What is the difference between all these ways to lift your truck? I mean I have been reading and reading and reading because I can not figure out if I should lift my truck and if I did I wouldn't know where to start. Sorry I know I am obviously a newbie at this and this is my first truck....... Can someone take the time to break it all down for me?!?!?! Please?!?!?![sm=dontgetit.gif]

 

1st of all, we need info about your truck. 4x4 or 4x2, year and model as there is a BIG difference between the 1500 & 2500.
But, basically there are4 ways to go about lifting your truck.
Thefirst is basically a freebie, but you have to have the right truck. Some 1500 4x4's have Torsion Bars up front. If yours is one of these, you can squeeze about another 1.5 to 2 inches by simply cranking the T-Bars up a few cranks. Down side is it makes the ride harsher than stock, kinda like twisting a rubber band. But it will give a level stance and clear a tire that is an inch or two taller.
#2- A leveling kit. Least expensive and easiest to install. Also brings the front of the truck up, on average about 2" again giving the truck a level stance. Athough the ride is often a bit harsher, it is usually not as hard as a T-Bar crank. This is a good inexpensive solution to clear a bigger tire if you are not taking it off road much, and don't plan to ride it hard at all. Often under $250 plus a couple hours labor at most.
#3- A body lift. I've done this to 3 trucks I've had. Usually lifts a full size truck up about 3 inches and a small/mid size truck up 2 inches. The added lift lets you get bigger tires on with less chance of scrubbing & rubbing. You can tend to take it off road without the worries of "bottoming out" that you would have with the first 2 options. Down side is that the ride also tends to be harsh, I thoughtjarring your kidneys outwas just a part of having a lifted truck when venturing off road until I got option #4 on my current truck. The other downsides are you have big gaps between the body & frame which must be "hidden" or it looks lousy. Also there is a big gap between the bumpers& body which must be taken care of, usually with the additional purchase of a bumper kit. The other down side is that the entiretruck is lifted the same amount, so you still have that "nose down" look that modern trucks have, that I for one, hate.
On the plus side cost is not too high and installation by someone with experience does not take long, so labor costs are reasonable. A good body lift kit is often under $400 and with options for bumpers, wheel well gap covers, etc. can still be under $600 plus labor. Normal install is 4-6 hours.
#4- TheSuspension Lift.Lift is available usually from 4" to 8" and even 10"on some trucks! Most common size is 6", although I find most kits listed at 6" in actuality are 5-5.5". Most off road worthy of all the options, also gives the truck a nice level stance as with all kits, the front is lifted more than the rear. Good designed kits often give a better ride than stock, even on pavement! As it's the suspension that's lifted you don't have the gap issues associated with body lifts. Down side (and only down side) with this lift is cost. By far the most expensive of all the lift types. And labor is more intensive than a body lift as somesuspension components are taken off and replaced. Good 4"-6" kits can run upwards of $2000 w/o shocks and good shocks can run you another $400 for 4. Labor is going to be a full day and possibly two days. Often #3 & #4 are combined for extreme lifts.
So there you have it, those are the basic ways to lift your truck. When more of your ride is known I can give you specifics on what is available for your application.

 

Ok, let's see if a novice can explain.

Option #1:
Body lift- This kit usually is merely spacers or blockcks(hard plastic or hard polyurethane) that lift the body of the vehicle off the frame allowing more space for, say, larger tires.
Option #2:
Basic Suspension Lift- This lift will come with new shocks and spacers that lift the FRAME up from the axle, or IFS if you have it. This allows for more clearance between the underside of the vehicle and the ground but not more axle clearance.
Option #3:
Full Suspension Lift- This also includes shocks, but usually adds a leaf spring to the rear. The front shocks also utilize a full spring rather than a spacer therefore making it a better kit, but also more expensive. With option 2 and 3 there are usually added pieces to attach the front IFS or axle to which lowers the brackets. Once again, ground clearance of the axle is unchanged but these two options allow for larger tires to be added.
Option #4:
Larger Tires- This (along with larger wheels or various combinations) is the only way to increase ground clearance of the axles.

Think that kind of sums it up. Various options require various amounts of work on the vehicle, some include cutting the frame such as the 6" I just ordered for mine. It is a minimal amount but you need the proper tools and place to do it. I may be amiss on some of this, if so someone else will chime in. Hope this helps. By the wayThe options vary in price, usually starting cheaper with #1 and being most expensive at option #3.

 

LOL, what Hammer said.

 

THANKS! Best summary I've seen! You said you could tell more if you knew what vehicle he had. Perhaps you could help me out???? And I see SWOS Chief and I have basically the same truck to start with.

 

No problem, you have an '06 so your front end is coil over (torsion bars were '02-'05) so the freebie T-Bar Crank is out. If you are only into mild off-road use and won't push the truck at all you can clear 35's (barely - but they will clear) with a level kit. Best for the money in my opinion is the Rancho QuickLift, VERY good reports on this product, brings the front up about 1.5 inches which levels it with the back.
Here's a link: http://www.gorancho.com/html/product...quicklift.html around $200, and labor at any tire store that can do shocks & springs (you could do it yourself but requires special tools any shock/spring installer has) can do in about an hour.

For a 3" Body Lift - Performance Accessories makes a good one for about $300. Great docs, could be done over a weekend in the driveway with stands by 2 people with decent skills. Otherwise plan on paying for abour 4-6 hr. labor by the pros.

As far as Suspension there are many choices. I like the Rancho kit at 4" it easily clears 35" tires and that's as far as I think you should go on our relatively weak IFS front ends. However Fabtech, ProComp, Skyjacker & Superlift all make decent kits. The Fabtech is among the more economical and although it isn't near it's rated 6" (more like a little under 5.5") it won't do 37's, but has ton's of clearance for 35's even with 20" wheels. Just remember this will give you a great off-road truck, but installation can be as high as the kit.

 

I concur with Hammer. I bought the Fabtech 6" coilover set. But, I have a friend that works on his Jeep for the Jeep Jamboree events so a place and tools isn't a problem. Know this, once you start you will never stop!!

 

Okay thank you guys so so very much! I feel like a totaldorknow but now I know what is going with all the different lifts!!!

As for you could help me out more with more information regarding my truck......

2002 Dodge 1500 2wd

Thats about it.... LOL.... wish I could say that it was a 4wd but I let myself down there I got a good price on this one so I just went with it. I had shopped around for a month and by this time I JUST WANTED A TRUCK!

Anyways thank you guys again for "breaking it down" for me!

 

I really don't like doing body lifts. I have a jeep wrangler and they are really not preferred at all on any jeep forum i've been on. they screw with all the linkages you have, shifters, tcase you name it all that needs new drop brackets, the ride is harsh, and plus they look ugly especially when you get the ones that are like 3". you can like see between the body and the frame IMO ugly. plus from what i've seen sometimes over time the new mounts will creak and make noise which really really really gets old., body lifts are just cheap bandaids to get more lift and bigger tires.

 

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH! [sm=closed.gif]
(HammerZ71 and SWOS Chief you guys "broke it down" for me PERFECTLY!)
I will be getting a suspension lift around New Years..... At least I hope! [sm=happybounce.gif]

Its obviously worth the extra money!