2014+ Suspension Lifts

Txjose · January 17, 2016

The only bad I've read about BDS is some 14 and up owners have had issues with stabilitrac after the 6" lift was installed and BDS was working with those owners to fix the issue.

The only bad I've read about Pro Comp was when the lift kits first hit the market some 2014 owners had front diffs go bad because of angle/lubrication after the 6" lift was installed. Pro Comp covered repairs with lift shield and corrected the angle issues. I haven't heard anything about it since.

Going with the 4" lift.... 6inch is more for 2500s....i cant bear the look of the small rear diff and the truck in the air.

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Swankster988 · January 17, 2016

I went with a 6.5" Ready Lift and kept 18 wheels (-12 offset) with 35x12.5 BFG KO2's, there was some rubbing when I had the wheels at full lock when turning but a few hit with a hammer cleared that right up.

I have decided on purchasing the 6" Fabtech kit. I have 18's on the truck now and am trying to decide if I want to purchase 20's or stick with 18's. I was told by my local shop that 35's running 18x10 rims with a -12 or -24 offset will work with minor trim modification. They said the tire size should be 325x65x18. I like the wider stance but will the -24 cause me more issues? Any insight from anyone is much appreciated! Thanks!

Edited January 17, 2016 by Swankster988

crafferty · January 17, 2016

Your opinion of RC is based on what ? The oversized leveling kits they make ? because everyone else make those also .The economy 4 inch kits are all that way .

So if you look at there bracket drops and they knuckle lifts what is "shit" about them based on your personal experience. Last I check rough country has a lifetime parts warranty on parts failures.

I am just curious because I hear this over and over but it usually from people who bought the crap oversize level kit or from someone who never installed one.

I

My opinion of Rough Country being shit is based on a multitude of things such as online reviews (owners, previous owners, biased reviews, unbiased reviews, etc), opinions from friends who own or have owned their products and opinions of local shops. The one fact everyone can agree on is that Rough Country products are meant to be low cost and affordable. Because of this Rough Country sacrifices engineering and quality to offer cost effective products. With that being said my biggest problem with Rough Country is simply the quality of materials. You put a CST, FTS, BDS, etc. next to a Rough Country lift on the ground and the difference in parts is night and day. To be honest with you I always thought this was extremely exaggerated online until I had my 2012 Denali lifted with a 4" CST kit. I ordered my CST kit online and had it delivered to the local truck shop across the street from my work. I went over to the shop the day it arrived to check everything out and make sure nothing was damaged in shipping. To my surprise they had actually unboxed everything and had Rough Country kit laying on the ground next to the work bench my kit was on. I guess that day they had actually showed customers my kit to explain the differences in price and how you can justify the costs. But boy was I both impressed and astonished by the differences. Also, most shops will note that higher end lift kits actually install a lot easier than lower end kits. There isn't a need to wedge this here and bang a hammer on this or knock that to get parts in because the engineering and fitment is superior. Not mention once the CST kit was installed my truck drove just as good as stock if not better (same with my BDS kit too). If you talk to anyone who is honest about their Rough Country kit they will not that the ride quality suffered. Now it does help to run aftermarket shocks such as Bilstein but still will never be as good as stock. So that's my $.02 on the matter.

Swankster988 · January 17, 2016

My opinion of Rough Country being shit is based on a multitude of things such as online reviews (owners, previous owners, biased reviews, unbiased reviews, etc), opinions from friends who own or have owned their products and opinions of local shops. The one fact everyone can agree on is that Rough Country products are meant to be low cost and affordable. Because of this Rough Country sacrifices engineering and quality to offer cost effective products. With that being said my biggest problem with Rough Country is simply the quality of materials. You put a CST, FTS, BDS, etc. next to a Rough Country lift on the ground and the difference in parts is night and day. To be honest with you I always thought this was extremely exaggerated online until I had my 2012 Denali lifted with a 4" CST kit. I ordered my CST kit online and had it delivered to the local truck shop across the street from my work. I went over to the shop the day it arrived to check everything out and make sure nothing was damaged in shipping. To my surprise they had actually unboxed everything and had Rough Country kit laying on the ground next to the work bench my kit was on. I guess that day they had actually showed customers my kit to explain the differences in price and how you can justify the costs. But boy was I both impressed and astonished by the differences. Also, most shops will note that higher end lift kits actually install a lot easier than lower end kits. There isn't a need to wedge this here and bang a hammer on this or knock that to get parts in because the engineering and fitment is superior. Not mention once the CST kit was installed my truck drove just as good as stock if not better (same with my BDS kit too). If you talk to anyone who is honest about their Rough Country kit they will not that the ride quality suffered. Now it does help to run aftermarket shocks such as Bilstein but still will never be as good as stock. So that's my $.02 on the matter.

How do you feel about Fabtech? I posted above your post and haven't heard a response yet. I've heard great things about BDS, Zone and Fabtech in my research.

Jlm02a3094 · January 18, 2016

For what it's worth, I've had a few different lifts/levels. Nothing compares to the quality of my current BDS kit. That's from my drivers seat POV, and from my mechanic who has installed all of the following:

Rough country level on my 2008 Silverado

Rough country lift on my 2012 Silverado

Bilstein level on my 2014 ram

Fox level on my 2015 Sierra

BDS on my current truck, a 2015 Sierra

Josh

mrhonestlyinsane · January 18, 2016

I will agree to disagree.

Txjose,my review of the install was in this thread back in november.

I can only speak to the bracket lift. My track is stock. The angles are stock. I put the camber/ caster adjusters to where I removed them and the alignment shop didn't hav to move them. So I can't see why it would ride worse than stock which it doesn't

mrhonestlyinsane · January 18, 2016

Truck trend did an install of the 7 inch lift. http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/chassis-suspension/1404-2014-chevrolet-silverado-rough-country-7-inch-lift-install/

cmysstailights · January 18, 2016

How do you feel about Fabtech? I posted above your post and haven't heard a response yet. I've heard great things about BDS, Zone and Fabtech in my research.

Dont feel bad. Ive posted a few comments with no input.

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crafferty · January 18, 2016

How do you feel about Fabtech? I posted above your post and haven't heard a response yet. I've heard great things about BDS, Zone and Fabtech in my research.

Honestly, not too much. I really haven't paid much attention to them nor have they really been promoting themselves that much in recent years. Seems like they are really relying on customizers like Rocky Ridge and SCA to purchase their lifts as I never see any social media campaigns or TV ad's from them. But depending on the kit you get they look to be pretty expensive, $2.5-4k. At those prices I would purchase the BDS 6" or the CST 8". Now in regards to your question about wheels with -24 offset and a 35" tire. On my setup I have the 6" BDS lift (which increase the factory track width 1.5" per side) with 20x10 -24offset/4.5"bs wheels wrapped in 35x13.5R20 Toyo RT's and I rub in reverse at full lock. This is also after I have modified the front bumper and trimmed the rear of the wheel well. But if you stay with the recommended sizes from the manufacturer you will be fine. If I'm not mistake on the Fabtech's when they mention minimal trimming they are talking about trimming the rear plastic that covers the corner in the wheel well.

For what it's worth, I've had a few different lifts/levels. Nothing compares to the quality of my current BDS kit. That's from my drivers seat POV, and from my mechanic who has installed all of the following:

Rough country level on my 2008 Silverado

Rough country lift on my 2012 Silverado

Bilstein level on my 2014 ram

Fox level on my 2015 Sierra

BDS on my current truck, a 2015 Sierra

Josh

How is the comparison in ride between the GMC and the RAM?

I will agree to disagree. Txjose,my review of the install was in this thread back in november. I can only speak to the bracket lift. My track is stock. The angles are stock. I put the camber/ caster adjusters to where I removed them and the alignment shop didn't hav to move them. So I can't see why it would ride worse than stock which it doesn't

Fair enough for me!

Truck trend did an install of the 7 inch lift. http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/chassis-suspension/1404-2014-chevrolet-silverado-rough-country-7-inch-lift-install/

The problem with articles like this that they go through a authorized seller who naturally isn't going to publicly bad a mouth a product they sell. If they do they risk the chance of looking the product line. But was surprised me even more in the article is there was no mention on if they liked the lift kit or not. It was just hey we have a new truck, were going to "X" place, they install RC lifts, check out these install pictures, post install pictures. And I don't mean this in a way to bad mouth you or your opinion on RC I honestly thought this article was just dumb and lacking of information. With that being said I did read it on my phone so I may have missed a button to go to page two or something.

Txjose · January 18, 2016

Truck trend did an install of the 7 inch lift. http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/chassis-suspension/1404-2014-chevrolet-silverado-rough-country-7-inch-lift-install/

That truck makes me want to go 6 inch and 35s wow....

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mrhonestlyinsane · January 18, 2016

Cmysstailights,

To answer your earlier question.

Yes the airlift Springs in the back and the rc 3.5 lift in the front will work. But I wouldn't do it. Your ride will really stiff. The 3.5 kit is basically a leveling kit and they are stressing the the front end to achieve the height. All the 3.5 kits are this way. Do your research and you will see what I mean.

Swankster988 · January 18, 2016

Honestly, not too much. I really haven't paid much attention to them nor have they really been promoting themselves that much in recent years. Seems like they are really relying on customizers like Rocky Ridge and SCA to purchase their lifts as I never see any social media campaigns or TV ad's from them. But depending on the kit you get they look to be pretty expensive, $2.5-4k. At those prices I would purchase the BDS 6" or the CST 8". Now in regards to your question about wheels with -24 offset and a 35" tire. On my setup I have the 6" BDS lift (which increase the factory track width 1.5" per side) with 20x10 -24offset/4.5"bs wheels wrapped in 35x13.5R20 Toyo RT's and I rub in reverse at full lock. This is also after I have modified the front bumper and trimmed the rear of the wheel well. But if you stay with the recommended sizes from the manufacturer you will be fine. If I'm not mistake on the Fabtech's when they mention minimal trimming they are talking about trimming the rear plastic that covers the corner in the wheel well.

My local shop quoted me $2269.00 for the 6" Fabtech lift. That includes installation and alignment. If I bring my own lift kit in they charge $100 per hour. I was originally going to purchase the Zone 6.5" but it seems that $2269.00 isn't a bad deal. Do you have any pictures of your truck to give me an idea of what -24 offset looks like. Thanks!

crafferty · January 18, 2016

My local shop quoted me $2269.00 for the 6" Fabtech lift. That includes installation and alignment. If I bring my own lift kit in they charge $100 per hour. I was originally going to purchase the Zone 6.5" but it seems that $2269.00 isn't a bad deal. Do you have any pictures of your truck to give me an idea of what -24 offset looks like. Thanks!

Sure, give me a couple minute and i'll grab a couple pictures outside. For reference on my truck the tires stick out a total of 4" from the widest part of the front fenders. You should get some more information from your local shop because there are several 6" kits from Fabtech. Depending on the kit they are installing on your truck it may not be a deal or it may be a deal since the kits range from $1,600 - $4,000 (install time should be about 6-8 hours).

Swankster988 · January 18, 2016

Sure, give me a couple minute and i'll grab a couple pictures outside. For reference on my truck the tires stick out a total of 4" from the widest part of the front fenders. You should get some more information from your local shop because there are several 6" kits from Fabtech. Depending on the kit they are installing on your truck it may not be a deal or it may be a deal since the kits range from $1,600 - $4,000 (install time should be about 6-8 hours).

It is the Fabtech K1068 kit.

crafferty · January 18, 2016

It is the Fabtech K1068 kit.

I'd give Fabtech a call and see what the difference is between the K1068 kit and the GEN II K1084. Also, check out the prices on this website too they have the GEN II kit for 30% off plus no sales tax and free shipping. Also, when you speak with Fabtech get an estimate install time, they're install instructions do not state one.