When it comes to leveling a 4x4 for aftermarket tires, some kits are better than others. This is a place where we should not skimp.
With that said, I intend to drive my current truck as long as I drove my last one. (at least 15 years). If I understand this correctly, my choices are spacer kits
or leveling shocks. Some leveling shocks use the factory front springs and some come with their own. Since I don't want just a spacer kit for fear angles not being correct, what leveling shocks
will not detract from the life span of my truck? Hopefully this isn't a stupid question.

 

Leveling shocks will change the angles the same way a spacer on top of the stock front shocks does.

 

It was my understanding that while leveling shocks will change the angles, the strut spacers would cause problems down the road.
Can you elaborate?

 

It's recommended that you don't go over 2.5" leveling kit on a 4x4 because the higher you go the more it changes the angles. I've never gone more than 2" on a leveling kit because I like a little rake. But I didn't like the almost 3" rake my truck had when stock.
If you're not doing any hard core off roading neither should cause problems.

 

Thanks for the reply, I'm not a recreational offroader, I the only reason I bought a 4x4 was getting to and from my deer blind in wet weather. It seems like I should be fine as long as I
stick with a reputable brand.

 

If your stock shocks are still new-ish and you think they have a lot of life left spacers will be fine. But the stock shocks aren't that great to begin with so if you think you may need shocks in the near future than I'd get leveling shocks. Alignments and labor aren't cheap so you don't want to pay twice.