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Guide to Lifting the RAM 2500
Updated on Sep 30, 2024
Are you looking to improve your heavy-duty RAM’s aesthetics and off-road performance with a lift kit? While there’s no better way to give your ride an attitude (and altitude) adjustment, not all lift kits are created equal! Choosing the ideal lift kit isn’t as simple as picking the cheapest option that meets your height goals; making a selection requires you to factor in a few variables, including which lift kit style best meets your needs and expectations and any possible downsides to installing a lift kit on your RAM.
In this article, we answer all these questions and more, ensuring your RAM 2500 looks, performs, and functions precisely as anticipated. But before we tackle the various lift styles, let’s get into the unique considerations of lifting your RAM 2500 or any heavy-duty pickup.
Things to Consider When Lifting a RAM 2500 (Or Any Heavy-Duty Pickup)
Though RAM 2500s are commonly used as daily drivers and family vehicles, considering their roomy cabs, numerous bells and whistles, decent fuel economy (especially turbo diesel models), and powerful drivetrains, most pickup owners gravitate to half-tons or mid-sizes, like the RAM 1500 or recently-announced unibody RAM Rampage.
Traditionally, the only individuals paying the premium price tag of a rugged, ¾-ton RAM 2500 need the extra towing and payload capacity, either to tow a large trailer or boat or transport cargo to and around the job site. For these individuals, any modifications that could negatively impact towing and hauling capabilities are downright useless; after all, why have a heavy-duty pickup that can’t work?
So what does all this have to do with lift kits anyways? Lift kits, depending on the style, can negatively impact on-road driveability and towing performance, making your RAM 2500 less practical for its primary purpose. When lifting your RAM 2500, it’s crucial to account for how often and how heavy you tow or haul, ensuring you aren't hindering your RAM's driveability.
Aside from the common woes of lifting a ¾ ton pickup, the RAM 2500 features some unique challenges compared to most heavy-duty pickups, namely the rear suspension. Unlike the Silverado 2500 and Ford F-250, the RAM 2500 utilizes rear coil springs and link arms, much like a Jeep Wrangler. While this setup makes for exceptional ride quality and off-road performance, it can also experience excessive sag when towing or hauling a heavy load.
RAM 2500 Lift Kit Types
When selecting a lift kit for your RAM 2500, it’s crucial to understand the differences between the various lift kit types on the market. Each style offers unique benefits over the others, whether that be value, off-road performance, or maintaining towing and hauling characteristics.
Up first is the body lift: a lift style utilizing composite spacers between your RAM’s chassis and body rather than modifications to the suspension. These kits are typically less expensive than other alternatives and offer a uniform ride height increase, unlike most leveling and suspension lifts, which typically lift the front end more than the rear to even out the stance.
Considering that body lifts don’t touch your RAM’s OE suspension components, they don’t alter towing or hauling characteristics aside from raising the center of gravity.
Note: Installing a body lift alters the relation of the bed to the frame, requiring modifications to pre-installed aftermarket bed supports for 5th-wheel and gooseneck hitches.
Pros:
Cost-effective
Maintains factory ride quality
Retains payload and towing capacities
Increases tire clearances
Cons:
May result in noticeable gaps between the body and frame
May require modifications to frame horns for bumper relocation brackets
Minimal lift; approximately 1–3 inches
From the factory, your RAM 2500 has a significant rake, in which the front end sits considerably lower than the rear. Leveling kits level your RAM’s uneven stance, increasing the front ride height by 1–3 inches for a more uniform aesthetic.
These kits accomplish a taller front ride height using coil spring spacers or taller coil springs, with the latter option offering a softer, more compliant ride.
While attractive, the factory rake serves a functional purpose.
Firstly, it lowers the overall ride height, making climbing into and out of the cab easier.
Secondly, it allows for more up-travel of the rear suspension, preventing bottoming out over sizable bumps in the road, especially while loaded.
Thirdly, it prevents a negative rake while towing, i.e., when the front suspension sits taller than the front, which tends to occur while towing with a leveling kit installed.
However, you can easily bolster your RAM’s rear suspension with towing-centric upgrades, like airbags.
Pros:
Levels stance
Improves front ground and tire clearances
Retains factory towing characteristics
Cost-effective
May improve off and on-road performance
Bolt-on installation
Cons:
Retains rear ride height
May cause a reverse rake while towing/hauling
Minimal lift; approximately 1–3 inches
If you’re looking for a taller lift than what’s offered by leveling kits or body lifts, consider a premium suspension lift! These kits considerably modify your RAM 2500’s suspension, utilizing components like taller coil springs, extended control/radius arms, longer dampers, and drop brackets to increase your RAM’s ride height by 3–8+ inches.
While offering the most significant improvement in aesthetics and off-road performance, suspension lifts can also negatively impact overall ride quality and handling characteristics, especially while towing and hauling. However, most complaints can be resolved with premium suspension upgrades, like airbags, heavy-duty dampers, and stiff sway bar bushings.
Pros:
Offers substantial ride height increases
Typically bolt-on
Improves aesthetics
Improved ground and tire clearances
Cons:
May hinder towing performance
Typically costly
Top RAM 2500 Suspension Lifts
Now that we’ve covered the differences between lift kit styles, let’s review our expert-curated list of lift kits for the RAM 2500.
Top Body Lift Kit: Zone 1.5” Body Lift Kit
The Zone 1.5” Body Lift Kit is a premium product from the body lift experts at Zone off-road, utilizing the company's premium crush-proof lift blocks for maximum strength and longevity. All kits include rugged steel bumper relocation brackets, heavy-duty hardware, and thorough instructions, ensuring a simple, no-drill installation on your RAM 2500.
Features:
Maintains factory ride
Easy installation
60,000lb capacity crush-proof body blocks
Blocks constructed from thermoplastic synthetic resin
All necessary hardware is included
Limited lifetime warranty
Top Leveling Kit: Rancho Level-It Leveling Kit
Level your RAM 2500's stance with a high-quality leveling kit from the suspension experts at Rancho. The Level-It Leveling Kit comes with everything necessary to lift your RAM’s front suspension by 2.5–3 inches, including taller coil springs or spacers (depending on the year and model), replacement dampers, and sway bar relocation brackets to ensure maximum stability.
Features:
Simple bolt-on installation
Improves fender clearances for larger wheel and tire combinations
Mounting hardware included
USA-made
Lifetime warranty
Top Suspension Lift Kit: Readylift SST 3” Suspension Lift
The Readylift SST 3” Suspension Lift is a premium, budget-minded lift kit for the RAM 2500, offering 3 inches of front and 1 inch of rear lift for well under $1,000! This kit includes everything required to lift your RAM 2500, including front and rear coil spring spacers, shock extenders, extended bump stops, sway bar relocation brackets, and all necessary hardware.
Considering the kit reuses your RAM’s factory coil springs and dampers, ride quality and handling characteristics remain virtually unchanged–ideal for pickups that regularly tow or haul.
Features:
Retains your factory ride quality while achieving maximum lift
Adds clearance for larger wheels and tires
Steel kits have a durable powder coat finish
Aluminum kits are resistant to corrosion
All mounting hardware is included
No drilling or welding
USA-made
Limited lifetime warranty
Selecting the Ideal Lift for Your RAM 2500
So which lift kit is right for your RAM? Realistically, you can tailor nearly any lift style or kit to work with your application, whether a daily driver, tow rig, or weekend warrior. However, some kits offer excellent towing and hauling characteristics right out of the box, while others may require bolstering your RAM’s rear suspension with products like towing airbags and air springs.
We’d recommend a leveling kit or body lift if you’re searching for a budget-minded lift kit, seeing as both typically come in well under the $1,000 mark. Additionally, both lifts offer similar ride height increases while retaining most of your RAM’s factory suspension components, promoting stable and predictable handling characteristics, even while towing.
If your primary focus is aesthetics, then a suspension lift is likely your top choice. Suspension lifts offer increases in ride height far greater than body lifts or leveling kits; however, you’ll want to consider upgrading the rear suspension if you regularly tow or haul, lessening spring sag and increasing stability.
Whichever lift style you decide on, we carry all the top lift kits, leveling kits, towing suspension upgrades, and wheels and tires to fill out your RAM 2500’s fenders! And as always, for any questions, concerns, or product inquiries, contact the experts.
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