Can a '97 Chevy Tahoe with a 6" lift on 35's fit through a standard 7' high garage door opening?

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CS_ATX

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TLDR: Can someone with a 90's model Tahoe with a 6" lift on 35's tell me if it will fit in a standard garage (with a 7' door height)?

I want to get my '97 Tahoe lifted but I'm not sure if it will still fit in my garage if I get a 6" lift on 35's. Right now it's on 245/75r16 tires and stock suspension and I have 9" clearance. So if I get 6" of height from the lift kit, and 2.5" from the tires then that's 8.5" overall in added height. Meaning I'd have 1/2 inch of clearance. That's really close and if I'm off in my measurements then it won't fit. So I'm really hoping someone who has a 6" lift on 35's on a 90's Tahoe or Yukon can tell me if theirs fits in a standard garage.

I'm also thinking of just going with a 4" lift on 33's if I can't fit a 6" lift on 35's in the garage. The thing is I was wanting to get a BDS lift but they only have a 6" kit for my Tahoe. If I go with a 4" lift I'd need to go with a 'Rough Country' or 'Tuff Country' kit. There the only two brands I've found that make a 4" kit for my model. But with both of those 4" kits you have to cut off the stock bump stops, and you install new drop brackets for the stock upper control arm. The BDS kit doesn't cut off the bump stops, and instead of a new drop bracket they give you a new bigger upper control arm and a new knuckle.

So if I went with either of the 4" kits and cut off the bump stops then I don't think I'd ever be able to change to to he BDS 6" kit later if I changed my mind. The BDS kit needs the bump stops that either have already been cut off. I could upgrade from the 4" RC kit to a 6" RC kit later though. From what I understand the only difference between the two of the 6" kit has an add-a-leaf for the rear and you just crank the torsion keys for the extra 2" in the front. Otherwise the 4" and 6" RC kits are the same though. So it's a 5" diff drop either way. The BDS kit is a 6" lift without cranking the torsion keys from what I understand. Which I've been told results in a better ride.

So I'd really rather get the 6" BDS kit if I can. But I'm just concerned it won't fit in the garage. But if I get one of the 4" kits that means I can't get the BDS kit later if I change my mind. So yeah, I'm really hoping someone who has a 6" lift on 35's on a 90's Tahoe or Yukon can tell me if theirs fits in a standard garage.

Any input is appreciated, thanks.
 

Bill 1960

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There will be differences between different lift brands insofar as exactly what the lift amount is. Plus lots of variance in height between individual vehicles at stock height due to different OEM suspension packages.

BDS is in a whole different class of product than the other two mentioned, IMO.

Do you have roof rails? Mine has none, and it would not fit in the garage if it did. You can always pull those off if it’ll help you.
 
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CS_ATX

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There will be differences between different lift brands insofar as exactly what the lift amount is. Plus lots of variance in height between individual vehicles at stock height due to different OEM suspension packages.

BDS is in a whole different class of product than the other two mentioned, IMO.

Do you have roof rails? Mine has none, and it would not fit in the garage if it did. You can always pull those off if it’ll help you.

Mine does have roof rails. I have 9" of clearance from the highest point on the cross-beams that connect the two rails. If I remove the rails that'd give me another 1.25" of clearance. I'd rather leave them on if I can though.

What about if I get the BDS 6" lift and cranked the torsion keys down, and didn't install the leaf springs in the back (just the rear block)? I could run 33's on it, and it'd basically be a 4" lift. Or can you not crank down torsion keys like that?
 

Bill 1960

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You can do a significant amount of adjustment using the keys, however too much (and I’d call 2” too much) will leave you with a terrible ride because the suspension has little travel left in one direction.

I recently helped diagnose and correct a lifted 2500 with that exact issue. It rode rough as hell because the resting position was nowhere near mid travel.

BDS tech support is really good and I’d discuss the adjustment options with them before a decision. It does sound like you may be safer at 4”.
 

Sgtmoe

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TLDR: Can someone with a 90's model Tahoe with a 6" lift on 35's tell me if it will fit in a standard garage (with a 7' door height)?

I want to get my '97 Tahoe lifted but I'm not sure if it will still fit in my garage if I get a 6" lift on 35's. Right now it's on 245/75r16 tires and stock suspension and I have 9" clearance. So if I get 6" of height from the lift kit, and 2.5" from the tires then that's 8.5" overall in added height. Meaning I'd have 1/2 inch of clearance. That's really close and if I'm off in my measurements then it won't fit. So I'm really hoping someone who has a 6" lift on 35's on a 90's Tahoe or Yukon can tell me if theirs fits in a standard garage.

I'm also thinking of just going with a 4" lift on 33's if I can't fit a 6" lift on 35's in the garage. The thing is I was wanting to get a BDS lift but they only have a 6" kit for my Tahoe. If I go with a 4" lift I'd need to go with a 'Rough Country' or 'Tuff Country' kit. There the only two brands I've found that make a 4" kit for my model. But with both of those 4" kits you have to cut off the stock bump stops, and you install new drop brackets for the stock upper control arm. The BDS kit doesn't cut off the bump stops, and instead of a new drop bracket they give you a new bigger upper control arm and a new knuckle.

So if I went with either of the 4" kits and cut off the bump stops then I don't think I'd ever be able to change to to he BDS 6" kit later if I changed my mind. The BDS kit needs the bump stops that either have already been cut off. I could upgrade from the 4" RC kit to a 6" RC kit later though. From what I understand the only difference between the two of the 6" kit has an add-a-leaf for the rear and you just crank the torsion keys for the extra 2" in the front. Otherwise the 4" and 6" RC kits are the same though. So it's a 5" diff drop either way. The BDS kit is a 6" lift without cranking the torsion keys from what I understand. Which I've been told results in a better ride.

So I'd really rather get the 6" BDS kit if I can. But I'm just concerned it won't fit in the garage. But if I get one of the 4" kits that means I can't get the BDS kit later if I change my mind. So yeah, I'm really hoping someone who has a 6" lift on 35's on a 90's Tahoe or Yukon can tell me if theirs fits in a standard garage.

Any input is appreciated, thanks.
My does....barely....very close....6" rough Country lift....35" Mickey Thompson MTZ
 

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CS_ATX

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I ended up going with the 4" Rough Country lift, with BFG KO2 286/75r16 on 16x10 Pro-Comp 69 series rims, and I used Bilstein shocks all around instead of the RC shocks. All in all I'm very happy with the results. I'll post some pics.
 
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CS_ATX

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Here it is in the garage. I still have a few inches of clearance but I'm glad I went with the 4" lift. If I'd went with the 6" lift I'm still not sure if it would have fit, and if it had it would have been SUPER close.
 

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CS_ATX

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Here's a pic of what it looked like stock on 245/75r16's vs after the 4" lift on 285/75/r16s.
 

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FilopinoWithMoney

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Here it is in the garage. I still have a few inches of clearance but I'm glad I went with the 4" lift. If I'd went with the 6" lift I'm still not sure if it would have fit, and if it had it would have been SUPER close.
Bitchin. I like the 4". I was set on 6" but That looks great. And it'll fit in my garage!! Stoked. Thanks for posting this.
 

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