7 Advantages of Owning a Lifted Truck

Although there’s a great deal of joy to be had in driving a Ford truck with its stock setup, like the rugged F-150 or the sporty Ranger, the default option isn’t right for everyone. If you’re someone who’s interested in lifted trucks for sale, or maybe you’re just dipping your proverbial toe in these waters and want to know more about what they offer, we’re here to help.

One of the most common questions we’re asked is what kind of benefits lifted trucks have over models with a stock setup. That’s a great question, though the answer is a bit complicated since it depends largely on the kind of lift you’re looking at—and yes, there’s more than one kind. So, let’s take a look at the different types of lift kits that can be installed on pickups and the advantages offered by lifted trucks…

Body Lift Kits

The simplest and most basic types of lift kits for trucks are called body lift kits because (as you might guess) they lift the body of the truck. Trucks are built with a design called “body-on-frame,” which is just what it sounds like: there’s the frame or chassis of the truck, and the body is separate and attached to it. A body lift adds spacers to where the body is originally mounted onto the frame, raising it up higher. It doesn’t directly affect the suspension of the pickup, which is either a pro or a con, depending on what you want.

#1. Allows for Bigger Wheels & Tires

Arguably, the biggest advantage of this kind of lifted truck, which is why we’re starting with it, is that the increased body lift creates a larger wheel well for you to take advantage of. This means you can install larger wheels and tires onto a truck with a body lift. (This is the major reason most people choose this type of lift.) There’s not much of a limit to this beyond rationality, so you’re free to put some very large tires onto a truck with a body lift. This doesn’t increase ground clearance by all that much, so it’s not ideal for going off-road, but it gives a pickup a bolder, more aggressive overall look.

#2. Cost Effective and Easy to Install

Since this type of lift kit is installed where the body is mounted onto the frame, rather than by making any sort of changes to the suspension, it’s relatively inexpensive. These types of alterations always involve aftermarket equipment and kits, so there’s still some added cost, but body kits are some of the least expensive. They’re also easy to install, too, though we still suggest having a professional like the folks at our certified service center handle it for you. This means a used Ford truck with this kind of body lift won’t cost too much more, and adding one to a truck you have or are looking to buy won’t add a ton to the price.

#3. Doesn’t Alter Performance or Handling

As we’ve said, this kind of lift doesn’t affect the suspension on the truck, which means its impact on overall performance and handling while you drive is pretty minimal. Since the body is lifted, there’s still some impact on how the truck drives, but if you have a pickup and then get it lifted, it won’t feel too different afterward. It might take a few hours or a day to get a feel for it, but you won’t ever feel out of control or like you’re suddenly driving a completely different truck.

Suspension Lift Kits

As its name suggests, a suspension lift kit is installed in the vehicle’s suspension, often replacing the stock coil springs, torsion bar, coil spring spacers, and more. This can just about completely replace the suspension in some instances or only parts of it, depending on the lift kit and how much of an increase in height someone is after. Such an adjustment can greatly impact how a truck handles, and it needs to be installed correctly or it can cause serious problems. A trained professional should always handle the installation of a suspension lift, and you should be ready for it to drive quite differently from the same truck with its stock suspension.

#4. Higher Ground Clearance Possible

We’d say the biggest advantage of a suspension lift is that it directly affects the suspension, thereby adjusting how the frame/chassis of a truck rides. This change results in a direct increase in ground clearance, which is what most people are after when choosing a suspension lift. Even if you’re just driving around town in a Ford Ranger with a lifted suspension, you’ll more easily clear speed bumps, low driveways, and more.

#5. Improved Off-Road Capability

Beyond a numerical increase in ground clearance, this type of lifted truck is also a superior choice for going off-road as a result. The F-150 Tremor is already great for going off-road, but it can become even better with a suspension lift installed. Increased ground clearance often results in improved angles of approach, departure, and breakover, with boosted rock crawling capabilities and much more. At the moment, no F-150 or Ranger comes with a factory lift, so installing a suspension lift into one of these trucks creates an off-road monster.

#6. Sturdy Build, Looks Clean

As long as the installation of a suspension lift is handled by a professional who knows how to do it properly, this is also a great choice for the solid handling and performance it offers. You should expect a lifted truck like this to feel different when you’re driving it, but it will be consistent and feel sturdy since it’s a mechanical alteration. This type of lifted truck also looks terrific since it’s a suspension replacement; when body lift kits are installed, they can create gapping where the body is raised up that needs to be filled.

Leveling Kits

Finally, we should mention there’s a third option that’s similar to these types of lifts, but it provides a subtler enhancement. Most trucks are designed with the front end slightly lower than the rear end so that if weight is loaded into the truck bed and the rear shifts lower, it evens out. If you don’t tend to haul 1,000 lbs of lumber in the back of your F-150, however, that difference in angle might annoy you. A leveling kit raises the front end of a truck up to match the rear, creating a more even overall appearance without greatly impacting anything else.

#7. Improved Looks and Handling

The biggest advantage of this is pretty evident just from understanding what it does: it creates a clean, even look for your truck. A leveled truck looks great and is an ideal choice if you want a daily driver that you’re not interested in using for towing massive weight. This type of kit doesn’t replace the suspension at all or lift up the body, so you don’t have to worry about it affecting how your truck handles or any gapping. For dramatic lift, this isn’t the right choice—but if you want something that subtly looks slick, then a pickup with a leveling kit installed could be just what you’re looking for.

Is a Lifted Truck Right for You?

As you can see, the answer to that question comes down to what you’re looking for in your next truck and the kind of driving you like to do. For most people, a pickup with stock features is a great choice that offers more than enough capability and performance for daily use. If you want to put larger wheels and tires onto a truck than what’s possible with factory features, then a body-lifted truck is the way to go.

On the other hand, if you’re trying to get the ultimate beast to take out onto the trail, then something like the F-150 Tremor or Raptor with a suspension lift can take you where few other trucks dare to tread. No matter what you’re looking for in a truck, there’s one out there that perfectly meets your needs—and here at Jim Ellis Ford, we’re ready to help you find it.