So here's the story. I was going to do the lift this weekend myself with some friends, but other projects came up that needed to be done instead. So, knowing what my next few months are looking like for availability, I decided I better get the lift on now or it will be January before I have another chance. So I took it down to my trusted 4x4 shop (not Four Wheel Parts), and had them install it for me while I worked on projects at home. Kinda glad I did. It took them all of 8 hours to install it, and that was with multiple people working on it in a professional shop by people who had done many body lifts before, including full size Rams. Here I thought I could do it in my garage by myself or with one or two friends in half that time. So anyway, end result is that it is on, but I didn't have time to get the tires done today (35x12.50/17 Toyo Open Country M/T's). Here's a pic with just my current 285/70/17's when I got it home tonight. More pics to come after I get the 35's on.

Couple of observations and questions for those who have done similar.
-For starters, The first thing I noticed is how much tighter everything is. If nothing else, the truck just feels more solid now. Guess the body needed to be tightened down or something, which installing the BL did automatically.
-I freakin' love the amount of space I have in the engine bay now above the engine. Changing air filters and distributor caps is going to be so easy.
-My front bumper isn't quit right, need to do some work on it. Has a bigger gap then it used to, and it is not quite level.
-I noticed one or two grounding straps off the engine that were really tight. I was able to alleviate that by re-running them around hoses and stuff so that they had some slack again. Should be fine now.
-I noticed that the shop installers tack welded the metal brackets under the bed directly to the frame I don't recall seeing that in the instructions, but I suppose it can't hurt.
-I took off the front valance/air dam (the black part at the very bottom of the bumper). It had holes in it for my tow hooks to poke through. But with the bumper lifting up, but the tow hooks not moving, the hooks no longer lined up with the holes. So a couple of days ago I bought a new one cheap off eBay. I then cut two new lower holes in the new one, but just on the lower edge instead of in the middle of the plastic. See pic, kinda hard to see due to the lighting, but I think you get the idea. I think that works better with the hooks the way they are now.
-Brake booster vacuum hose definetly needs extending.

-Question 1: What would happen if the brake booster hose should pop off before I got it extended (like while i'm driving)? To replace it, can I just simply disconnect the current hose and attach a longer one, or will I cause a loss of vacuum doing it like that?
-Question 2: For those of you with 6" of lift, did you have to redirect your headlights down any?


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just change the hose going to booster no ill effect , pass side front bumper sits a little lower , good call with the weld on the bed , with out that when you haul something in the bed it will sag , for the head lights yes they need to be adjusted, also on the pass side the heater hose i replaced (needed to be longer) who ever said a BL is easy HA , HA either talking sh** or cut corners, i had to redo the ground wires to make sure you check after 100 miles and re tighten the bolts to the body ... i just got my ebay winnings for 101.00 its skyjacker double flex arms . almost had the 5 inch lift with the double flex kit that went for 150.00 and they are new !!!

 

Nice!

I think your going to have to get wifey a stepor she's not gonna want to ride around in that thing.

 

Looks good man, I can already see it with the tires, its going to be like WHOA!

Also about the brake booster question, you will get hard brake fade, your power brakes won't work, that booster needs vacuum in order to do its job, you cannot just replace the hose with any normal hose it must be pressure rated obviously, 5000PSI is what it should be.

 

Ok, will get the new hose today. That's what I figured would happen if I lost the vacuum.
I adjusted the headlights this morning. That is about the easiest thing i've ever done on this truck.

I think the running boards are definetly going to have to go back on for my wife though. lol.

 

Looking good but where's the pic of the engine compartment? I'd like to see how low the motor sits down there. Also, if you brake booster line pops off your leg will get a nice workout getting the truck to slow down. Hope that doesnt happen.

 

I'll post up some more pictures later. I'm sure the booster line will hold for now, and i'll get it swapped later today.

 

What all is involved if you were to do it yourself. I mean what did the shop do? They welded that piece, you replace that hose, and... maybe replace grounding straps... But does the fan shroud get affected? Just curious on little stuff like that.

Thanks in advance

 

Fan shroud gets moved down, gas filler neck extended, steering linkage extended, shifter linkages (trans and transfer case) extended, bumpers get moved up, lift block installed beneath cab and bed. Probably a few other things that I can't recall right now.

 

Sounds like a lot... Think I'll just go for the suspension lift. Thanks.