4.5-5" of real lift on a Power Wagon, the proper way: new coils, new long-stroke Fox or AEV shocks, replacement upper control arms (factory UCAs hit the coil at this lift), correction brackets, fully aligned. AEV DualSport is the reference kit. Carli Pintop is the boutique alternative. $6-9k done — this is the kit that lets you run 37s and wheel hard.
The Power Wagon's factory upper control arm is the binding constraint at lifts above 3". Lift the truck higher than ~3.5" and the factory UCA actually contacts the coil spring at full droop. You need:
1. **New coils** sized for the lift height + loaded weight
2. **Replacement upper control arms** with revised geometry that clears the coils and restores ball joint working angle
3. **Long-stroke shocks** (Fox 2.5 or AEV-spec) with reservoirs
4. **Correction brackets** for the lower control arm mounting (if not integrated into the UCAs)
5. **Sway bar drop brackets** (factory sway bar geometry goes wrong)
6. **Pitman + idler arm** considerations for steering geometry
7. **Brake line extensions** (factory lines too short)
**AEV DualSport RT 4.5"** ($6,200 kit) — the reference kit. Includes everything above. Engineered as a system. Mile-for-mile the most popular real lift on Power Wagons. AEV is owned by AAM (the axle maker) so their geometry is dialed-in for the AAM 9.25" front axle.
**Carli Pintop 4"** ($7,400 kit) — the boutique alternative. Slightly different damping philosophy (Fox 2.5 with custom valving), tunable for desert running. The choice if you want adjustable shock valving and don't mind the premium. Both AEV and Carli are excellent — there's no wrong answer between them.
**What this lift does that a 3" lift doesn't:**
**What it costs beyond the kit itself:**
**Total realistic build cost for "4.5" lift + 37s + re-gear":** $12-16k. Plan accordingly.
This is the lift for a Power Wagon you actually wheel hard or do extended overland trips with a loaded rig. For occasional weekend trail use on 33-35s, the 3" kit ([[pw-lift-mid-3in]]) is plenty.
| Part | Vendor | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| AEV DualSport RT 4.5" Lift Kit (coils, shocks, UCAs, brackets, hardware) | AEV | ~$6200 |
| Carli Pintop 4" Full Lift (alternative — coils + Fox 2.5 + UCAs) | Carli Suspension | ~$7400 |
| Front-end alignment after install + shakedown alignment at 500 miles | local shop | ~$300 |
Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.