Need Some Real Advice On Body Lifts!

ALEXANDERJASON · June 29, 2008

I have a 2008 GMC crew Z71 6.0L. I bought it two weeks ago, and have put the Rough Country 2" leveling kit on there with new wheels and 285/65-18 Nitto tires. I can't help but want more lift, but I can't sacrifice ride quality as this is a daily driver. I also tow a Toy Hauler once or twice a month, and i'm afraid that my towing would suffer from a 6" suspension lift not to mention my MPG when towing or not.

So here I am, stuck between a rock and a hard place. I want to go higher, but how?? i have been reading a lot about body lifts. Performance Accessories makes a 3" body lift, and i think if i go with the N-Fab nerf bars to hide the side of the exposed frame i would be happy with the look and the extra height. What about ride quality? it seems as if there are so many conflicting remarks about body lifts. some say they are dangerous, others say they are great. i just don't see any other alternative to achieve my goal, but i could learn to live with my truck the way it is rather than screw something up.

are there any issues with stabilitrak?

if i hide the side with nerfs, how does the front and rear look?

does the hitch remain where it is now? exhaust? tow hooks in front?

do they look extremely out of place?

are there REAL danger issues with a 3" body lift on the NBS trucks?

i have seen some pics on here from a few different trucks, but they are just enough to leave me with tons of questions.

any help or input you guys have would be appreciated!! i promise to begin posting some pics soon. i already spend way too much time on this forum (according to my wife). if they gave out wrenches for amount of time reading posts, i would have a truckload of them!!

the picture posted is from the Performance Accessories website for the NBS trucks

2000DV4.8 · June 29, 2008

Umberto (AllBlkdOut07) is running a leveling kit and a 3" body lift on his truck. Looks awesome, and when installed properly, there is nothing dangerous about body lifts. The hitch, exhaust, and tow hooks will all stay in place, since they are not attached to the body.

BigJayDogg3 · June 29, 2008

While there are several people on here that have them, I have found that when it comes to major suspension changes http://www.fullsizechevy.com has many more topics covering this. You may have more input there.

EDIT: fixed link.

tobias · June 29, 2008

Body lifts are just odd IMO. I've never known anyone with a body lift to not end up with the creaks and squeaks. If you get a high-quality 3" suspension lift, your ride quality will be fine and it'll look right the first time. Just my opinion.

BigJayDogg3 · June 29, 2008

Body lifts are just odd IMO. I've never known anyone with a body lift to not end up with the creaks and squeaks. If you get a high-quality 3" suspension lift, your ride quality will be fine and it'll look right the first time. Just my opinion.

That's my opinion as well, but I don't have the experience to back it up.

EDIT: Changed wording slightly.

Griffin86 · June 29, 2008

I have two trucks with body lifts right now (both performance accessories). With a NBS one your can't just bolt on your tow hooks and the hitch remains the same. Once I fix my exhaust you won't be able to tell it has a body lift on it.

2000DV4.8 · June 29, 2008

I have two trucks with body lifts right now (both performance accessories). With a NBS one your can't just bolt on your tow hooks and the hitch remains the same. Once I fix my exhaust you won't be able to tell it has a body lift on it.

Wow. I had no clue you even had a BL! On the NBS, that is.

June 29, 2008

my old truck had a bodylift on and never had a problem except when you turned really hard the box would sway about a 1/2"

nbscanuck · June 29, 2008

Towing with a 6" lift is wierd. What I mean is, if you have a heavy load (which I would say a tow hauler is) the height of the truck changes the centre of gravity and it feels tippy. If you get into ruts on the highway and the trailer swings a little, the truck swings ALOT. I only have 4" lift and I can feel it. One thing you can do to help eliminate some of it is helper air bags. You would have to modify the mounts if you go 6" lift. The higher the lift the more the tippy feeling.

A body lift isn't going to change the ride quality, since your not changing any suspension. Body lift isn't going to effect towing abilities since your not changing the suspension.

I guess it depends on what you are going for. More seat height? More wheel clearance? More suspension travel?

Griffin86 · June 29, 2008

Towing with a 6" lift is wierd. What I mean is, if you have a heavy load (which I would say a tow hauler is) the height of the truck changes the centre of gravity and it feels tippy. If you get into ruts on the highway and the trailer swings a little, the truck swings ALOT. I only have 4" lift and I can feel it. One thing you can do to help eliminate some of it is helper air bags. You would have to modify the mounts if you go 6" lift. The higher the lift the more the tippy feeling.

A body lift isn't going to change the ride quality, since your not changing any suspension. Body lift isn't going to effect towing abilities since your not changing the suspension.

I guess it depends on what you are going for. More seat height? More wheel clearance? More suspension travel?

You are still raising the centre of gravity. That will affect the characteristics of your ride, so in the way you are changing the quality.

ALEXANDERJASON · June 29, 2008

Towing with a 6" lift is wierd. What I mean is, if you have a heavy load (which I would say a tow hauler is) the height of the truck changes the centre of gravity and it feels tippy. If you get into ruts on the highway and the trailer swings a little, the truck swings ALOT. I only have 4" lift and I can feel it. One thing you can do to help eliminate some of it is helper air bags. You would have to modify the mounts if you go 6" lift. The higher the lift the more the tippy feeling.

A body lift isn't going to change the ride quality, since your not changing any suspension. Body lift isn't going to effect towing abilities since your not changing the suspension.

I guess it depends on what you are going for. More seat height? More wheel clearance? More suspension travel?

i am looking for a little more wheel clearance and a little more seat height/truck height. i am concerned about the hitch, exhaust, and tow hooks. when you see pictures of these body lifts, you rarely see detailed pictures of the aforementioned items. i wonder if it's because it looks bad, or ??? i'm ok with losing the rear bumper to pull as i would always use the hitch, and i am sure i can have the exhaust modified and some sort of fabrication to allow use of the tow hooks up front. i can't see three inches of gap between the rear hitch and bumper being that big of an issue.

i just don't see any other way to go higher while maintaining all of the ride quality i have now and keep my MPG from suffering too much for daily driving and towing heavy loads.

Anyone else have any thoughts before i take the plunge??

2000DV4.8 · June 29, 2008

Towing with a 6" lift is wierd. What I mean is, if you have a heavy load (which I would say a tow hauler is) the height of the truck changes the centre of gravity and it feels tippy. If you get into ruts on the highway and the trailer swings a little, the truck swings ALOT. I only have 4" lift and I can feel it. One thing you can do to help eliminate some of it is helper air bags. You would have to modify the mounts if you go 6" lift. The higher the lift the more the tippy feeling.

A body lift isn't going to change the ride quality, since your not changing any suspension. Body lift isn't going to effect towing abilities since your not changing the suspension.

I guess it depends on what you are going for. More seat height? More wheel clearance? More suspension travel?

i am looking for a little more wheel clearance and a little more seat height/truck height. i am concerned about the hitch, exhaust, and tow hooks. when you see pictures of these body lifts, you rarely see detailed pictures of the aforementioned items. i wonder if it's because it looks bad, or ??? i'm ok with losing the rear bumper to pull as i would always use the hitch, and i am sure i can have the exhaust modified and some sort of fabrication to allow use of the tow hooks up front. i can't see three inches of gap between the rear hitch and bumper being that big of an issue.

i just don't see any other way to go higher while maintaining all of the ride quality i have now and keep my MPG from suffering too much for daily driving and towing heavy loads.

Anyone else have any thoughts before i take the plunge??

The hitch doesn't look too bad, but you can always get a hitch from Hidden Hitch. They are designed to go on trucks with roll pans, but they work great on trucks with a BL since they are about 3" higher than the stock hitch.

ALEXANDERJASON · June 30, 2008

While there are several people on here that have them, I have found that when it comes to major suspension changes http://www.fullsizechevy.com has many more topics covering this. You may have more input there.

EDIT: fixed link.

Thanks for the link!! lots of good information about body lifts on that forum. can't believe more people didn't chime in here.

cambo · June 30, 2008

While there are several people on here that have them, I have found that when it comes to major suspension changes http://www.fullsizechevy.com has many more topics covering this. You may have more input there.

EDIT: fixed link.

Thanks for the link!! lots of good information about body lifts on that forum. can't believe more people didn't chime in here.

Well I don't speak for everyone, but I think body lifts look horrible. But the reason why most people didn't say anything is because its your truck and they don't want to tell you something you think may look good is really ugly. People can take trucks seriously.

2000DV4.8 · June 30, 2008

While there are several people on here that have them, I have found that when it comes to major suspension changes http://www.fullsizechevy.com has many more topics covering this. You may have more input there.

EDIT: fixed link.

Thanks for the link!! lots of good information about body lifts on that forum. can't believe more people didn't chime in here.

Well I don't speak for everyone, but I think body lifts look horrible. But the reason why most people didn't say anything is because its your truck and they don't want to tell you something you think may look good is really ugly. People can take trucks seriously.

If you do it right, you can't even tell when a truck has a BL.

Take a look at Griffin's NBS. Can't even tell unless you're looking extremely closely.