BDS 4.0" vs Zone 4.5" need advice for 2014

ace ventura · January 15, 2014

I've been researching both of these lifts extensively for my 2014. I already have some 33" tires and a 17" wheel set up which led me to the 4" lift options. As far as cost there's about an $800 difference between the two. I know about BDS having a better warranty etc.. Here's what I've found out. Zone does have a limited lifetime warranty. If something breaks under normal use they will replace it but may investigate more into what happened. BDS has a no fine print warranty. They replace parts without any questions. The zone lift is a spacer lift with a full differential drop. The BDS lift is a strut lift with differential drop. So the kits are drastically different. What's confusing me is which one will offer a better ride. My logic thinks that the zone lift would offer a better ride or more of a stock ride because the strut isn't changed just pushed down from the top and lowered at the bottom. I do have not experience with a strut lift. If you have a BDS lift how is the ride?

Below are the images of the kits. BDS and zone. Some differences include the crossmember contour and the skid plate is included with the BDS kit. Zone offers a skid plate for an extra $60.

LTZ2014 · January 16, 2014

Check out rough country 5" kit. Lifetime warranty on parts. That's what I'll be getting here soon. I can get u a deal on it.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

LTZ2014 · January 16, 2014

No need to replace the knuckle with the redesigned kit and does not widen track width. Also drops the diff 5" so that puts your angles close to factory which will maintain a great riding kit.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

ace ventura · January 17, 2014

I've considered the Rough country 5" lift. From the looks of it, it is similar to the zone 4.5 lift. Again a spacer lift that I'm wondering how the ride etc.. is with the spacer and the dropped differential compared to a strut lift. From the 4wd shops i've talked to they really don't like rough country. Even with the warranty they said the customers got tired of coming in for warranty issues on the bushings etc..

ace ventura · January 17, 2014

One thing that one of the shops said makes sense. He said the BDS struts are designed for use with a heavier bigger tire.

LTZ2014 · January 18, 2014

One thing that one of the shops said makes sense. He said the BDS struts are designed for use with a heavier bigger tire.

I've been dealing with lift kits for about 5 years or so. Just giving my input. Old school rough country ya. Could see issues, but these new kits are good to go. The ride will be pretty damn good with that 5" kit. I'm actually going to get the kit and put bilstein struts and shocks on it so i can have the best possible ride with a lifted truck. The shop around my house is always wanting to push BDS on everyone, I'm sure it's a great kit but over priced when comparing to other kits that are very similar in my opinion. I had a 7" Full Throttle Suspension on my last truck and loved it.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

LTZ2014 · January 18, 2014

One thing that one of the shops said makes sense. He said the BDS struts are designed for use with a heavier bigger tire.

I've been dealing with lift kits for about 5 years or so. Just giving my input. Old school rough country ya. Could see issues, but these new kits are good to go. The ride will be pretty damn good with that 5" kit. I'm actually going to get the kit and put bilstein struts and shocks on it so i can have the best possible ride with a lifted truck. The shop around my house is always wanting to push BDS on everyone, I'm sure it's a great kit but over priced when comparing to other kits that are very similar in my opinion. I had a 7" Full Throttle Suspension on my last truck and loved it.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

ace ventura · January 18, 2014

Appreciate the response. This is where I start to get hung up. If you need to add bilsteins all the way around then the overall cost goes up. Let's say by $300 or so. I think the 5" kit is about $1000. The bds kit with supposedly good struts and shocks can be purchased for about $1700. So u start to ask is a $400 savings enough to go this route. I'm not sure overall and longevity etc.