2 inch front level lift before/after installing 35s?

[Icelink]

Hey everyone

I'm in the process of leveling my 2024 GMC Denali 3500

2 inch front level with alignment to accommodate 35 inch tires

I'm currently running my stock 275/65R20 tires

Can I get the truck Leveled with alignment with my current stock tires/rims?

Or Should I wait till I put my 35s on the factory rims before I do the 2 inch level lift/alignment?

Does it matter?

[bruceb58]

Do you ever tow or haul heavy loads in your bed? If yes, do not level.

[Another JR]

Regarding bruceb58’s comment:

 

Just as a data point, my 2021 3500 CCLB gas SRW with stock suspension and payload rating of 4,055 lbs is “leveled” when I have my 1,800 lbs pop-up slide-in camper installed. The rear drops about 1.5 inches and it has about 1/2 inch of remaining rake at that load. 

[bruceb58]

This is my truck before I added the WDH. Even with the initial rake, I am now down in the back. With the WDH, I am perfectly level. Tongue weight for my boat is 600#.

 

With my travel trailer that also weighs 6500# but with 800# of tongue weight. With the WDH set up, it is perfectly level.

 

Edited January 17, 2025 by bruceb58

[Another JR]

7 hours ago, bruceb58 said:

This is my truck before I added the WDH. Even with the initial rake, I am now down in the back. With the WDH, I am perfectly level. Tongue weight for my boat is 600#.

 

With my travel trailer that also weighs 6500# but with 800# of tongue weight. With the WDH set up, it is perfectly level.

 

Is yours a 2500, Bruceb58?

[Another JR]

Regarding the OP’s alignment question:  Theoretically aligning before or after moderately changing the tire size without changing the center of the contact patch should make no difference. However, why risk having a problem. If you do it after, and then have an issue, there won’t need to be a debate with the aligning shop about whether the tire change introduced the problem. 

[bruceb58]

3 hours ago, Another JR said:

Is yours a 2500, Bruceb58?

Yes it is. In my signature.

[Epsilon Plus]

These trucks ride so rough stock I'd imagine getting a key-n-crank kit wouldn't be helping that at all. Not sure how else these trucks could be "leveled" without torsion key cranking or new key sets. Just remember what it does to your ball joint and CV angles. That's why I went through the PITA of doing the ZR2 swap.