Well after lots of thought, and going back and forth on a lift or just a leveling kit I have made the choice to go and just piece together a 3" suspension lift. Now I'm 99% sure this should work out but just wanted to double check with you guys before I go ordering parts. I'm dealing with top gunz and I'm going to be throwing in 3" lift coils for the front, that part is perfectly clear. Now for the rear most 3" lift kits come with 1.5" blocks for the rear end, but I refuse to stack blocks and from what I understand the factory blocks are 3" alreadly. So I figured if I pick up 4.5" blocks for the rear to replace the factory ones all should be good. I just wanted to double check that this will in fact give the truck the leveled 3" lift look that I'm after. And I will be installing Bilstein shocks and moog ball joints. I will also be buying 16"x8" wheels with a 4-4.5" backspace for my 33"x11.50" bfg all-terrians. Do you guys think this set up will look pretty good? Or what would you do differently?

 

I'm going to tell you this now call them! Don't just get it off there site they dropped prices like mad when I called them. There really nice ppl down there. I was 485 shipped with a few extra things.

 

the 5 inch backspacing will actually give you more clearance than the 4" at the wheel wells....I just found this out the hard way....I would go with add a leaves in the rear....just would seem a more stable setup than 4.5" blocks...I know it would effect ride quality a bit..

oh yeah I'm chipping the **** out of my paint now with all the rocks and crap flying off my wheels now that they stick out.....I have to make larger custom mud flaps or something....keep that in mind with wheels with more offset...plus they are harder on the axles/wheel bearings although one inch is minor.

 

What backspace are you running now Augiedoggy? And do you think 8" wide wheels are a good match for 33"x11.50" tires? Or would I be better off with a 10"

 

I think your setup sounds perfect. Stick with the 8" wide wheels, they are a perfect match for a set of 285's.

Also, I agree with getting add-a-leafs instead of a taller block. It may be a smidgen more in cost, but better in my opinion.

 

not sure how much the topgunz coil spacer is, but i know the HBS is a 2 1/2in level and its 85 bucks

 

I have 9" wide ones but my tires are also an inch wider than yours....I had 8" with the 12.5 " rims and they seemed to skinny....tires were wearing in the middle unless I aired them way down....also I had 5" backspacing and switched to 4"....not my tires almost rub on the mudguard at full lock....I lost an inch of clearence and the tires stick out more now which means the truck is never clean and rocks are constantly being thrown at it making more places for rust to start on body and rockers...
BTW my 9" rims came with 32x 11.5 tires mounted and the wider rim made them seem larger and beefier than my 35"s unless you put them side by side (they were wider for sure) but oyler is right if thats the size your sure your sticking with 8" are fine. (7 1/2 are min and 10 max for that size)..I ran them on my jeep with 11.50 wide 32"s for years... I was only really trying to mention the backspace situation

 

augiedoggy, if you put herculiner on your rockers then you won't have rocks chipping the paint any more.

 

I even did it with some spray can bedliner stuff, looks good for what I paid and I just keep a spare can in the back under the seat if it ever gets a rock chip.

 

I know but it looks like **** ...the herculiner fades and it is harder to keep clean and keep the wax out of.and with the truck so high its more noticable...plus my mud tires throw stones half way up the truck body....got a big bottle of touchup paint....every time I leave my cabin (gravel road) I get out and pry the stones out of the tires to help.
I probably will go with flares and home made mudflapes in the future