Leveling Kit or Body Lift?

[NickCG01]

Hello,

Stuck on the fence whether I should go with ReadyLift 2.5"F/1.0"R Leveling Kit or do a 3" PA Body Lift on my 03 Z71 Tahoe?

My current wheel and tire setup is Fuel Revolvers 20x10 4.5"Backspacing -24mm Offset wrapped in 305/50R20 (32"x12.5"x20) Nitto Terra Grapplers with torsion bars cranked/stock in the rear...had to do some fender plastic trimming and rubs a bit when full lock turn/reverse turning...

Depending on which lift I go with, anyone have any thoughts of what the largest tire would be on the leveling kit and body lift?

Thanks!
Nick

 

[BigDaddy13440]

IMO, you'd be wasting your money on a ReadyLift kit. I bought E-bay keys and 2" steel rear spacers, rear shock extenders (and the torsion bar tool), and Z71 coils from RockAuto for under $140, shipped. I also got KYB MonoMax shocks (stock length for the rear, 2-5" lift for the front).

Currently sitting at 39 1/4" in the front, and 40" in the rear (fender heights). I'm running 285/75/16's now, on MB Blitz 16x8 wheels, that have 1 1/4" less backspacing than stock. My front tires are about even with the fender flares, while my back tires stick out more (have 1 1/2" spacers on the rear). I shouldn't have any problem clearing 305/70/16's under any articulation - I have a set of Fierce Attitude MT's waiting to go on for the winter weather.

Planning on adding a 3" Zone body lift (already have it), and stepping up to 35x12.50x20's or to 295/65/20's (35.4") on GMC Sierra 20x8.5's. Either should clear easily.

 

[liftedtahoe]

My honest opinion is with @BigDaddy13440 , i have ebay kits (3" torsions, front shock extenders, 2" rear coil spacers) on both my hoes, but they also both have 3" bodylifts on 35s, there is no way id spend that money on a readylift, when all your paying for is the name! Just my opinion! Good luck with your decisions!

 

[Flexx]

My honest opinion is with @BigDaddy13440 , i have ebay kits (3" torsions, front shock extenders, 2" rear coil spacers) on both my hoes, but they also both have 3" bodylifts on 35s, there is no way id spend that money on a readylift, when all your paying for is the name! Just my opinion! Good luck with your decisions!

You have pics? Was the body lift easy? And did you relocate your hitch? Wanting to add body lift to mine.

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[liftedtahoe]

@Flexx
The bodylift wasnt bad but i also have a 2post lift which made it 10x easier, but it isnt bad at all, just go step by step on the instructions and its simple! Ive installed 6 bodylifts since my 2 so ive got it down pat now lol, i didnt relocate my hitch only because i didnt want to weaking it!

The pewter one is on 35" boggers now

 

[Flexx]

@Flexx
The bodylift wasnt bad but i also have a 2post lift which made it 10x easier, but it isnt bad at all, just go step by step on the instructions and its simple! Ive installed 6 bodylifts since my 2 so ive got it down pat now lol, i didnt relocate my hitch only because i didnt want to weaking it!

View attachment 70530 View attachment 70531
The pewter one is on 35" boggers now
View attachment 70532

Well that settles it. Definitely going body lift and 35".

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[liftedtahoe]

Well that settles it. Definitely going body lift and 35".

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Trim a little bit off your front valance, and if you have a z71 gonna have to trim the inner portion of the front plastic (mudflap i guess?) Lol other than that no rubbing unless you clock it hard in reverse! Here is my sisters z71 hoe same lift as mine on the grapplers that was on my pewter hoe!

 

[Flexx]

Trim a little bit off your front valance, and if you have a z71 gonna have to trim the inner portion of the front plastic (mudflap i guess?) Lol other than that no rubbing unless you clock it hard in reverse! Here is my sisters z71 hoe same lift as mine on the grapplers that was on my pewter hoe!
View attachment 70548
View attachment 70549

Don't have to worry about trimming the front! Haha. Will have to trim the back of the fender, How did you trim it? I'm a z71.

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[liftedtahoe]

Don't have to worry about trimming the front! Haha. Will have to trim the back of the fender, How did you trim it? I'm a z71.

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Well im not in my z today but ill get you a picture this afternoon or tomorrow!

 

[aquacure]

I have zero experience with body lifts, never liked that you can see the frame. But I noticed on the Z that the running boards hide them and I have an 03 Z71.

I do have a dumb question. Do you have to do anything special to the bumpers or do they just rise with the body? If you do have to remount them I'm assuming those parts come with the lift.

sg

 

[Flexx]

I have zero experience with body lifts, never liked that you can see the frame. But I noticed on the Z that the running boards hide them and I have an 03 Z71.

I do have a dumb question. Do you have to do anything special to the bumpers or do they just rise with the body? If you do have to remount them I'm assuming those parts come with the lift.

sg

Yes, they come with bumper relocation kits. Only the hitch stays where it is. And yes, I generally don't like body lifts, but our z71 running boards and cladding completely hide it.

Have my eyes on the zone kit.

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[liftedtahoe]

I have zero experience with body lifts, never liked that you can see the frame. But I noticed on the Z that the running boards hide them and I have an 03 Z71.

I do have a dumb question. Do you have to do anything special to the bumpers or do they just rise with the body? If you do have to remount them I'm assuming those parts come with the lift.

sg

Yes the zone 3" body lift come with front and rear bumper relocators, im sure the other ones do too but ive never messed with one other than zone (they have everything you need for them) but im like you i have never liked bodylift because they expose your frame so much like my pewter hoe, but the frame was hid on it atleast until i totaled it out....

 

[liftedtahoe]

Don't have to worry about trimming the front! Haha. Will have to trim the back of the fender, How did you trim it? I'm a z71.

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Here you go bro, this is what i was talking about on th trim (mudflap)

Just trim it on the inside cut it straight down and then to the metal bracket holding it on and it will clear without and issues then the outside apperance wont change and most people wont even notice it was cut

Good luck and keep me updated!!

 

[Flexx]

Here you go bro, this is what i was talking about on th trim (mudflap)
View attachment 70576
Just trim it on the inside cut it straight down and then to the metal bracket holding it on and it will clear without and issues then the outside apperance wont change and most people wont even notice it was cut
View attachment 70577
Good luck and keep me updated!!

Gotcha. Thanks man. I tried to run 325/60/20 and they literally just barely kissed the plastic right there. At the time I didn't feel like messing with it so just got different tires.

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[liftedtahoe]

Gotcha. Thanks man. I tried to run 325/60/20 and they literally just barely kissed the plastic right there. At the time I didn't feel like messing with it so just got different tires.

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No problem at all! Let me know how it goes!also if you have anymore questions feel free to hit me up anytime!

 

[abishoff]

I did the PA body lift on my 06 Denali and it looks good with the 33's. no rubbing. Now i want to lift it higher for 37's or bigger.

 

[liftedtahoe]

I did the PA body lift on my 06 Denali and it looks good with the 33's. no rubbing. Now i want to lift it higher for 37's or bigger.

I was gonna go 38s or 40s, but then i found out im going to have a new edition to our family and it would be hard to put a carseat in and out of a hoe on 40s so i decided against it (for now)

 

[Cattivo]

How much of the frame shows with a 3'' body lift, does anyone have pics of the frame? I'm also undecided wether to do a leveling kit or body lift... I installed my 33'' tires today after cranking the tortion bars and they rubbed bad

 

[Flexx]

How much of the frame shows with a 3'' body lift, does anyone have pics of the frame? I'm also undecided wether to do a leveling kit or body lift... I installed my 33'' tires today after cranking the tortion bars and they rubbed bad

What tires and rims you running? Shouldn't rub. And if you're a z71 the frame is hidden. Our running boardsand cladding are mounted to the body.

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[Cattivo]

What tires and rims you running? Shouldn't rub. And if you're a z71 the frame is hidden. Our running boardsand cladding are mounted to the body.

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Not a z71...275/18'' XD Series wheels with Mickey Thompson mtz's

edit: I plan on installing a Go Rhino push bar at some point, will it look silly if I get a 3'' body lift or is there some way to raise it with the body? sorry for all the newb questions