Okay, this is weird. I called skyjacker today and asked what the advantage would be of getting the 3" kit for my '04 4x4 as opposed to just getting the coil spring spacers/leveling kit. Obvioulsy there is several hundred dollars price difference. The guy told me that really the only difference is the height. Said the kit would give approx. 3" while the spacers would only give about 2.5" in the front. Plus you're putting on new shocks in the front w/ the kit/coilovers, so that will stiffen it up just a little. He also told me there is not really any advantage mechanically either or anything bad about either one mechanically. I like the kit because I want another inch or so lifted in the rear, but w/ the same token, a person could just buy the add a leafs and a leveling kit, but then the front would still be about 1" off from being level. I'm going to put on 33's w/ 20's, have them stick out a bit, backspaced properly, that's my overall goal.....a cool mean 4x4 look. What do you guys think about these 2 options and the difference in costs???

How about anyone w/ the skyjacker 3" lift, you guys liking it still? Any problems, anything I need to know about?

 

I have the 3in skyjacker with 33's and 18's. The truck sits higher than with a leveling kit, and rides a little stiffer. Overall I'm pleased with the lift. I ordered through summit racing, $656.00 total with rear shocks. Another plus is that 35's will also fit, do a search, someone recently posted pictures with 35's and 5in b/s wheels.

 

Go with the Skyjacker 3". I wish I would have.

 

hi rider,

Is the truck stiffer in the front and rear or just the front? And how much different is the ride quality w/ this kit? What shocks did you get? Do you think the kit gave you a full 3" up front? If you wouldn't mind, could you tell me how much space there is between the ground and the bottom of the body of your truck w/ this lift and 33's/18's on ? I'm figuring on putting 33's/20's on, so I guess that would give about 2 more inches of height overall, right?

 

Thump,

Do you wish you had gone w/ the 3" kit so you can get a little more height all the way around or do you feel like it would just be better overall or what?

 

The extra height, the stiffer suspension. Im not knocking leveling kits as a bad product at all but the only way I can see them comparing is if you get all new shocks all the way around but then your still getting half of an inch less of a lift.

 

I believe 24".

I measured mine and it came out to be 22" with the Daystar 2.5 and Nitto TG 33s.

 

 

The 24" ground to door measurement is with the skyjacker 3" and 315/70/17 (34.5") BFG AT. I had the 2" Autospring kit and switched to the Skyjacker 3". IMO, there is a huge difference in the look of the two. The Skyjacker netted 3.6" lift in the front and 1.7" in the back. With some trimming it cleared the BFG's easily.

-Wowak

 

I would go with the Skyjacker kit, for the extra lift... I have the leveling kit and now want the skyjacker so I can get some 35's
TCC

 

Wowak,

I would like my truck to look like your lift does. That would be perfect. I was thinking of going w/ 33's, probably nitto's and 20's. Wouldn't that give the same height as running 35's w/ 18's? (I'd gain 2" on the wheel size and lose 2" on the tire size and even out??) Due to differences in these tire sizes, it's hard to find the right one, I wouldn't mind finding one like yours that measures around 34". Not sure how the nitto mud grappler or terra grappler measures out. Also, your truck is an FX4, mine is an xlt 4x4, so maybe you got a little extra .5" or so off of the lift because of that. I have heard that the fx4's get more lift from the leveling kits and stuff for some reason. But I hope I can get that kind of height.

 

Thumper,

how do you like the nitto tires? Are they loud? Are they smooth? Do you get good wear out of them? (how many miles you got on them?) I've been trying to find out if they warranty their tires or how they rate them for mileage on the tires. I hate tires that wear out fast, they cost too much money.

 

I went with the Autospring 2" or 2.5" (don't remember) and put on 2" blocks from a 4x4. Autospring cost me $110; blocks were $50. If I had the money and the off road use, I'd go with the Skyjacker kit too. But since it was merely for the aesthetic value, I went cheap. I did add new Rancho shocks all the way around.

Measurements of my 4X2 STX with Autospring and blocks (compared w/ FX4 and 4x4):

ground to front license plate:
STX - 18.5"
FX4 - 17.5"
4x4 - 17.5"

ground to bottom of rear bumper:
STX - 21.5"
FX4 - 22.5"
4x4 - 23"

ground to top of front wheel base:
STX - 38"
FX4 - 37.5
4x4 - 37.5"

ground to top of rear wheel base:
STX - 40"
FX4 - 40"
4x4 - 41"

Not too bad I think for $160 worth of hardware.

 

I could be wrong, but 35's are 35's no matter what the wheel size. The main difference is in the sidewall height. An 18" wheel with 35's will have more sidewall than a 20" wheel with 35's. Personally, I like the look of the lower sidewall--if you go offroad a bunch, the taller sidewall is probably the better choice. Again, I am not 100% sure of this, so someone please correct me if this info is not true....

 

I was just thinking that if you have 20's, your wheel is 2" bigger than an 18. If you have 33's tires, your tire is 2" smaller than a 35" tire. Doesn't that mean the height would be the same if you ran 35's w/ 18's or 33's w/ 20's? Doesn't the 2" difference even itself out?