Hey everyone, I was cehcking out the FAQ section about body lifts and had a few other questions. I installed a leveling kit on my 03 1500 4x4 and put 35's on it and now I have a little bit of rub. I wanted to install a PA body lift kit which seems to be pretty highly recommended on here. I contacted Krazy House customs here in Jersey, the guy pretty much berated me for even thinking about a body lift and quoted me a price of 450 for the kit and 950 for install, so 1300 total. He said I could get a 6" lift for a little more(over 3200 installed) and continued to tell me how bad of an idea a body lift was.

Have you guys ever had any issues with your body lifts? He kept saying stuff about long term reliability, broken bolts, off-road issues, noise, etc. I was taken back by the price too, couldn't believe it. I don't have much extra time right now since I'm getting married soon, and wanted to have a shop install it. Anyone know of any good shops in Central/Southern NJ or Eastern PA? Is that what I should be expecting to pay for installation, someone said that a shop who knows what they're doing should be able to bust it out in about 3 hours... Anyone tackle the job themselves? Thanks for the advice

 

3 hour job is B.S its a all day or weekend job for two guys that no a thing or 2.
the body lift is 450 thats correct labor is right around 450 at shops around hear in all he is hi 1100 at the most i have seen but 1300 is total B.S IMO.

and ya a suspension is better but more $$ a body lift is for the average joe that wants to clear bigger tires period. not the best for off raoding but can handle it but in your case you just want to have no rub so the body lift is perfect for you . just find a new shop.

 

Josh I am going to agree with the salesmen you spoke to in Jersey.

Body lift kits can be cool, my biggest complaint with them is that it makes your rear bumper useless, unless of course you don't use the relocation brackets.

IMO if you use the truck for your trade, or work, I wouldnt install a body lift kit on it.

The big thing is, you want to lift your truck to make it more capable. Usually when you do a suspension lift, you can beef up your rear end with it (unless your using axle blocks), making the truck, imo, a better vehicle.

A body lift kit only weakens. Cant use the rear bumper anymore, the trucks body sits 3" above the frame, tow hooks are displaced, reciever hitch is displaced (well actually the body is displaced). Your engine is sunk 3" lower in your engine bay, lol.

All those things seem like huge negatives to me.

Given the labor cost to install a body lift, you might as well buy the suspension lift for a bit more money. IMO its harder to install a body lift kit then a suspension lift, and I would imagine that Labor hours to install a body lift kit would well exceed the cost to install a suspension lift. Did you look into that?

Only if your doing the install yourself does the body kit become a good value.

 

Dude, I would so much rather have a suspension lift, it's all about the cash right now. Maybe you missed it when I said I'm getting married, everytime I say it my wallet deflates... I was hoping I could get a body lift installed for like 600-700, but if it's going to be around a grand I'll just get the rough country 4.5-5" lift and install it myself. Just trying to find the quickest way out right now, I do go mudding, not rock crawling or anything, and need more clearance than I have right now. So I'll have to see what I come up with if I keep searching

 

And Mr. MonkeyWrench, I completely agree with everything you say, but somehow I was hoping someone had a miracle cure for me... But alas, I guess I need to break it to the woman that I have to dump some more money and time into the ol' pickem up truck. The guy quoted me 2000 for a 6" lift kit, 950 for the install, 140 for the alignment... So I'm leaning towards the rough country lift kit for 1100, then instead of using the rear blocks getting another add-a-leaf, I don't like the idea of blocks...

 

I've had three trucks I put body lifts on, rode them pretty hard off-road. Had a few minor issues, but nothing major. Installation ain't that bad, a full day if you have a helper. The body lean can be a little severe, and you'll get bounced around off-road a bit.

My current truck is my first suspension lift. Huge difference, the truck handles as good as at stock height, maybe even a tad better, now that I'm no longer a young buck, I really appreciate not getting thrown around the cab off-road.

If you can afford it, do the suspension lift, but many people have body lifts with no problems at all...

 

If doing a BL was so bad, why do they offer it? Hmmm....

Anyway, I thought a BL was more work than a suspension lift. I mean I did my spindles and shackles all by myself. That was easy work to me even though I had never done any of it before. Me personally. I wanna change out my 2'' coil spacer for a 3'' to completely level mine because my front is about a inch lower than the rear and then do a 3'' BL also so I know what ur thinking and going through. My truck never sees offroad so Im not worried about that.

 

Hammer, you have the rough country 4-5" lift, correct? I'm going to assume you did it yourself, how difficult was it? I have a 2 post lift and ginormous toolbox at work, so I'm pretty sure I'd be set with tools. But I was reading the disclaimers at the beginning of the installation instructions and was thinking they got pretty intense. Do you have an alignment done every 3,000 miles like they recommend? That could get pretty expensive. And do you mind the rear blocks in the back? I still haul sheetrock and stuff in the back and think that I'd really like to beef up the rear springs instead of installing blocks... Thanks!

 

Also, with your 35's do you ever have any issues with rub? I had a hard time convincing the boss to drop the money into the rims/tires/leveling kit/etc. If I manage to talk her into letting me get the lift kit and it still rubs she might have the locks changed on me... Just saying, she's still a nice lady

 

hammer has air bags in the real as do i and with or witout blocks with bags it dont matter smooth ride eaither way