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Input from experienced members


How much difference in street driving and off road ability would I see between these two setups:

Skyjacker 6" kit (non-extended arm with or w Skyjacker rear leaves)

Tuff Country 4" extended radius arm kit with 6" Skyjacker coils swapped for the 4" Tuff Country coils and most likely a set of Belltech shackles and then whatever I need to even it out in the rear from there (add a leaf to the pack or small block etc...)

These two kits are more or less the same cost and I've kind of narrowed it down to those for options unless something pops up used or for an exceptional deal in the very near future. You guys have any opinions between those two kits?

Your 1st option is going to be the more durable, longer-lasting setup (possibly excepting for the radius arm bushings), but the 2nd setup should both ride and track better offroad, simply because of the extended radius arms (assuming the same shocks are also used on both... You didn't mention).


As for boosting the 3" JD kit, all you need really are some coil spacers or stacked washers to go under the lower spring seats (plus the camber/caster bushings which you'd need anyway).
There was actually a guy here awhile back (Eric-something? I think?) who managed to stuff in 6" Skyjacker coils on his 3" JD lift (also had a Supercab) and was still able to align it, but just barely (IIRC, if he didn't have his winch & bumper to weigh the frontend down a bit more, it might not have worked out for him).
 
Having owned both a Skyjack Class 2 and currently running a James Duff Stage 3 I will say both are really nice lift kits. You always have to rememebr there is a reason some of the kits are cheaper then others. Materials used on the cheaper kits just does nto feel as solid as on the more exspensive kits.
The Skyjacker was on my Truck from 99 thru 2001 and then I swapped to the JD stuff. Over all the JD stuff seems alot heavier to me. Someone on here has recently gotten a set of Skyjacker Extended arms and they seem to be built alot heavier now.

My truck is a standard cab splash so not sure how much lift you would end up with. I do know my Duff 5.5" kit set the front end right at the same height as the Skyjacker Class 2 6". Bith sets cleared 35's with minor rubbing on full steering lock and when you get the tires caked full of mud.
 
Hi guys,

Thanks for all the input! I actually found a kit.. I'm going with a 5.5" Superlift extended radius arm kit that's already been reinforced/gusseted so I don't have to worry about welding. It includes pretty much everything I need I think (pitman, extended brake lines etc...) but I went ahead and ordered 4 new Skyjacker 8000 shocks (nitro) and also the Skyjacker 6" lift rear leaf springs with the money saved over a new kit. Hopefully going to pick up a 1 piece drive shaft I can install at the same time as the kit. Talking to the seller it will fit 33" tires no problem and 35" with minor rubbing during a hard flex. I've seen the Superlift had some bracket issues but everything I've read usually states that they added gussets to the brackets and never had an issue again so I'm pretty sure this will be fine for me (and my limited off road outings). Anything else I should pick up to have handy when I install the kit?
 
Acetalyn torch is a great thing to have. Lowe's sells a really nice Lincoln torch kit for under $300. I would also have all major air tool available as well as a grinder and multiple cutoff wheels.
 
Acetalyn torch is a great thing to have. Lowe's sells a really nice Lincoln torch kit for under $300. I would also have all major air tool available as well as a grinder and multiple cutoff wheels.

Don't have a torch but I have a nice compressor and air tools, actually just picked up a new IR impact this weekend. It's the quiet version of the 2131, have to say I was blown away by how quiet it was. I live in a townhouse and honestly you could probably use it at night with the garage closed and no one would hear it. Took off everything I hit with it in 2 seconds as well...

I figure I'm going to have some alignment stuff to sort so I'm just going to leave that to the tire shop to get bushings for etc... Speaking of bushings, anything I should be replacing while I'm under the truck?
 
Pivot bushings in the beams, radius arm bushings, possibly leaf spring bushings if they need them. Double check all your seals around the spindle and at the differential housing.
 
James duff sells all the bushings in a kit IIRC for pretty cheap. And im glad you got what you wanted!!! Patients is a virtue!!!
 
Anything else I should pick up to have handy when I install the kit?

I would suggest getting the longer Skyjacker pt# FA600 dropped pitman arm for it instead of using the Superlift arm, it'll pay for itself several times over just in longer tire life (not to mention it'll have much better handling too).
 

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