a lifted 2500 ram...35's and a 6" lift.

He tows a fishing boat...its a 32 footer that sleeps 6. He has no issues hauling it...I believe its 12000lbs including trailer...could be a little less though. He has a diesel though..I don't know if you have a big dirty or a gas engine....so that will make a big difference.

Ya I tow about 12000 lbs as well, I do have a diesel with a chip pulls great. I will look into Cognitio sounds like it would be a good idea. I have heard the ready lift leveling kit rides a lot better than most.

Nytemare · December 14, 2009

My buddy at work has a lifted 2500 ram...35's and a 6" lift.

He tows a fishing boat...its a 32 footer that sleeps 6. He has no issues hauling it...I believe its 12000lbs including trailer...could be a little less though. He has a diesel though..I don't know if you have a big dirty or a gas engine....so that will make a big difference.

Ya I tow about 12000 lbs as well, I do have a diesel with a chip pulls great. I will look into Cognitio sounds like it would be a good idea. I have heard the ready lift leveling kit rides a lot better than most.

Why not just do a 3" body lift. It looks good...you can toss bigger tires on and you know it will have a stock ride...cause the suspension is stock.

JDCGMC · December 14, 2009

Why not just do a 3" body lift. It looks good...you can toss bigger tires on and you know it will have a stock ride...cause the suspension is stock.

That is something to look into. How much is involved in a body lift?

Nytemare · December 14, 2009

No more than a suspension lift. Crawl up under your truck...and you'll see the rubber "pucks" that isolate the cab from the frame...you replace those with ones that are 3" higher..plus longer bolts and stuff. We put one in a friends S-10 Blazer in his driveway on a Saturday. We had nothing more really than general hand tools...a bottle jack and an electric impact gun.

modifymore · December 14, 2009

Depending on the look and the budget, there are so many ways to go about it. Use aftermarket keys or crank your torsion bars, body lift or a minimal suspension lift.

I still need to settle the debate weather keys are the way to go or just adjust your torsion bars. There is a lot of mixed feed back. My last truck was a 2004 GMC crew diesel shortbox. I pulled the 5th wheel lots and put about 100k onb the torsion lift. The ride was affected slightly, but for how much it cost, it was worth it.

As for the body lift, not much of a fan seeing more frame and having to relocate the bumpers into the new position. Probably need the steering lengthened too.

JDCGMC · December 14, 2009

Depending on the look and the budget, there are so many ways to go about it. Use aftermarket keys or crank your torsion bars, body lift or a minimal suspension lift.
I still need to settle the debate weather keys are the way to go or just adjust your torsion bars. There is a lot of mixed feed back. My last truck was a 2004 GMC crew diesel shortbox. I pulled the 5th wheel lots and put about 100k onb the torsion lift. The ride was affected slightly, but for how much it cost, it was worth it.

As for the body lift, not much of a fan seeing more frame and having to relocate the bumpers into the new position. Probably need the steering lengthened too.

I have keys in the truck for my 33's to clear (also had to do some trimming) had to turn the keys up too much, truck rides like crap! and handles brutal. I would like to put a 4" lift in. I want the best ridding lift. How does the rancho ride. Thanks J

blackout07 · December 14, 2009

I have heard the ready lift leveling kit rides a lot better than most.

All leveling keys are the same. They are indexed differently than stock to allow you to crank them higher, which equals harsh suspension angles and a brutal ride. You really need to consider a suspension lift or a body lift. I ran some aftermarket keys on my old HD and they SUCKED! It rode so badly that I refused to drive my truck until I took them out.

JDCGMC · December 14, 2009

I have heard the ready lift leveling kit rides a lot better than most.

All leveling keys are the same. They are indexed differently than stock to allow you to crank them higher, which equals harsh suspension angles and a brutal ride. You really need to consider a suspension lift or a body lift. I ran some aftermarket keys on my old HD and they SUCKED! It rode so badly that I refused to drive my truck until I took them out.

Yup that is almost how I feel, I took the 33's off and put the stockers back on and turned the keys down. When the nice weather comes back I am going to lift it. How does your truck ride with the 7inch?

blackout07 · December 15, 2009

Yup that is almost how I feel, I took the 33's off and put the stockers back on and turned the keys down. When the nice weather comes back I am going to lift it. How does your truck ride with the 7inch?

My truck rides awesome! But keep in mind that I have a coilover suspension and not torsion bars, so that makes a big difference in the ride. Honestly speaking though, I would rather have an HD with a diesel.