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 Install 1. Unbolt each...
The Install
1. Unbolt each body mount along the frame and lift the body with a jack close to the mount you're working on. Raise it just enough to install the Performance Accessories body mount.
2. For safety reasons it's...
2. For safety reasons it's recommend that a suspension or alignment shop remove the coil and spring assembly and use a spring compressor tool to install the leveling kit spring spacers.
3. Once the body of the truck...
3. Once the body of the truck is lifted, the front bumper must be relocated with a set of brackets that are provided in the kit. Once installed these brackets will raise the bumper up to the proper location.
4. To install the bumper brackets,...
4. To install the bumper brackets, you have to remove the top radiator core cover, front grille, and top bumper cover. Be careful when removing the top bumper cover as it is painted and can be scratched pretty easily.
5. With everything out of...
5. With everything out of the way, you can unbolt the front bumper from the frame. Set the bumper to the side on a soft towel; chrome can get scratched and there's no cheap way to fix it.
6. Using the relocation bracket...
6. Using the relocation bracket as a guide, drill two holes through the frame mount. These will serve to secure the lower bolts of the bumper to the bracket. The holes in the bracket are slotted a bit for minor adjustments.
7. The bumper brackets are...
7. The bumper brackets are bolted onto the frame and the bumper is reattached. If the bumper doesn't line up, now would be the time to loosen the hardware and adjust.
8. You'll also have to remove...
8. You'll also have to remove the bottom of the fan shroud to allow for fan clearance. Don't worry, there will be no adverse effect to the cooling system by removing this small piece of the shroud.
9. The rear bumper is also...
9. The rear bumper is also unbolted, as it too must be repositioned with the provided brackets. The rear bumper is much heavier than the front, so find some help.
10. Shown here from behind...
10. Shown here from behind the rear bumper, you can see how the relocation brackets fit in the factory locations and raise the bumper. Make sure to align the bumper before tightening the hardware.
11. A set of Gap Guards is...
11. A set of Gap Guards is included in the kit that hide the space between the frame and body. They attach with simple push-in clips.
12. This truck received a...
12. This truck received a set of BFG 35-inch-tall tires. You can see how much clearance is available with the 5-inch lift, and there's no rubbing or negative effect on the ride quality of the vehicle.
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.