Leveling Lifts for 3500?

[ACerf]

I have a 03' SWR 3500 and I have been thinking of put some spacers in the front springs to level the truck. I was told that without changing the suspenion, the highest I can go is 2 1/2". "Four Wheel" shop told me 1 1/2", in any case it will cost about $250 to install the lift and realign the front end. Has anyone done this? Did you notice a difference in looks and ride? I was hoping some one might have a picture of one before and after. Thanks!

 

[NIsaacs]

I think as a daily driver running empty they look good, however I see in your sig. you have fifth wheel trailer. I would not recommend a lift kit when hauling heavy. It will throw your natural built in stance off, cause poor driving/control and look ugly with the rear squatted.



Nick

 

[AH64ID]

I have ran a 2" and a 1" on my sig truck. The 2" looked great with larger than OEM tires and when empty. When loaded I wasn't happy with the look, even with airbags it didn't ever look level or loaded properly. When running OEM tires in the summer it also looked too tall.

I recently switched to a 1" level kit and am very happy with it. I think it looks better empty and loaded. When loaded the truck squats better and the airbags aren't needed to be as full, which increases the load on the OEM springs and has provided better handling when towing.

The empty ride is drastically improved with the 1" over the 2", springs and shocks are unchanged. My only thought it the angle of control arms is closer to ideal, and thus allows for easier suspension movement.

I think I paid $135 for my 2" kit installed with an alignment. I did the 1" swap myself and all I had to adjust after was the steering wheel center. But if your truck hasn't been aligned in a while its a good idea.

Top Gun Customz makes the 1" kit, and it's what I would run if you use that 5er in your sig more than once a year.

2"

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2" with OEM tires

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1" with OEM tires and trailer

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1" with 255/80/17 KM2's

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2" with 285/70/17's, about 10,500 GVW.

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2" with 285's, 3K lbs in the bed, no air in bags.

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2" with 285's, about 800lbs in bed plus trailer. Air in the bags, enough that it made it a stiff ride.

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[goodguys75]

I have 2 inch suspention maxx ones and I love them... . everything is the same, did it myself, but took half the day... not that easy of a job... . I just hated the front being lower than the back..... I did it for just looks really... .

 

[ACerf]

I have 2 inch suspention maxx ones and I love them... . everything is the same, did it myself, but took half the day... not that easy of a job... . I just hated the front being lower than the back..... I did it for just looks really... .

Do you have any pics with the 2" lift?

 

[ACerf]

I have ran a 2" and a 1" on my sig truck. The 2" looked great with larger than OEM tires and when empty. When loaded I wasn't happy with the look, even with airbags it didn't ever look level or loaded properly. When running OEM tires in the summer it also looked too tall.



I recently switched to a 1" level kit and am very happy with it. I think it looks better empty and loaded. When loaded the truck squats better and the airbags aren't needed to be as full, which increases the load on the OEM springs and has provided better handling when towing.



The empty ride is drastically improved with the 1" over the 2", springs and shocks are unchanged. My only thought it the angle of control arms is closer to ideal, and thus allows for easier suspension movement.



I think I paid $135 for my 2" kit installed with an alignment. I did the 1" swap myself and all I had to adjust after was the steering wheel center. But if your truck hasn't been aligned in a while its a good idea.



Top Gun Customz makes the 1" kit, and it's what I would run if you use that 5er in your sig more than once a year.



2"



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2" with OEM tires



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1" with OEM tires and trailer



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1" with 255/80/17 KM2's



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2" with 285/70/17's, about 10,500 GVW.



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2" with 285's, 3K lbs in the bed, no air in bags.



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2" with 285's, about 800lbs in bed plus trailer. Air in the bags, enough that it made it a stiff ride.



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I see that your truck is 4x4, which they already look higher to begin with. I think because I have running boards the run from front to back, some people think I have lowered the front. I sold my 5ver last month and I have decided if I am going to get something else or not. I had thought of a slide in camper or a bumper pull trailer.

 

[ACerf]

I think as a daily driver running empty they look good, however I see in your sig. you have fifth wheel trailer. I would not recommend a lift kit when hauling heavy. It will throw your natural built in stance off, cause poor driving/control and look ugly with the rear squatted.



Nick

Trailer was sold in November.

 

[goodguys75]

Do you have any pics with the 2" lift?

sorry I dont, looks like the 2nd pic ... totally level on flat ground... looks good

 

[AEdelheit]

I see that your truck is 4x4, which they already look higher to begin with.

uhh is your truck 2wd IFS??? I think everyone one here has assumed it was 4WD or Solid axle 2WD which I didint think they did on 3500's

 

[AH64ID]

I presumed you had a 4x4 (still amazes me they make 2wd trucks).

There are some 2wd level kits out there, and the IFS won't be as effected in the ride dept as a the 4wd 5-link is.

They are all about the same as a spacer is pretty much a spacer.

 

[AEdelheit]

Well the amount of lift with stock shocks is probably different and install will be harder

 

[goodguys75]

I have a 03' SWR 3500 and I have been thinking of put some spacers in the front springs to level the truck. I was told that without changing the suspenion, the highest I can go is 2 1/2". "Four Wheel" shop told me 1 1/2", in any case it will cost about $250 to install the lift and realign the front end. Has anyone done this? Did you notice a difference in looks and ride? I was hoping some one might have a picture of one before and after. Thanks!

DOES THE CORN PALACE STILL EXIST???? JUST SAW FROM WHERE YOU WERE:-laf

 

[ACerf]

uhh is your truck 2wd IFS??? I think everyone one here has assumed it was 4WD or Solid axle 2WD which I didint think they did on 3500's

My bad! I thought I mentioned that in my post... guess not! They do lift the 2WD 3500.

 

[ACerf]

DOES THE CORN PALACE STILL EXIST???? JUST SAW FROM WHERE YOU WERE:-laf

Oh ya, still there! They change the corn every year. But I have never seen them do it. Do you know what you get when you put some corn on the road and a truck runs over it? Popped corn! :-laf

 

[BHiggins]

Here's a pic of my '08 with the Rough Country 2. 5" leveling kit in front, and Firestone airbags out back to prevent the rear from sagging...
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[Regcabguy]

AH64ID,do you have a pic of the 255's from the rear so I can look at the width? Also,any fuel economy increase over the 285 AT's? Thanks and Merry Christmas!!

 

[AH64ID]

AH64ID,do you have a pic of the 255's from the rear so I can look at the width? Also,any fuel economy increase over the 285 AT's? Thanks and Merry Christmas!!

Any mileage difference is negligible. I dont DD it anymore, so it's really hard to tell but I would say it's not much worse if any. They are lighter, taller, narrower so they should be easier to turn, but the tread probably cancels any of those benefits.



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