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.