Best Lift Kits for the Ram 1500 (2009-2024): Coil Spring vs Air Suspension
The Ram 1500 is the only half-ton truck with an available coil rear suspension and factory air suspension, and both systems change your lift kit options significantly. This is the most suspension-complex half-ton on the market. Here's how to navigate it.
Ram's rear coil spring setup (standard on 1500) and the optional Air Suspension (eTorque and higher trims on DS generation, standard on certain TRX packages) make the Ram 1500 the most variable fitment scenario in the half-ton segment. A Ram owner needs to know their exact suspension configuration before ordering, not just their year and trim.
This guide breaks it all down: generation differences, suspension variants, lift options by height, and what the Air Suspension means for your build.
Ram 1500 Lift Kit Quick Reference
| Lift Height | Tire Size | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leveling (1.5"-2") | Up to 33" | Stance correction | Strut spacer front only. Most common first mod. |
| 2"-4" Lift | 33"-35" | Street + trail | Coil spring replacement or spacer kit. Air suspension: see notes. |
| 4"-6" Lift | 35"-37" | Trail + overland | UCAs recommended. Verify air suspension compatibility separately. |
| 6"+ Lift | 37"+ | Dedicated off-road | TRX or full build territory. Not for air-equipped trucks without conversion. |
DS Generation (2009-2018) vs DT Generation (2019-2024)
DS (2009-2018 Ram 1500)
The DS-generation Ram 1500 introduced the rear coil spring setup that would become Ram's signature. It also introduced the optional Active-Level Four-Corner Air Suspension on higher trim levels. DS-gen lift kits are very well developed. This platform has been in the aftermarket long enough that fitment data is deep.
For DS trucks with standard coil suspension: leveling kits and lifts follow the standard playbook. Front strut spacer, rear coil spacers or replacement coils depending on height. Highly accessible as a DIY install.
For DS trucks with Air Suspension: you have two paths. Some kits include an air suspension retention setup that works with the factory system. Others require a coil spring conversion, which disables the factory air ride. The coil conversion gives you more lift options but loses the air-adjustable height feature. Know which path you want before you order.
DT (2019-2024 Ram 1500)
The DT generation is a significant platform revision with improved suspension geometry, a wider track width, and updated steering. It also brought the eTorque mild hybrid system and the high-output version found in the TRX (which is not a lift kit platform, it's a 702hp factory performance truck with long-travel suspension).
DT-gen lift kits caught up with the market by 2021. The 2019-2020 model years have more limited kit availability than 2021+. Confirm your year specifically. The DT's wider front track also means some kits designed for DS geometry do not transfer.
The Air Suspension Decision
Ram's Coil Air Suspension (available on Laramie Longhorn, Limited, and select other trims) is a load-leveling and height-adjustable air spring system. It's genuinely useful for towing and ride quality. It also complicates your lift options.
Your choices as an air suspension Ram owner:
- Air-compatible lift kit: Maintains your factory air system. Typically limits you to 2"-3" of lift with front strut spacers and compatible rear components. Some ride quality compromise at higher lifts.
- Coil spring conversion: Replaces the air springs with fixed coils. Enables full lift heights up to 6"+. You lose air-adjustable ride height permanently. Most owners who want serious lift go this route.
- Leveling only (front spacer only): Works with either suspension type. If you just want to level the stance and run slightly larger tires, a front leveling spacer is compatible with the air system without modification.
If you're unsure whether your Ram has air suspension, check under the bed near the rear axle. Air springs look like large rubber bags around the shock. Coil springs look like coil springs.
Tire Sizing on the Ram 1500
Ram's fender openings are among the most generous on any half-ton, which helps with tire fitment at moderate lift heights.
- 33s on a leveling kit: Clean bolt-on. No trimming needed on most trims.
- 35s on a 2"-3.5" lift: Excellent fitment on Ram. One of the better half-tons for this combo. Minor liner work at full lock on some configs.
- 37s on a 4"-6" lift: Solid fitment with quality kit. UCAs recommended above 4".
The Ram Rebel has a factory 1" lift and slightly different suspension tuning. It's a great starting point for a 3"-4" build but confirm Rebel-specific fitment with your kit manufacturer.
Trim-Specific Notes
- Tradesman / Big Horn / Lone Star: Standard coil suspension. Most accessible DIY lift platform in the Ram lineup.
- Laramie and above: Increasingly likely to have air suspension. Verify before ordering.
- Rebel: Factory 1" lift, Bilstein shocks. Confirm Rebel-specific kit fitment.
- 1500 TRX: Not a lift kit truck. Factory long-travel suspension. Aftermarket upgrades exist but are not bolt-on lift kits.
Lifting a Ram 1500? Liftnasium flags air suspension compatibility on every Ram kit listing. No guessing whether your truck needs a conversion. We tell you before you check out.