These days, many truck enthusiasts are looking for bargains that will help personalize and add performance to their vehicles. For owners of 2009 Dodge Ram pickups, it is especially difficult, considering they have already spent thousands of dollars for a new truck. We wanted to add 35-inch-tall off-road tires to the truck to improve its looks for the least amount of money possible.
Our initial measurements indicated that the '09 Dodge needs at least 4 inches of lift or more to clear a set of 35s. Although there are a couple of new suspension kits coming to market for this vehicle, the steep price and installation costs almost double what most new truck owners can afford on a budget. Although leveling kits seemed like a good alternative, they only lift the Dodge 1 1/2 to 2 inches, which wouldn't give the truck enough height. Our last idea was to see if it was possible to combine a body lift with a leveling kit to raise the Dodge enough for our purposes. When we checked into body lifts for this truck, we found that Performance Accessories in Chino Valley, Arizona, had just introduced a new 5-inch, Premium Lift System for the '09 Dodge, which combines a leveling kit and a body lift for about $600.
The kit comes complete with the company's reinforced nylon body mounts, billet front spring spacers, Grade 8 hardware, and a unique CNC-machined steering extension. The system also includes black powdercoated mounting hardware, thread locker, and a set of Performance Accessories urethane Gap Guards to cover the extra space in the wheelwells to hide the gap left between the body and frame.
The installation of the body lift is a job that any experienced sport truck enthusiast can accomplish with a simple set of handtools. If you have access to a lift, you'll save from having to be on your back for this job, but jackstands and a three-ton hydraulic floor jack or bottle jack should do fine.
What's In The Box?
Performance Accessories' Premium Lift System raises the '09 Dodge Ram 5 inches using leveling spring spacers and a body lift. The system also includes Grade 8 hardware, a steering extension, threadlocker, and urethane Gap Guards.
The Final Word
The Performance Accessories Premium Lift System retails for around $600, making it one of the most economical ways to raise the '09 Dodge Ram. While the larger wheels and tires give the truck an off-road appearance, the Premium Lift System doesn't affect the ride quality of the factory suspension. In fact, the larger, 35-inch tires actually make the ride even smoother than stock, and with an aggressive off-road tread the Ram can handle light trails, snow, and mud and gain additional ground clearance without spending thousands of dollars for a full suspension system.