I keep reading about suspension lift kits and then i begin to overthink the particulars of the lift. For instance when a lift say it is a 6" lift, it's not really a 6" lift is it? I mean it raises the front 2-3 inches to be level with the rear then adds 3-4 inches in the front and rear to really only lift it an actual 4 inches. Am I right or wrong? Am I missing something here. I mean it seems to me that a "6 inch" lift is really only 4" and a "3 inch" lift would really only be a level kit pretty much. For some reason when I think a 6" lift I think of the truck being leveled first, then adding 6 inches to both the rear and the front. However nothing in the specifications mentions a true 6" lift. Am I missing something here? Is there something I am just not understanding about a suspension lift?

I was going to order a skyjacker 6" but then i began to wonder if that would be too much of a lift. So then I thought of a rancho 4" lift thinking maybe that would look better with 32-35 inch tires and a 18-20 inch rim. Basically I just have no flipping clue what size of lift i should get. Hoping maybe you wonderful people here could help me get a better idea as to the look I am looking for and give me a better understanding as to what I should get and understand a suspension lift a little better then how i understand it now.

 

*most* suspension lift kits are a level and 3-4" as you said. *Most* suspension lift kits also dont lift a full 6" also. The different brand lifts do different things, and 4x4 is different than 2wd.

You didnt list being 4x4 anywhere, so your lift would either come with spacers and spindles (for front) or a crossmember drop with a subframe, springs, spindles, etc. You can peice together a kit fairly cheap.

I have a 2wd and had a 2.5" spacer with a 3" body. The 35s looked perfect but anything smaller looks goofy. Its kinda a crap shoot, but it will look good either way.

I see that you put you want rockstars. Please dont.

 

I know most of the torsion front 4x4 lift kits on the market. The Skyjacker is the only one that lifts a true 6", and has a full boxed sub-frame (them and Rancho are the only ones with full sub-frames).

Most other "6-inch" kits fall somewhere between 4.5 and 5 inches, and a lot of the cheaper ones require you to crank the keys to get that.

My 4" Rancho is as tall as I want, any more and the bed is up too high and is unusable to me (and I'm 6'3"). At 4" with 35" tires and 96" ramps, it's like driving up a wall to pull my ATV in the bed as it is. Besides, anything over 35" tires really puts stress on an IFS truck and the 35's fit fine with 4"...

 

Yeah forgot to say it is a 4x4. And what is so wrong with rockstars? All I know is I want black rims. What would you recommend?

 

Would a 32" tire look alright with the rancho 4"? What size of rims do you have?

 

With a 4" rancho i would still go 35" tire. My personal opinion is the 35" tire fills the wheel well perfect.

I have a 6" BDS suspension lift with 35x12.50x20 trail grapplers on 20x10 rockstars. He said not to go with rockstars because "everyone" has them.

 

Ohh 4x4 is a different story. I should have noticed when you mentioned the 4in rancho. a 32in tire will look goofy with a 4in lift, as the Rams with 20in rims already have 33s. I agree w lucky, the 35s will look perfect.

KMC makes a ton of nice rims, and there are a few that look great and arnt played out. Some places the rockstars arnt ridiculously popular, but here they are on one out of five lifted trucks

 

To be honest, I think a 32" tire would look like sh*t with anything more than a simple level.

I have 17x9 wheels. Mickey Thompson Classic IIs.

This is 35" tires on a true 4" of lift. I think that if the tires were only 32", they'd look puny...

 

That does look pretty good. I'd have to agree, after seeing that picture, that 32s would probably look pretty small. 35s will have to be the size. Might go with little bigger rim though. That rancho 4" lift on your truck looks pretty good. I don't think I'd want to go any higher. Any higher I think I might need a step stool just to get to the nerf bars.

 

Just remember, the larger the wheels, the less sidewall you have. Sidewall is important for added shock absorption not to mention it allows for a lot more "airing down" for off-road which is critical for a larger footprint and improved traction. A 20" wheel on any tires smaller than 37" is pretty useless off-road IMO.

If this is more for looks than off-road performance, just keep in mind that a level kit or cranked keys with a body lift combo will give similar lift height to a 4" suspension lift and be MUCH cheaper to both purchase and have installed if you don't plan in the install yourself.