I am aware that I am supposed to use the FAQs and the SEARCH functions for this, and I have. But not surprisingly for the Faqs I got nothing and the search results turned up a bunch of random stuff. And yes I did try Leveling+Kit and a bunch of the other ways.

Enough ranting.

Anyway, I have a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 QCSB 4x4 as it shows in my sig. I am planning on getting a Rough Country leveling kit for it like this one.

http://www.roughcountry.com/dodge_4w...eling_kit.html

My questions are:

1. will it affect my ride if I keep the stock-length shocks?
2. Will my truck stay level when towing? (I have rear air bag suspension helpers),
3. how is articulation?
4. Are there shock spacers out there so my shocks do not become over extended and so I can keep my current ones?
5. Will it affect driveshaft reliability?
6. Do I have to get wider tires? (it recommends 280/70/-- wheels (I read and apparently this was what the kit was tested on)) I currently have the 275/60/20s
7. How much will the install cost generally?
8. Is 1.5" to 2.0" enough to level the truck?
9. And almost most importantly, what are your opinions of this product (from use, quality, etc.)

 

Hello??

 

1. Going over bumps and potholes will top-out your shocks and it will feel as if there's nothing there but the coils.
2. If you have airbags, then the truck should stay level.
3. Depending on the shocks you buy the wheel-travel could be slightly better to a big difference, but these trucks with no modifications to the suspension don't have naturally large travel.
4. No, but the closest thing that you're thinking of would be Bilstein's leveling kit. They are Bilstein shocks that are adjustable, so you can adjust the height in the front. This also takes care of replacing the shocks.
5. Leveling kits wont affect the drivetrain.
6. You don't have to get any new wheels/tires for these to work. Those are just what they had on the truck they put the test kit on.
7. You could do the install yourself in an hour or 2 with the proper tools. The install isn't a very intense one, very simple. If you were to get it put on at a shop it should be about an hours worth of labor, so whatever the going rate around you is.
8. Trucks differ. Mine took 2.5" to level it out, while others will do 2" and be leveled. I'd go with a 2 or 2.5"
9. I didn't use the Rough Country leveling kit, but they don't change too much on the truck so it'll still drive close to stock. They make reliable products, I have their lift and it is great, so no worries on quality.

Good luck with whatever you go with.

 

I have the RC leveling kit on my 02, and noticed very little difference in ride other than pot holes or dips in the road, you feel them worse. I agree that it is a very easy install and no problems with drivetrain. You do not have to have new wheels or tires, but you can get bigger tires if you want! I did not replace shocks, and have not experienced any adverse affects because of it, although that is on my list of things to get to cause they need it!! and finally I found it to be a good quality product, BUT since I did mine, I have read on here that you can crank your stock keys and get the same results, and I found very little difference between the stock keys and the RC keys. I wish I would have tried adjusting factory keys first. I gained 3 inches on my truck.

Hope this helps, good luck let us know how it turns out.

 

@ SMKNRAM
Was the RC kit you used the same as the one in the link i posted? If so, I am surprised that you got 3" out of it. Also, how do you crank the stock torsion keys? And does it create the same result?

Thanks

 

I am pretty much in agreement with Creative. The only real disagreement I have is on #4, there are kits that come with shock relocation brackets, which allow you to retain the stock shocks and still have full travel. Level kits will increase the CV angle on a 4x4 truck, but if you stay at or under 2 inches this will not be an issue. Rule of thumb is it takes 2.25" to level a torsion front 1500, go with a 2" kit, the front higher than the back does not look good. Nice thing about a torsion bar front is you can use the bolts to "fine tune" the height, a luxury the coil over guys do not have.
It will stiffen or harshen the ride quality up front a little, but most people don't mind it. It is after-all, a truck.
Do the install yourself, keys are a piece of cake and only slightly harder than turning the bolts for the "free level" on torsion bar trucks. You can use a big C-Clamp, but the removal tool does make it a little easier. Most auto parts stores will rent you one for about $10...

 

I just talked to someone from RC and they said it would maintain the stock ride. (of course that could be BS) Also, has anyone on here had any experience with them off road??

 

yes same exact kit I bought, and I cranked the bolts almost all the way in, and I am just short of 3 inches they say to go back to factory settings but I only got about 3/4 of an inch so I tightened the adj bolts down til I got the height I wanted. I have been told on here you can get almost that much out of stock keys by tightening the bolts, but I read that after I had installed mine so I don't know maybe someone else can say or you can try it.

Jack the front end off the ground, under the middle of the truck at the end of tortion bars there is a bolt on each side, tighten equally bout half way then set it down and check it. measure b4 and after if not enough repeat til it is where you want it.

 

I have used mine off road in 4wd with no issues

 

How extreme do the angles of the CV joints become? Is it dangerous to have them at that level?