Newbie lifting questions.

[Hint_the_name]

I know your prob tired of hearing all the newbie questions, but I have a couple questions of my own.

I just picked up a 09 Z71 Tahoe, and I'm gonna lift 6" with Pro-comp or Superlift.

1) I also plan on running dual front shocks. I was recommended to go with Fox or Bilstein shocks. What about rear? Do I need rear shocks as well with the Tahoe?

2) I have also heard something about nitrogen shocks w/ reservoir. What is the advantage of this, as I see they are more expensive.

3)My last question in about towing. I will towing a Sea Doo boat during the summer months, and don't want the rear to sag. Is there anything I can do to eliminate this?

I have owned a lifted truck before, but none that I have done the lift by myself I had bought them that way. So, sorry for the newb questions.

 

[bigblue]

I know your prob tired of hearing all the newbie questions, but I have a couple questions of my own.

I just picked up a 09 Z71 Tahoe, and I'm gonna lift 6" with Pro-comp or Superlift.

1) I also plan on running dual front shocks. I was recommended to go with Fox or Bilstein shocks. What about rear? Do I need rear shocks as well with the Tahoe?

2) I have also heard something about nitrogen shocks w/ reservoir. What is the advantage of this, as I see they are more expensive.

3)My last question in about towing. I will towing a Sea Doo boat during the summer months, and don't want the rear to sag. Is there anything I can do to eliminate this?

I have owned a lifted truck before, but none that I have done the lift by myself I had bought them that way. So, sorry for the newb questions.

Welcome to the site!
#1 Do NOT run dual shocks up front, i have had them (not on a tahoe) but they ride like shit with dual shocks.
#2 yes get a nitrogen shock with a reservior if money is not an issue, nitrogen shocks are stiffer, rebound faster, and they can rebuilt if they have a reservoir. So that would help out your towing issue, a sea doo dont weight much though.
#3 the rear is not going to sag if you only going to haul a sea doo, they dont weight much at all. Even if you was going to haul heavier loads, usually vehicles with coil springs in the rear do not tend to sag like the older vehicles did with leaf springs in the rear. If money isnt and issue do a coil over in the rear

 

[AquinoSteven]

The lift should have an option for 6 shocks. Youll get your 4 fronts and 2 rears. Im not sure what company offers foxs as an option. I wanna say fabtech.

There are 2 different type of reservoir shocks.
The first are remote which is pretty common. You can mount them above or on the shock.
The second is a piggy back shock but its way over kill for a DD. I dont think they make a coilover piggy back anyway.

 

[Hint_the_name]

Welcome to the site!
#1 Do NOT run dual shocks up front, i have had them (not on a tahoe) but they ride like shit with dual shocks.
#2 yes get a nitrogen shock with a reservior if money is not an issue, nitrogen shocks are stiffer, rebound faster, and they can rebuilt if they have a reservoir. So that would help out your towing issue, a sea doo dont weight much though.
#3 the rear is not going to sag if you only going to haul a sea doo, they dont weight much at all. Even if you was going to haul heavier loads, usually vehicles with coil springs in the rear do not tend to sag like the older vehicles did with leaf springs in the rear. If money isnt and issue do a coil over in the rear

The lift should have an option for 6 shocks. Youll get your 4 fronts and 2 rears. Im not sure what company offers foxs as an option. I wanna say fabtech.

There are 2 different type of reservoir shocks.
The first are remote which is pretty common. You can mount them above or on the shock.
The second is a piggy back shock but its way over kill for a DD. I dont think they make a coilover piggy back anyway.

Money, is not a big deal here. I don't wanna have to spend a ton on useless stuff though. I have heard very bad things about Fabtech lift kits, so I would rather stay away from them. I was going to purchase a Superlift or Pro-Comp lift. Then order Fox shocks for the front and taking BigBlue's advice and getting a set of Fox coilovers for the rear. On the Sea-doo, its actually a sea-doo boat(not jet-ski) it with trailer weights about 5,000lbs dry.

Also, looking would a full coilover setup be better than shocks in front and coilovers in rear?

 

[bigblue]

yeah if you can afford full coil over, front and rear it would be 10x better, and way better ride quality than anything else offered.

 

[Hint_the_name]

yeah if you can afford full coil over, front and rear it would be 10x better, and way better ride quality than anything else offered.

One last question: Looking at coilovers, what length or travel is required for a 6" lifted Tahoe?

 

[bigblue]

you would have to call and ask, but when i done it on my superduty i actually bought 10" coil overs and i was able to adjust the lift height to what i wanted i think it went to 14"

 

[Zed 71]

Hint, what are your expectations for ride quality?

- Dual shocks will provide really stiff damping (compression and rebound). You should really ride in a truck with this setup to make sure you are ok with that stiffness.
- Nitrogen and reservoir are really useful if you drive a lot off-road where the suspension is working hard (a lot of up and down movement). In addition to the advantages noted above, nitrogen will provide better resistance to heat and the reservoir provide resistance to internal fluid foaming (also good if you are jumping the truck Baja style ).
- Yeah the jet ski should be pretty light, but if Airlift makes an air bag for your application, that would be the best way to go.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Conor]

Its not the weight of the boat that makes the truck sqaut, it is the toungue weight. And that is nothing that an airbag cant fix

---------- Post added at 09:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:20 AM ----------

Also, what have you heard bad about Fabtech? I have never had a Fabtech kit, but I know some guys that do. Everything I have ever heard or read about Fabtech has made me think that Fabtech is the best stuff out there.

 

[Hint_the_name]

Its not the weight of the boat that makes the truck sqaut, it is the toungue weight. And that is nothing that an airbag cant fix

---------- Post added at 09:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:20 AM ----------

Also, what have you heard bad about Fabtech? I have never had a Fabtech kit, but I know some guys that do. Everything I have ever heard or read about Fabtech has made me think that Fabtech is the best stuff out there.

Hint, what are your expectations for ride quality?

- Dual shocks will provide really stiff damping (compression and rebound). You should really ride in a truck with this setup to make sure you are ok with that stiffness.
- Nitrogen and reservoir are really useful if you drive a lot off-road where the suspension is working hard (a lot of up and down movement). In addition to the advantages noted above, nitrogen will provide better resistance to heat and the reservoir provide resistance to internal fluid foaming (also good if you are jumping the truck Baja style ).
- Yeah the jet ski should be pretty light, but if Airlift makes an air bag for your application, that would be the best way to go.

Just my 2 cents.

Airlift makes the Airlift 1000 for the Tahoe, but would that be compatible with a coilover setup in the rear as well?

I have decided to take everyone advice and just go with a single coilover setup front and rear.

About the tongue weight... How would I figure out the tongue weight. This boat is brand new, not been hauled except with my buddy's super-duty to storage, right after I bought it last month. I do know that it is a 23' long, has a dry weight of about 3,750 lbs and a dry weight of 5,500 lbs.

As I said, Im completely new with the lifting myself.