Rough Country AT4 2" Model 1318 Leveling Kit Review Including Pics

rikhek · May 28, 2020

I installed the Rough Country Model 1318 2" leveling kit on my AT4 a couple days ago. The kit raised my AT4 exactly 2" as advertised and components do what they're designed to do. However, I'm an experienced mechanic and the install is a ROYAL PAIN in the backside. I don't think it can be done with one person. LONG pry bars, several floor jacks and sketchy body positioning are required to try and get the struts re-installed due to the added length. I had to completely remove the upper control arm to get the strut re-installed and even then it was a nightmare. Rough Country says 2 - 3 hour install time. Yeah, right.

I'm happy with the results but I WOULD NOT OFFER to help a friend install one if asked as it is really, really nigh on impossible to get it back together. I don't fault Rough Country as they had to work with with the room provided by GMC and their product achieves the desired and advertised results. I'm happy with the results but I will not be installing another. I would HIGHLY recommend the kit to my worst enemy and tell him the install is a piece of cake.

I do have an issue with the price of the kit. Extremely expensive for what they produced. I can't imagine it costs them more than $20 to produce the kit which is very basic and straight forward. It's just a top "doughnut" spacer and 4 plastic lower spacers with 4 bolts/washers/nuts. To charge $130 for what is sold is WAY OVER the top. I appreciate the fact that they had engineering work involved and need to recoup their development costs as well as make some money but they went WAY TOO HIGH on their pricing. I'm a Rough Country fan based upon their offerings on "other stuff" but this one left a bad taste in my mouth specific to the cost and installation difficulties.

If I had to do it over again I'd drop it off at one of several "shady" shops I despise due to shoddy work and overcharging and have them install provided they offered to do it for a flat 3 hour labor fee as RC advertises. They'd lose their ass on the install as it really is a SOB.

Eyeballing it makes me think I can fit either the BFG AT K02 305/70/18 which is 34.8" tall and a section width of 12.2" or the Toyo AT3 285/75/18 which is 34.8" tall and 11.3" wide. The BFG would probably have clearance issues with the upper control arm it they were true to size. As BFG ALWAYS exaggerates their advertised sizing by about 1" in height and width they might fit. The narrower Toyo will have a better chance if Toyo's advertised measurements are accurate. Anything larger will definitely have clearance issues when at full lock with the suspension heavily loaded. Trimming fender liners and/or mud flap would not help as the problem you'll run into is with the UCA. People saying they're fitting larger tires than I mention must be making their fitment comments with their wheels pointed straight ahead and an unloaded suspension.

Edited May 28, 2020 by rikhek

Supercup · May 28, 2020

I don't think you can fit the BFG 305's - they will hit UCA - the Toyos might fit @ 11:6" is as wide as you can go and make it work with stock wheels and stock offsets. I have 2019 AT4 - have Ready lift level kit, with their UCA's I have about 3/4" clearance from 275/65/18 Duratrak, which is 11.0" section width on 18MM offset method wheels - stock are 26MM so stock would be about 0.4" closer to the UCA than with my Methods, leaving you 0.35"

Now what may be different for you is stock UCA's may not be as close with at Ready Lift replacement UCA - But not much room in there either way.

Can you take a photo of your CV Axel angles with level kit in - flat ground - wheel straight - looking to see how it compares to mine with RL level - I attached some photos of mine now for comparison/reference.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Supercup

rikhek · May 28, 2020

As you allude to, I read the Ready Lift UCA's actually give you less room than the OEM arms. I read this several times on the interweb but, then again these comments might be posted by the same folks who state they fit 35x12.5x18 tires on a "stock" truck with no leveling kit or any trimming. NO WAY these folks are fitting that large a tire on an unleveled truck while still being able to turn AND have the suspension articulate.

FYI, I'm running the OEM 18" AT4 wheels. I "think" the BFG's might clear due to the fact that BFG's don't measure anywhere near their advertised specs. They're always significantly "smaller" than they say they are. Sort of sucks that they fudge on numbers so easily quantified by just using a tape measure. Regardless, after running BFG's for over 20 years I'm wanting to try something different. I really like the optional Goodyear DuraTrac's 275/65/18 I ordered with the truck but they howl at 53 - 55 mph AND at 20,100 miles mine are shot and need replacing. I generally get a bit over 25k miles out of a set of BFG's. I do admit I drive different than most. I drive it similar to the car in my Avatar .

I'll take the requested pics this evening and post.

Supercup · May 28, 2020

I have run BFG K02' as well - on my 2014 Raptor I got 45k out of first sent and sold truck at 88k on 2nd set - I drive a lot of freeway miles - so not as much wear as the twisties!

Interested to see the pic's of stock UCA clearance with 275/65/18 Duratraks

rikhek · May 28, 2020

Requested pics are now provided/attached to the my first post in this thread.

Edited May 28, 2020 by rikhek

Supercup · May 29, 2020

Thanks - a little more room to UCA with stock vs RL - interesting to see what you can fit - with a spacer a 305 could work! Let us know - intersted to see what you end up with.

Your truck looks great!

Edited May 29, 2020 by Supercup

Weir003 · February 28, 2021

On 5/28/2020 at 9:04 AM, rikhek said:

I installed the Rough Country Model 1318 2" leveling kit on my AT4 a couple days ago. The kit raised my AT4 exactly 2" as advertised and components do what they're designed to do. However, I'm an experienced mechanic and the install is a ROYAL PAIN in the backside. I don't think it can be done with one person. LONG pry bars, several floor jacks and sketchy body positioning are required to try and get the struts re-installed due to the added length. I had to completely remove the upper control arm to get the strut re-installed and even then it was a nightmare. Rough Country says 2 - 3 hour install time. Yeah, right.

I'm happy with the results but I WOULD NOT OFFER to help a friend install one if asked as it is really, really nigh on impossible to get it back together. I don't fault Rough Country as they had to work with with the room provided by GMC and their product achieves the desired and advertised results. I'm happy with the results but I will not be installing another. I would HIGHLY recommend the kit to my worst enemy and tell him the install is a piece of cake.

I do have an issue with the price of the kit. Extremely expensive for what they produced. I can't imagine it costs them more than $20 to produce the kit which is very basic and straight forward. It's just a top "doughnut" spacer and 4 plastic lower spacers with 4 bolts/washers/nuts. To charge $130 for what is sold is WAY OVER the top. I appreciate the fact that they had engineering work involved and need to recoup their development costs as well as make some money but they went WAY TOO HIGH on their pricing. I'm a Rough Country fan based upon their offerings on "other stuff" but this one left a bad taste in my mouth specific to the cost and installation difficulties.

If I had to do it over again I'd drop it off at one of several "shady" shops I despise due to shoddy work and overcharging and have them install provided they offered to do it for a flat 3 hour labor fee as RC advertises. They'd lose their ass on the install as it really is a SOB.

Eyeballing it makes me think I can fit either the BFG AT K02 305/70/18 which is 34.8" tall and a section width of 12.2" or the Toyo AT3 285/75/18 which is 34.8" tall and 11.3" wide. The BFG would probably have clearance issues with the upper control arm it they were true to size. As BFG ALWAYS exaggerates their advertised sizing by about 1" in height and width they might fit. The narrower Toyo will have a better chance if Toyo's advertised measurements are accurate. Anything larger will definitely have clearance issues when at full lock with the suspension heavily loaded. Trimming fender liners and/or mud flap would not help as the problem you'll run into is with the UCA. People saying they're fitting larger tires than I mention must be making their fitment comments with their wheels pointed straight ahead and an unloaded suspension.

Installed today and you are right it was a biatch! Overall happy with the results but it’s not a simple install!

Rukus · February 28, 2021

Not sure why you are having issues with the install... IF you loosen the top of the strut FIRST, then take axle nut off... push axle through, then take off the lower nuts/bolts... then tiered etc... it should be straight forward. 2 hour job if you are doing in a shop, 3 tops on a garage floor.

Quote

Edited February 28, 2021 by Rukus
fat finger

LTTB53 · March 1, 2021

Did this kit say it would lead to issues with the 4wd?

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LTTB53 · March 1, 2021

What kit did you go with? The ones I saw say don’t fit the trail boss

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Weir003 · March 1, 2021

It says that it doesn’t effect 4wd so that’s why I went with it.

Weir003 · March 1, 2021

Mine is the Rough Country 1318 but it’s specifically for AT4. I think they make one exclusively for Trailboss but it looks a little different.

Luz818 · April 4, 2022

Did anybody switch out their UCA for this kit. I have been reading conflicting reports on this product. Their website states that 4wheel auto isn't affected and stock UCA work with this product.