Suggestions? 1500 Silverado Lift/tires/wheels

Bigfig · November 27, 2008

Hey i'm looking to most likely buy a 2007 1500 Silverado Z71 4x4 LT within this month gonna use for ocassional offroad but mostly as my main car for transportation to get around looking for any suggestions or helpful tips before i install anything in my truck. Open to all suggestions. (mainly wondering how truck would run during off-roading) Thank you

Looking into:

Most likely Fabtech 6" lift kit kinda looking at a bds one as well

35" toyo tires open country m/t

18" XD series wheels

Possibly Fox Shox as well

im looking for the best quality with less $

Thanks again.

silverbullet2005 · November 27, 2008

Both the Fabtech kit and BDS kits are great, I have the BDS kit and love it. Do a search on here for BDS Suspension and you'll find my post from my installation. I was going to go withe the Toyo M/T's but the guys at Discount Tire said that they don't get good mileage out of them and recommended me go with the Cooper Discoverer STT/s which have the same tread pattern but last twice as long according to them so that's what I went with. I've got about 6000 miles on them and they still look like new, they don't appear to have worn down at all. For wheels I've always had great luck with American Racing wheels. I've heard good things about Liquid Metal wheels from Discount Tire as well.

Bigfig · November 27, 2008

alright for sure thanks i'll look into that and check those out

i put up a couple of attachments for pictures of the fabtech kit, wheels and tires what im looking at to get for right now check them out and let me know what you think. Thanks

onac255 · November 27, 2008

What color is your truck? I think that setup is a very good one and you will definitely be happy with it!

Bigfig · November 28, 2008

Im getting a black one i'll put pictures up once i go back to look at it and buy it im getting it around christmas time. and thanks i hope so

What are your guys thoughts on some fox shoxs?

onac255 · November 28, 2008

They are a bit pricey but very good shocks. I would get King Coilovers instead of fox though.

J-man67 · November 28, 2008

Both Fabtech and BDS have great kits. Mine rides great both on and off-road. Yes, the fox shocks are pricey, but good. How often do you plan on being off-road and how hard do you plan on driving the truck?

Bigfig · November 28, 2008

alright for sure i'll look into those king coilovers.

and im kinda leaning over on the fabtech kit right now i'll most likely get that.

and for off-roading i'll probably really go every once in a while not much but ima use my truck to also get around as my main car for transportation but also where i live theres a bunch of little trails and stuff for a little off-road fun that i'll probably do a lot on weekends with some friends but the trails and stuff are not anything to big.

j-man u have a fabtech kit right? would u recommend getting it?

J-man67 · November 29, 2008

The stock strut should be fine for what you have planned. I mean if you have the extra cash, then go for it, but I don't really think you would need Kings for what you are doing. I venture off-road about every 2 weeks and I think the stock struts are fine for that. I am happy with mine. Yes, I have the fabtech kit. Its advertised as a 6" kit but it is really about an 8" lift. I chose it b/c you get a lot for the money. If I didn't go with the Fabtech, BDS was next on my list. If you want more hieght there is also Bulletproof and Cognito. Cognito is about to put out their lift. I think its a 9-11" kit. Nice, but PRICEY. I am very happy with the lift I chose. I installed it myself so I handled every part and everything was quality made. Where have you looked for these lifts? Are you doing the install yourself? Let me know. I know of a few places with the best prices.

Bigfig · November 29, 2008

Well in that case i'll stay with the stock for a bit because im mainly focused on getting my lift, tires and wheels 1st but when i get the money i might just go with getting a sound system before getting those fox shox then in that case. you probably use your truck for more off-roading than i'll probably use mine so if u say the stocks are fine i'll stay with that and i havent looked around lifts much because i always set my eyes on the fabtech and im probably sticking with that. and nah i dont trust myself installing it haha im gonna go have some shop install it for me hopefully.

flyin6 · November 30, 2008

I'd take a look at the Superlift kit as well. With it you can use the stock wheels like I did on my truck. It's a great kit, right up there with the best. I got over 7" in the front when I installed mine.

Bigfig · November 30, 2008

alright i'll check that out. hows ur truck run with it?

flyin6 · November 30, 2008

alright i'll check that out. hows ur truck run with it?

I absolutely love it! he Denali comes with a suspension a little softer than a Silvy or Sierra. The Superlift I got was with the longer front superlift strut and rear bilstien shocks. It now has more of BMW 7-series feel. Very stable and comfortable. No rolling in the corners and you feel very little of the road unless it's rough.

The other guys are steering you in the right direction also. Fabtech and BDS are both super well built kits. In the end it's about choice.

I went with SuperLift because:

1. you can use the stock wheel (as in spare) so you don't have to buy 5 wheels if you decide to change

2. It keeps everything inside the factory wheel wells

3. They supply a stronger, longer front strut

4. they reposition the front diff the correct distance downward

5. and just the total quality of the kit. It fits like a gig-saw puzzel!

flyin6 · November 30, 2008

alright for sure thanks i'll look into that and check those out
i put up a couple of attachments for pictures of the fabtech kit, wheels and tires what im looking at to get for right now check them out and let me know what you think. Thanks

Good choices all...

I'm not a big fan of the wheels, but that's just me, I like the understated look.

I would offer a suggestion on the tires. You have EXCELLENT tires picked out, but given the off road ability of a GM truck, they are definately overkill. Again, they are great tires, they look good, last a long time with proper rotating, and obviously work well off road.

I use the BFG AT's and I have to say for almost 4 decades they have been consistiently in the top grouping of off road tires. They are super on road friendly with almost no noise, great in the snow, do well in all but the stickiest of mud, do well in sand and grip on rocks well also. They cost a ton less and will last a lot longer than the Toyos.

I use the BFG At's on my family car which is a suburban, I have them on my Denali, A N D, I kept them on my Hummer H2 which I use on and off road. There is very little I can't get through with those tires, so they are staying. Now for pure off road, I have a crawler truck, and I use Pro-Comp 37" XT's. They make a bunch of noise and are marginal in mud, no better in fact than the BFG 35" AT's on my H2!

So just offering a suggestion and to say, sometimes the best tire may not be the one with the most aggressive tread!

Good Luck!

blackout07 · November 30, 2008

I am running the 6" BDS High Clearance kit on my truck, and it's great. It also has a longer strut as opposed to the spacer. The ride is great, much better in fact than when I was just running a leveling kit on the stock suspension. A friend has a 08 Chevy Z71 4x4 with the 6" Fabtech (basic kit I think), and maybe I am a little biased, but I really think my truck rides smoother and takes bumps better. Also, the BDS warranty is a unbeatable. All of the above mentioned kits are extremely high quality with the ride heights typically being within about 1/2" of each other. Whatever kit you choose, I think you will be satisfied.