Leveling Kit or Lift? Best Pick for Your 2025 RAM 1500

The 2025 RAM 1500 is known for its award-winning safety features and crash ratings, proving it’s the standard for off-road toughness and security. But beyond safety, it’s important to see how your RAM 1500 sits, especially when off-roading or towing.

Hence, many drivers seek ways to upgrade their appearance and performance. But should you have a RAM 1500 leveling kit added, or just straightforwardly add a lift? Here’s everything you need to know about installing one at Lucas Smith Chrysler Center.

Also Read: The 2025 Ram 1500 Tech and Driving Assist Features

What Is a Leveling Kit and How Does It Work?

Have you noticed the slightly elevated stance of your 2025 RAM 1500? Most would probably think of this as a factory defect, but this is actually an ingenious design from RAM’s engineers — here’s why.

Most pickup trucks, like the RAM 1500, have slightly elevated rear ends called the “rake” or factory rake. This is to avoid sagging when these trucks carry heavy loads in the back. When it’s loaded, the rear suspension compresses down, making the truck sit at a more level height.

However, the rake can make the RAM 1500 look like it’s sagging or sitting too low. This can affect the clearance under its front wheels, stopping you from putting on larger tires or lessening its ground clearance.

This is why leveling kits exist. Leveling kits are simple upgrades that raise your front suspension by about 1.5 in. to 3 in. so that it is the same height as the rear end.

Aesthetics-wise, it makes the RAM 1500 more aggressive. Functionality-wise, you can now add larger tires to match the rear ones and see obstacles or rough terrain better.

Benefits of a Leveling Kit for RAM 1500

A leveling kit RAM 1500 might seem like a small change, but it actually offers several practical advantages.

Whether you’re towing or driving to an off-road destination, here’s how a leveling kit impacts your everyday driving in this truck:

• Better Visibility: Raising the truck’s front gives the driver a higher position and a clearer view of the road. The now “level” stance allows you to see rough terrain, obstacles, or even traffic and plan your next move accordingly.
• Increased Tire Clearance for Larger Wheels: To fit larger tires, you would need extra space. Adding a leveling kit to the RAM 1500’s front not only prevents the tires from rubbing against the suspension or wheel wells, but also creates the space you need for larger wheel installations.
• Balanced Handling During Loading or Towing: Adding a 2025 RAM 1500 leveling kit levels the nose-down front with the rear end, balancing its stance and improving its handling, too. This is especially crucial when you carry heavy loads or tow with the RAM 1500.
• Minimal Towing Capacity Impact: Leveling kits don’t drastically change your RAM 1500’s appearance compared to suspension or full lift kits. It can make subtle changes to the ground clearance and stance, but it won’t affect the factory suspension geometry. This means a more stable ride, even when towing or loaded.
• Preserved Factory Comfort: Full lift kits can change the RAM 1500’s ride or stiffen it altogether. Leveling kits, on the other hand, work with the truck’s current suspension and won’t affect its comfort, climate control efficiency, and the road manners that have made it win awards.
• Budget-friendly maintenance: Adding a leveling kit to your RAM 1500 is less invasive, easier to install, and keeps the maintenance stress-free.

Other benefits for adding a leveling kit to your RAM 1500 include:

• Reduced front suspension strain
• Headlights stay aligned at night when towing
• Improves the approach angle when driving on uneven roads
• Protects the front bumper and skid plate from trail hits
• Does not void the RAM’s 4×4 systems like Selec-Speed Control

Knowing all these benefits, is it enough for you to settle for adding just a leveling kit? Or should you go for a full lift kit?

Leveling vs Full Lift Kit: How To Tell Which One Your RAM 1500 Needs

While you may fully understand the difference between a leveling kit and a full lift kit, which one should you choose? One look at your RAM 1500 can already give away some clues as to what you should avail.

Install a leveling kit on your 2025 RAM 1500 if you see the following:

Tires Rubbing When Loaded Up or When Turning

If, after swapping the factory wheels of your 2025 RAM 1500 to larger ones and you still hear scraping when making a sharp turn, add a leveling kit. This small upgrade adds extra clearance to avoid potential damage later on.

Front Bumper Sits Too Low

As mentioned, the RAM 1500 has a naturally forward “rake” as soon as it’s out of the company. While this may be fine when towing or carrying heavy loads, it can make the truck look unbalanced or have a damaged front bumper from scraping curbs.

Camping Gear and/or Trailer Scrapes The Ground

Towing a camper, boat, or heavy camping gear can cause the RAM 1500’s front end to dip lower and have its hitch or gear scrape the ground. Adding a leveling kit can avoid this situation, keeping everything safe and more stable.

Style Preference

If you’re not using the RAM 1500 for heavy loading or towing, but you want to make it look more “leveled,” adding a leveling kit is a great option. Not only can the truck benefit from added height, but it also makes it look more aggressive.

Install a full lift kit on your 2025 RAM 1500 instead if you’re considering the following:

Heavy Duty Off-Roading

Unlike leveling kits, a RAM 1500 full lift kit raises both the front and rear ends of your truck. This raises its ground clearance significantly, so you won’t have to worry about driving over deep mud, large boulders, or rough trails.

A higher ground clearance also means that the RAM 1500’s undercarriage has more room to clear any obstacles without getting stuck or scraping. This is something that leveling kits cannot achieve when you’re going off-road.

Add Significant Ground Clearance

Full lift kits on your RAM 1500 raise its ground clearance to more than the 3-inch maximum of the leveling kit. This extra height provides peace of mind when navigating rough or uneven terrain.

Install Bigger Tires (35 Inches or More)

Bigger tires give the RAM 1500 a more aggressive look while improving its traction and grip when you’re going off-road. But with bigger tires, you also need a bigger space to avoid them rubbing on the suspension parts or fenders.

More Complete Suspension Upgrades

If you opt for a full lift kit on your RAM 1500, you don’t just increase ground clearance. You also replace or upgrade its suspension components (upper control arms, springs, shocks, etc.) for responsive steering despite the increased height.

So, should you lift or level?

Leveling kits are best for RAM 1500 drivers who only want to increase the truck’s height for casual off-roading or to add style. If you plan to go for heavy-duty off-road trips, you should install a lift kit.

Leveling Up Your RAM 1500: Is It Right For You?

Adding a leveling kit to your RAM 1500 for sale can improve its appearance, handling, and visibility during towing or off-roading. However, it does alter your truck’s dynamics when heavily loaded. Knowing how adding these can affect the RAM 1500’s stance and handling will guide you in making the best decision.

Whether or not you’re adding a leveling kit or a full lift, our team at Lucas Smith Chrysler Center Festus MO is more than willing to help. Either make a call to our Service Department or use the online scheduler to hear from our factory-trained technicians’ advice.

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