Chevy 1500 Lift kit question and recommendation

[CDC1500]

Hello!

I’m a new to the overlanding world and I have a question regarding lifts.

I have a 2018 Chevy 1500 Z71. I want to improve the ground clearance but I’m not looking to lift it 6 inches either. I have seen some kits for a 2 or 3 inch lift which is where I want to be but a few things I’m not sure of:

1. The Z71 package provided me with the “46mm high pressure gas charged rancho shocks”. Should/do I need to change these when I purchase a lift kit? I notice most kits come with a set of front shocks? Please note: I don’t have any issue with these shocks as far as ride quality goes with the stock setup. My questions about changing them is specific to doing a lift.

2. Is it ok to change front shocks and not the rear shocks?

3. With a 3 or 3.5 inch lift will I need to add any additional components? Upper control arms? Etc?

4. Is there anything I’m not thinking about?

5. What kits/brands do you recommend?

Here is what I am trying to accomplish:
The truck will be my daily driver and spend weekends and long holidays on trails up to a medium/hard difficulty (I don’t plan on climbing mega boulders) I will also be towing the occasional work trailer or camper. So overall I’m trying to find a good compromise between capable off-road/adventure truck and daily driver with more hours foreseeable spent being the latter.

Much appreciated!

 

[StuntmanMike]

I don't own a Silverado, and am not an expert on the newer trucks (though I do know a little, I'm a GM truck guy from way back) , but here are my thoughts. Take them with a grain of salt, and I highly suggest posting on a GM specific forum. There is a giant one for GM trucks, it will come up in a google search.

As far as shocks, if you do more than a leveling kit, I would change them. If you go up to 3"+, your stockers will be on the short side, and could limit your suspension travel at least in the rear. The front shocks are coil overs, so depending on the kit, you my keep them and get the lift by adding spacers to the top of them.

I would prob get a 4" lift kit if it were me, at that height you'll have the front diff drop and other hardware to get your front cv angles back into spec. Some of the cheaper kits throw all that geometry out of whack. Depending on the kit you get, it could include new UCA's or a taller knuckle.

There are a few different kits out there, it really depends on your budget. These IFS trucks are more complicated and costlier to lift, so a kit that's just a few hundred bucks is just going to be a spacer of leveling kit. Nothing wrong with that, but it's not going to get you the height you want.

Over the summer I found a great youtube channel that does a lot of fullsize GM lifts. Check out Custom Offsets channel. They're out of WI, I think and they do a lot of brodozer builds, but their videos are very informative. They also do build profiles of customer's rigs, you may see the setup that you want.

Personally, I think it's worth spending a few grand on a quality 4" lift. No sense cheaping out on your new 50k truck.

Just my .02.

Good luck!

 

[Ajwcotton]

I've got a 15 I went with a 6 inch lift because of the issues with the 3.5 inch "lifts". The problem with the those kits is that it messes your suspension angles all up as well as severely limiting your downward travel in the front. In my opinion the zone offroad 4 inch kit is the best cost to benefit ratio. You can keep your front shocks but the rear need replaced with that kit. I'm currently running the zone offroad shocks/struts until I can afford the custom length fox shocks.