Looking For A Lift

C6 Doberman · January 13, 2009

Hey guys,

I had a 2003 hummer with a fabtech lift before this truck and I loved it. The lift was perfect. I had 38x15.50 nitto mud grapplers on it. Is there a lift for a 2008 1500 4wd that will accomodate 38" tires?

BuckFeverZ · January 13, 2009

Yeah there a number of lifts that will let you fit 38's on your new truck. It is highly not recommended that you run such a large tire on 1/2 components though. It could lead to a serious failure such as causing a ball joint to fail while going down the highway.

Stick to 35's

J-man67 · January 14, 2009

There are a few out there. FTS, BulletProof, and Cognito is coming out with one soon. 38's is def pushing it on a 1500 though....actually thats pushing it on any IFS truck.

C6 Doberman · January 14, 2009

Thanks guys!

J-Man what size tires are on your truck. It looks awesome. Here are some pics of my old truck.

BuckFeverZ · January 14, 2009

That was a pretty nice looking H2

J-man67 · January 14, 2009

Thanks guys!

J-Man what size tires are on your truck. It looks awesome. Here are some pics of my old truck.

They are 35's. Might POSSIBLY go to a 37, but thats after I order new rear springs, new UCA's, spacer, 14 bolt, and new gears.

That H2 is fuggin AWESOME.

flyin6 · January 17, 2009

Hi and welcome!

38's on the 1/2 ton drive train is going to cause problems for sure. You might physically get a tire like that to fit, but the front wheel bearings, rear axle shafts, and diff, front axles and other things will not stand up to the added forces of such a tire. Your H2 was actually a 2500 HD truck with MUCH beefier parts which easily accomodates 37's. Even so, the H2 would break front axles and tie rods with taller tires.

I own both a H2 SUT (lifted) and a Sierra Denali (lifted). The Sierra is no where near the H2 as far as strong, heavy duty parts are concerned. On my Denali, I have a 6" Superlift and only 33" tires and it all works fine. I think you might want to lower the bar a tad bit and consider a more reasonable (and less costly) tire such as the 33 or perhaps a 35, but no larger.

Also, unless you have a Denali or a Vortec-Max, you don't have much horsepower, and I believe the power loss from a 37"-38" tire would be very noticable with out a gear change to 4.56 or 4.88. Here's a pic of the smaller tire on the GMT-900 with a 33" street friendly tire

Good Luck!

C6 Doberman · January 17, 2009

Thanks for the advice guys! I am leaning towards the fabtech 6" with 35" mud grapplers. I found this truck on ebay and really liked the stance that it has. What offset would you need for the tires to sit out this far?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-S...5fCarsQ5fTrucks

flyin6 · January 18, 2009

Thanks for the advice guys! I am leaning towards the fabtech 6" with 35" mud grapplers. I found this truck on ebay and really liked the stance that it has. What offset would you need for the tires to sit out this far?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-S...5fCarsQ5fTrucks

You know, since mine has the stock wheel with something like 5.5" B.S. and the tires just fit inside the wheel well, those wheels are either 5" or 4.5" back spacing (I think)

J-man67 · January 18, 2009

I went with a 5" backspacing. Keep in mind that all these lifts increase the front track width.

C6 Doberman · January 19, 2009

Thanks J-man! That looks really good. You don't want to go too much and look like a rollerskate! This is what I'm use to. I know it is apples and oranges.

J-man67 · January 19, 2009

Thanks J-man! That looks really good. You don't want to go too much and look like a rollerskate! This is what I'm use to. I know it is apples and oranges.

No problem. I hear that! Do you still have that H2? I REALLY like it! Its great to see you use it too!

C6 Doberman · January 20, 2009

No! I let it go. Someone made me a really good offer for it and I took it. That is the problem now. I am trying to make up my mind. Should I lift my 08' or get another H2. The H2 was awesome off-road but the interior of my new truck is by far better. Both look good in different ways.

blackout07 · January 20, 2009

No! I let it go. Someone made me a really good offer for it and I took it. That is the problem now. I am trying to make up my mind. Should I lift my 08' or get another H2. The H2 was awesome off-road but the interior of my new truck is by far better. Both look good in different ways.

I vote for lifting the 08.

flyin6 · January 21, 2009

No! I let it go. Someone made me a really good offer for it and I took it. That is the problem now. I am trying to make up my mind. Should I lift my 08' or get another H2. The H2 was awesome off-road but the interior of my new truck is by far better. Both look good in different ways.

Both !!!

I'd keep the H2 (I did) for off road. It's W A Y better than the truck for that. Remember the 1/2 ton truck drive train is no where near the strength of the Hummer. Also the lifted 1/2 ton turning radius and sheer length will not allow it to be very good at anything difficult off-road. So do the H2 and...

Lift the Silvy or Sierra and drive on the street or use for mild trail work.

But that's just me!

Have fun, no bad decisions either way you go