Body Lift vs. Suspension Lift: Which Is Best for Your Ride?
If you’re looking to lift your truck and make room for larger off-road tires, you generally have two different options to consider: installing a body lift kit or a suspension lift kit. Some drivers know they want to take their truck off-road, but they may not know the differences between these two kits. With most of the aftermarket parts industry going online, you may not have a chance to ask questions about these kits in person.
If you want to make the most of your lifted truck, take a few moments to learn about how these two different kits will affect the overall ride, so you can make the right choice for your truck.
The Case for Body Lifts
Body lifts raise the body of the vehicle away from the frame. This gives you room for larger tires, but you won’t have as much ground clearance as you would with a suspension lift kit, so you may have a harder time driving over rocks, trees, and other debris you might find in the wilderness. Body lift kits are limited to just two to five inches, so you won’t be able to raise your truck as high as you would with a suspension lift kit, but a few inches may be enough if you’re looking to keep things relatively simple.
If you’re looking to quickly raise the body of your truck or Jeep on a very limited budget, a body lift kit will get the job done.
The Case for Suspension Lifts
If you’re truly passionate about exploring the outdoors, a suspension lift kit is the way to go. Suspension lift kits extend the suspension of the vehicle, raising every part of the truck along the way. You’ll have room for larger off-road tires and more ground clearance, so you can traverse all kinds of terrain without damaging the underbelly of your vehicle.
Suspension lift kits also give you the freedom to raise your vehicle a few extra inches. While body lift kits usually tap out around five inches, suspension lift kits can go all the way up to nine or 12 inches, so you can truly transform the look and feel of your vehicle.
However, suspension lift kits cost more than body lift kits. They also require some additional experience under the hood if you plan on installing the kit yourself. You don’t need to be a world-class mechanic to do the job yourself. Installing the kit should only take a few hours or the better part of a day. They come with clear instructions that detail every step of the process. If you’re not comfortable making these adjustments yourself, you can always bring the kit to your local mechanic.
Raising the suspension of your vehicle by more than a couple of inches will change the way it handles on the road and off. The further you raise the suspension, the more the ride of your truck can change. Luckily, these kits come with a range of suspension parts to keep you comfortable behind the wheel. While you’ll need to adjust your driving habits, anyone can learn to drive a lifted truck with a little bit of practice. If you raise your suspension, go slow and take your time on the trail.
Making the Right Choice for Your Ride
Choosing between suspension lift kits and body lift kits all depends on what you’re looking to accomplish with your vehicle. If you’re just looking to sit up a little higher behind the wheel, body lift kits may be the best choice for you. But if you’re looking to take the great outdoors by storm and add some truly massive tires to your truck, go with suspension lift kits instead.
Choose a kit based on the specific make and model of your vehicle. When choosing the size of a lift kit, you want to choose according to the size of the tire and wheel combination you are trying to achieve on the vehicle. You can always consult a professional on a lift kit that is right for your vehicle.
Use this guide to make the right decision for your vehicle. With the right kit in hand, you’ll be able to explore the outdoors like never before. Contact us to learn more about the differences between body lift kits and suspension lift kits.