David Kennedy
Contributor
Face it. Nobody would buy a 3/4- or 1-ton truck to take wheeling if you could get a big-block, diesel, or full-floating axle in a 1/2-ton. We've even been guilty of it ourselves! So until the day comes when you can check off the Allison/8.1L option on a 1500 Silverado, we're all going to buy these huge trucks to get the drivetrain we want in a package that's more trailer-ready than trail-ready. Fortunately, the aftermarket has been right on top of this 3/4-and-up truck trend and has come to market with everything the 1/2-ton guys have been enjoying on their wimpy little trucks. We wheeled down to Rancho's prototype shop in Long Beach, California, to check out its newest offering for GM's biggest truck.
There is no way around it. This 4-inch lift doesn't let you fit 35s like the competitions' 6-inch kits do, but it could be the perfect combo for the guy who wants bigger tires on his tow vehicle or work truck without any downsides. You can take comfort in knowing that the suspension engineer who designed this kit owns one of these trucks, so you can be sure he had your best interests at heart.
The factory ride quality will only improve with the Rancho 4-inch kit as the springs and torsion bars remain, but the shock tuning is vastly improved. If you choose the RS 9000 five-position adjustable shocks you can dial your own ride characteristics to match your needs. We didn't get to romp on this kit, but expect the one-piece subframe to hold up for a lifetime of use, as there is very little to come loose. Think you're ready to step up to the 4-inch lift plate but need more information? Rancho's world class installation manual is available for you to download at www.gorancho.com.
bSuspension Quick Facts
•4-inch lift
•Fits '99-and-newer 1500HD, 2500, 2500HD, 3500, 2500 Suburban, and Avalanche 2500 trucks
•Fits 285/75R16 tires on 16x8 rims, 41/2-inch backspacing
•Stock wheels will bolt on
•Rancho's instructions suggest 41/2*of caster, 0* to 0.3* of camber, and 0.1* to 0.2* of toe-in for best handling
