Lift Kits

[whoDEANie]

fyi the new fords will fit 37's with just a 2.5" leveling kit and will run 35's stock.. have a look at my pics in the show your rig thread, all it has is a 2.5" carli leveling kit.. from all the ford sites I frequent it sounds like Carli or Icon are the best choices!

Shat, I was pretty disappointed to barely get 33x295's on with 4" of lift, but say la vie. Looks a little goofy, but it's still pretty sweet overall.

If you're dropping the buck on a new truck, I think a leveling kit is kind of a cheesy way to get lift. You ARE going to sacrifice ride and a good one is probably still gonna cost you over $2k installed. I got a good Cognito 4" lift that came with all the goodies (a-arms, ball joints, shocks, drive shaft, etc.) to help keep it reliable and somewhat performant. The Cognito kit cost me about $6k installed and gave my 3500 a pretty smooth ride.

 

[Cdnfireman]

If you're gonna use the truck off the pavement, do yourself and your wallet a favour and leave it stock or worst case a small levelling kit. Leave the lifts for the pavement princes.
The big ugly tires on gravel wear quicker, handle poorly and pitch rocks everywhere all over your trucks body. If you need aggressive tires for muddy roads, they're available in stock sizes that perform as well and keep the rocks under the body.
Huge tires full of mud will destroy your front end in no time. Too much rotating mass.
Other than looks, there's pretty much nothing good to say about lift kits. Costly to buy and they create more operating and repair costs. It's bad enough a decent truck costs 60k+, adding more on top of that is just adding insult to injury. Take the money wasted on a lift and spend a month in Hawaii.

 

[LBZ]

If you're gonna use the truck off the pavement, do yourself and your wallet a favour and leave it stock or worst case a small levelling kit. Leave the lifts for the pavement princes.
The big ugly tires on gravel wear quicker, handle poorly and pitch rocks everywhere all over your trucks body. If you need aggressive tires for muddy roads, they're available in stock sizes that perform as well and keep the rocks under the body.
Huge tires full of mud will destroy your front end in no time. Too much rotating mass.
Other than looks, there's pretty much nothing good to say about lift kits. Costly to buy and they create more operating and repair costs. It's bad enough a decent truck costs 60k+, adding more on top of that is just adding insult to injury. Take the money wasted on a lift and spend a month in Hawaii.

Wow what a load of BS!! Most of your statements are totally wrong IMO!
I have over 200 000 hard driven km on my '07 Dmax which has a 6" Fabtech lift and 35/12.5R18 tires. A good third of those km have been on gravel and half of that on absolutely garbage roads and really deep mud.
I have only had to change 1 pitman arm so far and one front wheel bearing and the brakes. Still running stock control arms and balljoints which are still good, and tie rods I run the HD Fabtech ones and change them out every 100 000 km give or take.
Without the lift there are LOTS of leases and roads I never would have been able to get around on if I was stock height with skinny pensioner tires.
I get on average between 60 and 90 000 km out of my tires depending where I am working and if it's winter/summer and my mud tires only cost about $400 more than a set of good stock size A/T tires do for all 4.
Buy a good lift, maintain your stuff and grease the wear points lots and it will last.
On a Dodge or Ford maybe you can get away without the lift as the frame sits alot higher than a GM but for that reason is why I lifted my Dmax. My current company truck as well as others has ripped stuff off underneath and off the front bumper several times. My dmax with the lift in way knarlier stuff-not once!!
Also with the right offset rim, mudflaps and fender flares, your body gets less rock chips than a stock truck does. Again, my stock '09 looks like it has twice the miles my '07 does.
I also tow 10k with my truck. Handles the load fine, handles the road empty fine.
Only downside of the lift/big tires-burns more fuel. And harder for fat chicks to get in if thats what your into!!

 

[pfi572]

What LBZ has said. Always had Ford before this truck.
Tried no lifts and lifted a couple times and the 4 inch lifted trucks with the right of set wheels always have stood up well if not better than then the stock one .
With the Gm I tried leveling kit with all the right a arms and such to do it right.
Changed out to 4 inch and truck rides and handles better.
Keep the stock of set as much as possible and not a huge tire and everything is fine.

 

[pfi572]

Just wanted add also that if I purchase another Ford with strait axle it would have a good quality leveling kit with good shocks.
Needs nothing bigger. Others have mentioned good quality products.
You get what you pay for.
A 250$ lift block is just that IMO.

 

[jaredszakacs]

I sell all brands of lift kits and have installed several brands of lift kits on the new fords. I have the carli 2.5" pintop kit and it rides awesome! not sure what buddy was talking about being hard on front end parts as you only change out sprins,shocks,leaf packs,and track bar. Suspension is like a built trans or motor do it right the first time so you dont have to go back and re do it again and again. The carli kit i found is a bit rough with the F350 block in the rear but put the F250 block in and it is super smooth. BDS is another lift we do a lot and love it. BDS has Lifetime warranty on any BDS part you break and they stand behind there warranty. Personally I wouldnt do anymore than a 2.5" system on new fords as they sit really tall from stock.

 

[Cdnfireman]

So in dollars spent, how much does it cost to add all that stuff to your Chevy, so that you can travel the lease roads that the fords and dodges do stock? Kudos on your tires and front end lasting as long as they do. Most stock chevs in the same conditions don't do any better, in fact tires lasting 90k in rough service is rare.
Lets face it. Most industrial users don't lift their trucks. It's an individual thing based mostly on looks. It's also fair to say that a stock truck will be more problem free ad have a better resale value than a lifted one. If that's your thing, have at it, and enjoy, but IMHO it's a huge cost both directly and indirectly.

 

[OnlyPolaris]

I run the 3.5" ready lift SST lift on my 08 f350. I think its great for the money.

 

[mareshow]

I'm Interested in this thread as well, I just picked up a 2013 F350 and i want to lift it. Gunna be calling the venders on this site for sure!

 

[HRT Offroad]

Lots of good info in this thread, but a lot of BS too There is a big difference between a performance suspension system and a lift kit. Make sure you talk to people who have a clue as to what they are talking about. A performance suspension system can enhance the ride quality. performance, handling and longevity of your truck. Lot's of know it all's out there, but from what I have read...a portion of them know NOTHING at all! Take much of what you read online with a grain of salt and talk to people who actually USE these trucks and know what they are talking about!

 

[tool_man]

I run the 3.5" ready lift SST lift on my 08 f350. I think its great for the money.

Same here for me, rides as good as stock and looks good with 35" tires. No issues, 40,000 kms.

 

[250mark1]

So in dollars spent, how much does it cost to add all that stuff to your Chevy, so that you can travel the lease roads that the fords and dodges do stock? Kudos on your tires and front end lasting as long as they do. Most stock chevs in the same conditions don't do any better, in fact tires lasting 90k in rough service is rare.
Lets face it. Most industrial users don't lift their trucks. It's an individual thing based mostly on looks. It's also fair to say that a stock truck will be more problem free ad have a better resale value than a lifted one. If that's your thing, have at it, and enjoy, but IMHO it's a huge cost both directly and indirectly.

from what i have seen in the used market the lifted trucks have a better resale value
personally i dont see many lifted trucks selling for less than a lifted one

 

[Cdnfireman]

Asking price and selling price are two different things. Maybe the demographics in your area favour younger folks who aren't afraid of modified stuff. Lots of young rig workers in central alberta. Lots of money looking for a place to be spent.

 

[freeflorider]

We're running a 2011 with a basic 6inch procomp with 90000km, only problem was loose shock, leaking shock and loose rear u bolts. Two 2013 with 4 inch bds...2500 km so a little early to say but is working nicely. these are bush trucks packing lots of weight and spend a great deal of time off road. I have replaced the 2011 shocks and moved up to a gas rs 9000, big difference so I recommend a gas shock right from the get go.
if I remember it was aprox $1700 installed.