Like my stock rims but...

homeruninsurance · Oct 15, 2003

I have received two different answers from installers so I wanted to ask you guys...

I like the look of my stock wheels...just not the small tires they put on it.

I am looking at a 4" to 6" lift kit (Rancho or RCD) and one installer says I have to loose the existing rims because of the offset. Another installer says I don't have to loose the rims and suggested some pretty beefy tires to go on (305's)(even says he talked with the Rancho Rep). I am leaning towards believing the first guy since I'm sure the sky is not the limit on a 6.5 to 7' wide rim.

Has anyone had luck with a lift kit and being able to keep the stock 16' polished aluminum stock rims? If so, what kind of tire can you go with without major crowning problems. Or do I just bight it and get the aftermarket rims.

John

hq · Oct 16, 2003

I run BFG AT 285's on my stocker, no lift needed. I would not mind getting it lifted but the tires give me enough lift for most situations.

Vortec_Rat · Oct 18, 2003

Check with O.K. Auto in New Jersey (www.ok4wd.com). I talked with Sean in June about the six inch lift for my '03. He said running 285's on the stock rims was about the widest you SHOULD go. That's not the limit you CAN go. Seeing some of the small problems I am having with my truck (under warrantee of course...) I opted to wait on the lift. I put a lot of mileage on my truck so the warrantee should be up this time next year anyway. The way it looks now, if you wait, there seem to be a few companies coming out with bolt on lifts for the 2500's instead of lifts for other 2500 series GM's that involve a whiz wheel to install on the Avalanche (if you don't know what that is you should seek professional lift help anyway...). I run 265/75's and they look and function 100% better than the 245's that came with the truck.

homeruninsurance · Oct 28, 2003

Thanks for the information, I'll check both options out.
There is no way I'd do the installation on the lift, but I have never heard of a "whiz wheel". There are alot of guys here that have lifted with several different lifts with not alot of complaints. This is the first I've heard of waiting for a new design on what seems to already out there....

Could you go into that a little more?

Thanks,

John.

redaval · Oct 31, 2003

Today was a very sad day......had to put my stock wheel's back on

old man winter is coming....polished my 20's and put them away for the winter....

Supermobile · Oct 31, 2003

redaval said:
Today was a very sad day......had to put my stock wheel's back on old man winter is coming....polished my 20's and put them away for the winter....

Winter? What is that? >:D

Vortec_Rat · Nov 2, 2003

Well, a whiz wheel is a small air tool with a cutting blade. When I was looking around for the lift, I found that most of the companies like Skyjacker and Rancho listed 6 inch lifts that would fit the 2500 series trucks including the AV. What they don't tell you is that to lift the front, you must first cut off some of the brackets that are welded to the frame that mount the front axle to the frame. Then you must drill into the frame to mount their brackets and that drops the axle to the proper position for the rest of the suspension. I hear that Fabtech is offering six inch kits that are designed for the AV 2500's that are completely bolt on and that Skyjacker is going to (or has) marketed an eight inch kit for the AV 2500 that is bolt on and provides room for 37 inch tires with no cutting of the wheelwells. That's why I'm waiting till next year when my warrantee expires. Don't forget, with any lift you have a lot more to think about than just how high. You have to remember about proper length driveshafts, driveshaft angles out of the transmission and into the rear, brake lines, etc. A good 4x4 shop will know all this and be able to give you a decent price. Plus you know where to go with any problems. Try to get an idea on wheel and tire packages that you find online, and the price of the lift that you want to go with before you go to the shop and you will be better prepared to know whether they're trying to hose you or not. A bolt on lift should take between 5 and 9 hours of labor to install barring any problems. We just lifted my brother's Cherokee a few months ago 6 inches and it only took us about 4 hours.

homeruninsurance · Nov 3, 2003

That is fantastic information and I really appreciate it. I do have a guy that I know that has a shop. But knowledge is NEVER a bad thing and I don't like the idea of cutting.

I didn't see you mention anything about RCD lift kits. Any knowledge on these? What I've read so far has been pretty positive. I've heard that Fabtech is ok, but their shocks aren't the greatest (everything is opinion of course & I guess you don't have to put their shocks on...)

I've never heard of Skyjacker...are they good? Any information is appreciated...sounds like you know what you're talking about!

Thanks again....John.