Considering a mild lift.

[DocDetonancour]

Am seriously considering 2to 3 inches front and rear. What do you guys think is the right size, what should the cost be, and are there any known negatives. Les Schawb has a sale going. Thanks, Doc

 

[RankRam]

It depends what size tire you want go with.



I just went with E-Rated 285/70/17 Toyo A/T's from Les Schwab on my 05 and they fit great without a lift. To be honest though I think the truck would look much better with a 1" lift on the front though.

 

[LightmanE300]

Doc, I'd seriously suggest going to www.koreperformance.com and check out the pace kit. It will allow you to clear 35" tires and will improve the ride/handling of the truck. Do a search around the site, there are lots of suspension threads. Good luck!

 

[JCastilleja]

Im pretty happy with the leveling kit I bought from Les Schawb, a simple 2-3 inch spacer. It works perfectly for my purposes, did not cost an arm and a leg and my first born! I run 285/70R17 BFG AT and have not had a single problem. You can easily fit 35s with no problem but if you tow/haul, consider the unsprung weight you are adding. I use my truck to haul all sorts of things and tow my boat. It is the perfect height and the tire size does not add an excessive wight penalty. The kids get in fairly easy, they think it's fun and the wife likes riding higher in the freeway. The tires grab well on most logging roads, excellent in the snow and are quiet on the asphault.



I paid about 300 bucks for the leveling kit, install and alignment (although I have read that some guys reported that they opted to not get an alignment and have had no issues).



Mostly, don't let hype and "Gotta have the most expensive product out there" get the better of you, unless you are going to REGULARLY use it for its designed purpose, I don't think it is worth the cost. Most of us are working guys and use their trucks as trucks.



This was my two cents, hope it helps, but you know what they say about opinions. Good luck and happy shopping, it is always fun to get new goodies... especially when we work so hard to get them!



My Truck:

 

[RankRam]

JCastilleja your truck looks great with the leveling kit and the 285's, do you have more pics that you could post please?

 

[Giachino]

What rear end do you have 3. 73 or 4. 10? Any impact on performance going to the 285's? I know they're not that much bigger than stock, but just wondering...

 

[RankRam]

What rear end do you have 3. 73 or 4. 10? Any impact on performance going to the 285's? I know they're not that much bigger than stock, but just wondering...

I have zero regrets, the truck seems to be the same power wise!



Rear end ratio is 3. 73

 

[jwduke]

Im pretty happy with the leveling kit I bought from Les Schawb, a simple 2-3 inch spacer. It works perfectly for my purposes, did not cost an arm and a leg and my first born! I run 285/70R17 BFG AT and have not had a single problem. You can easily fit 35s with no problem but if you tow/haul, consider the unsprung weight you are adding. I use my truck to haul all sorts of things and tow my boat. It is the perfect height and the tire size does not add an excessive wight penalty. The kids get in fairly easy, they think it's fun and the wife likes riding higher in the freeway. The tires grab well on most logging roads, excellent in the snow and are quiet on the asphault.



I paid about 300 bucks for the leveling kit, install and alignment (although I have read that some guys reported that they opted to not get an alignment and have had no issues).



Mostly, don't let hype and "Gotta have the most expensive product out there" get the better of you, unless you are going to REGULARLY use it for its designed purpose, I don't think it is worth the cost. Most of us are working guys and use their trucks as trucks.



This was my two cents, hope it helps, but you know what they say about opinions. Good luck and happy shopping, it is always fun to get new goodies... especially when we work so hard to get them!



My Truck:

Nice looking truck.....



I agree with your thaughts on the amount you can spend on something that will do the same job as a lesser priced kit.

 

[LightmanE300]

I used to agree with his sentiment until I got my Kore setup and took the first ride... As it says on the kore site - some lifts are purely cosmetic like JCastilleja's, and some are performance suspension upgrades. The kore kit will make your truck ride and handle better. Can't say that for the leveling kit. . Sure it costs more money, but we're not talking about modifying pintos here... gotta pay to play

 

[SWithrow]

I just installed a leveling kit (2") and went from E 265/70/17 to a D 285/70/17 BFG. The tire is around a inch taller and the truck rides great.

 

[DocDetonancour]

thanks for all the good information. Doc

 

[Lorenz]

You don't have to spend a wad on a full kit.



Springs are $250 and you know they will hold up.



http://lorenzindustries.com/coil.html

 

[Matt400]

On my sons 03 we did a 2" level in the front and added . 63" in the rear, then put 35's on 18" wheels.

It made the handling feel mushy and not as responsive in steering. Looks cool though.

He thinks it drives fine but I drove it for 2 years before selling it to him with the rear lowered and no lift in the front so I know better.



It could be just the tires and not the lift so if you are thinking 35's IMO look real close at 10 plys for the added stiffness even if you don't need the capacity. His are 8 plys filled to max pressure and believe it or not had 285- 6 plys on when I drove it.

Be sure to adjust Caster to maximum.