When it comes to making your truck or Jeep look more aggressive and capable, few modifications are as popular as a Lift Kit. However, before you invest in one, it’s important to understand the ramifications and benefits of raising your ride height.

Body Lift Kit uses spacers to raise the spring and strut. They are the cheapest way to increase your vehicle’s ride height.

Whether you are an off-road enthusiast or simply looking for a more aggressive appearance, a Lift Kit is a popular modification that can enhance your driving experience. However, like any modification, weighing the pros and cons before making a final decision is important.

One of the biggest advantages of a Lift Kit is increased ground clearance. This allows you to drive over rocks, logs, deep ruts and other obstacles without damaging your vehicle’s undercarriage. Additionally, it provides more space for larger tires, which can improve traction in challenging terrains.

There are two main types of Lift Kits available: a Body Kit and a Suspension Lift Kit. A Body Kit is a more straightforward and less expensive option that involves physically removing the vehicle’s body from its frame and installing spacers or blocks between them. Then, the body is reattached to the frame using longer bolts, which effectively raises the ride height of the car without changing the suspension or other mechanical parts.

Suspension Lift Kits are more comprehensive and may involve the replacement of shock absorbers, control arms, and other suspension components. While they are more expensive, they also offer a wider range of benefits, including improved ground clearance and the ability to run larger tires.

It’s important to note that a lift kit will negatively impact your fuel economy in two ways: it will add weight, which will increase the total mass of your vehicle, and it will reduce air flow around the vehicle by raising its profile. As a result, your engine will have to work harder to move the same amount of mass through the system, which can lead to reduced acceleration, braking, and maneuverability.

It’s also worth mentioning that some insurance companies may raise your premium or even refuse to cover you if your vehicle is modified with a lift kit. This is because the higher ride height can affect the way a car handles, which could cause a collision or other damage. For this reason, it’s important to consult with an insurance agent before modifying your vehicle with a lift kit.

Better Visibility

Whether you want your truck or SUV to look more aggressive and unique, or you’re looking for better performance capabilities, adding a lift kit is a great way to customize your vehicle. However, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of these kits before making a decision.

The most obvious benefit of a lift kit is its ability to provide more ground clearance for your vehicle, allowing it to drive over bigger obstacles and rough terrain. This is especially helpful if you regularly drive off-road and need to navigate through tough conditions such as deep snow or mud.

In addition, lifting your truck or SUV can also improve visibility by giving you a higher vantage point over other vehicles on the road. This can help you avoid collisions and give you a greater field of vision when driving on tough off-road trails.

Some lift kits, such as leveling kits, only raise the front of the vehicle, while others can offer a more comprehensive solution with suspension and other upgrades. The latter typically require more advanced components such as coil spring/strut spacers, shocks, and redesigned control arms. They can also be more expensive than body lift kits.

While lifting your vehicle can offer more performance capabilities, it can also negatively impact fuel economy by increasing aerodynamic drag. This can be particularly noticeable at high speeds, where your vehicle will be spending most of its time.

If you’re planning on using your lifted truck or SUV for off-road adventures, a more extensive suspension lift may be the best option for you. These kits often include dozens of parts such as trailing arms, replacement control arms, custom four-link systems, and redesigned axles. They can be more expensive than body lift kits, but they can also offer much better off-road capability and improved handling.

A suspension lift is the most cost-effective option if you’re planning on driving your lifted vehicle off-road. These kits can lift your vehicle from two to 12 inches and allow you to install larger tires for increased traction in rough terrain.

Off-Road Capabilities

Lift kits are commonly used by off-road enthusiasts to increase their vehicle’s capabilities. They enable steeper approach, departure, and breakover angles and provide more ground clearance to allow larger tires and wheels. This results in improved off-road performance, and allows the driver to drive through rivers or climb up steep hills and sand dunes with greater ease.

Another advantage of a Lift Kit is that it protects the chassis from damage caused by driving over rocks or logs. A lower vehicle is more susceptible to these kinds of accidents, but with a lift kit, the chassis remains protected from harm.

A lifted vehicle also offers a higher point of view for the driver. This makes it easier to see other vehicles, and can help drivers anticipate traffic patterns faster than when they are driving a regular truck.

Depending on the type of lift kit, some may come with additional components that improve the vehicle’s off-road capabilities. These can include skid plates, cross-base pieces, trailing links, and redesigned control arms to provide increased stability. These extras can also add weight to the vehicle, which will affect its handling and fuel economy.

While a lift kit can significantly improve the off-road capability of a truck or SUV, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of this modification before making a decision. Some lift kits may require extensive installation, which can be difficult for a DIY owner, and they can often cause unforeseen issues down the road. Additionally, lifting a vehicle can sometimes cause the manufacturer’s warranty to be voided.

A leveling kit, which raises the ride height without changing the suspension geometry, is an affordable and easy option for those looking to improve their off-road capabilities. However, it is important to note that this type of lift will increase the amount of stress on your engine and transmission and can negatively impact your fuel mileage. A performance lift kit is a more expensive alternative that can offer better off-road capabilities, but it can also affect your vehicle’s handling and safety when driven on paved roads.

Durability

A Lift Kit is a good investment for your vehicle that provides increased ground clearance, better visibility, and the ability to use larger tires. The kit includes a pair of front and rear spacers that are molded from high-grade polyurethane and have a basic but tough design to ensure they last for a long time without getting compressed. They fit easily into the standard strut hat and provide an additional 2.5 inches of ride height.

A lift kit will put additional strain on the suspension components of your car, and over time this can lead to weakened and broken parts. This can also cause the suspension to become misaligned and create uneven tire wear. It is important to have your suspension checked regularly to ensure that it is performing properly and that no additional modifications or parts are required.

Another consideration to make when choosing a Lift Kit is that depending on the amount of height it adds to your truck, you may run into trouble parking in some areas or even be unable to park your vehicle in certain garages or carports. This can be inconvenient, especially if you plan on using your vehicle in urban environments or off-road.

When shopping for a lift kit, there are several factors to consider including cost, material quality, warranty coverage, customer reviews, and installation instructions/difficulty. It is important to select a kit that is compatible with your vehicle and that is available from a reputable manufacturer.

It is recommended that you seek professional help to install a lift kit because the process can be complex and requires modification to your vehicle’s mechanics. This can void your car’s warranty and potentially result in costly repairs down the road. A lifted vehicle also has a higher center of gravity, so driving it can be more difficult and requires greater caution when turning. You may also lose fuel efficiency due to the additional drag from the larger/taller tires and raised body of the vehicle. This is because more power is required to turn the wheels when the vehicle is elevated, and a larger/taller tire has a greater surface area than a smaller one.