What's the difference between a leveling kit and a lift kit?

A leveling kit raises only the front of the truck (typically 1.5–2.5 inches) to eliminate the factory rake so the truck sits level and clears slightly larger tires. A lift kit raises the whole vehicle (commonly 3–6+ inches) for major tire clearance and ground clearance, and usually includes more components to keep geometry and ride quality in check.

Will a leveling kit hurt my ride or cause problems?

A modest leveling kit is generally safe and popular, but pushing the front up too far steepens the CV axle and control-arm angles, which can accelerate wear and worsen ride. Staying within the recommended range and getting an alignment afterward keeps things happy.

What tire size can I run after a lift?

It depends on the kit height, wheel offset/backspacing, and trim. A 2-inch level often clears a modestly larger tire; a 4–6 inch lift opens up much larger fitments. Always confirm the specific tire size against your exact kit, wheel offset, and TRX model year before buying tires.

TRX Suspension Upgrade Guide: Bypass Shocks, Lift & Off-Road Setup

The Ram 1500 TRX starts from a high bar: it leaves the factory with a long-travel off-road suspension (roughly 13 inches of front and rear wheel travel) on adaptive Bilstein Black Hawk e2 dampers, plus 35” tires. That means suspension work on a TRX is less about basic leveling and more about extracting even more off-road capability — or dialing in a specific look. The wrong kit brings ride complaints, alignment headaches, and premature wear. This guide helps you pick the right setup for your goals and points you to both new parts on Amazon and used/OEM suspension components on eBay Motors.

First, decide your goal

More desert performance: bypass shocks and upgraded long-travel dampers are where serious TRX owners spend money. Position-sensitive bypass shocks resist bottoming at high speed and stay composed over whooped-out terrain far better than any lift.
Stance and mild tire clearance: a leveling kit is the cheapest, simplest path to sit the truck flatter and clear a modestly larger tire than the stock 35s.
Maximum tire and ground clearance: a full lift kit opens up the biggest fitments, but it’s a larger investment in parts, labor, and supporting components — and can compromise the excellent factory geometry if done carelessly.

Be realistic about how you actually use the truck — if you’re chasing high-speed desert capability, spend on damping before height.

Bypass and long-travel shocks

For a truck built to run flat-out in the desert, damping is everything. Upgraded remote-reservoir and position-sensitive bypass shocks give the front and rear more control deep in the travel, resist fade on long high-speed runs, and let you push harder over rough terrain without harsh bottom-outs. This is the upgrade that makes the biggest difference to how a TRX actually performs off-road — and it doesn’t require lifting the truck. Browse the suspension category for shocks and reservoir kits.

Leveling kits (1.5–2.5”)

A leveling kit is an affordable, reversible way to sit the truck flatter and clear a modestly larger tire than the stock 35s. Stay within the recommended height, and get an alignment afterward to protect your tires and CV axles.

Lift kits (3–6”+)

Bigger lifts deliver the aggressive look and real capability, but do it right:

Choose a kit that includes or accommodates new shocks/struts tuned for the height.
Taller lifts may need drop brackets, extended brake lines, and geometry correction to keep the ride and handling in check.
Budget for wheels, tires, and an alignment — they’re part of the real cost.

Don’t forget the supporting parts

Whatever height you choose, the smoothest builds pair the lift with quality shocks or struts, correct wheel offset, and fresh alignment. Browse the suspension category for shocks, struts, and control arms, and use the eBay buttons above for used or OEM components.

How to buy

New leveling and lift kits, shocks, and struts: Amazon Automotive — see suspension parts.
Used or OEM suspension components: eBay Motors, via the search buttons above.

Measure twice, confirm fitment against your exact model year and trim, and plan for the alignment — a lift done right rides great for years. Before you buy the wheels and tires to fill out the new clearance, read our wheel & tire fitment guide for the TRX’s bolt pattern, offset, and safe tire sizes by lift height.