I've been doing a lot of thinking about what direction I want to go with my truck. Now since the transmission is taken care of, and the rear end is taken care of, now I can finally choose what I would like to do next with the truck. I've thought a lot about doing the gears next. I think 4.56 gears would be a really nice addition to the truck, and would add more power and efficiency. However, I also don't think it's the most important thing either. The truck has a lot of power, and 4.10 gearing really isn't the "worst" thing in the world. So...

I think I want to address the lift. Hometheaterman has got me thinking a lot about it, and he's right, my lift is junk. It looks nice and performs like it should, but it's going to cause a lot of premature wearing and damage to the front end of this truck if I don't get it addressed. It bothers me that a lot of the front end suspension components aren't fit for the lift on this truck. Right now everything is in good shape, but it's only a matter of time when those bearings and bushings start to come apart on me.

So, I'm pretty confident I want to focus on saving up for the Fabtech 5'5 lift. Getting this truck a uniformed lift will make it ride like stock, and make it so it drives compeltely straight down the road. It will also be a lot safer too, and look sharp. It's also going to make the truck about an inch taller than it is now, so I can't complain. Now that I know I like the liftkit scene, it makes me feel confident I want to do the lift. It's important to me to make this truck a synchronized unit. I just hate thinking of ways to part out pieces to make it right, that wouldn't satisfy me at all, and still might need be perfect. I think it's about $1200-1400 for the lift, but I'll just start picking away at saving up for it. IF you guys would help me find the cheapest prices, would be a big help.

 

You could get a nice 3" kit with new coils, lower control arms, and shocks, with a aal for the rear and come out a lot cheaper. Sure you would lose around 1.5" of lift but it would save you a lot of money and still look decent.

 

Here's what you should do.

J/K.

Seriously though, a Pro Comp 3 inch front/2.5 inch rear lift kit (with all the hardware) from Summit is just under $1000, but a 5 inch Skyjacker kit is just a few dollars short of $1500.

Honestly, for what you use it for, 3 inches would be perfectly fine, IMO, and it would save you some dough.

EDIT: You might be able to find the lifts cheaper, obviously, I just wanted to illustrate the price difference.

 

Dont expect it to ride like a stock truck with a good lift, that just will not happen...

With 35" tall tires and a lift, it will never go as straight, ride as good, get as good of mileage ect ect ect. And you will ALWAYS wear stuff out faster with that much lift and that big of tires... those are the trade off's you get with a lift.

Some people and the lift companys will maybe tell you thats not true, but it is.

You truck will be LESS efficient with 4.56's than it would with 4.11's. Even with your size tires and 4.11s you are still geared lower than stock non offroad trucks with 31's and 3.55's. IMO 3.73 (which is not offered) would be the most efficient all around with 31's.

If your worryed about effeciency I would do what some other people said, jump to a 3 inch lift, 33 inch all terrains and keep the 4.11's. The truck would also feel alot more powerfull with the 33's and 4.11s.

 

I think that would be the chaepest route for him as it would save him the price of gears and some on the lift. Then even more on the install of the lift as a 3" kit would be a lot less to install. Then he wants new tires anyway so 33"s might save him a little there and the truck would still look good and do everything he wants to and some of the things he wants to do it would do better.

 

I think you guys are right. And I say this for a few reasons.

I just finished taking many long trips this weekened. Three times this week I had to take 150 mile trips. And I got to say, it's just darn right tiring and uncomfortable at times driving this truck that long on the highway. Max speeds are about 80mph. I do a lot of driving in this truck, and for my job, I'm expected to drive a lot, so driving this truck with 35" tires, and about 5" of lift isn't exactly the best fit for me. I love having a tall truck, it makes me very excited, but I just don't think I need it. I have to start fresh with a lift too. This liftkit is junk. It was pieced together. The truck is very wobbly because everything is out of whack, and I hate it. Quite frankly, people are nervous to be in my truck on big trips. The tires are always hawolling, the truck gets swayed around everywhere, and it's very hard to sustain speeds. Suprisingly, the truck has been getting good gas mileage. For the first time, my overhead hit 13mpg, and right now its at 13.4.

So I think you guys are right. I obviously like the lift. So I think a 3" lift would please my eyes. It gives me the best of both worlds. Give me a nice new fresh start to make everything mesh together, gives the visual appearance of a lift, makes it more roadable and safe for highway speeds, and I'll get better gas mileage. I'm think maybe a 305 for the tire? I'm nervous if I put a 285 on the truck that I'll be disappointed, do you think that would be a good idea? I'll also be killing two birds with one stone getting the 3" lift. I'll be getting a lift and I won't have to change my gearing because it will match the smaller tire size. Then I'll be able to roar down the highway not swaying everywhere, and be able to go 85mph comfortably. What kit do you think I should go with? And what tire size do you think I should get as well. I think this is the right move to do. I'll sitll be getting the new fresh lift, and it will solve all my gearing and driving issues, as well as free up more horsepower[8D] IT's funny that you guys were all saying this before I got home. I was exactly thinking about this on the way home. It's cheaper to buy, easier to install, I'll get my stock ride back with a little bit of attitude, I'll be able to do a little speeding here and there, go on long trips, be safer, get better gas mileage, gearing will be proper, and the truck will just be healthier. You all hit it right on the head.

 

I think with 305's you might have a rubbing issue.

 

When a lot of guys talk about 305's they are talking about them for a 16" wheel. I'm not positive right now on what size it is for a 17" wheel but aren't they like an inch bigger? If you go to a 16" wheel 305"s work perfect as thats what I have. Mine rub if I hit a bump at full lock but it's because of the 10" Wide wheels and they barely rub on the fender lining. Like I said you have to hit a bump or something at full lock or move and have it bounce a little. Not a big deal. If you ran 8" wide wheels or wheels with slightly more bs you could probably avoid this. You might could get away with the tires you have now with the 3" lift as long as you keep those wheels. They might rub but they probably won't be horrible.

 

" I love having a tall truck, it makes me very excited"


hahaha

 

Oh btw if you are seriously thinking about this you might want to hold off on getting the speedo reprogrammed at the dealer if you have to pay for it. Since you said the transmission shop set it for 33"s you might want to just leave it alone. No sense in paying to have it calibrated then paying again in 6 months if that long to have it changed again. If you got a hypertech or something maybe you minus well change it but I wouldn't pay the dealer to do it then pay them to set it back to 33"s in a few months.