frame height help

[boomjuice86]

found this site a few days ago, 67-72 truck guys were not interested in my new square body. anyways, i live in Maine and they have strict lift laws. i recently acquired an 86 GMC high sierra with stock suspension. I'm looking to lift it and put some bigger meat under it. anyone with a 4 inch lift and 33's or a 6 inch lift and 35's could you please give me the measurement from rear of the frame to the ground. i have to keep it under 30" or i wont be able to get a sticker. thanks for the help

 

[firebane]

This will depend on so many variables that there is no definitive answer and you could only get a guesstimate.

 

[Skweegle89]

If they go off frame height, just put a 3" body lift and some 33s on it. Im not a fan of them but sometimes you gatta do what you gatta do. Most laws Iv seen go off bumper height, in which case you can buy a bumper drop kit to stay within the regs.

 

[boomjuice86]

honestly i despise body lifts, cheap and quick yes, but ugly i my view.

does anyone have a rough estimate?

 

[DanMcG]

Just curious but whats your frame height now? If ya added the difference in tire radius you might be able to guess the lift you could add to it and be legal.

 

[boomjuice86]

Right now stock height is 23" and 28x10 tires. Have to do the math later when I go out to the garage.

 

[Skweegle89]

I doubt it. Highly unlikely that a 4" body lift is going to give you exactly 4", and a 33" tire is hardly ever a true 33". There are just too many variables that come into play.

 

[MadOgre]

With 35s the max lift from current height available would be 3.5", with 33s 4.5", for your truck

 

[MadOgre]

A 4" lift works really well for many reasons. Maybe not the sexiest bigass lift but for dependable every day use 4 is the way to go.

slap a 4 inch lift and 33s on and you can still do some rowdy 4x4ing

 

[MadOgre]

Or put a 6 inch lift and keep your current tires, go get your sticker, then go get some 35s

 

[highdesertrange]

I agree with the 4" and 33's. great combo. highdesertranger

 

[83kid]

I got a 4 inch lift with 33's on my truck. Not sure to the frame, but from the metal below the door (Which seems to hand a bit lower than the frame if i remember right), i measured like 31 or 32 inches, cant remember.
Honestly, lift laws are hardly anything to listen to. I live in Mass, just a state or two away form you, and ive had no problems, i dont think the 4 and 33's i got is legal. Either way, passes inspection, most places arn't real picky on lifts.
I have a friend with a 6 inch and 35's(Maybe some pretty bald 37's... been awhile since i talked to him), and hes had no problems with inspection.
Then again, ive had a friend who got a rejection sticker on his stepside f150 with a 4 and some level of body lift. He ended up getting it passed, just had to go to another guy who wasnt as picky.

Really, i see people around here driving with trucks waaaay over the lift laws... Youll be fine, get the sticker before you lift it then, or if you know a guy who does them its even better, if i were you i'd just go with it. I vacation in Maine a bit, and ive seen trucks there with much higher frame clearance than 30 inches... as i said, you probably wont have a problem

 

[boomjuice86]

quite true, 83kid, everyday i pass a newer truck jacked up and tires sticking out and no one bats an eye. from what ive noticed is people running commercial plates to get there truck to pass.

33's and a 4 inch kit will do just fine until i get out of maine and into nh, then the only rule there is bumper height.

 

[77 K20]

I was out in the garage earlier today and remembered this post. Out of curiosity I measured how tall the frame at the rear is. 29"

This is on my '77 K20 with a 3" lift and 285's (33" tall).

Thought it could come in useful for future searches.

 

[boomjuice86]

Thanks for the info onshort lift and 33's. Big help