The Pros and Cons of Buying a Lifted Pickup Truck
Sometimes a regular pickup truck just won’t do. Buying a lifted pickup truck is always an option, or buyers can buy a truck and install a lift down the line. There are body lift kits, suspension lift kits, and other options. If that sounds like too much work, brands like Jeep, Ford, and Toyota offer factory-lifted trucks.
The pros of buying a lifted pickup truck or installing a lift on a truck
Buyers usually don’t happen upon a lifted truck by accident. Most buyers set out to buy a lifted truck or intend to lift it after buying it. Kelley Blue Book says that installing a lift or suspension kit gives you a better view of things. The higher you sit in the vehicle, the more you can see out the windshield. You can add bigger tires that are more capable off-road. Buyers can also put bigger wheels and tires on for aesthetic purposes.
A body lift kit is one of the more simple options. Trucks like the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, and Ram 1500 use a body-on-frame design. You can only install a body lift kit on a vehicle like this, and it only adds about one to three inches. This is a cheaper option for trucks that want additional height without a lot of hassle.
Mostly, people seem to buy a lifted truck because it looks cool. Some can go through mud and off-roading, while others just sit higher on the road.
Consider the cons of buying a lifted pickup truck
After installing a lift kit on your pickup truck, bigger tires usually mean worse fuel economy. Depending on your set of tires, it could make your vehicle far less efficient. It also raises the center of gravity. Kelley Blue Book says, “This can render the vehicle less stable when cornering or during emergency-avoidance maneuvers.”
A suspension lift kit is complicated to install but can add a foot or more height. Most of the factory-installed lift kits will be suspension lifts. These can range anywhere from $1,000 to $20,000, depending on how intense the lift is. A suspension lift can also make other parts wear out faster.
You might not be able to tow as much if you have a lifted truck. To compensate for the added height, you need a different type of hitch. It can also lower the amount a truck can safely tow. Installing a warranty could void your warranty or impact your insurance. If you get into an accident, it could also affect your coverage.
You can also buy a factory-lifted version from Jeep or Toyota
These days, you can buy some trucks or SUVs with a lift installed from the factory. Automakers like Jeep, Ram, and Ford have added purpose-built off-roading trims to some of the most popular vehicles in the lineup. One advantage of buying a lifted pickup truck or SUV from the factory is that the automaker will cover it in the warranty. You won’t find any extreme lifts from the factory, but it still has benefits.
The 2022 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 pickup truck has an additional 1.9 inches on the standard Colorado 4×4 Crew Cab. Ford’s 2022 F-150 Raptor with 35-inch tires has 2.6 inches in extra height over the standard 2022 F-150 pickup truck. The 2022 Ranger Tremor has 0.8 inches over the standard truck, and the 2022 Ram TRX has 2.0 inches over the regular 1500.
Compared to the standard Grand Cherokee, the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk has 2.9 more inches of lift. The 2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro offers 1.5 inches of height in the front and 0.5 inches in the back over the base-level Tacoma.
