Off Roading Installing Skyjacker 4.5" lift this weekend

[Rattlebox]

I'll post results next week !

 

[KatDiesel]

Before and after pictures would be nice if possible.



What tires you planning on running?

 

[MJawsman]

I'm contemplating the same kit. A list of required tools and time to install would be good too.

 

[work2muchplay2little]

You're gonna love it. I'd recommend going to a DT track bar while you're at it. The stock one is just subpar. I didn't experience the "death wobble" until a few months after the lift kit went on. Also suggest going back over all the bolts in a couple of weeks. I think the ride is better than stock and the view is much much better Oh, working under it is such a breeze - can remain seated upright for most jobs and can slide a 5 gallon bucket under it to drain the oil. PM me if you have any questions.

 

[6shotz]

stonecrushers

Love the wheels, the same ones goin on my truck, I'll try to get some before and after pictures up soon.



Steve

 

[Rattlebox]

Finished !

Let me start off by saying that you must not be in a hurry to get this lift on your truck. Total time for the job was twenty hours. That was with three guys who have had expirience with lifts before, but not the new style Dodge. But anywho, onto the "review" :

• Tools
  

Nothing that is out of the ordinary, A good set of floor jacks stands (2) and a good floor jack, having a second floor jack will help tremendously when moving the front axle around. A pitman arem puller will be REQUIRED. Even with the pitman arm puller that things was a bear to get off ! My truck is fairly new (99) so a lot of the bolts were not an issue taking off. 2 larger "C" clamps will come in handy if you are getting an add-a-leaf in the rear.

• Instructions
  

The instructions included with my lift kit were absolutely horrible. By far the worst product out of the whole package. It's about 10 pages that looks like it has been run over a copier machine 5,000 times. Pictures are distorted and I couldn't make out a lot of the pictures. The 2 buddies that helped me have a lot of expirience with lifts so they were a big help in figuring some things out where they were supposed to go. I would have not been able to do it myself in one weekend, that's for sure .....

• Parts
  

The quality of the parts were top notch. Some minor grinding was needed on some parts/places, but I can expect that because every truck is going to be a little different. I can agree with the above post and I think before i get that "death wobble" I am going to replace the cheesy factory track bar with a quality one such as DT's.

• Ride
  

Ride quality is pretty good. I have the Class 2 system which gives you two extra shocks in the front end. Because I opted to go with the add-a-leaf, I think my ride quality has suffered in the rear, but improved drastically in the front. So I really didn't gain a whole lot. They do offer a whole new spring pack in the rear, but I was already high in the rear with the camper package.





I know I have skipped a lot, but please feel free to post any questions and I'll answer them as soon as I can. I honestly love the way my truck sits now and it attracts a lot of attention. Within 36 hours of completion, I was pulled over by the Police. Be sure to check into your state lift laws and be ready to back them up. In Pennsylvania, the bumpers must be between 16" - 30" high. Mine is 28 ! (yes, the cops in PA carry tape measures in their cruisers) Pennsylvania has some of the worst stipulations in lift laws ... ... .

 

[work2muchplay2little]

Congrats on the lift install - it is a big job! Don't know how much air pressure you run in the rear, but dropping it to about 40-45 while unloaded will help. I'd like to re-emphasize the part about retorquing your lift kit bolts in a couple of weeks. LOL about getting pulled over - that's the real litmus test of a modification



Edit: Now we need to see some pictures!

 

[Rattlebox]

I promise I'll get them on here as soon as I can get them on a PC

 

[Mudinchev]

Just lifted mine a couple of weeks ago, I agree the instructions are vague at best. Over all it went pretty good it took about 24hrs to do it by my self. The hardest part was the pitman arm (about 6hrs and 2 broken pullers and 3 trips to town) even considered cutting it off. When it finally came off it shot about 5 feet after it hit the ground. *Hint* (if you have an air hammer) Find a puller with a 3/8 ratchet drive in the end grind a chisel down to fit inside the square hole so you can hammer and tighten at the same time. I did the hole job with one floor jack and 2 jack stands. Using short pieces of 2x4 or 2x6 stacked under the rotors to adjust hight as needed(be careful the dust shields hang down about 1/4 in below the rotors and are easy to bend) Also make sure all your brake lines and breather tubes are loose enough to drop axle all the way to the ground Keeping in mind when you have finished that most places that service trucks use hoists on the frame so when the truck is supported in the air by the frame the axles are hanging all the way down, you don't want any stretched or broken brake lines later on. I'm new here I tried to post a pic with this message but it was too big what do I do? (I'm better with a wrench than a computer).

Any questions just email me (I don't check TDR that often)