What To Consider Before Installing A Lift Kit
You might think that a lift kit would look awesome on your truck, but before you decide to modify your truck, you need to decide what you hope to get from your lift kit. There are a few reasons to buy a lift kit, and choosing the right lift kit depends on what you hope to gain.
Style
One reason why people install a lift kit is that they want their truck to look tough. If this is the case for you, then you should probably think twice. A lift kit can affect all sorts of components in your truck. You might find, for example, that you need different shocks, a longer driveshaft, larger tires, etc. Before you sink a ton of money into making your truck look cool, you need to think long and hard about whether it is truly worth it. In the end, you might end up with a truck that does not drive very well, and is, thus, more trouble than it is worth.
Tire Fitment
A second reason to install a lift kit is because you want to put larger tires on your truck, but they are rubbing on your wheel wells. If this is the case with your truck, then you can probably get the tire clearance you need with a lift kit that provides only a couple of inches of lift. When you use a small lift kit, you limit the number of modifications you have to make. You should know, however, that the lift kit will affect the way your vehicle handles, and the larger tires may make your speedometer and odometer readings inaccurate in that they are usually calibrated for a particular size of tire.
Clearance
The last reason to install a lift kit on your truck is to increase your truck's clearance. If you do a lot of off-roading, then you don't want to worry about your vehicle scraping across road obstacles. The size of your lift kit will depend on how extreme your off-road adventures tend to be. You may render your truck un-driveable on pavement, so be prepared to buy a trailer to transport your off-road baby to the trail.
Installing a lift kit on your truck should take what once was nothing more than an average truck and turn it into a super capable off-roading machine. Just make sure you consult with a qualified mechanic to choose and install your lift kit to make sure you get exactly what you want out of your lifted truck. Check out a company like Cal-Performance & Truck Accessories for more information.