Joe T

Ok, I'm buying a 2500 or 3500 SRW crew cab short bed 4x4.

One thing for certain is that the truck is gonna sit level, another is it is going to pull trailers from time to time... Although I not scared of over using the set up when pulling a trailer as long as I'm not over pin # too much or tire/wheel ratings too much.

Anyway, my biggest question is about a lift just up front... If I do 2 inches it levels out the truck, right? But does this decrease my abilitly to get into the garage by 2 inches? In other words does the truck pivot, unlike raising the whole truck front and back by 2 inches? I guess the question is how much does this raise the total height of the truck. Also, would it look funny riding around on stock wheels/tires with the 2 inch lift up front? Because if I tow a heavy trailer (20,000 lbs bulldozer) I'll put my stock wheels/tires back on it. And I might throw the stockers back on there when I sell it in 2 1/2 years.

Also, I've got the option to drop the back end. Could I run a 34 inch tire if I took the rear spring spacers out.

Ideally I'd like to do a 2 inch lift up front and do 35's and change to stock wheels and tires if I tow a heavy trailer over 10000 lbs (not very often).

Here is the delima a stock truck is 6 foot and 7.2 inches tall with the stock 30.72 inch tall tires. If you add 35's (35-30.72=4.28; 4.28/2=2.14) that increases height by 2.14 inches. Then add 2 inch lift up front and it increases height by 2 more inches which added up equals 4.14.

The truck would be 6 foot and 11.34 inches tall with 35's and 21 inch front lift. Just a little too much.

Plus this assumes equal squat between tires and no variations in height.

What should I do?

nriver

my take is the 2" front lift wont make that big of a difference.

The tires make more of a difference. Think you said that.

just measured mine, does not look to be over 7" with 3" front lift and 37s. Cab height. 7'1" at the canopy rack

Wait, mine is a long bed yours short, my numbers wont help.

So your number look correct. Looks like you are stuck with 33s and may need to get rid of the spacers.

Joe T

You are 7'1 at the canopy rack, what is that, and how tall is it?

What I'll probably do is run like a 315/65/18 ~ 34.38 inches tall and just get rid of the spacers.

No way I'm going from a 1500 2x4 sport with 20's 275/60/20 ~ 33.2 inch tire to a 2500 4x4 with 33's.

Joe T

Also, if the 2 inch lift doesn't make much difference I am assuming I could run 35's and you could subtract those 2 inches off my 6 foot and 11.34 inches.

Although I do need some room for comfort. Maybe I'm pushing it here.

Keyser Soze

I once had a Chevy, along long long time ago.. I had a 6" lift on 35"s it also had a headache rack.. Well it said such and such hieght and everything was good going UP.. Well on the way DOWN, i was going slow making sure and then BAM!!!! It ripped my headache rack back tore the corner of my bed it was a mess..

I dont really trust the whole height thingy anymore.. I once entered a mall garage that said 6'8" and i hit my antenna but in the other side it said 6'8" and i cleared ok that time.. I dont know which was right or wrong..

I know with my dodge with a 6" lift and 37's i'm not gonna be trying to park in any garage..

Joe T

Yeah, I'm worried about this.. I wonder how funny it would look if I went over to that piece of pipe with a tape measure... They would probably think I escaped the psych ward.

6'11"!! ****, and they couldn't give me the garage with 7'3" of clearance.

nriver

my truck



rack on top of the canopy

thinking you should be fine with what you sugested above, have not been that worried about height though

gerry

I have the leveling kit up front and BFG315's (34 1/2") tires. From teh ground to the top of my sirus attena it is 7'1"..

Gerry

blh1972

My truck sits almost 6' 8". My garage door is same height, ant. hits and cab barely clears.

abc4yew

Move the spacers in the rear to lower the rear and the truck will be level...put on 265 or 285 70 17 tires and you will be 32.6 to 33.2 inches tall at the tire this only raises the truck 1/2 the difference. the spacers will drop the butt about 1.5 inches. Truck should be the same height but with a better stance and level when empty.ks

Joe T

Ok, now I'm confused about something.

305-75-20 ~ 38 inches tall. And you say you are 6'8. And another guy running 34.5 says he is 7'1". Both 2 inch leveling kit.

I've been reading about these trucks all day and my head is about to pop because I was thinking I could get some custom made 1.5 inch spring spacers up front and run 35 inch tires and be just ok.

RamWheelsBy4

With my 2" leveling kit and BFG 315s on stock 17x8 wheels mine measures just under 7' 2" to high point on top of cab. My CB antenna is another 12-14" higher. Mine will not fit through my 7' garage door without the CB antenna.

Be careful my last Dodge 1500 4x4 QC with 20s had the paint scaped off the roof in an underground parking garage that went from 7' 0" minimum clearance to 6'3" clearance after I got in. I thought I could make it under, but the truck shifted back on the suspension because of the steep angle going out. You don't even want to know how much it costs to repaint the roof correctly. Front and rear windows have to come out.

ramtd02

my stock truck height is less than 6'6", and my 2002 with a 2" lift and 35" tires was also less than 6'6".

whenever i go to the mall they have the clearance things hanging down, my antenna touches but my roof doesnt....so i wouldnt worry about it!

Joe T

Well, I guess what I am going to do is just buy the truck because at 6' and 7.2 inches tall it will fit. Then if it looks like I have ample room I'll add a leveling kit with the stock wheel/tires. Then I'll measure and see if I can fit bigger tires. If not I'll just remove the leveling kit and drop the back so I can run some bigger tires.

Yeah, and I'll be careful. I went into a parking garage one time in my 1500 that wasn't marked until you got into a different part of the garage that said low clearance... Almost hit an f'in pipe running along the roof. The worst part was they had a section for oversized vehicles that was half filled with small trucks and cars . I was late to my meeting, not nice.

973604x4

HA funny this came up...i had concerns last week in some parking garages...one place i did fit but barely...i had 4" clearance max. it was scary close...there was a another 3rd gen in there with aftermarket 17"s and 285 mudders...i guess he made it fine. i wouldn't have tried it.

In another parking garage....couldn't make the turn past the entrance gate...i had to back up time and time again until i could get out...ran into the that thing that comes down behind you after you go in....oh well i made it eventually....

BTW my truck is straight piped.....anybody want to guess how loud it was in a parking garage?