[OilfieldMWD]

I need help deciding on a lift kit for my 2001 Silverado 1500HD 4x4. I’ve been doing a lot of research but there doesn’t seem to be much information available for the 1500HD (2500 non-HD) trucks compared to the 2500HD and 1500 trucks, so I figured I’d get a little advice from the experts here before I spent the cash.

I’m shooting for a moderate sized suspension lift (4”-6”) that will work with my current wheel/tire combo for now. I have the standard 8-lug wheels that came with my truck with 285/75r16 BFG all terrains (~33”). I really like the looks of these wheels and would like to continue using them for the time being. I am not opposed to running small spacers to make them fit. I would prefer to keep the tires under the fender flares as not to throw rocks/dirt/mud all over the side of my truck. The tires also have plenty of tread left so I’d like to keep using them for the time being without them looking dwarfed by the lift (and maybe go for 35s when I need new tires). I’d also prefer a lift that doesn't drop the torsion bars but that’s not set in stone.

I’d also like a lift that performs well and is reliable. I need my truck for work out in the field (west Texas). A lot of the roads to the rigs aren’t the nicest and sometimes I need to travel them for 30+ miles to get to the site. Doing so at 10mph gets old pretty fast, so I’d like something that can handle washboarded/poorly maintained roads at speed (Raptors seem popular out here). I still baby my truck and slow down before reaching any type of obstacle, but knowing that the suspension that I select is capable of handling more is a reassuring thought.

Brands I’ve looked at so far are: rough country, procomp, superlift, cst, skyjacker, bds, cognito, tough country, zone, rcd, and fts. I’m leaning towards the 4.5” bds right now with the fox shocks. It seems like a good lift with a great warranty and I like that I can go to the 7” version in the future without starting from scratch.

Any thoughts? Recommendations? Suggestions? Other options?

TL;DR
Need a lift:
2001 Silverado 1500HD 4x4
4”-6” lift
Works (or can work) with current 8-lug wheels
Doesn’t dwarf 33” tires (might go with 35s later)
Reliable
Performs well for work

 

[2001HD6.0]

you can put on a 2500hd lift, the only difference is where your torsion bar cross member bushings. I'm pretty sure the mounts are different and your crossmember is shorter. if you stick with a non torsion drop you will be fine with a 2500hd lift.

To run factory wheels you'll want to stay away from knuckle lifts and look into full drop lifts, unless you want to run front wheel spacers. My 6.5 FTS full drop i can run factory wheels with no spacers. id personally run a 6" and leave it unranked with nice flat angles it won't tower 33s and perform awesome.

 

[OilfieldMWD]

Thanks for the reply! Very helpful.

I looked into the FTS lift and it looks like they start at 7". I'm thinking it is a little too much lift for now.

It looks like Cognito makes a nice non torsion bar drop lift:
http://www.cognitomotorsports.com/chevy-gmc/lift-kits/4wd/2500hd-3500hd-2500-1500hd-silverado-sierra-8lug/year-2001-2010/4-6-lift-for-33-tires.html
Whats the verdict on Cognito? Good stuff?

What other brands make a non torsion bar drop kit that I may have overlooked?

 

[CRU65]

Cognito is a great lift but it is a knuckle style so your current wheels would not work unless you use spacers. Can't remember what exact size spacer is needed but try searching it's on the site somewhere.

 

[OilfieldMWD]

The Cognito site says 4.35"-5.15" backspacing and I believe I read the factory 8-lug wheels have 5.125" backspacing (?). This may be a stupid question (I'm more familiar with SFA stuff), but what happens if there's too much backspacing? What will hit? I don't mind bringing the tires out a little bit if its a solid lift kit.

Are there any full drop (non-knuckle) lifts that do not drop the torsion bars I should check out? Now that I'm going back through my lift, it looks like almost everything drops the torsion bars.

 

[CRU65]

The Cognito site says 4.35"-5.15" backspacing and I believe I read the factory 8-lug wheels have 5.125" backspacing (?). This may be a stupid question (I'm more familiar with SFA stuff), but what happens if there's too much backspacing? What will hit? I don't mind bringing the tires out a little bit if its a solid lift kit.

Are there any full drop (non-knuckle) lifts that do not drop the torsion bars I should check out? Now that I'm going back through my lift, it looks like almost everything drops the torsion bars.

My bad was thinking 6 lug wheels, yours will work fine then as PY0's fall in that range, most lifts drop the torsion bars, from what I've seen cognito, bds, and fabtech offer ntbd lifts for these trucks. I'm sure there's more I just haven't looked into them.

 

[2001HD6.0]

tires/rims may rub on the knuckle.

 

[impalaman1]

i have the same truck only 2wd. i used the 4wd super lift kit. the drop for the torsion bars is different between the 2. everything else bolted up to our chassis.
stock wheels fit on 285s rode nicer

the good news is that is fits.... bad news... ride is a bit stiff. swapped in 20x10 predators. on 33's

bilstin rear shocks on a 5" block.... bouncey.
front fox resi's.... not sure if the valving is right... again stiff