General Information
Year
2010
Make
Dodge
Model
Grand Caravan SXT
Color
Dark Blue
Packages
3 inch suspension lift and larger tires
History
2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SUSPENSION LIFT & LARGER TIRES
(COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 2016, TOTAL HEIGHT INCREASE OF 4.35 INCHES)
• WHY RAISE A PERFECTLY GOOD MINI VAN:
I was tired of hitting parking blocks, and scraping the front end on the ground when the road took a sharp dip. In addition, I like to hike in the mountains of the Olympics and Cascades in Western Washington, etc. and have found some difficult to navigate dirt roads to the trailheads considering the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) designed ground clearance. I have a good dent in the engine oil pan because of this.
• WHO WILL DO THIS:
I have many electrical and mechanical abilities, but figuring out the necessary modifications to the suspension and ensuring the proper alignment and safe function of the suspension system as well as compressing of the springs is a bit above my level of comfort.
I contacted numerous 4x4 shops in the greater Puget Sound Region. I only found one, about 60 miles from my home that was willing to install someone else’s kit, and several suspension shops that were willing to do the same. No-one was willing to tackle the job without someone else’s kit.
Fortunately, I found Universal Car Lifts out of Minnesota on the internet http://universalcarlifts.com. I provided Zack several measurements and photographs, I also needed to jack the van up to get the lower inner dimension of the rear springs for him.
• THE INSTALLATION:
The installation was done by Meinike Car Care in Port Orchard, Washington in one day.
The kit worked perfectly for the rear, with keeping the OEM plastic insert.
The struts supplied by Universal Car lifts bolted on properly, but the upper support portion had to be cut back to clear the rim and tire. The installer stated that if he were to do another one of these, he would just weld an extension to the bottom of the existing strut mount and cut away the upper portion thus saving quite a bit of money.
I chose to keep the stock rims and increase the tire size to 225/75 R16, 2.7 inches larger than the stock tires giving about 1.35 inch increase in final height. This still gives room for snow cables without the cables hitting the body/wheel wells if properly installed.
• WHAT DID IT COST:
Suspension Kit: $649.00
Installation with alignment: $588.94
Larger All Terrain 4 ply tires: $593.11 (Tires needed replacing before winter anyway)
Speedometer adjustment at Dodge dealer$57.43
TOTAL COST: $1,888.49
I am currently working on installing a tow package to tow this van behind my Diesel Pusher motorhome. This 2010 van will replace my 1990 Plymouth Voyager that I currently tow.
Ed
(COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 2016, TOTAL HEIGHT INCREASE OF 4.35 INCHES)
• WHY RAISE A PERFECTLY GOOD MINI VAN:
I was tired of hitting parking blocks, and scraping the front end on the ground when the road took a sharp dip. In addition, I like to hike in the mountains of the Olympics and Cascades in Western Washington, etc. and have found some difficult to navigate dirt roads to the trailheads considering the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) designed ground clearance. I have a good dent in the engine oil pan because of this.
• WHO WILL DO THIS:
I have many electrical and mechanical abilities, but figuring out the necessary modifications to the suspension and ensuring the proper alignment and safe function of the suspension system as well as compressing of the springs is a bit above my level of comfort.
I contacted numerous 4x4 shops in the greater Puget Sound Region. I only found one, about 60 miles from my home that was willing to install someone else’s kit, and several suspension shops that were willing to do the same. No-one was willing to tackle the job without someone else’s kit.
Fortunately, I found Universal Car Lifts out of Minnesota on the internet http://universalcarlifts.com. I provided Zack several measurements and photographs, I also needed to jack the van up to get the lower inner dimension of the rear springs for him.
• THE INSTALLATION:
The installation was done by Meinike Car Care in Port Orchard, Washington in one day.
The kit worked perfectly for the rear, with keeping the OEM plastic insert.
The struts supplied by Universal Car lifts bolted on properly, but the upper support portion had to be cut back to clear the rim and tire. The installer stated that if he were to do another one of these, he would just weld an extension to the bottom of the existing strut mount and cut away the upper portion thus saving quite a bit of money.
I chose to keep the stock rims and increase the tire size to 225/75 R16, 2.7 inches larger than the stock tires giving about 1.35 inch increase in final height. This still gives room for snow cables without the cables hitting the body/wheel wells if properly installed.
• WHAT DID IT COST:
Suspension Kit: $649.00
Installation with alignment: $588.94
Larger All Terrain 4 ply tires: $593.11 (Tires needed replacing before winter anyway)
Speedometer adjustment at Dodge dealer$57.43
TOTAL COST: $1,888.49
I am currently working on installing a tow package to tow this van behind my Diesel Pusher motorhome. This 2010 van will replace my 1990 Plymouth Voyager that I currently tow.
Ed
2010 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT (Dark Blue)
Modifications
Drivetrain
Stock
Interior
Stock
Exterior
Stock
Audio
Stock
Suspension
2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SUSPENSION LIFT & LARGER TIRES
(COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 2016, TOTAL HEIGHT INCREASE OF 4.35 INCHES)
• WHY RAISE A PERFECTLY GOOD MINI VAN:
I was tired of hitting parking blocks, and scraping the front end on the ground when the road took a sharp dip. In addition, I like to hike in the mountains of the Olympics and Cascades in Western Washington, etc. and have found some difficult to navigate dirt roads to the trailheads considering the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) designed ground clearance. I have a good dent in the engine oil pan because of this.
• WHO WILL DO THIS:
I have many electrical and mechanical abilities, but figuring out the necessary modifications to the suspension and ensuring the proper alignment and safe function of the suspension system as well as compressing of the springs is a bit above my level of comfort.
I contacted numerous 4x4 shops in the greater Puget Sound Region. I only found one, about 60 miles from my home that was willing to install someone else’s kit, and several suspension shops that were willing to do the same. No-one was willing to tackle the job without someone else’s kit.
Fortunately, I found Universal Car Lifts out of Minnesota on the internet http://universalcarlifts.com. I provided Zack several measurements and photographs, I also needed to jack the van up to get the lower inner dimension of the rear springs for him.
• THE INSTALLATION:
The installation was done by Meinike Car Care in Port Orchard, Washington in one day.
The kit worked perfectly for the rear, with keeping the OEM plastic insert.
The struts supplied by Universal Car lifts bolted on properly, but the upper support portion had to be cut back to clear the rim and tire. The installer stated that if he were to do another one of these, he would just weld an extension to the bottom of the existing strut mount and cut away the upper portion thus saving quite a bit of money.
I chose to keep the stock rims and increase the tire size to 225/75 R16, 2.7 inches larger than the stock tires giving about 1.35 inch increase in final height. This still gives room for snow cables without the cables hitting the body/wheel wells if properly installed.
• WHAT DID IT COST:
Suspension Kit: $649.00
Installation with alignment: $588.94
Larger All Terrain 4 ply tires: $593.11 (Tires needed replacing before winter anyway)
Speedometer adjustment at Dodge dealer$57.43
TOTAL COST: $1,888.49
(COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 2016, TOTAL HEIGHT INCREASE OF 4.35 INCHES)
• WHY RAISE A PERFECTLY GOOD MINI VAN:
I was tired of hitting parking blocks, and scraping the front end on the ground when the road took a sharp dip. In addition, I like to hike in the mountains of the Olympics and Cascades in Western Washington, etc. and have found some difficult to navigate dirt roads to the trailheads considering the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) designed ground clearance. I have a good dent in the engine oil pan because of this.
• WHO WILL DO THIS:
I have many electrical and mechanical abilities, but figuring out the necessary modifications to the suspension and ensuring the proper alignment and safe function of the suspension system as well as compressing of the springs is a bit above my level of comfort.
I contacted numerous 4x4 shops in the greater Puget Sound Region. I only found one, about 60 miles from my home that was willing to install someone else’s kit, and several suspension shops that were willing to do the same. No-one was willing to tackle the job without someone else’s kit.
Fortunately, I found Universal Car Lifts out of Minnesota on the internet http://universalcarlifts.com. I provided Zack several measurements and photographs, I also needed to jack the van up to get the lower inner dimension of the rear springs for him.
• THE INSTALLATION:
The installation was done by Meinike Car Care in Port Orchard, Washington in one day.
The kit worked perfectly for the rear, with keeping the OEM plastic insert.
The struts supplied by Universal Car lifts bolted on properly, but the upper support portion had to be cut back to clear the rim and tire. The installer stated that if he were to do another one of these, he would just weld an extension to the bottom of the existing strut mount and cut away the upper portion thus saving quite a bit of money.
I chose to keep the stock rims and increase the tire size to 225/75 R16, 2.7 inches larger than the stock tires giving about 1.35 inch increase in final height. This still gives room for snow cables without the cables hitting the body/wheel wells if properly installed.
• WHAT DID IT COST:
Suspension Kit: $649.00
Installation with alignment: $588.94
Larger All Terrain 4 ply tires: $593.11 (Tires needed replacing before winter anyway)
Speedometer adjustment at Dodge dealer$57.43
TOTAL COST: $1,888.49
Wheel and Tire
I chose to keep the stock rims and increase the tire size to 225/75 R16, 2.7 inches larger than the stock tires giving about 1.35 inch increase in final height. This still gives room for snow cables without the cables hitting the body/wheel wells if properly installed.
