How to Choose the Right Lift Kit for Your Truck (Ford, Chevy, Ram, Jeep)
How to Choose the Right Lift Kit for Your Truck (Ford, Chevy, Ram, Jeep)
The journey to make your truck stand tall is like the path of a young brave. It takes wisdom to choose the right way. Many truck owners seek to lift their vehicles, but not all know which path to follow.
When choosing a lift kit, you must decide between body lifts and suspension lifts. Body lifts raise just the body, while suspension lifts raise the whole truck including the frame. This choice shapes how your truck will perform on trails and roads for many moons to come.
Like our ancestors who chose their horses with care, you must select a lift kit that matches your needs. Will you roam rough trails or travel smooth roads? The answer guides your choice, just as the stars guided our people across the plains.
Body Lift vs. Suspension Lift: Two Paths to Choose
The Body Lift Path
A body lift is like raising your shelter without changing the ground beneath. It:
Lifts just the body of your truck
Uses blocks or spacers
Costs less wampum ($200-$800)
Gives 1-3 inches of height
Does not change how your truck drives
Lets you fit slightly bigger tires
Body lifts do not help your truck cross rough land. They just make it look taller and let you fit bigger tires without rubbing.
The Suspension Lift Path
A suspension lift is like raising both your shelter and the ground it sits on. It:
Lifts the whole truck, body and frame
Changes springs, shocks, and many parts
Costs more wampum ($1,000-$5,000)
Gives 2-12 inches of height
Changes how your truck drives
Lets you fit much bigger tires
Helps you cross rough land better
Suspension lifts give your truck more ground clearance. This helps you cross rocks, logs, and streams without harm.
Choosing the Right Lift for Your Tribe (Ford, Chevy, Ram, Jeep)
Ford F-150 and Super Duty
The mighty Ford trucks do well with both lift types. For the F-150, a 2-inch leveling kit works well for daily trails. For Super Duty trucks that carry heavy loads, choose lifts made for their stronger bones.
Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra
These brothers from the same tribe need special care. Their IFS (Independent Front Suspension) needs good quality lifts. For daily drivers, a 2-4 inch lift keeps the ride smooth. For warriors who go off-road, 6-inch lifts with good shocks work best.
Ram 1500 and Heavy Duty
The Ram's coil spring rear suspension makes it ride smooth like a calm river. For these trucks, a 2-inch leveling kit works for daily use. If you seek more height, look for lifts that work with the Ram's special rear coils.
Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator
These are the mountain goats of the truck world. They climb best with 2.5-3.5 inch suspension lifts. For serious rock crawling, a 4-inch lift with good flex works best. Jeeps have many lift options because they love to climb.
Lift Kits for Different Journeys
For Daily Road Travel
If you mostly travel smooth roads, choose:
A small 1-2 inch leveling kit
A body lift if you just want looks
Kits that keep your truck's handling like it was
Lifts that don't hurt gas mileage too much
For Weekend Trail Rides
If you seek adventure on weekends, choose:
A 2-4 inch suspension lift
Better shocks for bumpy trails
Kits that give more ground clearance
Lifts that let you fit 33-35 inch tires
For Serious Off-Road Warriors
If you seek to cross the hardest lands, choose:
A 4-6 inch suspension lift or more
Heavy-duty control arms and track bars
The best shocks you can find
Lifts that let you fit 35-37 inch tires or larger
Things to Think About Before Lifting
Like a wise elder thinks before speaking, you must think about these things:
Your truck might be harder to climb into
It might use more gas
The ride might be rougher
It might be harder to steer
You will need to spend more wampum on bigger tires
It might not fit in some parking places
How to Choose a Good Lift Kit
A good lift kit should:
Be made by a trusted maker
Have all parts needed for your truck
Include or tell you about new shocks
Have clear instructions
Have good reviews from other warriors
Come with help if you have questions
The Final Word
Choosing the right lift kit is like choosing the right path through the mountains. The wrong choice leads to trouble. The right choice leads to joy and many great journeys.
For those who live near Webster, TX, there is a trusted guide. Benchmark Customs knows the ways of Ford, Chevy, Ram, and Jeep trucks. They can help you choose the right lift for your needs.
Their wisdom includes:
Truck Customization
Lift Kits
Truck Accessories
Wheels and Tires
Suspension
Grille Guards
Bedliners
Custom Jeep builds
Book a Free Lift Kit Consultation – Let's Find the Best Option for Your Truck!
Seek the wisdom of Benchmark Customs before you choose your path. Like the council of elders, they will guide you to the right choice for your truck and your journeys.