2-3" lift and 33's
 

I'd like to lift my 2009 Ram 2-3" and run 33's. I will not be wheeling this truck as hard as I used to in my '99, so I don't need anything fancy, but I do want a quality product that can handle occasional trails as needed and still handle loads in the bed and trailer towing. I prefer to stay at 33" tire so I don't have to regear (I assume the Hemi and 3.55's can push 33's without too much issue). I prefer something that lifts both the front and the rear. I do use 4wheel drive often enough that I also don't want the death wobble that I have been reading about that is apparently worsened when you lift it.

Here are the kits that I have found that seem to match my requirements above. Prices vary considerably. Looking for anyone who has experience with any of these lifts, or anyone who can recommend a good one that is not on this list.

$130
http://www.roughcountry.com/suspensi...1500-ram_2.php

$500
http://www.readylift.com/c-157-dodge...-lift-kit.aspx

$1000
http://www.jegs.com/i/Mopar-Performa...ductId=2167150

$2000
http://www.koreraceshop.com/dodge-ra...ies-09-10.aspx

I hate the price of it, but I'm leaning toward the KORE kit because it comes with the high angle joints that are supposed to fix the death wobble issue these trucks apparently tend to have. I noticed that even some of the other lift companies warn about this problem with their lifts and even suggest getting the KORE joints ($799) to fix it. Plus it is a high quality product.

Thanks for any opinions on this topic.

My friend and I just installed a 2.25" ready lift kit on his rig. The installation was fairly easy, and it didn't affect the ride quality. And the fact that it is made of aircraft aluminum compared to polyurethane of RC, it is durable.

How long did it take to install? That was front (2.5) and rear (1.5") lift, correct?

That Kore kit would raise the front end higher than a leveling kit, which is why they include the upper A-arms with for a higher angled lift, at least that is what I think. Correct me if I'm wrong. With 3.5", it would give it that pre-runner look. Of course that could easily be changed by throwing a spacer under the rear coils. It would be more lift than what is required to fit 33" but large enough to run 35" tires if you ever decided to go larger. The high angle CV joints they offer are a gold mine. I can't find anybody else who offers them, but at $800 for a pair, I would wait until I developed the wobble to change them out.

The previous owner told me it has a slight wobble in 4x4. I've not used 4x4 yet, so I can't say, but based on her comments to me, I think mine has the issue. So I want to avoid making it worse by installing a leveling kit.

One thought I had was to go with the Kore front end components, and then the dual rate coil springs from Mopar for the rear. If that is not enough lift in the rear, then I can add the spacer.

Curious, the only time I ever use 4x4 on the highway, is during a snowstorm with speeds under 40 mph. Is the death wobble bad enough to notice on trails or is it just a high speed thing?

I've wondered that same thing myself. I mostly use 4x4 in the winter too (speeds mostly under 40), and then on trails as necessary (speeds under 10 or 15). So not sure how much it will actually be noticable. As I was reading through threads on this topic, there are guys complaining about the 4x4 vibration at 50-55 mph. Why are they in 4 wheel drive at those speeds to begin with is my question.

Completely agree bud. Trucks are not meant for higher speeds in four wheel drive. There's a reason they aren't full time all wheel drive. Use it only when needed and save the headache and cost of repair, if at all possible, for down the road. I didn't have my 2012 but maybe a week and caught myself going down the highway in four wheel drive. I was worried enough to pull over to just to take it out. Maybe somebody with the death wobble issue on these 4th gen's can pipe up on the subject with their experiences? It seems that there is a lot less mechanically inclined input in the 4th gen section than the 2nd gen section. Of course, that comes with age of these vehicles I guess.

Unless Dodge changed stuff, you're only supposed to shift into 4HI up to about 40mph anyway. So any speed higher than that would be foolish, IMO.

And I don't think these 4th gen trucks, especially half tons, have TRUE death wobble. That is a failure of the track bar on a solid axle vehicle (2nd gen Ram, 3/4th gen Ram 3/4 ton, Jeep Wrangler).

So after really looking at my requirements for a lift on this new truck, plus factoring in a cost/benefit analysis and reading tons of posts on various forums, I decided to go with the Mopar lift (P/N P5155797). Mopar calles it a 2" lift, but after reading and seeing pictures of it, most are getting much closer to 3" with this kit. It uses Bilstein 5100 series adjustable lift struts in the front and progressive rate coil springs, rear stabilizer bar relocation, brake hose length and compression travel adjustments, and Bilstein shocks in the rear. In addition to already being a fan of Bilstein products, I was sold on going with the Bilsteins 5100's instead of coil spacers after reading this:
http://www.bilsteinus.com/fileadmin/...WebArticle.pdf

To go with it, I got a set of the Kore high angle CV's to hopefully get rid of the vibration/shimmy problems common on these trucks when you lift them.

This should give me a good performing lift for how I will use this new truck (hwy, city, mild off-road and tow use), all without breaking the bank. I can run 33's with it, so no need to re-gear. Stock wheels will work too, so that is a savings as well. Will post pics when I get it installed.