Ram 2500 / 3500 · 1994-on
Plan the lift before you buy the parts.
A Ram 2500/3500 suspension and lift planning guide, organized by generation. Learn which front and rear layout your truck has, how leveling, coil, long-arm and radius-arm options compare, and what a lift changes for tires, towing and alignment.
Factory layouts, 4x4 2500/3500
Which suspension is under your truck?
Ram changed the HD chassis twice in a big way: a radius-arm front starting with the 2013 3500 and 2014 2500, and a link-coil rear on the 2014 2500. Everything about lift planning depends on which side of those changes your truck is on.
Early link era
- Front
- Coil front5-link
- Rear
- Leaf rear
Link front, leaf rear
- Front
- Coil front5-link
- Rear
- Leaf rear
Same layout, new truck
- Front
- Coil front5-link
- Rear
- Leaf rear
Also the 2013 2500
Radius arm arrives
- Front
- Coil frontRadius arm
- Rear
- 2500: link coil3500: leaf
3500 from 2013; 2500 from 2014
Current layout
- Front
- Coil frontRadius arm
- Rear
- 2500: link coil3500: leaf
Check your own truck
Full layout table, diagrams and how to identify your truck →
Plan it in six steps
Know your chassis
Front five-link or radius arm? Leaf, coil or air rear? It depends on the year and the model.
Open →STEP 02Pick the approach
Spacer, coils, short arms, long arms or radius-arm drop brackets, and what each one gives up.
Open →STEP 03Get the geometry right
How arm length, track bars and caster decide whether a lifted truck drives right.
Open →STEP 04Match the shocks
Length, travel, construction and coilovers in plain language.
Open →STEP 05Keep it a truck
Payload ratings, hitch height and fifth-wheel clearance once it sits taller.
Open →STEP 06Write the plan
A printable worksheet: measurements, goals, front and rear parts, checks.
Open →What this guide is for
Lift kit listings tell you what's in the box. This guide explains why those parts are in it: why a link-front truck needs an adjustable track bar after a lift, why radius-arm trucks lose caster, why rear coil and leaf trucks level differently, and why a taller truck still isn't rated to carry more.
Steering topics like death wobble, steering boxes, drag links and bump steer have their own sister site, so this one sticks to springs, arms, shocks, height and load.
Quick answers
Does a lift raise payload?
No. The ratings on the door jamb stay the same. Why.
When did the 2500 get rear coils?
The 2014 model year. Every 3500 has leaf springs.
Do I need long arms?
Not for every lift. They pay off on taller lifts and rough terrain. How arm length matters.