Suspension question leaf or block

[lordfrosty]

I've been researching putting a lift on my 07 GMC 1500 5.3l 4x4 w/20" stock tires. I'm thinking about putting a ReadyLift Max Lift 2.25' strut spacer on the front and was wondering what my best bet for the rear. I want something that will look good but will help with towing ( have a 32' travel trailer I pull sometimes) and give me some extra support on the back. The options I have so far are Add-A-Leaf or a 3" Rear Lift Block Kit. What are your feelings on this. You guys seem to have a good knowledge on the subject and I appreciate anything you can tell me.

[NORMSCOLORADO]

If you are looking for a better payload i would go with the Add A Leaf the truck will be stiff in the rear but you can haul more.... just did it on my Colorado and you can tell the difference.... something that will also help is the air lift support bags i dont think that the bags will help with lift but towing for sure.... ill look up were i got my AAL's

[NORMSCOLORADO]

here they are ....

The AAl's

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/81350.html

The support bags

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/59565-silverado-air-springs.html


And here is my truck after the AAL

http://www.gmtruckclub.com/forum/showthread.php?p=108138#post108138

[lordfrosty]

Thanks. Your truck looks good. I was leaning towards the AAL for the rearend. Am I correct in thinking that putting a block in the rearend wouldn't do anything for my towing and would only lift the rear.

[dwill3015]

Bag it. Adding air-ride bags will give you the ability to level out the rear of the truck when you have that big trailer attached, abd the ability to deflate them when you don't need it. With the AAL, you are sitting higher in the rear and it will stiffen the ride.Here is a LINK (http://www.4wheelparts.com/Towing-Tools/LoadLifter-5000.aspx?t_c=67&t_s=2&t_pt=4109&t_pl=7106) that you can read more.

[TRPLXL2]

I have a 4" lift block in the rear of my truck, and I think it is mostly for the lift kit. I can't say for sure, because I haven't towed anything with it yet! My boyfriend has a Colorado with the AAL and it seems to have better set up for towing, he pulls an 18 foot boat with it and has no problem. BTW he also has a 5" lift on the truck, with the AAL so that might make a difference too.http://www.gmtruckclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2031&stc=1&d=1235624396

[Pete95Sierra]

I would say go ahead with the add a leaf but also put on a set of firestone airbags. my buddy just towed a car with a stock 2001 F-150 with them and had no problem. the rear barely squatted and they performed great

[lordfrosty]

So, in your opinions with putting a 2.25" READYLIFT on the front my best bet would be for an AAL on the back with an Airbag system. Is this correct? Is this all compatible? Or do I need the airbags if I'm putting the AAL's on the back. I appreciate all your input. I've never lifted before and its reassuring hearing all your input.

[NORMSCOLORADO]

So, in your opinions with putting a 2.25" READYLIFT on the front my best bet would be for an AAL on the back with an Airbag system. Is this correct? Is this all compatible? Or do I need the airbags if I'm putting the AAL's on the back. I appreciate all your input. I've never lifted before and its reassuring hearing all your input.



Yeah the ready lift would work fine in the front and it is all compatible...... no you dont need the bag system but its just a little helping hand for stability....:great:

[silveradotrailblazer]

Airbags, leaf and block all have there advantages and disadvantages. Blocks wont increase load capacity and on Chevys they seem to induce wheel-hop when accellerating off-road, add-a-leafs can stiffen ride and arent adjustable, Airbags can level your load from front to back and side to side, but can leak and they are not intended to lift trucks, just level trucks with loads. Hope this helps.

[dwill3015]

Correct me I'm wrong but he is just putting a leveling kit in the front that will make the truck sit level. Any blocks or AAL you install in the rear will make the rear of the truck sit higher than the front once again. The Air-Ride bags would give you load leveling capabilities when towing the 32' trailer with 1/2-ton suspension so that it would not squat so bad when loaded as well as remove the bounce, increasing the stability.

[CarpenterGuy]

i would go add a leafs and one of those air bag things in the back. thats what i'm gonna do

[tbplus10]

If your just leveling the front the best addition to the back would be air bags.
But please whatever you decide dont use blocks, blocks create to many issues and should never be used on any lifted truck. And they'd be questionable on a lowered truck.

[lordfrosty]

The more you learn the more confusing this all gets...lol Here is what I'm thinking I'm going to do. Put a 2.25" lift on the front and AAL on the back for now. How will this look? depending on how it drives with the trailer I'll will add firestone airbags to the back. I'm thinking of putting 285/55r20 BFG A/t on my factory rims. (I'm assuming these will fit)

[bd1326]

you need to consider axle wrap if you install the lift block and if you do you'll want to consider trac bars, one to prevent axle wrap, and two because they look cool.

[randombilly2]

BAG IT! i would recommend WWW.AIRBAGIT.COM or WWW.CHASSISTECH.COM
i buy my stuff from them mainly because of there customer support. helps they sell a good product to.

[Kdogg05]

so you get axle wrap and wheel hop from blocks even if they are only 2" blocks?

[Dr_Zero]

so you get axle wrap and wheel hop from blocks even if they are only 2" blocks?

Folks I used to know growing up used blocks all the time up to a certain size and I cannot remember what it was so I went looking and found a pretty good jeep article that talked about blocks and tapered blocks.

http://www.oramagazine.com/pastIssues/0407-issue/index.asp?article=finesse

"A lift block is a viable and inexpensive way to lift the rear of a Cherokee for a mild ‘wheeler with 31s or so. Bigger tires, harder terrain and lower gears will make the tendency for spring wrap worse, so at or above three inches of lift, you are best off with new springs."

[Pete95Sierra]

I would never use lift blocks on my jeep. fine for a mall crawler, but i would never offroad with em. however, most chevy 6" kits come with a rear 4" block and dont have any problems with on road handling and mild offroad driving