New here. Do I work it up or dump it?

[rz03LTZ]

2 or 2.5 lift still sounds good to me. What comes first? Is there a few smaller mod I can do first while I get set for the lift and save up for rims and tires?

[navigator]

it sounds like you are on a budget, I would keep an eye on the classifieds here, GMTNation and Trail Voy to see what other members are selling and see what you score first.

I would go ahead and start sourcing cheap used parts when I could. You are pretty much going to have to get either spacers or adapters (+ full size chevy wheels).

You know yourself better than we do. If you lift 2" and go to 32's will you always be wanting more? If you can be content you can do 2" rather cheaply. If you know deep down that you'll always want to keep growing then go ahead and plan for it so you don't waste any money.

If I were to want to do 2" cheap(new), I would get the rough country lift, you can run stock shocks if yours are in good shape. I ran that setup for awhile until I wanted more. It did make a good difference with keeping the frame out of beach sand, I imagine it would help get it out of the snow and other obstacles as well.

If you want a little more lift later you can add Z71 springs in the rear(you'll need longer shocks) and a top spacer in the front.
You can add a body lift even later if you still want to grow.

On the other hand if you know that you are the type of guy that is going to want to push the extreme then go ahead and save for the 3" suspension lift, armor, shocks, the works. You can run that for awhile and think about things like body lifts and upgraded gears while you continue to save.

[fishsticks]

I like the idea of a 2" suspension and a 2" body before going 3 on one or the other. The 2" will help cvs last longer.

This. In fact if I had it to do over again, I'd do the body lift first.

I fit 35s on 3" of body lift and springs.

[navigator]

I've struggled with this in my mind a good bit. The only thing I don't like about the body lift idea is that you only raise the frame with tire height.
If you run a 2 inch body lift + a 2 inch taller tire, you still only lifts the frame 1 inch.
if you run a 2 inch suspension lift + a 2 inch taller tire you lift the frame 3 inches higher.

I do like that you get more articulation in the front and can still run stock shocks, less BJ and CV axle stress etc. I guess it depends on your mission. I just know I noticed a big difference in the amount of frame contact in ruts at the beach before my suspension lift that I don't see as often now.

I will say that Donny and Steve have a whole lot more experience wheeling than I do so don't take my ramblings over their wisdom.

[rz03LTZ]

While I do want to keep the costs in check, I wouldn't saw I'm doing it on the cheap. I'd estimate (don't tell my wife ) that I could bring about $5,000 to the party. But not all at once.

[Moots1288]

While I do want to keep the costs in check, I wouldn't saw I'm doing it on the cheap. I'd estimate (don't tell my wife ) that I could bring about $5,000 to the party. But not all at once.

5k is perfect

[fishsticks]

While I do want to keep the costs in check, I wouldn't saw I'm doing it on the cheap. I'd estimate (don't tell my wife ) that I could bring about $5,000 to the party. But not all at once.

If you diligently research before you spend your first dollar, 5K will take you a LONG ways. You could definitely take IFS to the limits, maybe even get into a SAS.

Just make sure to learn from all of our mistakes.

[v7guy]

If you have 5k I would do the radflos, the ride is better than stock and you get whatever lift you want. I wish they were around when I lifted. They are not suggested often enough.
Z71 springs and rear spacers should get you up there decently and you could fit 35s with some adapters and cutting. A body lift would require less cutting.
With coilovers, tires, wheels, shocks, z71s, a body lift, armor/bumper, some recovery gear and on board air you would still be able to stay under 5k

[rz03LTZ]

some adapters and cutting

Oh no. There will be no cutting or drilling or tapering of knuckles.

I'm not set up of those kinds of modifications. If I can't bolt it on it ain't going on.

[Diacom]

Your going to miss out on alot of possible good mods then...

[JorDaneeKey]

While I do want to keep the costs in check, I wouldn't saw I'm doing it on the cheap. I'd estimate (don't tell my wife ) that I could bring about $5,000 to the party. But not all at once.

As the wife of the husband who is keeping a detailed spreadsheet on how much is being spent on our (re: my) rig and occasionally reminding me of what other things it could be spent on, a piece of advice. Get her excited about the idea of off-roading, overlanding, and seeing the country in places and ways most people don't. That's how MikeKey got me on board with all this. There is so much to see and do, and doing it as a team is not only fun, it's an adventure in all things marital.