im a begginer at this all and am looking for some tips on how i can lift my truck myself
i have a 97 reg cab flareside with 245/75/r16's 4x4

 

Get a lift installed in your garage. Then a bunch of tools.

 

a 3" body lift will be an easy enough task for you and a buddy to take on.

this will allow you to fit 315/75/16 or a 35x12.5

let me know if you have any questions

 

Just depends on how tall you want to go. A 3 inch Performance Accessories body lift will allow you to fit 35x12.50's on a 10 inch wide wheel, but barely. A 6 inch Fabtech suspension lift will give you more room but cost more. It up to you on how tall you want to go and how much money you want to spend. The taller and bigger tire you go with, the more it cost.

 

Yeah both the suspension and body lift are relatively easy to do yourself with some friends, beer, and tools. Just read through the directions and you'll be fine.

 

If you've got beers, then you've got friends. Make sure that you have the right tools. And make sure that those beer drinking friends know what they're doing with those tools.

 

... are you serious or did i read that wrong? you want the guy to have a lift installed before buying tools to do the job? thats the most retarded thing ive ever read if you meant that!

what happen to jacking the truck up, throwing blocks under the frame and tearing at it like a mad man? hell i did that with a wrecked ranger outside in the soft dirt, had it teetering tied to a tree and my f150 while i ripped the front end apart and tried to repair the buckled frame rail. that part didnt work so well when the hilift jack broke the chain and hit my jaw on its way out.

 

......sure

Everyone should have a lift installed in their house. I've got one. Don't you?


Oh, I don't know.....the truck could fall on you......

But I guess you just answered your own question. A hi-lift jack could break a chain, and hit you on the jaw on it's way out.

 

no actually, i dont have one. i do want one but first i have to build my own shop here, since i just moved out and bought my own place that i could build on.

oh and so your not confused, the hi lift jack hitting me has nothing to do with a normal lift procedure, im pretty sure nobody will be trying to lift a wrecked truck with frame damage.

i really dont see how a truck on 4 jackstands (or blocks) will fall unless your getting rough.

 

Thanks alot guys i think im gunna go with the 3 inch body lift and 315/75/r16's
do you notice any power loss on a 4.6 with that big of tire?
would it be a bad idea to put a 2 inch levelling kit in at the same time?

 

There wont be HORRIBLE power loss but you will notice alittle.

And you dont need to buy anything to level the truck just crank up your T-bars. its easy and free. (besides paying for the alignment afterwards which you will need if you mess with the Torsion bars)

 

I agree. Stay away from the "leveling kits" for the 97-03 4x4's. They have to be the biggest rip off ever. Why pay $150 for something that you can do for free?

 

im new as well... will cranking the factory torsion bars change ride quality and make parts go out faster? I really want to lift my truck and get a little bigger tire on there. thanks guys

 

Yes, your ride will be a little stiffer and your front end parts will wear faster. But nothing extreme at all in both cases. I've had mine cranked for 2 years with no issues.

 

Thanks man, also, i was wondering if i could fit 33s by just cranking the factory torsion bars. I dont take it offroad that much... but, i may want to sometime, not anything extreme though, just a little bit of mud maybe. Any ideas? i want it to look good but be efficient too.