Suspension Question Needing Clarification

I'm not sure I'm any closer to making a decision. I currently have only put on an SST Lift Kit (Leveling Kit) 3" Front and 2" Rear on my 2016 SR5 4x4. It looks great but I took it on a very mild trail. Almost ever decent bump gave me that "thump of extension", if you know what I mean. (No down travel at all) I didn't think that it would affect me that much, but damn, even the speed bumps at 15 MPH?

I am trying to "mod on a budget" but the leveling lift is worrying me. It can't be healthy for my truck.

So, my question to you all..... (yes, I have read most of the suspension discussions but I'm not a very mechanical kind of guy. I need a little tutoring.)

I off road about 5% of my monthly travels. No rock climbing or extreme trails. I live in the desert (rocky sand, not powdery sand) but it can get wet during certain seasons. I have about a grand to spend. From what I gather from the posts, if I change out my shocks and leveling kit for say... Fox 2.0 performance coil overs, I would lose about .5" of lift and without changing the UCA, I would still get that crappy down travel.

Again, with about a grand ($1600 if I eat ramen and hotdogs for a while (which I'm willing for my truck)), no desire to ever have to rebuild a shock in the future, not losing too much lift since I'm running 275 70 R17 BFG AT KO's, and will need someone to install for me...... What would Y'all suggest?

 

Take off the bullshit and install some 6112 in front and 5160s in rear with a 3 leaf AAL it gets great reviews. 2" lift max. Your ass, driveline components and suspension will thank you.

 

Please don't laugh too much or get frustrated with me..... Is there a brand name for me to look up?

 

those model numbers are Bilstein

 

Look up Headstrong Off-road,give them a call, highly recommend.

 

Search forum for 6112. Read all threads with title 6112. You will learn a lot

 

Got it, I'll start looking then. I appreciate the leads y'all.

 

You will lose down travel with most of the kits. Down travel is as important, if not more so than up travel. The total travel is pretty much fixed unless you get into some serious coin / changing more than just springs & shocks. So all you are really doing with "lift kits" is adding up travel at the expense of down travel. Or moving the default ride height within the same full suspension travel. Most cheap-ish 2"~3" lift kits will ride like complete shit at speed offroad, and made worse by some as they will actually reduce total usable travel. Your better off trying to keep as close to stock ride height as you can (or want to), as you'll usually want as much (or more) down travel as up travel if you want to drive at speed offroad.