New (to me) '01 Ram Off-Road
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Joined: Feb 2011
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Thanks to everyone for the good advice.
Is there any perticular kits out there that people have had good expierence with or do most of you just piece together your own lift with aftermarket parts? Also if the Off-Road package uses an add-a-leaf from the factory will I have any problems using a kit that has an additional add-a-leaf?
The off road springs aren't taller but stiffer... and if you add a 3 inch spacer kit you will net about 4- 5 inches of lift over a stock standard ram.
I'm hoping this lift comes with longer front control arms, which you'll need to recenter your axle in the wheel well, and don't use the kits "L" shaped track bar mount. It isn't worth a crap. You'll need a 5 inch bracket if you use the stock T-bar and you want the one with the steering box brace. I can't remember if it's a rough country or which. An aftermarket adjustable t-bar is best choice.
Other items wiould be a drop pitman arm and sway bar brackets or longer links. That'll keep you steering geometry flat and decrease bump steer.
I'm hoping this lift comes with longer front control arms, which you'll need to recenter your axle in the wheel well, and don't use the kits "L" shaped track bar mount. It isn't worth a crap. You'll need a 5 inch bracket if you use the stock T-bar and you want the one with the steering box brace. I can't remember if it's a rough country or which. An aftermarket adjustable t-bar is best choice.
Other items wiould be a drop pitman arm and sway bar brackets or longer links. That'll keep you steering geometry flat and decrease bump steer.
Is there any perticular kits out there that people have had good expierence with or do most of you just piece together your own lift with aftermarket parts? Also if the Off-Road package uses an add-a-leaf from the factory will I have any problems using a kit that has an additional add-a-leaf?
Record Breaker
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Elk Rapids, MI
Thanks to everyone for the good advice.
Is there any perticular kits out there that people have had good expierence with or do most of you just piece together your own lift with aftermarket parts? Also if the Off-Road package uses an add-a-leaf from the factory will I have any problems using a kit that has an additional add-a-leaf?
Is there any perticular kits out there that people have had good expierence with or do most of you just piece together your own lift with aftermarket parts? Also if the Off-Road package uses an add-a-leaf from the factory will I have any problems using a kit that has an additional add-a-leaf?
If you buy a lift kit that replaces your front coils but uses your rear leafs, you will get a serious rear high rake. This will be due to the front end technically loosing the factory lift, but the rear will not. You can use an add-a-leaf kit without any problems other than this.
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There are many good complete kits out there that will work for normal everyday use. You can also piece together a kit with different company's products and come out with a nice kit too. Zillions of options... just spend time, lots of time, on forums like this searching.
If you buy a lift kit that replaces your front coils but uses your rear leafs, you will get a serious rear high rake. This will be due to the front end technically loosing the factory lift, but the rear will not. You can use an add-a-leaf kit without any problems other than this.
If you buy a lift kit that replaces your front coils but uses your rear leafs, you will get a serious rear high rake. This will be due to the front end technically loosing the factory lift, but the rear will not. You can use an add-a-leaf kit without any problems other than this.
I found another thread about someone lifting there O/R edition...and just to clarify (along with what you just said about the rear rake) alot of the lift kit's out there say "not compatable with off road kit" but that's not really the case it's just a matter of not being as much lift?
I have a lot of research to do yet but let me just run this scenerio by you guys to make sure I'm understanding this right, if I wanted to gain 5" of lift...
I would use a coil spring spacer(5") with the stock Off Road springs, New Contol arms, Drop pitman, shocks, ect... and then use the provided add-a-leaf and rear lift block(5"gross lift) I would not loose or gain any rake because I'm keeping the stock springs, replacing the rear block (which is the same on all 1500's) and adding another leaf to the one that's already in there.
Along with all of that, what other modifications would I need to be looking into I.E. how high can I go before I need a new driveshaft? I think I read someone saying 6" but just want to double check that.
Thanks again for everyone's input, I know this stuff is covered in bits and pieces around the forum but you can understand that I want to make sure I understand this before I spend 1k on a lift and end up with some goofy Cali tilt with no driveshaft hehe
Edit: And along with that, another option to consider is using a kit that replaces the springs and then getting a spacer or leveling kit that would make up for the difference of approx 1.5" provided by the offroad springs?
Last edited by Rave71; Feb 23, 2011 at 09:50 AM.
Record Breaker
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Elk Rapids, MI
The only reason the manufacturers say "not compatible with off road models"' is simply because the amount of lift will very. All the components with bolt right up... nothing changed.
Honestly, if you want a true 5" suspension lift for your off road just get a 7" suspension lift for a ram. Otherwise, you will have to play the game of adding and subtracting the 1.5" factory lift... which isn't really hard, just confusing sometimes.
Honestly, if you want a true 5" suspension lift for your off road just get a 7" suspension lift for a ram. Otherwise, you will have to play the game of adding and subtracting the 1.5" factory lift... which isn't really hard, just confusing sometimes.