1.5'' Bl Questions

dave_benn · January 20, 2011

Im thinking of doing a 1.5'' bl this spring/summer and wanted to know if you could use a 3/4 ton front bumper to hide the lift. I remember reading somewhere that GM achieved the higher stance by using taller body mounts on the cab. Can anyone tell me if this is true and if i could use the 3/4 ton bumper to hide it. I would assume you would have to change the grill also.

dirtfan21 · January 20, 2011

1.5" body lift from Zone and the 1.25" body lift from Rough Country come with all the hardware and directions to raise the front bumper with the body.

dave_benn · January 20, 2011

Thats cool and all but im looking to get the HD look, just wondering if it was possible with out molding the bumper.

blackout07 · January 21, 2011

The HD's sit higher due to a larger frame and suspension. The body mounts may be slightly larger but I doubt it. I have seen several lowered 1500's using the entire HD front end.

stlavsa · January 21, 2011

anyone care to explain why RC went with 1.25" body lift opposed to a 1.5?? There has gotta be a reason? I mean realize a 1/4 inch isnt even noticeable, but I would think anyone in the market for a lift that size is gonna go with the 1.5 over the 1.25... Seems like unless there is a good reason, they are selling themselves short on sales over a 1/4 inch.

tnerb · January 21, 2011

somebody needs to jump on the idea wagon and make a damn 2" BL.... 1.5 aint enuf but 3 is too much IMO

sic lsx · January 21, 2011

anyone care to explain why RC went with 1.25" body lift opposed to a 1.5?? There has gotta be a reason? I mean realize a 1/4 inch isnt even noticeable, but I would think anyone in the market for a lift that size is gonna go with the 1.5 over the 1.25... Seems like unless there is a good reason, they are selling themselves short on sales over a 1/4 inch.

for if your tire just barely touching and dont want it to look like u have a BL or maybe you can get away with less work? like moving wires and lines and such! Plus is $50 cheaper then zone 1.5"

mhenshaw · January 21, 2011

anyone care to explain why RC went with 1.25" body lift opposed to a 1.5?? There has gotta be a reason? I mean realize a 1/4 inch isnt even noticeable, but I would think anyone in the market for a lift that size is gonna go with the 1.5 over the 1.25... Seems like unless there is a good reason, they are selling themselves short on sales over a 1/4 inch.

for if your tire just barely touching and dont want it to look like u have a BL or maybe you can get away with less work? like moving wires and lines and such! Plus is $50 cheaper then zone 1.5"

Yea a lot of people use 1" body on jeeps to clear tires. Body lifts look like crap on Jeep's but 1" is hard to tell.

I would not worry about the price. You are only going to do a body lift ONE time. It is too much work to redo a body lift so I wouldn't cheap out on $50 if you want the extra 1/4 inch.

sic lsx · January 21, 2011

I dont want a BL never been a fan, but these truck hide them well with step bars . Plus you have to cut and weld to get zone 1.5" bolted up. I was told RC bolts right up.

dirtfan21 · January 21, 2011

I dont want a BL never been a fan, but these truck hide them well with step bars . Plus you have to cut and weld to get zone 1.5" bolted up. I was told RC bolts right up.

http://www.roughcountry.com/install/rc700.pdf

See page nine... cut bumper mount.

Barely anyone has ever welded in the gussets on the front bumper mounts of the zone BL. It is not imperative to be done but if you have the tools then it probably takes 10 min.

sic lsx · January 22, 2011

i saw a few post where they had to cut and weld to get bumper brackets to work right on zone. Rc kit is just a quick cut

dirtfan21 · January 24, 2011

I finally had time to get my Zone 1.5" on over the weekend and we welded the gussets. After seeing in person how the bumper brackets have to be cut and then how the bumper is re-mounted, I definitely recommend using the gussets.

I installed a 3" on my 2000 silverado and I can tell you this was hands down way easier than that kit. Things line up like they should and the parts supplied are of high quality.

RJNehus · March 12, 2011

I finally had time to get my Zone 1.5" on over the weekend and we welded the gussets. After seeing in person how the bumper brackets have to be cut and then how the bumper is re-mounted, I definitely recommend using the gussets.

I installed a 3" on my 2000 silverado and I can tell you this was hands down way easier than that kit. Things line up like they should and the parts supplied are of high quality.

Hey, Do you have pics of your truck before and after the 1.5 body lift? I'm really considering this lift, b/c my wife hates big lifted trucks (i love them) anyway, i figured she really wouldnt notice a 1.5, but it would still give my truck a meaner stance.

tyhuck · March 12, 2011

If shes anything like mine, she will notice it. My wife never noticed anything I did to my other truck without me pointeing it out, but she noticed the 2" BL right off the bat.

NickS · March 12, 2011

I agree 100% on a 2" BL tnerb. 3" is a little much in my opinion, and 1.5" is just a little small. You don't have to weld the gussets, but like dirtfan21 said, if you have the tools, then why not. The RC body lift wasn't out when I bought my zone. It looks like a simpler install just because it has new front bumper brackets and you don't have to cut and modify your factory ones. It wasn't a big deal on the zone, but it just makes things easier.

Here's mine ARJAY before:

And here it is after:

It was a fairly easy install (I've never done any type of body lift or suspension lift before). took about 10 hours with several beer breaks. The only tough part is cutting and modifying your front brackets, and even that isn't that bad. I still have to go back and adjust the front bumper so it lines up better. If you think that .25" will matter, then get the zone. If you don't think it will matter, then get the RC with the front bumper brackets for the easier install. I personally think that you can tell the .25" and like everyone says, you usually want to go bigger. Hell, I started with a Daystar 2" leveling kit, and swapped it out for the CCM 2.5". I could tell a difference in that .5". I just knew I didn't want a 3" BL, and the 1.5" was the next size.

Like I said, the zone is a little more work, but who knows, you may be glad you did it for that extra .25". Good luck.

Here's my thread from when I did mine last month with tons of pictures:

My Zone 1.5" body lift install