Skyjacker suspension

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I am in the market for a lift kit and was wondering if anyone has run the Skyjacker standard or flex series suspensions? Likes and dislikes? Does it improve the ride from stock? Any and all info is appreciated.

 

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I have the class 2 2. 5 kit with the dual shocks. The ride is harsh. I would stick with the single shock. The springs have faded to a pink from the brite red that they were. Most of the paint has flaked or chiped off the upper and lower links. The kit works well but don't plann on doing any shows with it after 8 months. Just my gripes about my kit. I use my truck hard so some of the chips are from stones but the paint is just peeling off the arms.

Tom

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96 2500 4x4 nv4500 3:54 slt 3"body lift 2. 5" suspension by skyjacker dual steering stablizers dual front shocks 267/75/16 street tires 36/12. 5/16 swampers for mud silencer ring lost 5" pipe borla KN round style filter JRE stage 4 400hp JRE afc spring kit boost and pyro gauges

 

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Davey, I have the the 4. 5" double-flex system on my truck. I agree with Tom about the springs fading and the powder coating flaking. I don't know what shocks he is running on his truck. The kits come standard with the Hydro shocks, but I ordered the optional Nitro shocks. My truck rides way better than stock, and handles excellent. The whole 4. 5" double-flex system (heim joints) with Nitro shocks ran just under $2000, but you could opt for one of their other systems with poly bushing ends for less money, still a nice set up. I'm very pleased with my lift kit. Skyjacker makes a nicely engineered system. Worse comes to worse, you can always paint or powdercoat the suspension pieces if they start to get knarly looking. Go for it you won't be disappointed. -Glen

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1998 12 valve 2500 Quad Cab, A/T, 4. 10, Deep Amethyst, 4. 5" Skyjacker Double Flex lift kit, 36. 0"x14. 5"x16. 5" TSL Super Swamper radials on 16. 5"x9. 75" Weld Typhoons, Speedliner spray in liner, Raven high rise cap, J&J stainless steel Nerf-N-Steps

 

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I've been looking at getting a Skyjacker system myself. I'm glad to hear they are holding up well. I'm not to concerned with appearence. I will sandblast and powdercoat everything before it is installed. I am concerened about its ability to support an 8000 lb truck.

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98. 5 3500 QC 4x4
Driftwood/ Grey Int.
5 spd, 3. 54
PowerMax2, Dual Designs
Ranchhand bumbers, headache rack and toolbox, dual 3" with 5" tips, "Scotty Air System", Centerforce Dual Friction clutch, Autometer Gauges, Cobra CB, Sony CD player, Polk Audio Speakers, Upgraded fuel lines from tank to injector pump. Coming this summer: JRE 4" exhaust, DD stage III, McLeod dual disc clutch.

69 Z-28 Camaro, Silver/Black, original motor, 58,000 miles

Building: 32 (Censored) 5 Window, "American Graffiti" replica

 

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Does anyone know if the spring rates are the same as the factory spring rates or if they are are heavier like the snowplow springs?

 

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I'm not sure of the rating but I know they are heavier than stock. The ride is much stiffer, I opted for custom rear leafs rather than the "system". I like it, I was concerned with the play in the steering, but recently read a TSB on it and cured it. Love the system and I painted mine when I got it. Red doesn't look good on a green truck. #ad


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'98 ext cab 4x4. Skyjacker 4. 5" lift w/ 36" swampers. Johnson's Tubing-black smoke puffin'-hear me CUMMIN chrome stacks. BOMBing from above.
**Skyjacker made it high-Bosch made it fly**

 

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You might want to look into the Tuff Country 5 and a half inch lift. I really like it. Instead of new springs, it uses a spacer for the front and an add-a-leaf on the rear. You get new upper and lower links and a new steering arm. The ride with double front shocks is excellent and the cost of the kit is much less than the others! The main reason I used it was because I pull a pretty heavy trailer and I pull it fast, so I wanted the handeling to be right. The people I've talked to say using long coils makes the handeling on our Rams questionable. Around town or towing, the truck is perfect, in my opinion. All of the kit manufacturers make good kits, and after about 3 months of reaserch, I am a happy dude, so good luck and let us know how it comes out!

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99 2500 4x4,quad cab,lwb,black sport,4. 10lsd,5-speed,everything but leather,5" Tuff Country suspension lift chromed,3"body lift,38"Ground Hawg radials,16. 5x12 American Eagle wheels,K&N. VA box
2000 24' Weekend Warrior
97 Yamaha Banshee

 

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I purchased the skyjacker 2. 5" leveling springs and blasted the red powder coat off and painted them black. These springs are stiffer and equaled the ride with the rear. before I put them on I noticed a terrible bucking feel like the soft front end was fighting the rear.

I was wondering if any of you guys can tell me how much lift would I need to run 36" to 38" tires on 16. 5x12 Weld Typhoon Wheels. No body lift please!

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'99 2500HD Quad Cab 4x4,Intense Blue Pearlcoat,fully loaded w/Agate leather interior,5-speed,4. 10 limited slip,Leveling kit,Heckethorn Nitro 9000 shocks w/dual end to end steering stabilizers,35x12. 50x16. 5 BFG's on 9. 75x16. 5 Eagle 589 Aluminum Wheels,9004 Cool Blue's,Silencer Ring removed,Fog Lights relay pulled,No muffler,No resonator,4" straight pipe.

 

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Wowzy, you should be able to clear 36's with a 4-5" lift. I think it would require a body lift or a custom suspension lift to clear 38's. I'm not speaking from experience, just what I have seen in my travels.

 

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If I go with the 38's I'll probably go with a combo of a 4-5" suspension lift with a set of 2" coil spacers from Pro-Comp. I've never liked a body lift.

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'99 2500HD Quad Cab 4x4,Intense Blue Pearlcoat,fully loaded w/Agate leather interior,5-speed,4. 10 limited slip,Leveling kit,Heckethorn Nitro 9000 shocks w/dual end to end steering stabilizers,35x12. 50x16. 5 BFG's on 9. 75x16. 5 Eagle 589 Aluminum Wheels,9004 Cool Blue's,Silencer Ring removed,Fog Lights relay pulled,No muffler,No resonator,4" straight pipe.

 

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Wowzy, I changed my mind about how I said that. I had 33's on my 2500 with no lift other than what came from the factory. A 2-3" should clear 35-36" tires, and a 4-5" should clear 38" tires. I would be careful that they may rub in places like tierods or fenders. Talk to some off road shops and see what they recomend.

 

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You will definately need more than the 4. 5" for 38" tires. I put 38's on my truck and they looked great but I wouldn't have survived a bump in the road. Go with those spacers, I'm like you on the body lifts. With the 4. 5" lift and 36's I went up 7. 5" from stock total. That is enough for me. Snyder, I read your post on the lift a couple months ago and checked out that Tuff Country lift. I wish I would have found that when looking for lifts, it sounds like a great system.

 

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Doesn't adding coil spacers change the geometry of your suspension. If so what are the fixes? I realize that the link arms in Skyjackers "flex series" have adjustable heim joints on either end of the link. Does one have to just lengthen the link to compensate for the spacers? Inquiring minds want to know. #ad

 

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Any time that a suspension mod. is made, you shoul re-allign the truck. That should cure any geometry problems.

My question is this. With a 4-5" lift, do you have to lengthen the driveshafts or is there enough slip in the yoke? What about brake lines? Does either kit, Skyjacker or Tuff Country, come with the necessary brakets for brake lines?

 

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The new upper and lower links correct the geometry. With Tuff Countrys lift, No driveline mods are required, and brake line brackets are included. With my lift, the 38's will rub my bumper if I turn hard in reverse. I was going to put my old spacers with the Skyjacker kit, but after reaserching, it's just not a good idea. I don't believe alignment is possible this way, because the lower link will be the wrong length. Body lifts arent as bad as the bum rap they get. I've built 9 4x4's, and 6 of em had body lifts with not one problem. Also, I dont baby them either, 3 of the trucks I sold had bent frames from big air! Body lifts hold up fine. Good luck!

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99 2500 4x4,quad cab,lwb,black sport,4. 10lsd,5-speed,everything but leather,5" Tuff Country suspension lift chromed,3"body lift,38"Ground Hawg radials,16. 5x12 American Eagle wheels,K&N. VA box
2000 24' Weekend Warrior
97 Yamaha Banshee

 

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Snyder, what was the cost of the tuff country 5" lift kit? I may go that route. Do you know of any people who supply this lift like National Tire and Wheel etc. ?

 

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You have to get it from Tuff Country. Their phone # is 1-800-288-2190. Ask for Scott, he's a nice guy and knows his stuff. I think we are not suppose to discuss prices, but the complete kit and shipping to Nevada from Utah was under a grand! everything comes powder coated black and looks nice. I chromed everything because on a black Ram, I wanted it to stand out. If you live in the Northwest, Les Schwab tire centers carry Tuff Country's stuff. It's a good product and I think you will be happy. I'm sort of a perfectionist with trucks and I am happy with this setup!

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99 2500 4x4,quad cab,lwb,black sport,4. 10lsd,5-speed,everything but leather,5" Tuff Country suspension lift chromed,3"body lift,38"Ground Hawg radials,16. 5x12 American Eagle wheels,K&N. VA box
2000 24' Weekend Warrior
97 Yamaha Banshee

 

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It looks like that Tuff Country kit will be my cup of beer.

I talked to the owner of my local 4x4 shop about a Superlift and he said that it was exspensive. He said that the best part of their kit was the "Y" shape trailing arms. He said that they mount on the two mounts on the axle,join together in the middle and mount singular to the lowest of the two mounts on the frame to correct the geometry.

He also said that you couldn't order these Y-arms by themselves,you can only get them with the kit. They even have a contingent plan for those trying to order a so called "replacement" arm (you guys know what i'm talking about,ordering a damage replacement for one that didn't exist)and duplicating the other one in their shop. The plan is that in oder to get a replacement, you have to ship the damaged arm to Superlift or send them a photo of it. Superlift really must be worried of us do-it-yourselfers building our own set and cutting their profits.

If I only could find someone who has this kit so I could get the dimensions of the Y-arms and build my own set.

If anyone gets the dimensions of these arms,please post the findings.

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'99 2500HD Quad Cab 4x4,Intense Blue Pearlcoat,fully loaded w/Agate leather interior,5-speed,4. 10 limited slip,Leveling kit,Heckethorn Nitro 9000 shocks w/dual end to end steering stabilizers,35x12. 50x16. 5 BFG's on 9. 75x16. 5 Eagle 589 Aluminum Wheels,9004 Cool Blue's,Silencer Ring removed,Fog Lights relay pulled,No muffler,No resonator,4" straight pipe.