Just bought a 2004 , thinking of 4" lift

You could run a 1" body lift.

 

Aren’t body lifts generally frowned upon?

 

1" is okay, it doesn't over leverage the cab mounts as much, and you can get 3.5" to 4" lift when paired with a coil/spring lift. You also don't need to relocate or extend as much shit. Basically the bumpers and that's it. If you do a 2" body lift, that's when you have to extend the steering, shifter, gas tube, probably other crap.

 

Could always just Photoshop a lift and post to social media #yolo

 

I don't personally agree with diff drops. ymmv

 

By me they are! They're just below balljoint spacers on my shit list.

In most situations, a 1" body lift, when coupled with a suspension lift, doesn't really do anything that a BFH doen't already accomplish. As an example, my tires rubbed the frame, so no amount of body lift will fix that. If you're looking to fit 33's, the 1" BL on top of a 3" susp just isn't usually necessary anyway. Just hammer the pinch weld, and depending on your wheels/tires, you might not even need that.

But I can easily see situations where a 1" BL would be useful. For my preferences, I'd try most everything else before I did one, though.

 

Oh dang that's really good to know. Thanks for the help and the website where you bought it!

 

2.5 inch suspension lift, 2 inch body lift = 4.5 inch lift.

Now what to do about those skinny tires;

 

Hey just FYI. That diff drop at 1stgenoffroad.com ships for free. down south was going to charge me $20 to ship it.

 

There's nothing wrong with a good looking woman. Even if she can't cook or care for the kids she had have.

 

Mine came to almost 3" of lift.
I did the following with a buddy in his home garage with just minor tools.
The ride, handling and performance even if you do not off-road makes this an ideal system.
Shackles and spacers are a poor man's solution, but you pay dearly for their cost savings


ON THE FRONT:

(2) Bilstein 5100 Height Adjustable Front Strut Set D558 $175


Old Man Emu 2881 Front Coil Set $160

You can leave your stock Upper Control Arm as I did for awhile, but that will be problematic. I installed these JBAs costing $485 some years later.
I wish I would have installed them from the beginning.
The improvement in handling and wheel alignment is so radically better with these it makes them worth it.





ON THE REAR:


Deaver Racing Leaf Springs at $700 (current price).
You can get a few inches of lift from any aftermarket spring or even adding a leaf or two to your stock springs. While cheaper that way I wanted the ride that these racing springs give (if you don't haul heavy things).

(2) Bilstein 5100s $140

 

Although it may only be a 2" to 2.5" lift, it still costs about 2K to do ANY type of suspension lift/ suspension changes. In my case, that was a set of FOX shocks and new rear leaf springs from Skyjacker.

I did not install a body lift, yet. I clear everything pretty good with 33" tires on my otherwise "stock" truck, but not perfect. It can and does rub on a good size hole with the steering locked in either direction.

If I added a 2" body lift, I think all would be great, and I may do that in time. People laugh at guys with body lifts, but, to each their own. Crap, in 1988 I had a 3" lift, cranked up my torsion bars a it and ran Dick Cepek Fun Country 36" tires, that truck was a BLAST!!

As far as a body lift goes, I always make my own brackets and raise the bumpers myself, it's not a big deal at all... Some guys will never have anything good to say about a body lift, don't let it bother you...

We don't all have the money and or the sources to do some of the crazy expensive stuff some of the members here do with A-arms. King shocks, re-gear our diffs etc etc etc, but we prefer the looks of a lifted truck with fat tires on there...

 

Looks great! What notch did you set your Bilsteins on? Did you need a wheel spacer or a negative offset to fit those 33s?

 

If I remember correctly they are on the middle setting and not the highest. The coil springs give it lift too.
No wheel spacers or offsets as those are stock size tires.

 

I agree with 2Beers, you cannot go over 3" without a lot of cash.
However you can get up to 3" front and back for ~$400 and have a good looking and a reasonably functioning suspension system.
Use the new Bilstein adjustable 5100s ($175) with your stock springs and adjust them at the highest setting to get the 3" in front.
For the rear you can get 2" with an "Add-A-Leaf" kit ($65) and get the last 1" with an Amazon shackle kit ($50). Of course you will need to get new shocks in the back to adjust for the height, maybe Bilstein 4600s ($110).