Next Level Performance
September 27, 2026 • 11 min read
A 2019-2024 RAM 2500 diesel lift kit is a suspension system that raises the truck's ride height, replaces the front geometry with heavy-duty arms, and adds long-travel shocks so a Cummins-powered 3/4-ton can clear taller winter tires and deeper snow. The MaxTrac 8-inch 4-link kit reviewed here is built specifically for the 6.7L Cummins RAM 2500 with the factory rear air suspension — the heaviest, most nose-down configuration Ram sells — and it is the most capable snow-and-ice setup we stock for that truck. If you plow, tow, or drive unplowed county roads through a Florida cold snap or a northern winter, ground clearance and tire size are the two things that keep you moving, and this kit maximizes both.
Our Verdict
The MaxTrac 8-inch 4-Link Kit with Vulcan 2.0 reservoir shocks is the strongest winter clearance package for the 2019-2024 RAM 2500 Cummins diesel.
Forged-aluminum 4-links correct the caster and pinion angle a big lift throws off, the remote-reservoir shocks resist fade on washboard snow, and 8 inches of lift clears up to roughly 37-inch winter tires. For most owners who want a milder ride and lower cost, the 4-inch tier below it is the smarter buy — but nothing here beats the 8-inch kit for pure snow capability.
Shop Our Top Pick →Why Lift a 2019-2024 RAM 2500 Diesel for Winter?
Lifting a RAM 2500 diesel for winter gets you two things that matter in snow: ground clearance and room for aggressive, tall tires. A stock 2019-2024 RAM 2500 4WD sits with roughly 8 to 9 inches of clearance under the axles and ships on 18- or 20-inch wheels wrapped in highway or all-terrain rubber that tops out near 33 inches. That is enough for a plowed interstate. It is not enough when the snow is deeper than your bumper or when you are the first truck down an unplowed road.
The 6.7L Cummins is the reason a HD-specific kit exists. The inline-six iron block hangs close to 1,000 pounds over the front axle — far more than a gas HEMI — so a RAM 2500 diesel naturally sits nose-down and loads the front suspension hard. A generic leveling spacer cannot cope with that weight at height. A true 4-link system relocates the arms and drop brackets to keep caster, pinion angle, and track bar geometry correct after the lift, which is what preserves steering feel and keeps the front axle planted on ice. In our Tampa shop we see the same pattern every fall: owners who tow trailers north or chase snow want the tallest tire they can legally run, and 8 inches of MaxTrac lift is how they fit it without hacking the fenders to pieces.
Taller tires also raise the effective contact patch out of the slush and let a deeper, more open tread bite down to pavement. Pair this lift with a set of 35- to 37-inch three-peak-snowflake-rated tires and the RAM 2500 goes from "capable in a plowed lot" to "makes it to the trailhead."
Forged-aluminum 4-link arms replace the factory radius arms to correct geometry at height.
MaxTrac 8-Inch 4-Link Lift Kit: Full Review
The MaxTrac 8-inch kit (part K947485VRLA) is a complete bolt-on suspension system for the 2019-2024 RAM 2500 4WD diesel equipped with the factory rear air suspension. It is priced around $4,900 and is the top of MaxTrac's RAM 2500 range. Rather than a stack of spacers, it is a re-engineered front end: forged-aluminum 4-link arms, laser-cut steel drop crossmembers and brackets, a relocated track bar, extended sway-bar and brake-line provisions, and Vulcan Series 2.0 remote-reservoir shocks at all four corners. Everything is designed to bolt into factory mounting points with no welding.
Key Specifications
What Is in the Box: 4-Link Geometry and Vulcan Reservoir Shocks
The two components that define this kit are the forged-aluminum 4-link arms and the Vulcan 2.0 remote-reservoir shocks. Together they are why the 8-inch kit rides and steers like a properly engineered lift rather than a nose-high spacer job.
Forged-aluminum 4-link arms
MaxTrac's 4-link arms replace the RAM 2500's factory radius arms with forged aluminum links on new drop brackets. Forged aluminum saves unsprung weight over the cast-iron factory arms while keeping the strength a Cummins front end demands. More importantly, the geometry is what resets caster and pinion angle at 8 inches of lift — get that wrong and the truck wanders, the steering goes light, and the front driveshaft vibrates. Done right, as here, the RAM tracks straight at highway speed and puts power down predictably on a slick surface.
Vulcan Series 2.0 remote-reservoir shocks
The Vulcan 2.0 shocks use a 2.0-inch monotube body with a remote reservoir that adds oil volume and cooling capacity. On a heavy diesel pounding down a washboard snow road, extra oil volume is what keeps the shock from overheating and fading. The remote-reservoir design gives this HD kit far more sustained damping control than the twin-tube shocks on the budget tier, which is why we recommend it for anyone who actually works the truck off-pavement in winter.
Vulcan Series 2.0 monotube shock with remote reservoir for added oil volume and fade resistance.
How the Lift Handles Snow, Ice, and Salt
A lift kit does not by itself make a truck grip ice — tires do that — but it removes the two limits that strand a stock RAM 2500 in winter: belly clearance and tire size. With 8 inches of lift, the axles, transfer case, and running boards ride high enough that packed snow and slush no longer high-center the truck, and the approach and departure angles improve enough to climb a plowed berm at the end of a driveway. Ground clearance is the single biggest reason people lift a work truck for winter.
The bigger payoff is tire fitment. The 8-inch kit clears up to roughly 37-inch tires on the correct wheel offset, which lets you step up to a taller, more aggressive three-peak-mountain-snowflake (3PMSF) tire without rubbing. A 37-inch tire drops the truck's effective gearing, so many diesel owners re-gear the axles to 4.30 or numerically higher to keep the Cummins in its torque band — worth budgeting for. On salted roads, the lift also lifts the body and brake lines a few inches farther from the constant spray, though salt still finds everything, so rinse the underside and inspect the new hardware through the season.
One winter-specific caution: this kit is built around the RAM 2500's factory rear air suspension, and a taller center of gravity changes how a loaded truck behaves on ice. Drive to the new stance, keep the truck in 4-High or 4-Auto when it is slick, and remember that stopping distance grows with heavier winter tires.
Complete bolt-on hardware set — drop brackets, track bar, and extended provisions for the lifted stance.
8-Inch vs 4-Inch: Which RAM 2500 Lift Height for Winter?
Choose the 8-inch kit for maximum clearance and 37-inch tires; choose a 4-inch kit for a milder ride, easier daily use, and a lower price. MaxTrac builds the same RAM 2500 4WD platform in a 4-inch tier, offered with either the premium Vulcan 2.0 reservoir shocks or budget-friendly MaxTrac twin-tube shocks. A 4-inch lift clears roughly 35- to 37-inch tires, keeps the truck easier to load and enter, and rides closer to stock — the sweet spot for a daily-driven snow truck that occasionally tows. The 8-inch kit is the pick when clearance and tire size trump everything else.
A fitment note before you buy: MaxTrac catalogs separate part numbers for gas versus diesel trucks and for factory-air versus coil-spring rear suspensions. Confirm your exact engine and rear-suspension configuration — our team will verify the correct kit for your VIN before it ships.
| Kit | Lift Height | Shocks | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MaxTrac 8" Diesel (Factory Air)Top Pick | 8 in | Vulcan 2.0 reservoir | Max clearance, 37s | $4,873.78 |
| MaxTrac 4" (Vulcan Reservoir) | 4 in | Vulcan 2.0 reservoir | Balanced ride, 35-37s | $4,644.38 |
| MaxTrac 4" (MaxTrac Shocks) | 4 in | MaxTrac twin-tube | Budget 4-inch build | $3,594.87 |
Laser-cut drop brackets and forged links bolt to factory points — no welding required.
Fitment: Which RAM 2500 Diesels Does It Fit?
The featured 8-inch kit fits 2019-2024 RAM 2500 4WD trucks with the 6.7L Cummins diesel and the factory rear air suspension. That is the specific combination MaxTrac engineered part K947485VRLA around, and it is why the rear of the kit is set up to work with the air bags rather than coil springs. If your RAM 2500 has the standard coil-sprung rear or the 6.4L HEMI gas engine, MaxTrac makes a different part number for your truck — the geometry and rear components change with engine weight and rear suspension type.
Because these are heavy-duty 3/4-ton kits shipped from the manufacturer, we confirm fitment against your VIN before the order leaves. Send us your year, engine, cab, and whether you have factory rear air, and our Tampa team will match the exact MaxTrac part number so you are not guessing between air and non-air variants.
MaxTrac offers gas vs diesel and air vs coil-rear variants — match your exact configuration.
Installation, Tires, and What Else You Need
Plan for a full-day professional installation on a lift with the right tools; a MaxTrac 8-inch 4-link system on a RAM 2500 typically takes an experienced two-person shop 8 to 12 hours. It bolts to factory mounting points with no welding, but you are removing radius arms, drop brackets, the track bar, and all four shocks, then setting ride height and torqueing to spec. Budget for these extras before winter:
What We Like
- + True forged-aluminum 4-link geometry, not spacers — correct caster and pinion at 8 in
- + Vulcan 2.0 remote-reservoir shocks resist fade on washboard snow roads
- + Clears up to roughly 37-inch 3PMSF winter tires; bolt-on, no welding
Things to Consider
- – Specific to the factory-air diesel truck — confirm your exact config
- – 37-inch tires usually mean re-gearing (4.30+) and a taller center of gravity on ice
On top of the kit you will want the tires and wheels (a 35- to 37-inch 3PMSF winter tire on the correct offset), an alignment after install, and often a re-gear and speedometer recalibration to match the taller rolling diameter. Shop 3PMSF-rated winter rubber in our winter tires collection, and browse the full range of truck lifts in our lift kits collection if you are comparing platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size tires fit a RAM 2500 with an 8-inch lift?
An 8-inch lift on a 2019-2024 RAM 2500 typically clears up to roughly 37-inch tires on the correct wheel offset. Many owners run 37x12.50R20 winter tires; going to 40s usually requires additional fender and firewall work. Confirm wheel backspacing so the taller tire does not rub at full lock or full compression.
Does the MaxTrac 8-inch kit fit a gas RAM 2500?
No — part K947485VRLA is built for the 2019-2024 RAM 2500 4WD diesel with factory rear air suspension. The 6.4L HEMI gas truck and the standard coil-sprung rear use different MaxTrac part numbers because engine weight and rear suspension type change the geometry. Verify your engine and rear suspension before ordering.
Is a lift kit worth it for winter driving?
A lift kit is worth it for winter if you need clearance for deep snow and room for taller, more aggressive winter tires. The lift itself does not add traction — a 3PMSF-rated tire does that — but it prevents a stock RAM 2500 from high-centering in packed snow and lets you fit up to 37-inch snow tires. For plowed roads only, a leveling kit and 3PMSF tires may be enough.
Do I need to re-gear after lifting my RAM 2500 diesel?
You should consider re-gearing if you move to 37-inch tires. Taller tires lower effective gearing and make the Cummins work harder to keep the truck in its torque band, especially when towing in snow. Re-gearing the axles to 4.30 or numerically higher restores drivability; at minimum, recalibrate the speedometer for the new rolling diameter.
How long does it take to install an 8-inch 4-link lift?
A MaxTrac 8-inch 4-link kit on a RAM 2500 typically takes an experienced two-person shop 8 to 12 hours. It is a bolt-on system with no welding, but it involves removing the radius arms, installing drop brackets and the relocated track bar, fitting all four Vulcan shocks, then setting ride height and performing an alignment.
What is the difference between the 8-inch and 4-inch MaxTrac kits?
The 8-inch kit gives maximum clearance and fits up to 37-inch tires; the 4-inch kit rides closer to stock, is easier to enter and load, and costs less. Both use forged-aluminum 4-links. The 4-inch tier is offered with premium Vulcan 2.0 reservoir shocks (around $4,600) or budget MaxTrac twin-tube shocks (around $3,600), while the 8-inch diesel kit runs around $4,900.
Build Your RAM 2500 for Winter
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