2014+ Suspension Lifts

[mmwest]

My truck is going back to the dealer tomorrow for the blankity ,blank time. The ride on my 2.5' RC level is terrible as it bounces down the freeway and I have never experienced such a crappy ride (bounces) while towing the boat. ...........oh yea, and sunroof leaks AGAIN. Money aside what is the best riding 2.5" level kit/suspension/shocks you can install on these trucks. At this point I want this baby to ride like a Caddy and expecting the dealer to get it there after all the BS ive gone thru with this truck. Terrible Experience with GMC

Thanks for any suggestions

Edited September 14, 2016 by mmwest

[skallywag]

My truck is going back to the dealer tomorrow for the blankity ,blank time. The ride on my 2.5' RC level is terrible as it bounces down the freeway and I have never experienced such a crappy ride (bounces) while towing the boat. ...........oh yea, and sunroof leaks AGAIN. Money aside what is the best riding 2.5" level kit/suspension/shocks you can install on these trucks. At this point I want this baby to ride like a Caddy and expecting the dealer to get it there after all the BS ive gone thru with this truck. Terrible Experience with GMC

Thanks for any suggestions

What tires are you running? I have same level no bounce or anything but I'm also still on factory 20 and 275/55 factory Goodyears. Best ride would be with fox or icon coilover set up. Even that will be stiff feeling though. As far as caddy quality. Go back to stock and get some bilstiens set to factory setting. Be the best ride. But for a litter or level truck it's no plush and comphy ride. At least from my experience. This is truck number 14 in 10 years. All lifted or leveled.

[mmwest]

Running 275/65/20 KO'2

[Abearclaw]

What size tires are you running?

 

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Not sure if that was for me but I'm running 35" toyo rt's

 

 

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[AMDftw]

My truck is going back to the dealer tomorrow for the blankity ,blank time. The ride on my 2.5' RC level is terrible as it bounces down the freeway and I have never experienced such a crappy ride (bounces) while towing the boat. ...........oh yea, and sunroof leaks AGAIN. Money aside what is the best riding 2.5" level kit/suspension/shocks you can install on these trucks. At this point I want this baby to ride like a Caddy and expecting the dealer to get it there after all the BS ive gone thru with this truck. Terrible Experience with GMC

Thanks for any suggestions

 

Sorry to hear about this, I have the same leveling kit and rides really smooth. Although I do have the stock tires right now.

 

What tires are you running? I have same level no bounce or anything but I'm also still on factory 20 and 275/55 factory Goodyears. Best ride would be with fox or icon coilover set up. Even that will be stiff feeling though. As far as caddy quality. Go back to stock and get some bilstiens set to factory setting. Be the best ride. But for a litter or level truck it's no plush and comphy ride. At least from my experience. This is truck number 14 in 10 years. All lifted or leveled.

 

My truck has those stupid ContiEcoPlus sh*t tires. The sidewall has zero flex but on the hwy/IS they are really smooth. SF/Bay area, CA has some of the sh*tty a$$ streets. Every time i drive over a crack, it feels like a drove over a gorge.

 

[mmwest]

I have put 5100's on the rear and have a set for the front coming tomorrow. I have read so many post about this that I literally don't know if I want to even go that route. Thinking the Bilsteins will be better that the Ranchos but at this point I have no clue.

 

I know this makes no sense to some but ever since I went from a 2 inch to 2 1/2 inch rough country my ride has gotten a lot worse.

 

 

 

live like at sailor at sea.

Bob Seger

Edited September 14, 2016 by mmwest

[Bayou-AllTerrain]

My truck is going back to the dealer tomorrow for the blankity ,blank time. The ride on my 2.5' RC level is terrible as it bounces down the freeway and I have never experienced such a crappy ride (bounces) while towing the boat. ...........oh yea, and sunroof leaks AGAIN. Money aside what is the best riding 2.5" level kit/suspension/shocks you can install on these trucks. At this point I want this baby to ride like a Caddy and expecting the dealer to get it there after all the BS ive gone thru with this truck. Terrible Experience with GMC

Thanks for any suggestions

I had that same RC 2.5" kit on my 14 AT with 295/55/20 Toyo ATs and it rode really good. I think most all of any harshness it had were from the LT tires. I'm thinking your problem is not your lift, just my opinion.

[PHOSHZL]

 

 

I noticed not very many of you suggested or are using ICON lifts for your trucks. Is there a reason? I'm only wanting to lift mine no more that 4 inches. A couple of buddies of mine with Tacos recommend ICON. It seems to me, they're to many lift to choose from. I want the best ride since I do daily the truck too. I still want the functionality of a truck with a 2 car trailer. I also go camping and looking at a new Tepui tent setup. If anyone can point me in the right directions it would be grateful. I won't be changing rims just tires but stock dimensions or close to it.

 

I have the stage 5 Icon set up and I absolutely love it. Rides stiffer than stock on the softest setting and gets rid of the floaty feel of the stock suspension, especially the front. To me it's how a truck should ride and come from the factory. I've only towed 3000-4000# so far but had no issues at all. You can only get about 3" max height out of the Icon set up. My fronts are maxed out but I wish I could go a tad higher. If you want 4" then like others have suggested I am sure the BDS 4" with Fox coilovers would be a nice set up as well.

 

My set up below.

 

DSC00343 by Chris Minshall, on Flickr

[skallywag]

Dude that looks sweet.

[Waaazooo]

I understand a better ride. I really do. But for the function of bigger tires and/or aesthetics of a 4" lift i sort of think it's a waste of money..(unless the ride is improved that much). I guess it makes as much sense as a 6" because you're not stuffing larger than 35" tires.

 

Or am I wrong?

 

 

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[14 Silvy]

Not sure if that was for me but I'm running 35" toyo rt's

 

 

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It was thanks.

 

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[PHOSHZL]

Dude that looks sweet.

 

Thanks! Changing the wheel color to bronze tomorrow, hoping it still looks good lol. We'll see.

[skallywag]

 

Thanks! Changing the wheel color to bronze tomorrow, hoping it still looks good lol. We'll see.

How are you doing it? Powder or paint? What's the specs?

[Abearclaw]

 

I have the stage 5 Icon set up and I absolutely love it. Rides stiffer than stock on the softest setting and gets rid of the floaty feel of the stock suspension, especially the front. To me it's how a truck should ride and come from the factory. I've only towed 3000-4000# so far but had no issues at all. You can only get about 3" max height out of the Icon set up. My fronts are maxed out but I wish I could go a tad higher. If you want 4" then like others have suggested I am sure the BDS 4" with Fox coilovers would be a nice set up as well.

 

My set up below.

 

DSC00343 by Chris Minshall, on Flickr

Second time I've seen that truck on here and this time I had to comment lol. Great looking truck man. And solid advice, I agree the coilover set ups are a lot more "planted" when driving. I definitely think trucks should feel this way outta the box. I'm running a BDS 4" with fox coilovers. Definitely a good investment. I just need to find some better rear shocks... Anyway nice freakin truck man, well done on the that

 

 

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[PHOSHZL]

I understand a better ride. I really do. But for the function of bigger tires and/or aesthetics of a 4" lift i sort of think it's a waste of money..(unless the ride is improved that much). I guess it makes as much sense as a 6" because you're not stuffing larger than 35" tires.

 

Or am I wrong?

 

 

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I don't think anyone is wrong. It's all personal preference and I do appreciate the aesthetics of all kinds of different lifts. For me, I come from modified cars, this is my first truck I've ever owned. Right off the dealer lot I hated how soft and floaty the suspension felt, I mean its comfortable I guess for the general masses and the stock tires are super quiet, but its just not my cup of tea. I prefer a more controlled and stiffer suspension/wheel/tire combo. I work in the aftermarket suspension industry (for cars) so to me suspension is one of the best modifications you can do to any vehicle to improve the ride and handling charactaristics. The shop I went thru here in Arizona cranks out tons of coil over set ups on trucks ranging from Icon to Fox to King and I was able to ride in several of their shop vehicles which is what convinced me to go with the Icon/Method/Toyo set up that I have.

 

In my previous vehicles I was always used to paying $4500 alone just for wheels and tires, so coming to the truck world and being able to get the Icon stage 5 and wheels/tires for just a little bit more installed was great.

 

I think there are pro's and con's to any set up. I have rode in many trucks with 6" lifts that basically just raise the drivetrain and come with cheap shocks and far as ride quality goes it's not even a comparison.

 

For me I guess my biggest con is the height gain vs dollar spent but going into it I knew I wouldn't get much of a lift. Now that I've had it installed for almost 2 months I do wish I could go a little higher. The biggest pro to me is the ride quality is phenomenal and knowing that I can go on the trails at higher speeds and have full confidence in my suspension is very important to me. Ideally I would love to be at around 4-5" lift on 35s. Hopefully someone comes out with lift spindles for the 4WD models soon.