Hey, we have practically the same truck ('97 Club Cab 4x4 with 5.2L/5-speed).

I went with the Tuff Country lift on mine. I probably would have done a SAS, but my truck is pretty much my only transportation and I had to make sure I could drive it to work on Monday. The 5-1/2" lift was enough to barely fit 305/70R16 tires (equivalent to 33x12.50).

33" tires really cut into your power, so you might want to keep that in mind if decent acceleration is important to you. I changed my gears to 4.10s, which are just about perfect, IMO.

exterior.jpg?t=1341726371

 

Instead of starting another thread on the same topic, I will ask my questions here. I have a 2002 Dakota QC SLT. It has the 4.7l, automatic tranny and 4WD. Since it is also a 2nd Gen, wouldn't the Tuff Country 35940 kit work or is there some huge difference suspension wise that would restrict me to cranking the torsion keys and then body lifting the truck?
Anyone have any reviews of the aforementioned kit, such as is it worth the money and is it really easy to install? Besides shocks do I need to purchase replacement coil springs for the front end since the kit says it includes the add-a-leaf kit.

Thanks for the help.
- Dutch

 

The TC kit won't work with your rack and pinion.

 

You get a body lift fairly reasonable and it will take about a good day to install. The thing some people do not like about a body lift is the gap between body and frame. My solution went to Lowe's and got some black rubber floor runner and cut to fit and installed using self tapping screws. Or you can buy gap guards at $100.

 

Ahh that TC Suspension lift is Beastly I'd Like to get the same thing for my beat arounder when i get the CashFlow of Course!!

 

I'm seriously considering sticking a solid axle under mine. Not sure yet. I'd kinda like to lift it a little higher and run some bigger tires, but I'm not sure I wanna spend that much cash yet.

 

That SAS is the only way to go, For tires bigger than 35, Hell 35's are pushing it for the IFS in my opinion, I havent seen bigger suspension kits than the 5.5" i guess body wafers can be used. Sweet truck tho.

 

SAS is next for my rig. Already found a set of Dana 60's with 4.56 gears, now to tear em apart and rebuild. Unfortunately they cost most of my budget so this project is gonna take awhile. Anything over 33's is to big for the ifs, and the stock gearing in my opinion. Go big or go home!

 

Right now, I'm just running 33s, so the IFS is fine. And I don't have the stock gearing, either. I changed the gears to 4.10s.