3" BDS Lift kit?

[rbpowerwagon]

Hi everybody,
I'm new to the forum and thought I would throw this question out there.
I am looking at throwing on the bds 3" lift kit 691H, it will on give me an additional 1" of lift because of the 2" factory lift. I like the fact that I can level my truck and get new front end components, track bar, control arms, and fox shocks for a decent price. The only parts that won't work according to bds technicians are the end links. I thought a bout carli and thuren but sounds like it would cost a small fortune.i have also considered spacers, but I might have to add new shocks and control arms anyway. I would like to know if this would be a good option.

Thanks in advance

[slimstick]

Do you own a Power Wagon? If so what year? Might sound like a dumb question but BDS only makes a 4" Standard and a 4" Long Arm suspension system specifically for Power Wagons. In reality it's a 6" lift but considering that the PWs come with a 2" lift from the factory, they advertise it as a 4". I actually ordered the suspension system myself just yesterday. The 691H that you're looking at is for a stock Ram 2500, not the Power Wagon. For $70 more you get the 4" lift(616H) which includes the sway bar end links that you mentioned purchasing from Carli or Thuren. Make sure to locate a local dealer if possible as they can give you a better price as well as get the product faster than ordering online. You get more lift with the 4" suspension package and it comes with everything you need. Here's the link to the BDS site showing the 4" kit:

http://bds-suspension.com/product?ma=2& ... =2009-2012

[BANGG]

Slimstick is correct on all accounts. The kit for the Power Wagon is model specific do work with the sway bar and factory 2" lift on the PW's.

I would recommend ONLY doing the long-arm kit. It is far far superior in ride quality and keeps the geometry much more accurate.

If you like I could get you in contact with a big wig at BDS. He is a super cool guy!

[rbpowerwagon]

My tuck is a 2011 power wagon. As much as I do like the 4" long arm kit I don't think it's practical for me, or my 5'0 wife, she complains its to high. I was looking at more for the upgraded front end components. The techs at bds said it would work, just not the end links. So I guess it would be more of a leveling kit. I have always heard good things about bds, so I'm hoping it's a good upgrade.
Thanks for your replys!

[rbpowerwagon]

I have an 2011 power wagon. As much as I like the long arm kit it's too much lift for me, wife is only 5'0" and complains it's to high. I was more going for a front leveling kit with upgraded components. BDS seems like they make a good product. So I hope this a good option. Unless there is a better option.
Thanks!

[slimstick]

IMO if all you're looking for is one more inch overall than I'd save the thousand dollars and just by a spacer for the front end and a set of shackles(Thuren $260) to boost the rear until you have the funds to purchase a high end set up through Carli or Thuren. The 3" kit you're looking at is $1370 online. Carli control arms($700), Carli springs($440), Carli sway bar end links($215) for a total of $1345...obviously we're missing the shocks and track bar that the BDS kit includes but that's where the little bit of extra money comes into play. You decide on what shocks suit your needs and budget and you'll have the best front end components out there for almost the same cost of the BDS kit. If you're really stuck on the BDS kit than I'd definitely consider just going with the 4" Standard kit for the same price which includes the end links if the long arm set-up isn't necessary for what you use your truck for. You mentioned your wife complaining about it being too high...I'd definitely take the 3" and some complaining over regretting it every time you look at it or need the extra clearance down the road.

[BANGG]

If you wanted the lift and tires you could look at some AMP boards for her to get in and out of the truck. So long as you don't do any serious off-roading. They will survive normal trail work though!

[2wagons1driveway]

I would go carli 3" kit. Spend extra money you will enjoy it more if your sticking with a close to stock ride height. You'll more then likely see a bigger difference then 1" though seems like the 4th gens are maybe lifted 1" over a regular 2500. Thinking because of the sag cause their heavier then the 3rd gens. Don't get me wrong I like the way the bds kit rides I also have a 4" long arm bds kit. But I'm pretty sure the bushings it comes with are garbage. I'm pretty sure after 1000km they had already elongated and make some noise at slower speeds on pot holes now.


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[rbpowerwagon]

I appreciate everyone's input and after much thought and measuring between my truck and a standard 2500 I decided to go with the the 3" bds kit. Don't get me wrong I did want to go the carli route but I feel this was a better move for me and my bank account. The truck feels a lot better crushing down the high way and is a way more responsive. I really love the way it handles and drives now. In total I got close to 2" of lift over the factory height. Haven't done too much off-roading yet but did try the sway bar disconnect. I lost a little bit of travel but still does pretty darn good.
Thank you for everybody's input.

[rbpowerwagon]

Here's a couple pics

[bigblackdodge]

Sounds like it's more for show than go. That's cool. It looks awesome. We all unfortunately don't have access to trails or the time to wheel. Do to your truck what you feel will be adequate for what you're using it for and don't look back. You can always upgrade down the road. But you just want a bro-dozer, this ain't the truck you need.


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[coder]

Hello rbpowerwagon,

What s the goal of the suspension change? More height, if so why and how much, better performance, something else?

A good plan is to first determine what you want out of your suspension then figure out how to get there.

Another good rule of thumb is to build your suspension around, the best that you can afford shocks and springs, as far as height, just enough to fit the tires that you want.

3" for 35" tires and 6" for 37's works well on a standard 2500 4x4. Then subtract 2" for the total lift on a PW.

[rbpowerwagon]

I can assure you she's not for show. Unfortunately between work and family life I don't get to use it more often. I wanted a little more lift because it seemed like her belly was dragging where ever I went, I also didn't want to go extreme because I still need it to be practical. Don't get me wrong I do like the big lifted trucks but the way I went just works best for me.
Thanks

[coder]

I can get everywhere I need to (and I have done some fairly serious trails) with a 3" Carli lift and 35" tires. You have a large long truck the belly will drag some but all those skid plates (adding rock sliders and a good front diff guard are a must) will make sure everything is well protected.

My wife is 4'11" and does not like getting in my truck either.

[rbpowerwagon]

I was thinking about sliders just not sure how they'd hold up to canadian winters. They look super tough just wonder how fast they'd rust. I have a carli diff guard and has saved my truck from some serious damage. Really do love this truck and been modifying it since day one. Everybody is right, it is an addiction.

[RAM4ROKS]

Hello rbpowerwagon,

What s the goal of the suspension change? More height, if so why and how much, better performance, something else?

A good plan is to first determine what you want out of your suspension then figure out how to get there.

Another good rule of thumb is to build your suspension around, the best that you can afford shocks and springs, as far as height, just enough to fit the tires that you want.

3" for 35" tires and 6" for 37's works well on a standard 2500 4x4. Then subtract 2" for the total lift on a PW.

I agree with this post 100%, EXCEPT: 3" Carli lift on mine, 37x12.50R17 tires (MTRKs) fit great on stock wheels!!!! Only rub a little on the inner fender near the bumper on the driver's side. I could have easily fixed the rub but, never bothered too, it just wasn't bad enough. (it eventually rubbed away on its own, LOl!)

[04Ram2500Hemi]

We all have different goals and wants for our trucks. My truck is my daily driver, and it spends 95% of its life on pavement. Most of the time a Ram 1500 would be just fine for my needs. However, there are times when the truck leaves the pavement and I want the solid front axel, and there have been times where I've needed the lockers. It's that 5% of the time that lead me to buy the Power Wagon. It's much better to have and not need versus need and not have. If you've built your truck to fit your needs then rock on. As much as I love Bangg's truck I'm never going to be that hard core (nor do I have the guts to cut my truck in half like he did).

[RustyPW]

I was thinking about sliders just not sure how they'd hold up to canadian winters. They look super tough just wonder how fast they'd rust. I have a carli diff guard and has saved my truck from some serious damage. Really do love this truck and been modifying it since day one. Everybody is right, it is an addiction.

You said you was already dragging the belly. So I can tell you this. The bottom of the rock rail will rust because of the scrapping across rocks. So what is important? Lower body protection that's going to rust when it's protection the body, or no protection where you are wheeling, and you dent the lower body?

[2wagons1driveway]

Just bed line them makes them easy to take care of when you do scratch one. They hold up well to Canadian winters with bed liner ask me how I know lol


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[04Ram2500Hemi]

Just bed line them makes them easy to take care of when you do scratch one. They hold up well to Canadian winters with bed liner ask me how I know lol


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Bedliner was my exact thoughts too. Winters in Montana suck with all the de-icer crap they put on the roads. My grill, bumpers, rock rails, and rocker panels are all coated in Line-X.

[2wagons1driveway]

Line x is the way to go but if you want to go a cheaper route that's easily touched up go with the duplicolor bedliner kit from Canadian tire. But 100$ but it will do a lot of touch ups and 3/4 of your truck and your buddies trucks if you want lol I have my grill my rockers done with bed liner line x won't fade in the sun as quick as the Canadian tire duplicolor will though! But when applied with a roller and a brush it is quite tough and textured


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