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2 or 3" Tuff Country Lift kit

After putting up with Tuff Country EZ-RIDE for way too many years, I discovered that kit springs are not worth the cost savings vs the pleasure of driving my truck with better custom springs. Yes, they have more body roll, but I don't cringe when a see a pothole or bump coming.
ORD is my preference. Three trucks so far. Just have to do rear springs on 2 of them now.
 
I ran tuff country HD 4" at BB this year no complaints, though I have no recent comparisons. Friday I drop tire from my hiway towing pressure of 42psi to 30psi. Had some front tin rattles, and in cab gear rattles. Saturday dropped another 6 psi, much smoother ride and less rattling. Having the arb compressor is a game changer, no longer afraid to go to low on tire pressure.
I may go ORD custom in the future, for now am gonna use it to go camping and star gazing this fall.
 
Wes Harden said:
I ran tuff country HD 4" at BB this year no complaints, though I have no recent comparisons. Friday I drop tire from my hiway towing pressure of 42psi to 30psi. Had some front tin rattles, and in cab gear rattles. Saturday dropped another 6 psi, much smoother ride and less rattling. Having the arb compressor is a game changer, no longer afraid to go to low on tire pressure.
I may go ORD custom in the future, for now am gonna use it to go camping and star gazing this fall.
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I should have made time to give you a ride to try for a comparison.
:doah:
 
6872xtc said:
I discovered that kit springs are not worth the cost savings vs the pleasure of driving my truck with better custom springs
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I agree. Buy once and then enjoy the ride for years. It's hard to understand why one of the "kit" makers haven't stepped up with a softer offering. Probably 90% of use is on roads (and most of that with a sway bar on!) and not set up for 14" of travel and jumping it. For buyers afraid of durability, just go get one of the 1/2-dozen other brands that's been sold for 30 years. Honestly, do you need to go up exactly x inches? What's wrong with 2.5" with a diesel and 3.2" if you have an I-6? Even calling it a 3" kit implies they all start at the same height, when they should specify distance from axle to frame or something definite.
 
Blue85 said:
I agree. Buy once and then enjoy the ride for years. It's hard to understand why one of the "kit" makers haven't stepped up with a softer offering. Probably 90% of use is on roads (and most of that with a sway bar on!) and not set up for 14" of travel and jumping it. For buyers afraid of durability, just go get one of the 1/2-dozen other brands that's been sold for 30 years. Honestly, do you need to go up exactly x inches? What's wrong with 2.5" with a diesel and 3.2" if you have an I-6? Even calling it a 3" kit implies they all start at the same height, when they should specify distance from axle to frame or something definite.
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If I am understanding you correctly, I will reiterate that the custom springs make such a dramatic difference on the street that I can't relay it in words. You just have to feel it. Yes, they have other benefits, but I got to where I hated the ride of my '70, and the ORD springs fixed that for me. I just need to get the rear springs done.
Now, can they possibly wear out faster than the overly stiff kit springs? Maybe yes because they actually move.
And the kit springs are cheaper, which is and always has been a driving factor for so many.
There are also so many variances in truck weights depending on what guys have and add or take off of their trucks. This makes the final height difficult to predict without some questions and information about the truck.
 
Let me clarify. I have ORD springs and was agreeing that they make the vehicle more enjoyable. The reason they're so expensive is because they use so many leaves. The reason they use so many leaves is that the leaves are very thin, so it takes more of them to support the weight. The reason they're so thin is because a thin leaf is more durable than a thick one.

I was proposing somebody could make a soft spring that's cheap. It just wouldn't be as durable, but in some use cases that would be OK. Just another option in a world where the off-the-shelf offerings are all pretty similar to each other.
 
Blue85 said:
I was proposing somebody could make a soft spring that's chcheap.
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I have very seldom seen good and cheap go hand in hand. But this shows how so many feel about buying things. Not that I don't pay attention to price myself. But cheap springs are not worth it IMO.

I know why ORD'S springs aren't cheap, as I said, I have 3 pairs around my place so far. Hopefully others gain some insight with your explanation.

The time that went into ORD'S research and development, as well as the work that goes into Alcan's guys building them with US made steel, (last that I knew) isn't cheap. I have been into Alcan a fair bit over the decades, and I don't want to do that job. Not sure what the guys get paid, but it's not fun in there when that oven is going every day.
 
Price is not the issue. I have King 2.5 shocks on my daily driver with billet Uniball control arms from Mazulla ($6-7k alone). For me it’s a “how long will it take to get them? How long will my car sit on jackstands for” …and the other factor for me is- this is just a toy, I won’t be wheeling, jumping, climbing in it.

My truck is in my garage and I’m having to do one side at a time first. It barely got inside there to begin with and had to air the tires down etc. I’m just restoring the truck. Not going for all out performance but I did opt for Bilstein 5100s.
 
The 5100 are a great choice. Better then any other parts store option or Ranchos.
If the stocks springs have to tall for the garage. Why lift it?
There is a lead time for the ORD Alcan springs, couldn't tell you how long that would be, but stock hight custom springs could be had to
 
Wes Harden said:
The 5100 are a great choice. Better then any other parts store option or Ranchos.
If the stocks springs have to tall for the garage. Why lift it?
There is a lead time for the ORD Alcan springs, couldn't tell you how long that would be, but stock hight custom springs could be had to
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I’m actually lowering it. It had a Rough Country 6” lift on it with 35” tires. I’m replacing it with a Tuff Country 2” with 33” tires.
 
Not sure why mine looks so lifted for 2” and 33” tires. Should have gone with 35s

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I have 4" ord customs and this is my 5th lifted square, ive tried everything. For now on its custom springs or coilovers for me. I started with 5100s for the last year but recently upgraded to custom tuned king 2.5s and offroad the ride is unreal now. The upgrade was almost as much as going to the custom springs from ez rides.
 
Anyone have experience with the “Sky Jacker” 4” spring kit? Has to be better than Tuff country right?
 
LSK5cucv said:
Anyone have experience with the “Sky Jacker” 4” spring kit? Has to be better than Tuff country right?
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No. Tuff country is generally seen as the best riding off the shelf lift, as well as BDS.

You are probably referring to Rough Country, which is true to its name…rough.
 
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