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Prefered lift kit for a crawler?

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RudyO

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Will be setting up my 72' for a bit of crawling here in Colorado. The club I run with (mostly Heepers) says to stay away from products from a couple of the companies. I'll be running 33's for now, and possibly 35's in the future, and I'm really not wanting to go too high, so was thinking of only going with a 4 inch suspension lift. I've gotten a lil overwhelmed from checking out the various lifts, but I'm thinking I want to stay away from blocks.

Is there a company that people tend to prefer over the others?
 
56 inch Chevy or 57 inch Ford springs out back in a shackle flip . Leaves from various Jeep Wrangler springs up front with longer shackles to make your own set .

Flexy as you need to be , and next to nothing for price :)

If your buying a store bought set , I did the supposedly stiff Pro Comp 4 inch fronts , and stock Blazer rear springs shackle flipped . The springs softened a lot in five years of wheeling , but never sagged even with a winch up front .
 
Tuff Country EZ Rides up front, use stock later model K5 leaves out back with a shackle flip.... the later rear stock springs have teflon glides and are substantially softer than the 1st Gen stock rears.

:usaflag:
 
Dang, didn't even think about JYing the springs to gain a 4 inch lift! That would be even better, as I can scrounge from the clubs' discarded pieces. Are there certain models or years I should look for from the Chevys and Fords?
 
I am planning on running a 4" lift to run 35's and later 37's with trimming and maybe zero-rates...I am looking at purchasing an ORD complete lift kit, which includes springs in the front, and a shackle flip rear, plus steering components and shocks...they can set you up pretty good with everything you will need from what i understand. I also think i will get some factory height springs from ALCAN to replace my tired old rear springs, but keep factory height since the shackle flip will give me my 4".

Just my 2 cents...there are alot of more experiance people here, but within a month i will be installing suspensions pieces on my build so you can see how my idea turns out.
 
Oh, I'm following your thread Dave. Printing it out also, lol. But my route is to get the bodywork done as the 1st step, and I've already dropped a grand on the new metal, so that will have to come 1st for me. Besides, it's only a matter of time before the wife finds it all stashed in her RV...

Haven't looked into that company yet, so will be watching to see how your suspension build goes. Unfortunately, I also got a JunkYard crawling addiction, so might try the cheap route 1st. If it doesn't work, I should only be out < $100.00.
 
Yeah i am on the metal work piece, just waiting on the rest of my metal to come in.
 
One thing to watch out for is whether you care that the rear of the truck sits lower than the front.

I used 4" springs in the front and 2" lift in the rear with a 4" shackle flip (total 6"). That way when the back is full of junk, it sits about level.

Supposedly some of the softer springs are a little too soft and give the truck a saggy butt look.
 
How did it sit without a bunch of junk in the back? Did you have a hard top at the time?

Do you think that with 4" HD ez-rides up front, 2" regular ez-rides in the back with a 4" shackle and no hardtop would sit it level?
 
Mine sat pretty close to level with the hardtop on. It was just a bit higher in the rear. I would NOT get the HD springs as the "lifted" ez rides are still pretty stiff.

If you just need an inch lift you could try a zero-rate to level either end out
 
And that was with the 2" rear lift+shackle flip? If So i imagine that the 4" ez rides and shackle flip only might be pretty level without the hardtop which i dont have or want. And your right, either way a zero-rate can fix it.

Sorry RudyO for the hijack but i figured this would help both of us as you are looking into the same lift ideas
 
NP Dave- run with it, lol. Did you notice how many new members with 72's just in the last couple weeks? I myself find the question of lifts to be the most confusing aspect of building a truck.

My JY crawl turned up very little, suspension wise. May have found a set of rear springs from a 89 Suburban. Is that too late Pauly? Admittedly, I did take "measurements" and it appears to be 56 inches with 5 leaves in the pack. Used a bootstring and the knot method. Measured when I got home.

Are the later K5's 56 inches also, and any specific years?

Lastly, Pauly, could you explain in more detail about building a pack with the Wrangler leaves? Are any of the Blazer pieces used?
 
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Yep definately get more lift in the rear to stay away from saggy butt syndrome.

I have the Tuff Country EZ Rides from ORD. I started with 6 inch lift up front, 3 inch lift spring in rear with 4 inch flip, I have since done a zero rate and extended shackles in the rear to make it level, but then I have some heavy bumpers and tire carrier and cage.

I like the flex I have with these and I run 37" Krawlers. I did inboard the rear shocks and used Ford mounts up front.

P1010520.JPG
 
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