Leveling Kit Not Enough

Dropsix · April 10, 2015

I like a little rake. When it is perfectly level, the front "looks" higher than the rear.... and if you add anything in the bed it gets even worse.

Yup

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · April 10, 2015

I like a little rake. When it is perfectly level, the front "looks" higher than the rear.... and if you add anything in the bed it gets even worse.

I've been saying that on here too. My old 98 was leveled when I bought it used. Sure it looked better when not doing any work but once you put any kind of weight in the bed and/or hooked a trailer to it then it looked like it was dragging a**. I was going to level my '14 but after adding the toolbox and putting all the tools, towing stuff, recovery stuff and so on, it was enough weight to lower the back closer than it was. So now if anything I'll just do a 1.5" on the front and replace the rear axle 1" block with a 2" block so raise it 1". It should be less of a rake but still keep the rake.

dirtbikindude · May 9, 2015

I agree with some of the others' comments here - it looks great. And I also want to know how those Nittos are doing in terms of fit - no rubs, any mods to the wheel well or anything else to make those donuts fit?

Sorry about the delayed response, but yes I had to cut the wheel well a little to make them fit. They only rub if I'm off road and the truck is torqued/off level, but other than that it was an easy fit.

EChavez · May 9, 2015

That's just how these trucks sit with leveling kits. I have a 2.5" on mine and it has a slight (only I usually notice it) droop. Personally, I hate it. I'd rather have the front higher than the rear but that's just personal preference. Maybe one day I'll get some nice coilovers but for now I guess it'll do.

high country · May 9, 2015

Looks good to me, time to enjoy and drive it.

Isriam · May 10, 2015

it looks good but i understand what you mean. your wheels fill up the wells so you'd probably want to just go with a 4" lift. I doubt you'd notice a change in ride if you got a quality kit.

surebuttercringe · May 10, 2015

Are you sure it's 1.5" - 2" lower in the front? I'm just having a real hard time believing that you put a 2" level on it and it still sits that low in the front. That would mean stock would be almost 4" lower which just doesn't seem right. Have you actually measured it? I can tell you that on my 2014 Z71, I had a 1.5" top strut spacer installed and it wasn't level, so I ordered a 1" bottom strut spacer and installed it and it sits perfectly level now and that's with the stock block in the back.

Collinedwards · May 11, 2015

I did a 2.5 lift in the front and stock in the back because I felt the 2 wasn't enough. After looking at my 2.5 for a month or two I feel I should have gotten a 3inch lift. When u drive ur front end comes up a bit to will be leveled when u drive. But as for stand still I think a 3 inch is right IMO. Here's mine with a 2.5 front end lift stock rear. Before (top) bottom (after the 2.5 in front).

CptMcSaug · May 11, 2015

I have a 2.5 in leveling kit but didn't use the top spacer or the back if you wanna buy them. I like the little rake for when I pull my boat it doesn't squat my truck.

So I have the .5" spacer and the rear 2" block from RC.

bcbz71 · May 12, 2015

Finally, after reading hundreds of posts, I found someone running 295/70r18 Nitto TG G2 with just a level kit. Well done! That's a 34" tire. Post up as many pics as you want of this fine machine. Would love to see front and rear pics to see the width of that tire. I'm running 275 G2s now but really want to go to your size tire. I'm gonna stay with the stock Z71 rims. This post may have just cost me $1200!!

I'm really interested in what you trimmed....can you take some pics of that area? Was it just the fabric wheel liner? Some pics lock to lock front and rear would help a lot of us wanting to try a 34" tire!!

Sounds like you are very critical of a perfectly leveled truck, but 99.9% of the people looking at your truck can't tell the difference. Personally, I like the 2.5 up front and the rear block (1" rear lift). Like said already, put a bag of groceries in the back of these 1500s and they will squat. My 16' boat with very little tongue weight makes mine squat and I have the RC 1" lift block in the rear.

And, if you want more lift without sacrificing that great ride, put a 1.5" body lift on it. Bam!

14x4 · May 14, 2015

For what it's worth, here's a 2" level with an 1.5" body lift. 295/70r18's.

bcbz71 · May 15, 2015

For what it's worth, here's a 2" level with an 1.5" body lift. 295/70r18's.

I'm not a fan of the black rims, but they work on your truck. Did you try those tires before the body lift?

tyrich88 · May 18, 2015

For what it's worth, here's a 2" level with an 1.5" body lift. 295/70r18's.

Did you have any rubbing issues with just the level? Or did you install the level and the body lift at the same time?

14x4 · May 18, 2015

I put the tires on after the body lift and level were installed. I rub the fender liner but that's it. OP is running the same size tires with just a level and rubs the same. However trail grapplers run a little bit bigger.