4 Or 6" Lift? Tire Size? Gears?

[joelbunge]

I have a 2009 gmc sierra z71 I just bought at the end of the year. I am paying my way through school and for this 35 thousand dollar truck but i work two jobs so i can have some toys and its time to elevate!!

 

Here is where the trouble starts. I have been fighting like mad over what to do. I am not thrilled about the leveling kit with 33 becuase of how hard it is on the truck but i am not ruling it out. I am more leaning tword a 4 or 6" susp lift. I know you get what you pay for and if i make this plunge i want to do it right. I hear all the people saying if you go 4 you will wish you went 6, but i am still not sure what to do. I feel like i would be happy with the 4 in lift but i read that it isnt much cheaper than just getting the 6. Is this true? or is there a solid 4" kit out there that is cheaper? I love the look of 6" with 35's but now i am getting into more money on rubber and worse fuel economy.

 

I guess what i am looking for is the most economical solution knowing this is my everyday driver and the price of fuel. So the questions are.. how much will i lose in fuel econmy with 35 vs 33? i hear i can re gear to achieve near factory economy, is this true and how much work and money is that? How much harder is a six in lift on the truck and wear parts than a 4 in lift?

 

Thanks in advance for all the comments and help. Love to see pics of your trucks for ideas on what direction to go in!!

[allterrain08]

Check out gmfullsize.com. Way better off road section over there with a lot of info.

 

The big thing for me was gearing, I wanted to with a 6 and 35's but I only have a 3.73 rear end so I went with the 4" BDS kit with full springs in the rear on 33" Terra Grapplers. So if you dont mind spending the extra cash on new gears definitely go for a 6" and you can get close to stock fuel milage and regain your lost power.

[joelbunge]

Check out gmfullsize.com. Way better off road section over there with a lot of info.

 

The big thing for me was gearing, I wanted to with a 6 and 35's but I only have a 3.73 rear end so I went with the 4" BDS kit with full springs in the rear on 33" Terra Grapplers. So if you dont mind spending the extra cash on new gears definitely go for a 6" and you can get close to stock fuel milage and regain your lost power.

 

 

I havent seen many trucks with the 4 in look. If you would post some pics of your truck to give me an idea i would love to see it. And if you dont mind me askin, about how much did you put into your truck for the lift?

[Stevens03]

Your gonna loose a solid 2 mpg running 35" tires. And you'll need the 6" lift to fit 35" tires. otherwise you'll be stuck with 33" tires.

[stlavsa]

Your gonna loose a solid 2 mpg running 35" tires. And you'll need the 6" lift to fit 35" tires. otherwise you'll be stuck with 33" tires.

 

 

You might gain some of your MPG back with the gears, but your still going to be running a tire thats wider and E-range tire thats twice the weight of a stocker.

[jimmyboy8301]

there isn't much of a difference if any MPG wise between 33s and 35s. The 2 most solid 4" kits are BDS and CST, both of which are only a couple hundred AT THE MOST cheaper than the 6" kits. IMO go with a 6" kit and 35's. Here is my truck with a 6" superlift and 35" Toyos:

 

[joelbunge]

there isn't much of a difference if any MPG wise between 33s and 35s. The 2 most solid 4" kits are BDS and CST, both of which are only a couple hundred AT THE MOST cheaper than the 6" kits. IMO go with a 6" kit and 35's. Here is my truck with a 6" superlift and 35" Toyos:

 

 

Really like your truck. Did you re gear? and what back spacing are your rims?

[jimmyboy8301]

there isn't much of a difference if any MPG wise between 33s and 35s. The 2 most solid 4" kits are BDS and CST, both of which are only a couple hundred AT THE MOST cheaper than the 6" kits. IMO go with a 6" kit and 35's. Here is my truck with a 6" superlift and 35" Toyos:

 

 

Really like your truck. Did you re gear? and what back spacing are your rims?

 

 

 

thank you. the wheels are 20x8.5 with 5.5" backspacing. i have 4.10 gears with a 6.0 motor and 4L70 trans so there was no need for me to re-gear

[joelbunge]

there isn't much of a difference if any MPG wise between 33s and 35s. The 2 most solid 4" kits are BDS and CST, both of which are only a couple hundred AT THE MOST cheaper than the 6" kits. IMO go with a 6" kit and 35's. Here is my truck with a 6" superlift and 35" Toyos:

 

 

Really like your truck. Did you re gear? and what back spacing are your rims?

 

 

 

thank you. the wheels are 20x8.5 with 5.5" backspacing. i have 4.10 gears with a 6.0 motor and 4L70 trans so there was no need for me to re-gear

 

 

I only have the 5.3 and i am not sure on the gears but they are whatever came factory on the 5.3 liter z71, 3.73?? and the 6 speed auto transmission. I believe i would be lacking in power if I dont re gear.

[DwelveAT]

I only have the 5.3 and i am not sure on the gears but they are whatever came factory on the 5.3 liter z71, 3.73?? and the 6 speed auto transmission. I believe i would be lacking in power if I dont re gear.

 

then you are running what i am running which is 3.42. I am lifted and I need to regear which I am going to go with the 4.10 when I do.

[jimmyboy8301]

there isn't much of a difference if any MPG wise between 33s and 35s. The 2 most solid 4" kits are BDS and CST, both of which are only a couple hundred AT THE MOST cheaper than the 6" kits. IMO go with a 6" kit and 35's. Here is my truck with a 6" superlift and 35" Toyos:

 

 

Really like your truck. Did you re gear? and what back spacing are your rims?

 

 

 

thank you. the wheels are 20x8.5 with 5.5" backspacing. i have 4.10 gears with a 6.0 motor and 4L70 trans so there was no need for me to re-gear

 

 

I only have the 5.3 and i am not sure on the gears but they are whatever came factory on the 5.3 liter z71, 3.73?? and the 6 speed auto transmission. I believe i would be lacking in power if I dont re gear.

 

 

 

look in your glovebox and check the RPO codes to see what gears you have

[joelbunge]

there isn't much of a difference if any MPG wise between 33s and 35s. The 2 most solid 4" kits are BDS and CST, both of which are only a couple hundred AT THE MOST cheaper than the 6" kits. IMO go with a 6" kit and 35's. Here is my truck with a 6" superlift and 35" Toyos:

 

 

Really like your truck. Did you re gear? and what back spacing are your rims?

 

 

 

thank you. the wheels are 20x8.5 with 5.5" backspacing. i have 4.10 gears with a 6.0 motor and 4L70 trans so there was no need for me to re-gear

 

 

I only have the 5.3 and i am not sure on the gears but they are whatever came factory on the 5.3 liter z71, 3.73?? and the 6 speed auto transmission. I believe i would be lacking in power if I dont re gear.

 

 

 

look in your glovebox and check the RPO codes to see what gears you have

 

 

 

Im not sure where to look for that. Is it in the owners manual or is it listed on the sticker inside the glove box with parts codes?

[joelbunge]

I only have the 5.3 and i am not sure on the gears but they are whatever came factory on the 5.3 liter z71, 3.73?? and the 6 speed auto transmission. I believe i would be lacking in power if I dont re gear.

 

then you are running what i am running which is 3.42. I am lifted and I need to regear which I am going to go with the 4.10 when I do.

 

 

When you say need to re gear are you saying you want to? or must? Did the larger tires completely strip you of power and fuel economy with the current gears? and what is the advantage of the 4.10 gears vs the 4.56 that i hear a lot of guys are switching to. Have you looked into the gears yet, i am trying to figure out how much more expensive it would be to re gear.

[jimmyboy8301]

there isn't much of a difference if any MPG wise between 33s and 35s. The 2 most solid 4" kits are BDS and CST, both of which are only a couple hundred AT THE MOST cheaper than the 6" kits. IMO go with a 6" kit and 35's. Here is my truck with a 6" superlift and 35" Toyos:

 

 

Really like your truck. Did you re gear? and what back spacing are your rims?

 

 

 

thank you. the wheels are 20x8.5 with 5.5" backspacing. i have 4.10 gears with a 6.0 motor and 4L70 trans so there was no need for me to re-gear

 

 

I only have the 5.3 and i am not sure on the gears but they are whatever came factory on the 5.3 liter z71, 3.73?? and the 6 speed auto transmission. I believe i would be lacking in power if I dont re gear.

 

 

 

look in your glovebox and check the RPO codes to see what gears you have

 

 

 

Im not sure where to look for that. Is it in the owners manual or is it listed on the sticker inside the glove box with parts codes?

 

 

 

IN THE GLOVEBOX lol. that sticker you are talking about has the RPO codes of the truck, in that set of codes will be your gear ratio code

[joelbunge]

what exhaust do you have jimmyboy?