Poor Man's Lift Kit

[timcosco]

A few years ago, I was able to lift my Grand Cherokee 3" or so by installing a "Budget Boost" (2" spring spacers atop each coil) and installing 31" tires.  Articulation wasn't that great, but onroad manners remained superb.  The increased ground clearance kept me out of trouble for the most part.

 

Any thoughts on doing something similar to my 1500 Av?  Has anyone put spacers above the rear coils of their Suburban or Tahoe?

 

Thought I'd try to find some 1.5 - 2.0" spacers for the rear coils, then crank up the torsion bars the same amount.  Someday, I'll go up to 285/70R17's and get another half inch or so.  I can't afford a real suspension lift, but this should keep me satisfied until I can.

[gandolphxx]

Timcosco - you are going to have mucho problems raising the front that much with torsion tweaks - as for the rear you could go with Firestone air helpers.

 

Rancho makes what you want - 4 figures - lots of pennies to save up.

[TGS422]

http://www.hill4wheeldrive.com/

 

 

Check this out for a front leveling kit. You won't have to crank the tortion bar,

then just add whatever you want to the rear.

[chevy4x4trucks]

Tim, I wouldn't try to get that much from a T-Bar tweak, and if I did I would leave the rear end alone simply because the truck will go back to having a dramatic nose down appearance.  If you want to do a cheap lift get a body lift and some bigger meats.  BradyB's got some nice pics of his avalanche w/ the 3" body lift and 305's.

[timcosco]

Hmmm... the Front Leveling Kit from Hill seems interesting, but it's really nothing more that a torsion bar tweak using aftermarket adjustment cams that create greater lift with smaller adjustments of the adjusting bolt.  True?  Therefore, do you (Jon and Gandolphxxx) still recommend staying away from this?  How about if I stick to around 1.5" of lift?  Besides a stiffer front end, what kinds of problems should I expect?

 

TGS422 - thanks for the link.

[gandolphxx]

I will stick with my original comments - I think that chevy4x4trucks gave you the best approach - simple body lift - PA makes a well respected one - lot safer - worth the wait - the larger tires will give you the clearance your looking for at the right price.

[chevy4x4trucks]

I say body lift, tweak the t-bars about an inch and get some 285's.  It'll run you less than a grand for all of it and it will be well worth it.

[2000 GMC]

I was talking to a guy a the the 4x4 shop here in town.  He said it would be best to order HD torsion bars and have them installed.  

[c4boom]

ok the first thin that every one thinks is the at when you tweak the t bars that it will screw up the truck it will not but you will need to get the truck aligned with any thing over .5" the new avalanches will fit  a 285/70R17's with out a body lift I had 285/75/16's on my 1988 3/4 ton with no lift they only rubbed when I beet on it i am talking 5"s of air or more or if i twisted it up to the point that it lifted a tire. you might need to get a after market adjuster cam for the front end but it can be done and if you keep the uca's off the bump stops it will ride ok too

[BDBWTE]

I don't know about that way of getting ride height hurst the truck or not.  I had a 99 Silverado that I pull a 2" lift block out back and then with an impact wrench bottomed out the torsion rod adjusters to get the truck up where I could fit 33x12.50x16's.  I wouldn't do it again but it rode like #### but hey I fit the tires I wanted.  I personally wouldn't do it again but before I sold it I took it all back to stock and I was depressed with the stock ride height.  It didn't seem to hurt the suspension any but that's my opinion.  Just make sure you get U-Bolts long enough if you do it.  I lifted the back of my truck off the groud with my pintle hook hooked to the hitch of the truck, according to the crane it was lifting around 1800lbs to get her a$$ off the ground.  So that says something about the stock hitch..Do what makes you happy man.