Chevy ride height

[mikehaugen]

This may have been discussed before but I haven't seen it yet (this may even be the wrong forum to ask such a question). I am just curious about chevy's and their varying stance. I currently own an older dodge 2500 and am in the market for something else. I really want a diesel but reality is starting to hit that I probably don't need it and may not be worth the extra money. Yeah, yeah I know diesels last forever but the problem is the rest of the truck doesn't. I am not all that impressed with the hemi, so am kinda leaning towards a chevy 6.0.

To get back to my point, I like and am used to the higher ride height and ground clearance of my dodge and the majority of the chevy trucks I see sit very low. On the other hand, I occasionally see a few that sit a little higher and appear to be stock. This is with all obvious variables the same (gas engine, 4x4, 2500 or 3500, etc...) So I guess my question is whether I am crazy or if some suspension package exists that gives a little higher stance. I am beyond the point in my life where I want a 12" lift and 44" tires, just don't want to be looking up at Nissan Armada or something. I don't have any intention of putting a lift on.

 

[deerefan]

This may have been discussed before but I haven't seen it yet (this may even be the wrong forum to ask such a question). I am just curious about chevy's and their varying stance. I currently own an older dodge 2500 and am in the market for something else. I really want a diesel but reality is starting to hit that I probably don't need it and may not be worth the extra money. Yeah, yeah I know diesels last forever but the problem is the rest of the truck doesn't. I am not all that impressed with the hemi, so am kinda leaning towards a chevy 6.0.

To get back to my point, I like and am used to the higher ride height and ground clearance of my dodge and the majority of the chevy trucks I see sit very low. On the other hand, I occasionally see a few that sit a little higher and appear to be stock. This is with all obvious variables the same (gas engine, 4x4, 2500 or 3500, etc...) So I guess my question is whether I am crazy or if some suspension package exists that gives a little higher stance. I am beyond the point in my life where I want a 12" lift and 44" tires, just don't want to be looking up at Nissan Armada or something. I don't have any intention of putting a lift on.

I find chevy rides a little lower than others too. I also find they ride a little better. I know my local dealer will do a leveling lift on the front of the truck to even the stance and cover it under a warranty. A couple folks have done it, makes the truck look better but does stiffen the ride some.

 

[edlegault]

Aren't all low-riders chevys?? :laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[zzvyb6]

Z-71 is the Chevy increased ride height and ground clearence option.

 

[mikehaugen]

Z-71 is the Chevy increased ride height and ground clearence option.

Quite some time ago I oversaw a debate on a chevy truck forum about the z-71 package and how it was absolutely nothing to do with ride height. People were actually saying that it was a much over-rated option. (I don't participate in these forums because they generally get on my nerves- I just read) It was only (if I recall correctly) skid plates, heavy duty shocks, and possibly a steering stabilizer. Until not too long ago z-71 was only available on 1500 pickups, and I have noticed (or thought that I have noticed) the difference in 2500's for quite some time. Even now the z-71 2500's look awfully low to me.

Maybe I just need to go to a dealer and measure different trucks and get the (rpo?) codes from them if I can find 2 different ones. Maybe I am just thinking way too hard about this...

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have a 2007 Z 71 Chevy and it seems to be lower than my BIL's Dodge 1500 series 2 WD. I am not sure what the Z 71 package consists of other than 4 WD and supposedly off road suspension but mine rides good which is of most concern. I rarely need the 4 WD but it is there when I do need it.

 

[mikehaugen]

I would not buy a 2wd truck. The height is especially important to me because of the ground clearance because I need an extended/ crew cab and prefer a long bed. That really makes for a long truck and difficult to go through ditches/ over humps if it is too low. My current truck is a stock 3/4 4x4 ram and I never jack it up to work underneath, in fact I have had the trans out of it and back in a few times (I know... typical dodge) without the wheels ever leaving the ground. I will just keep looking around, maybe I will end up buying a dodge again- not that it is a bad thing, I just really think that the 6.0 is better suited for a 3/4 ton truck. Although either I am sure is leaps and bounds above the 5.9 I have now.

Anyway, I am getting off subject here, I was really just curious where the difference between different chevy trucks comes from.

 

[deerefan]

I would not buy a 2wd truck. The height is especially important to me because of the ground clearance because I need an extended/ crew cab and prefer a long bed. That really makes for a long truck and difficult to go through ditches/ over humps if it is too low. My current truck is a stock 3/4 4x4 ram and I never jack it up to work underneath, in fact I have had the trans out of it and back in a few times (I know... typical dodge) without the wheels ever leaving the ground. I will just keep looking around, maybe I will end up buying a dodge again- not that it is a bad thing, I just really think that the 6.0 is better suited for a 3/4 ton truck. Although either I am sure is leaps and bounds above the 5.9 I have now.

Anyway, I am getting off subject here, I was really just curious where the difference between different chevy trucks comes from.

I am assuming when you say you have the 5.9, you mean the 360 gas motor. The 6.0 gm gas engine is not in the same league as the 5.9 Cummins. It is comparable to the 360 and Hemi from Dodge and the 5.4 from Ford.

 

[deerefan]

I have a 2007 Z 71 Chevy and it seems to be lower than my BIL's Dodge 1500 series 2 WD. I am not sure what the Z 71 package consists of other than 4 WD and supposedly off road suspension but mine rides good which is of most concern. I rarely need the 4 WD but it is there when I do need it.

As of 2010 on, Z71 was no longer associated with just an off road package with 4x4. There are several 2wd trucks that have the Z71 package, which now is a suspension/towing package.

 

[dodge man]

I have a 2004 2500 Dodge with a Cummins and I work with someone that has a 2007 Chevy Dmax 2500. My Dodge has a leveling kit on the front and it towers over the Chevy. Even without the leveling kit, they do sit higher. My truck came with the leveling kit, and I wish it wasn't on it. Unless you do a lot of off roading, the lower truck is an advantage in my book.

 

[case245]

i have a 2011 3500hd 6.0l 4x4 4.11 rears srw reg cab snow plow prep package i think my truck sits to high as far as towing a can pull 10k without a problem i pulled 13k once the steep hills get you if you wanta go slow over them but then again chevy detunes its one ton gas trucks mine only has 320 horses compared to a 3/4 ton 360 horsees i got it because it sits an inch lower in the rear i use my truck almost daily ihave the heavest gas srw gvwr that gm offers mines 10,700 ibs legal mine you i haul alot more with no trailer on it as in on the truck bed a few time i was 15k+ on the scales my truck wieghts 6600ibs dry

 

[slowzuki]

Very few tall chev's on the lot, but I have seen a few, not sure what packages to get that. A lot of folks don't like a tall truck, I was used to it from driving lifted 4x4's so my F350 superduty doesn't seem out of place. Need a little height now that we all have crew cabs and such just to get in and out of fields without dragging. I don't off-road my F350 other than the hay field and I've already broken the tube steps from dragging.

 

[oldtoyboyd]

As of 2010 on, Z71 was no longer associated with just an off road package with 4x4. There are several 2wd trucks that have the Z71 package, which now is a suspension/towing package.

The Z71 package was offered on 2wd trucks starting in 2004/2005.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I had a 05 3500 DMax GMC and the first week I had it I got the cross member for the tranny hung up on a stump that I had be though many of times with stock F-150's, my SRW F-350, and a F-250. Long story short, the GM truck just sit low and when you look at the tranny cross member its really low. This may have all changed after the 08 remodel but I would not know. I have written off GM after the whole bail out thing.

If I were in the market for a new truck I would not want a diesel either, this coming from a guy who has had 4 of them, a 99, 04, 05, and my current 06. Its not that I had a bunch of issues but they just do not make much since for most of us now days. I also would not want the 6.0L GM motor. Its old tech and is not very powerful when compared to the Ford 6.2L or Dodge 5.7L Hemi.

Hands down in the gas market and the 3/4 ton trucks up Ford has the edge with the 6.2L. GM has a 6.2L also that is much more powerful than the old 6.0 but to this date its only available in he 1/2 ton trucks. Many say because its a aluminum block and will not stand up to 3/4 ton and heavier duty but I really think its to force your hand into a diesel. Ford played the same game when they dropped the V-10 power house and the only gas motor was the 5.4.

Chris

 

[PoorPlowboy]

My 2011 2500 6.0/6 sp single cab LWB 4x4 sits fairly high. After a deer did $12,000 worth of damage, I put a big winch bumper and 12k winch, then a 1.5" leveling kit on the front to take away the sag. Dodge has the tallest 2wds, because they aren't intended to work. Put a load on the Chevy and it will sit level. The same load will have the Dodge dragging its butt like a wormy dog. :laughing:

Edited: diamondpilot, you believe the 5.7 hemi is stronger than the 6.0? I own both, and there is no comparison in real work. The 6.0 in a single cab lwb 3/4 ton will drag the guts out of a single cab lwb 3/4 ton hemi. Granted, the only difference is the dodge is a 2007 4sp 4.10 and the Chevy a 2011 6sp 4.10.

 

[PoorPlowboy]

I see they have bumped the hemi power up a notch, but still use the 545rfe, and can't tow more then 6k on the OEM receiver unless a load equalizer hitch is used. GM 2500s can tow 13k without an equalizer.

 

[plowindeeper]

I've seen folks turn up (Tighten) the torsion bars on a chevy to make it level . Just makes it ride ruff.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have the side rail steps on my 2007 Chevy which I should use rather than drag my butt out of the seat but the truck height is really too low to need to use the step getting out and too high to get out without dragging out of the seat which is going to ruin my seat on the side. For getting in, the step is useful. My BIL's Dodge is high enough that you need the rail step to get in and out.

 

[mikehaugen]

Very few tall chev's on the lot, but I have seen a few, not sure what packages to get that. A lot of folks don't like a tall truck, I was used to it from driving lifted 4x4's so my F350 superduty doesn't seem out of place. Need a little height now that we all have crew cabs and such just to get in and out of fields without dragging. I don't off-road my F350 other than the hay field and I've already broken the tube steps from dragging.

These are my thoughts, I don't want a lot of height but the ground clearance is nice. Also to some of the other posters comparing current trucks, I am not in the market for brand new. Realistically looking at '06-'09. Trying to stay in the low twenties or less. Still may be a while since I am not in a huge hurry, just waiting for a good deal on what I want.

 

[timswi]

In my area there are a ton of GM trucks that have dealer commissioned lift kits that are covered under warranty...I see them on almost every dealer lot.

I like the look of lifted trucks until it comes time to use them for something...Even the ones that sit high without the lift..Anything further than 3' into the bed requires a ladder to retrieve...My neighbor has a '10 Dodge 3/4 HD with a dealer installed 9" lift..The tailgate is at my chest and I can barely see accross the hood and I'm 6' tall...Nice looking but impactical as all get out.

Also, ground clearance is pretty much dictated by the pumpkin height from the ground (going over center humps not withstanding)...

Yes, my GMC is a standard GM 1/2 ton height but I never have loading problems, 2' hitch drops, or trouble getting into (most) parking garages..There are upsides.