BODY LIFT? Yay or Nay?

[BigCountryDRC]

I'm debating getting a 3'' body lift for my ramcharger. I know a lot of guys dont like running them. My floor boards are all solid so breaking through wont be an issue. I was just wondering what you guys thougt. Oh, btw ill be building my own steel bumpers after i put the lift in to compensate for the gap. Will I have to extend any linkage? Oh, and where is the cheapest place to buy one w/o bumper brackets. My truck is HUGE now im just looking for that little bit of tire clearance to stop the rub and because bigger is always better! Thanks -Corey


Ok so im 5'8 and this is me standing next to my truck. A 3'' body lift will put my truck right about where I want it to be. If you look at the front fender in front of the tire, thats where im scrubbing at

[marshall]

nay

[Bigdaddy]

x2

nay

[Blake Scheuneman]

Nay! Shows too much frame...

[ToughBowtieTruck]

Don't do it. You'll be glad you didn't. 3" body lift makes everything related to the body 3" higher than everything related to the frame. Fan shroud won't work anymore, you'll have more fender gap allowing stuff to get into the engine bay, linkages will have to be modified, and so on. The engine will be 3" lower in the engine bay, making certain repair jobs harder.

Bigger tire is not always better. Think about it this way: My 32" tires can do the same as a 36" tire. Why? Although a 36" tire is 4" bigger in diameter, you only have 2" of that tire making contact with the ground, so you only get 2" extra total clearance, because your axles will always be the lowest part of the truck that won't be moved through lift kits. But a 36" tire requires a 4-6" lift, usually. That's a LOT of extra lift for that tiny bit of more ground clearance.

Just keep that in mind.

[scooterbob]

somtimes just have to .. have one on mine for clearance issuse. have not had an issue, mine was just somthin we made up at the shop nothin fancy and i drive mine on road also..

only thing i did was reinforce the bottom of the core support
get with flatblack he can get what u need reasonable

[KORNBREAD]

also body lifts can egg shape your body mounts after a wile. Body lifts are very hard on your mounts.

[bigdawg41]

I run a 3" body lift in my bogger. No problems after 4 1/2 years, also take my truck to Rocks&Valleys and twist the s&*t out of it.

[BAD APPLE]

Body lifts are not that bad and you don't always have to lengthen cables or linkeges depending on the application, and some times body lifts make it easier to work on things gives you more room for your hands and certain tools, as for the radiator shroud, remount it and it will work fine, if it makes to much gap between the body and frame u can make or buy gap gaurds, depending on how much lift it already has some times a body lift is your only choice to meke clearance for your tires , if u already have suspension lift adding more lift to the suspension could cause problems with driveshaft angles makeing the body lift your only option

[ice87]

Nay harder on mounts but it does make working on some things easier.

[Blazin40s]

I say just cut a lil more.  If you were doing it to get bigger tirfes under it then yes, but if what yer runnin now works for yer tires then why make the center of gravity higher?

[BigCountryDRC]

Don't do it. You'll be glad you didn't. 3" body lift makes everything related to the body 3" higher than everything related to the frame. Fan shroud won't work anymore, you'll have more fender gap allowing stuff to get into the engine bay, linkages will have to be modified, and so on. The engine will be 3" lower in the engine bay, making certain repair jobs harder.

Bigger tire is not always better. Think about it this way: My 32" tires can do the same as a 36" tire. Why? Although a 36" tire is 4" bigger in diameter, you only have 2" of that tire making contact with the ground, so you only get 2" extra total clearance, because your axles will always be the lowest part of the truck that won't be moved through lift kits. But a 36" tire requires a 4-6" lift, usually. That's a LOT of extra lift for that tiny bit of more ground clearance.

Just keep that in mind.

I'm running 39.5''s now. My front fenders rub my tires and they're chewing them up. I don't like the idea of any more mud getting in my bay i've had a lot of issues with that already. As far as my shroud that hasnt been hooked up in years. I also don't like the idea of extending my linkage. This truck WILL be driven on the road. Not far just the hour north to R & V and maybe my 5 min drive to work ever now and again when I feel froggy.

Body lifts are not that bad and you don't always have to lengthen cables or linkeges depending on the application, and some times body lifts make it easier to work on things gives you more room for your hands and certain tools, as for the radiator shroud, remount it and it will work fine, if it makes to much gap between the body and frame u can make or buy gap gaurds, depending on how much lift it already has some times a body lift is your only choice to meke clearance for your tires , if u already have suspension lift adding more lift to the suspension could cause problems with driveshaft angles makeing the body lift your only option

I saw gap guards for sale online, if i go this route i plan on making my own like you said. I guess i could do the same thing to keep mud out of my bay. Im completely maxed out on suspension lift. my driveshafts are already hitting the yokes. I dont really wanna set up a divorced t-case. 2'' to 3'' should be enough to keep my tires. I could trim them up i guess but i would rather keep my fenders intact and throw the body lift in. Body mounts and linkage is my only concern right now. I need to find someone whos put a body lift in a 1st gen dodge truck. FLAT BLACK WHERE ARE YOU!!!!

[BigCountryDRC]

I say just cut a lil more.  If you were doing it to get bigger tirfes under it then yes, but if what yer runnin now works for yer tires then why make the center of gravity higher?

OH YUPP! I completely forgot about my center of gravity. I'm WAY high centerend now.  Uncomfortably high centered on hills. I plan on spending every other weekend this summer at R & V and Silver lake. Thats a complete game changer I dont roller big country over

[Blazin40s]

I like to keep it as low as possable with biggest tires possable.  That way the rig is much more nimble on the trails. 

[Blazin40s]

How much lift u got with the 39.5?  Cause my buddy has 6in lift on his r.c. and trimmed fenders and he has no issues of body contact with the tires.

[BigCountryDRC]

I didnt put the springs in so id have to measure mine and my buddy from work has a stock height. It's pretty big but its not stupid huge. The only place i scrub is the front on the fenders. I could prolly get away with trimming 2'' or 3'' and be fine. I put a 2.5'' spacer in my '97 and ran 35''s with no issues as long as i wasnt maxed out turning

[72 Bogger]

Don't do it. You'll be glad you didn't. 3" body lift makes everything related to the body 3" higher than everything related to the frame. Fan shroud won't work anymore, you'll have more fender gap allowing stuff to get into the engine bay, linkages will have to be modified, and so on. The engine will be 3" lower in the engine bay, making certain repair jobs harder.

Bigger tire is not always better. Think about it this way: My 32" tires can do the same as a 36" tire. Why? Although a 36" tire is 4" bigger in diameter, you only have 2" of that tire making contact with the ground, so you only get 2" extra total clearance, because your axles will always be the lowest part of the truck that won't be moved through lift kits. But a 36" tire requires a 4-6" lift, usually. That's a LOT of extra lift for that tiny bit of more ground clearance.

Just keep that in mind.

X2

[mudbillyredneck]

The important stuff is Bigger Tarhs.....body lift away....sheet metal is over rated anyway..go ahead and pick  out a michigan vehicle/Bogger that doesnt need rust repairs/cab mounts anyway .....body lifts are great for the guy who needs to tune his stuff or wants more room to powerwash his schtuff 

[4x4xdodgeman]

he's talking mopar not chevy. you do not need to cut fan shroud. you move rad down drill new holes.as far as body mounts on a dodge is the same size as the body lift blocks. you need to get the body bolts tight, when you have body mounts problems is cause you did not get them tight enough. body lift makes easier to wash the mud off the under side of the body & frame

[old school truck dude]

Yes do it. Toss the fan and fan shroud in the ditch and get an electric fan. Makes it so much easier to work on and clean up.. Might have to extend the steering shaft a bit, just slide a piece of pipe over it after its cut and tack it good.. Linkage as necessary, maybe reroute or add to wiring.. NO BIG DEAL.