I have gone round and round with Lifts....

[Trail X]

Caleb, you'll hear a lot of different sides to this.

Factory upper shock mounts/isolators do wear out. They are more compliant than the aftermarket upper isolator mounts that come with lifts like BDS, Rough Country, and Marks' new kit. They wear out after prolonged use due to heavy front ends, or due to other environmental factors. The factory isolator is made for comfort more than longevity under harsh conditions.

So lifts that retain the stock isolator do inherently fail/wear-out faster than the aftermarket isolators. But it is not technically the parts supplied with the lift that fail.

[navigator]

Caleb, I don't expect you will have any trouble with any of the 4 lifts available (Mark's 2 lifts, RC or BDS).
I just read through the trailvoy thread, there were 2 guys with issues with the factory mount that used Mark's old lift, I couldn't recall/see who they were but there are 21 guys on here running that lift and none of them chimed into this thread to say don't run it.
Fishsticks and DmCartney both broke one of the RC spacers but they both run 88 springs and wheel pretty hard.
Hardtrailz runs or ran Mark's old lift and you know he beat on it pretty good.

I think you can just pick the one you like the best or can best afford and go with it. I have the RC kit(used) but if I would have gotten the same deal on Mark's old lift I would have run it and been fine with it.

[Cable810]

It is not technically the parts supplied with the lift that fail.

My bad I wasn't refering to the kit. I didn't have time to reread what I posted.

Running Marks 2.5" kit and adding a MDB or any aftermarket bumper/gaurd will wear out the shock mounts/isolators more so than just not adding it. Due to the heavy front end. Thats what I've understood on TV and what you just said James.
If I was not to add the bumper/gaurd and not wheel hard I'd be totally fine.

[Mooseknuckle]

Like I have said in another post regarding BDS rear shocks. I can't speak for the 5500's I have the 9500's they are awesome and have held up with me beating the crap out of them.

[Cable810]

It is not technically the parts supplied with the lift that fail.

My bad I wasn't refering to the kit. I didn't have time to reread what I posted.

Running Marks 2.5" kit and adding a MDB or any aftermarket bumper/gaurd will wear out the shock mounts/isolators more so than just not adding it. Due to the heavy front end. Thats what I've understood on TV and what you just said James.
If I was not to add the bumper/gaurd and not wheel hard I'd be totally fine?

From what I have read on TV and here Marks 2.5" kit can handle the weight of MDB Skid Plates? AM I right. I hate to ask noobie question, but I don't want to blow money and have somehting not work/break on me within a month.

I'm going to see what the mechanic would recommend for the lift.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Marks was fine with my armor and such for a good long time until I bounced the front in boulders a bunch but my stock pieces had 125000 miles so they may have failed regardless.

What will your mechanic with little lift experience and likely zero w lifting our platform offer that us enthusiasts have not?

[Cable810]

If I go with Marks should I replace the Strut mounts as well seeing that my tb has over 140K?

[Trail X]

It would be good peace of mind. I'd suggest it.

[navigator]

what do they cost?
Could you get Mark's new lift which replaces the stock mount with a more robust mount?
Honestly I doubt you would notice the .5 inch difference in lift(old vs new) unless you needed more tire clearance.

[Cable810]

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1005790 30.99
and
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1129502 22.79

Marks 3" was an idea but I don't want to go 3".

BDS Full Kit
Bilstien HD
840.61 Installed

Rough Country Front 2"
Mark 2" Rear
BDS 5500
and Bilstien HD
700.81 Installed

Mark 2.5" Kit
BDS 5500
Bilstien HD
680.81 Installed excluding the new strut mounts

[Flying Monkey]

New strut mounts? And do you really care about the difference between 2" and 3" of lift?

[Cable810]

If I get marks 2.5" I'll replace the OEM strut mounts with new ones. As I stated 6 posts up. For what I need out of my TB I wont need 3" of lift. It has been a thought though. The other reason why is the higher center of gravity increase.
If I saw a 3" Lifted TB next to a 2-2.5" Lifted TB.......

Marks 3" would roughly cost me 755-775 installed. Another option for me was BDS front and Marks 2" rear Spacer. The only issue is that I CANNOT find BDS front kit anywhere but there websight It would roughly cost me 786-800 installed

[Flying Monkey]

mmkay

[fishsticks]

All of this fussing over a half inch. You're actually looking at the lift with the inferior design (uses stock parts that wear out) because you're afraid of a 3" lift? Your truck's suspension cycles more than a half inch just driving on pavement.

COG is a nonissue in these trucks for 90% of the people here.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Look through my build. I had 2.5 and now 3

[navigator]

you could try this, go outside and jack the rear of your truck 2 inches. Then jack up the front center until the front is 3 inches taller than it is now and take a picture. then lower it to 2.5 and 2.0 and take pictures then look at the pictures and see if you can really tell a difference.

What size tires are you planning to run?

[Cable810]

I'm not afraid of a 3" lift its just that my parents would rather have me get a 2". UNLESS they can see the difference between the 2" and 3" kit. If they were able so see a 3" Lifted TB next to a 2-2.5" Lifted TB maybe I could convince them.

[quote="fishsticks"]Your truck's suspension cycles more than a half inch just driving on pavement.[quote]
Noobie time: what do you mean? I want to understand.

That is a good idea navigator.
I'm planning on running 265/65/17 No bigger or smaller.

[Flying Monkey]

my parents

Explains alot.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I agree.

[The Roadie]

It was just a month ago that we went round and round on GMTN about your mission and plans. Do you even have parental permission yet to be doing all this work?