How to Safely Lift a Ram 1500 Equipped with Active-Level Air Suspension
There’s a certain satisfaction that comes from planning a Ram 1500 build, knowing the truck can handle both the daily commute and the trail ahead—but lifting an air-ride truck takes a different playbook than a coil-spring rig.
You’ve got the Ram 1500 with the Active-Level™ Four Corner Air Suspension. It rides beautifully. It levels itself under load. It drops for easy entry and raises for off-road clearance. It’s one of the most sophisticated factory suspension systems on any pickup.
So when you decide you want more ground clearance and room for bigger tires, you can’t just bolt on a spacer kit from the local parts store and call it a day. Air suspension changes the rules.
This guide breaks down exactly how to lift your Ram 1500 the right way—keeping that factory air ride function intact while getting the stance and capability you want.
TL;DR
Lifting a Ram 1500 with Active-Level air suspension is absolutely possible, but you need a kit specifically engineered for air-ride trucks. Standard coil-spring lift kits won’t work. The two main approaches are air suspension lift kits (which retain your factory air ride and its functions) and air-to-coil conversion kits (which replace the air system entirely). The right choice depends on your budget, how you use the truck, and whether you want to keep that factory air ride comfort and adjustability.
Key Takeaways
- Air-ride lift kits exist: Companies like BDS, AEV, and ReadyLIFT make kits specifically for Ram 1500s with factory air suspension
- Retain factory function: Quality air-ride lift kits preserve your truck’s automatic and manual height adjustment, load leveling, and entry/exit modes
- Budget matters: Air suspension lift kits typically run $2,400–$2,700+, while air-to-coil conversions start around $1,100
- Sensor links are the cheap option: Adjustable ride height sensor links can trick the system into sitting higher, but you lose Off-Road 1 and 2 modes
- Alignment is mandatory: Any height change on a 4×4 requires a front-end alignment to protect CV joints and keep driver assistance sensors working correctly
- Warranty isn’t automatically voided: The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects you, but damage caused by improper lifting won’t be covered
Understanding the Ram Active-Level Air Suspension System
Before you lift anything, you need to understand what you’re working with.
The Active-Level™ Four Corner Air Suspension is Ram’s flagship suspension option. It replaces traditional coil springs and shocks at all four corners with air springs and adaptive dampers. The system automatically adjusts ride height based on speed, load, and driver input.
Here are the height modes Ram builds into the system:
- Off-Road 2: Raises the truck approximately 2 inches for maximum clearance
- Off-Road 1: Raises the truck approximately 1.2 inches (front) and 0.9 inches (rear) for moderate off-road use
- Normal Ride Height (NRH): The standard driving position
- Aero Mode: Lowers the truck approximately 0.6 inches at highway speeds for better fuel economy
- Entry/Exit: Lowers the truck approximately 3 inches for easier passenger access and cargo loading
Here’s the thing about Active-Level—it’s not just a comfort feature. The system constantly adjusts to keep the truck level whether you’re empty or loaded. Towing a trailer? The rear air springs firm up to prevent sag. Hauling a heavy payload? Same deal. It’s genuinely useful technology.
The system uses height sensors at each corner, an air compressor, a valve block, and a reservoir tank. The control module monitors ride height, speed, and load, then adjusts air pressure in each spring to maintain the target height.
Ownership tip: If your Ram 1500 is equipped with air suspension and you need to change a tire, there’s a setting in the Uconnect system to disable automatic leveling. This prevents the truck from trying to adjust while it’s jacked up.
Why Standard Lift Kits Won’t Work on Air-Ride Rams
Walk into any truck accessory shop and ask for a lift kit for a Ram 1500. You’ll get shown several options—spacer lifts, coil spacer kits, full suspension systems.
None of them will work on your air-ride truck.
Here’s why: Standard lift kits are designed around coil springs and shocks. They use spacers that sit on top of the coil or longer coil springs to achieve lift. The air suspension system doesn’t have coils. It has air springs—rubber sleeves filled with compressed air—mounted at each corner.
You can’t just put a spacer on top of an air spring. The mounting is completely different. The height sensors are calibrated for specific positions. The air lines and wiring harnesses have specific routing.
Putting a coil-spring lift on an air-ride truck isn’t just difficult—it’s impossible without converting the entire system. That’s why air-ride-specific kits exist.
Mopar’s own two-inch lift kit, for example, explicitly excludes air suspension models. Even the factory-backed option doesn’t address air-ride trucks.
Your Options for Lifting an Air-Ride Ram 1500
You have three real paths forward. Each has trade-offs.
Option 1: Air Suspension Lift Kit (Retain Factory Air Ride)
This is the premium approach. Companies like BDS Suspension, AEV, and ReadyLIFT make lift kits specifically engineered for Ram 1500s with factory air suspension.
These kits work by using spacers that sit between the air spring and its mounting point. The factory air springs stay in place. The height sensors are relocated or recalibrated. All the factory functions—auto leveling, entry/exit mode, off-road modes—remain operational.
BDS Suspension offers a 4-inch lift kit for 2019-2026 Ram 1500 air-ride models (excluding TRX). It includes high-clearance crossmembers, heavy-duty steering knuckles, differential relocation brackets, and your choice of FOX 2.0 or BDS NX2 rear shocks. The kit maintains full air ride functionality and clears up to 35-inch tires. Price runs around $2,700.
AEV makes a 4-inch DualSport suspension for 2013-2018 Ram 1500 Rebel and Air Ride models. It retains the OE front air struts and rear airbags, preserving factory ride quality and height adjustment. The kit includes military-grade aluminum steering knuckles, a front driveshaft spacer, rear geometry correction brackets, and a 4mm steel skid plate. AEV recommends 35-inch tires.
ReadyLIFT offers a more modest 1.5-inch leveling kit for 2019-2026 air suspension trucks. It uses CNC-machined billet aluminum strut extensions and includes tubular upper control arms with corrected ball joint angles. Installation time is about 3.5 hours.
Here’s what owners report: The BDS and AEV kits are the gold standard for air-ride lifts. They’re expensive, but they work. The truck still rides like a Ram should, and you keep every function the factory built in.
Option 2: Air-to-Coil Conversion Kit (Delete Air Suspension)
If you want a lift and you’re willing to give up the air ride system entirely, a conversion kit replaces the air springs with traditional coil springs and shocks.
Freedom Off-Road makes a 3-inch lift conversion kit for 2019-2026 Ram 1500 models. It swaps out factory air components for heavy-duty coil springs and shocks, giving you a dependable suspension setup with 3 inches of lift. The kit includes front upper control arms and all necessary hardware. Price starts around $1,100.
This approach makes sense if:
- You plan to keep the truck long-term and want simpler, more durable suspension
- You’re not concerned about losing the auto-leveling and height-adjustment features
- Your factory air suspension is aging and repairs are getting expensive
- You want a lift without the premium price of air-ride-specific kits
The trade-off is real. You lose the magic carpet ride of air suspension. You lose load leveling. You lose the ability to drop the truck for easy entry or raise it for trail clearance. But you gain simplicity and a lower upfront cost.
Option 3: Adjustable Ride Height Sensor Links
This is the budget hack. Adjustable links replace the factory height sensor rods. By making the links slightly longer, you trick the system into thinking the truck is sitting lower than it actually is. The system then adds air pressure to raise the truck back to what it thinks is normal height.
Cost? Typically under $100.
The catch? According to one major kit manufacturer, a 2-inch sensor link leveling kit means you lose the ability to use Off-Road 1 and 2 modes—because the truck is already sitting at or near those heights. The system has no more travel to give.
Think of it this way: sensor links are a permanent compromise. You get a small height increase, but you sacrifice the upper range of the air suspension’s capability. For some owners, that’s fine. For others, it defeats the purpose of having air ride in the first place.
The Critical Step Everyone Forgets: Alignment and Sensor Calibration
No matter which lift option you choose, you need an alignment afterward. This isn’t optional.
When you change the front ride height on a 4×4 Ram, you change the angles of the CV axles. Steeper angles accelerate wear on the CV boots and joints. An alignment helps correct toe and camber, but the CV angle change is inherent to lifting the truck. That’s why air-ride-specific kits include taller steering knuckles—to maintain more reasonable CV angles.
Bold safety reminder: Always check your trailer weight and hitch rating before towing heavy loads after a suspension modification. Lifting your truck changes its towing dynamics, and you need to verify everything is within spec.
There’s another thing: driver assistance sensors.
Your Ram 1500 likely has cameras and radar sensors for features like Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Monitoring with Trailer Coverage. These systems are calibrated for factory ride height. A lift changes the angle of the radar sensor.
According to SEMA, a two-inch lift can shift a radar sensor by about half a degree. That might not sound like much, but it can affect system accuracy. After any lift, you should have the driver assistance sensors recalibrated by a shop with the proper equipment.
Here’s a practical tip: Budget for the alignment and sensor calibration when you budget for the lift. It adds a few hundred dollars to the job, but it protects your truck and keeps your safety systems working correctly.
Real-World Experience: What Owners Discover
Forum discussions from 5thGenRams reveal the real-world challenges of modifying air-ride trucks.
One owner installed a lowering kit on a 2025 Ram 1500 Limited with factory air suspension. He experienced uncontrollable bouncing—bad enough that his passenger was bouncing from seat to roof. After reinstalling the factory components, the ride returned to normal. He later discovered that the issue wasn’t the air springs themselves, but the shocks. The lowering kit came with shocks that weren’t properly matched to the modified ride height.
The lesson? Shocks and air springs must be matched to the ride height. You can’t just change one without addressing the other.
Another owner noted that when lowering an air-ride truck, the factory airbags have limited travel before they bottom out. He measured only about 1.25 inches of lowering available before the bag hit its internal limit.
For lifting, the same principle applies in reverse. You need to ensure the air springs aren’t over-extended at full droop, and the shocks can control the added travel. That’s why complete kits from reputable manufacturers include matched components—not just spacers.
PowerNation TV documented a BDS 4-inch lift install on a 2013 Ram 1500 with factory air suspension. Their teardown included disconnecting the front airbags, removing the driveshaft and front differential, and trimming crossmember mounts. They installed new steering knuckles, air spring spacers, and a differential drop bracket. They also had to trim about 5/8-inch off the inner tie rods to accommodate the new knuckle geometry.
This isn’t a bolt-on-and-go job. It’s a real suspension modification that requires mechanical skill and proper tools.
Comparison Table: Air-Ride Lift Options for Ram 1500
| Product Type | Best For | Installation Difficulty | Key Material | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDS 4″ Air Ride Lift Kit | Maximum clearance with full air ride retention | Hard (professional install recommended) | Steel crossmembers, ductile iron knuckles | $2,700+ |
| AEV 4″ DualSport (2013-18) | Off-road performance with OE air ride integration | Hard (professional install recommended) | A206 T4 aluminum knuckles, steel skid plate | $3,000+ |
| ReadyLIFT 1.5″ Leveling Kit | Mild lift for stance and tire clearance | Moderate (3.5 hrs, DIY possible) | Billet aluminum, DOM tube steel | $400–$600 |
| Freedom Off-Road 3″ Conversion | Budget lift, deleting air suspension | Moderate to Hard | Steel coils, shocks, control arms | $1,100–$1,400 |
| Adjustable Sensor Links | Cheap height increase, mild lift only | Easy (DIY) | Aluminum or steel links | $50–$150 |
Prices reflect typical retail ranges as of 2025-2026. Installation costs vary by shop and region.
Chart: Air Suspension Lift Approaches Compared
Ram 1500 Air Ride Lift Options: Capability vs Cost
Timeline: Ram Air Suspension Evolution
2013 — Ram 1500 Introduces Active-Level Four Corner Air Suspension
Ram becomes the first full-size pickup to offer a four-corner air suspension system. It provides load leveling, height adjustment, and improved ride quality.
2019 — Fifth-Gen Ram 1500 Redesign
The new generation refines the air suspension with faster response, better integration with Uconnect, and expanded functionality including automatic Aero Mode.
2021 — Ram TRX with Air Suspension
The high-performance off-road TRX offers air suspension as part of its package, proving the system can handle extreme use cases.
2025-2026 — Expanded Aftermarket Support
BDS, AEV, and ReadyLIFT expand their air-ride-specific lift kit offerings to cover newer model years, giving owners more options than ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you lift a Ram 1500 with factory air suspension?
Yes, but you need a lift kit specifically designed for air-ride trucks. Standard coil-spring lift kits won’t work because the suspension design is completely different.
Does lifting an air-ride Ram void the warranty?
Not automatically. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prevents blanket warranty denial for aftermarket parts. However, if the lift causes a failure—like a CV joint or air suspension issue—that specific repair won’t be covered.
What’s the cheapest way to lift an air-ride Ram 1500?
Adjustable ride height sensor links cost under $150 and can provide a small lift. But you’ll lose access to Off-Road 1 and 2 modes because the truck already sits at those heights.
Can I keep my factory air suspension and still get a 4-inch lift?
Yes. BDS and AEV both make 4-inch lift kits that retain the factory air springs and all their functions. These kits cost $2,700–$3,000+ but preserve the air ride experience.
Do I need an alignment after lifting my air-ride Ram?
Absolutely. Any change in ride height affects front-end geometry and CV axle angles. An alignment protects your tires, steering components, and CV joints.
Will a lift affect my Ram’s towing capability?
It can. Lifting raises the center of gravity and changes suspension geometry. You may need to adjust your weight distribution hitch and verify that your truck still meets its rated capacities. Always check your trailer weight and hitch rating before towing heavy loads.
What happens to my driver assistance features after a lift?
Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, and other radar/camera systems may need recalibration. A 2-inch lift can shift sensor angles enough to affect performance. Budget for recalibration after any suspension modification.
Final Thoughts: Lift Smart, Keep the Magic
The Active-Level™ Four Corner Air Suspension is one of the best features Ram offers. It makes the truck comfortable, capable, and adaptable. Lifting an air-ride Ram 1500 doesn’t mean you have to give that up—but it does mean doing it right.
Sensor links are cheap, but they compromise the system. Coil conversions are affordable, but they delete the magic. Air-ride-specific lift kits cost more, but they preserve everything that makes your truck special.
Here’s the bottom line: If you love your air-ride Ram, spend the money on a proper air suspension lift kit. Your truck will thank you. Your spine will thank you. And you’ll still have that factory air ride comfort that made you fall in love with the truck in the first place.
What’s your experience with lifting or modifying a Ram with air suspension? Share your build in the comments below.
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