What Kind Of Lift For 2500?

JMacIV · October 5, 2011

Hey y'all. Just bought an '04 2500 today. I would like to lift my truck or at least level it. What kind of lift will fit on my truck? Keep in mind this is a 2500, not a 2500HD. I see most sites specify different lifts for the 1500 and then the 2500HD/3500HD. So which one do I use on my truck?

Also, I would love to hear suggestions about the different brands of lifts. At a minimum, I will level it, but am considering up to 4"

Thanks,
JMac

tyhuck · October 6, 2011

I used to have an 06 2500 non HD, and from everything I found, most lifts designed for the HD pickups were the same for the 1500HD and 2500LD. As far as leevling it, just crank the stock torsion keys. Thats what I did and still had a good 1/4" to 3/8" of bolt that I could have still cranked. I got a good 2.5" of lft in the front with the stock keys. It takes a little more lift on the 1500HD and 2500 to level it out because they are lower in the front end from the factory than the 2500HD.

JMacIV · October 9, 2011

[quote name='Z71 AST' post='1207546' date='Oct 5 2011, 08:26 PM']I used to have an 06 2500 non HD, and from everything I found, most lifts designed for the HD pickups were the same for the 1500HD and 2500LD. As far as leevling it, just crank the stock torsion keys. Thats what I did and still had a good 1/4" to 3/8" of bolt that I could have still cranked. I got a good 2.5" of lft in the front with the stock keys. It takes a little more lift on the 1500HD and 2500 to level it out because they are lower in the front end from the factory than the 2500HD.[/quote]

Thanks for the quick reply! I've been reading a lot on this site and a couple others and I've been seeing two different sides to the whole torsion keys leveling. There are a lot of y'all who are all for cranking them up and then there are others who are firm believers in the Cognito leveling kit with the new UCAs and a couple of other things. I'm having a hard time deciding because I keep reading about how the cranked keys' ride is a good bit worse than the a Cognito level due to restricted travel and the such. Thoughts?

After posting, I've seen mostly that 2500LD and the 1500HD are same frame and the same lifts will work with both trucks. But it seems the 2500HD and 3500HD lifts may not work. But I'm sure you know a good bit more than I as I have yet to even try and lift the truck.

Thanks again,
JMac

mybaby2500 · October 10, 2011

I have the same truck 04' 2500 6.0. I have the 6" rancho with 3" body lift and 35" tires. I am happy with it not to big just right.

JMacIV · October 10, 2011

[quote name='mybaby2500' post='1208861' date='Oct 9 2011, 08:06 PM']I have the same truck 04' 2500 6.0. I have the 6" rancho with 3" body lift and 35" tires. I am happy with it not to big just right.[/quote]

Your truck looks great man. Which Rancho lift do you have? Is it for the 1500? 2500HD? 1500HD?
Thanks

tyhuck · October 10, 2011

Really, a 6" and a BL, and you can only fit 35" tires? You should be able to fit 37s.

I know some people like running a smaller tire, plus its cheaper to do so, but it looks like your wheel wells are stuffed. You should have more room than that with 9" of lift and only running 35s.

Did you put the lift on or was it like that when you bought it? I would also think it would show more fram than that on a 2500 with a3" BL.

Sorry to sound so critical, but I was just curious.

JMacIV · October 10, 2011

[quote name='Z71 AST' post='1207546' date='Oct 5 2011, 08:26 PM']I used to have an 06 2500 non HD, and from everything I found, most lifts designed for the HD pickups were the same for the 1500HD and 2500LD. As far as leevling it, just crank the stock torsion keys. Thats what I did and still had a good 1/4" to 3/8" of bolt that I could have still cranked. I got a good 2.5" of lft in the front with the stock keys. It takes a little more lift on the 1500HD and 2500 to level it out because they are lower in the front end from the factory than the 2500HD.[/quote]

Z71, do you have any pictures of your 2500 with the keys cranked? Also, how affected was the ride once you cranked the keys? The down travel is lessened when you crank the keys, which is supposed to yield a harsher ride since you will be hitting metal to metal quicker when you hit a bump. Did you have that experience?
Thanks,
JMac

scz71864 · October 11, 2011

[quote name='JMacIV' post='1209023' date='Oct 10 2011, 02:44 PM'][quote name='Z71 AST' post='1207546' date='Oct 5 2011, 08:26 PM']I used to have an 06 2500 non HD, and from everything I found, most lifts designed for the HD pickups were the same for the 1500HD and 2500LD. As far as leevling it, just crank the stock torsion keys. Thats what I did and still had a good 1/4" to 3/8" of bolt that I could have still cranked. I got a good 2.5" of lft in the front with the stock keys. It takes a little more lift on the 1500HD and 2500 to level it out because they are lower in the front end from the factory than the 2500HD.[/quote]

Z71, do you have any pictures of your 2500 with the keys cranked? Also, how affected was the ride once you cranked the keys? The down travel is lessened when you crank the keys, which is supposed to yield a harsher ride since you will be hitting metal to metal quicker when you hit a bump. Did you have that experience?
Thanks,
JMac
[/quote]
the ride will get worse, it become stiffer, it also stretches out the shocks so id recommend changing them, but its not a "must" also for the back you could do an AAL or a block, but if you have a 2500 aal will make the ride worse too. if i were you i would crank the keys get new shocks in time and put blocks in the rear

blackout07 · October 11, 2011

[quote name='Z71 AST' post='1208891' date='Oct 9 2011, 07:33 PM']Really, a 6" and a BL, and you can only fit 35" tires? You should be able to fit 37s.

I know some people like running a smaller tire, plus its cheaper to do so, but it looks like your wheel wells are stuffed. You should have more room than that with 9" of lift and only running 35s.

Did you put the lift on or was it like that when you bought it? I would also think it would show more fram than that on a 2500 with a3" BL.

Sorry to sound so critical, but I was just curious.[/quote]

Looks like a lot of frame to me. But I do agree that it doesn't look very high for all of that lift on a 2500.

JMacIV · October 11, 2011

[quote name='scz71864' post='1209130' date='Oct 10 2011, 08:35 PM'][quote name='JMacIV' post='1209023' date='Oct 10 2011, 02:44 PM'][quote name='Z71 AST' post='1207546' date='Oct 5 2011, 08:26 PM']I used to have an 06 2500 non HD, and from everything I found, most lifts designed for the HD pickups were the same for the 1500HD and 2500LD. As far as leevling it, just crank the stock torsion keys. Thats what I did and still had a good 1/4" to 3/8" of bolt that I could have still cranked. I got a good 2.5" of lft in the front with the stock keys. It takes a little more lift on the 1500HD and 2500 to level it out because they are lower in the front end from the factory than the 2500HD.[/quote]

Z71, do you have any pictures of your 2500 with the keys cranked? Also, how affected was the ride once you cranked the keys? The down travel is lessened when you crank the keys, which is supposed to yield a harsher ride since you will be hitting metal to metal quicker when you hit a bump. Did you have that experience?
Thanks,
JMac
[/quote]
the ride will get worse, it become stiffer, it also stretches out the shocks so id recommend changing them, but its not a "must" also for the back you could do an AAL or a block, but if you have a 2500 aal will make the ride worse too. if i were you i would crank the keys get new shocks in time and put blocks in the rear
[/quote]

I already need new shocks in the rear, so I was already thinking of changing them all around. Would you suggest Bilstein 5100's? Or something else when cranking the keys? What size blocks?
Thanks

tyhuck · October 11, 2011

[quote name='JMacIV' post='1209023' date='Oct 10 2011, 01:44 PM'][quote name='Z71 AST' post='1207546' date='Oct 5 2011, 08:26 PM']I used to have an 06 2500 non HD, and from everything I found, most lifts designed for the HD pickups were the same for the 1500HD and 2500LD. As far as leevling it, just crank the stock torsion keys. Thats what I did and still had a good 1/4" to 3/8" of bolt that I could have still cranked. I got a good 2.5" of lft in the front with the stock keys. It takes a little more lift on the 1500HD and 2500 to level it out because they are lower in the front end from the factory than the 2500HD.[/quote]

Z71, do you have any pictures of your 2500 with the keys cranked? Also, how affected was the ride once you cranked the keys? The down travel is lessened when you crank the keys, which is supposed to yield a harsher ride since you will be hitting metal to metal quicker when you hit a bump. Did you have that experience?
Thanks,
JMac
[/quote]

I didnt notice any harsher ride. Its a 2500 for goodness sake. Its not gonna ride like a Caddilac. I cranked them to level with the rear, but Im sure if you cranked them much more than that, you might get some more stiffness.

Not sure what you mean by "metal to metal" but if you crank your keys, you will be farther from the bump stops and thus have more up-travel. Your droop is only limited by the shock. Since you are going with new shock all the way around, get some with 2" more travel for the front and you are golden. Dont buy into those shock extensions because they dont alow the shock to flex enough upward and can cause damage if you bottom them out really hard.

As far as the rear, Ide go with an AAL before I put a block on the rear. Blocks cause more leverage on the spring, thus result in axel wrap under loaded conditions or hard acceleration. The AAL will stiffen the rear a bit, but it wont be bone jarring, or nearly as stiff as a factory HD pickup.

These are the best pictures I have. Keep in mind, its just leveled with no extra lift in the rear, and factory 245 tires on it.

[img]http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv197/tyhuck/Big%20Truck/DSCN0695.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv197/tyhuck/Big%20Truck/DSCN0694.jpg[/img]

scz71864 · October 12, 2011

with keys all the way cranked, you could pull a 2 inch block and it would level the truck pretty well. alot of people swear by the 5100's iv never put them on. but i have but bilstiens on my tahoe and i really liked them. i had a 2 door tahoe with blocks and keys and the shocks helped me a lot

tyhuck · October 13, 2011

[quote name='scz71864' post='1209481' date='Oct 11 2011, 09:31 PM']with keys all the way cranked, you could pull a 2 inch block and it would level the truck pretty well. alot of people swear by the 5100's iv never put them on. but i have but bilstiens on my tahoe and i really liked them. i had a 2 door tahoe with blocks and keys and the shocks helped me a lot[/quote]

Dont really want to crank the Keys to lift any more than 2.5" on a 2500. 1500s should be kept about 2", but the extra width of the front suspension on the heavy duty trucks gives you more lift without the harsh angles on your ball joins and CV axels.

mybaby2500 · October 13, 2011

I bought it with the lift on it. I measured the a-arm mounts and it was 5.5". And the body lift is a 3". It's not the HD and that picture is not a good angle. I have also replaced the rims and tires since that picture. You can see the exhaust manifold in the front fender wells. I also ordered flaps from LMC to cover the gap in the rear wheal wells. I havnt tried 37"s not so sure on that.

blackout07 · October 13, 2011

[quote name='mybaby2500' post='1209752' date='Oct 12 2011, 09:02 PM']I bought it with the lift on it. I measured the a-arm mounts and it was 5.5". And the body lift is a 3". It's not the HD and that picture is not a good angle. I have also replaced the rims and tires since that picture. You can see the exhaust manifold in the front fender wells. I also ordered flaps from LMC to cover the gap in the rear wheal wells. I havnt tried 37"s not so sure on that.[/quote]

What are the fender measurements?