Many pickup truck owners in Florida like to modify and customize their vehicle in varied ways and there are countless options for doing so. Drivers can incorporate step bars or bull bars, tonneau covers, a heavy-duty hitch, and winches, with the most drastic enhancement being the lift kit.

While many accessories offer fundamental cosmetic transformations, add a layer of convenience, or help with overall utility, the lift kit elevates the whole vehicle to as great as “nine inches.”

This increase in height offers a few advantages, from a better ride view and an increase in ground clearance favored by truck enthusiasts. Find out what to know about driving a lifted truck at https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1116729_6-things-to-know-about-driving-a-lifted-pickup-truck.

Lift Kit Types

The two primary types of lift kits include body and suspension lift kits. When Florida motorists speak about these kits, often they refer to the suspension lifts meant to elevate the suspension and every component of the truck up to as great as nine inches.

The body lift kit isn’t capable of enhancing ground clearance. These lift the truck body from the frame with a height of as great as five inches. There is some benefit in ride height including the “behind-the-wheel visibility.” Still, this option offers a minimally functional enhancement compared to the suspension lift.

With the suspension lift and its ground clearance, avoiding road obstacles on and off-road is advantageous. The body lift offers a “modest” improvement in ground clearance. Still, it’s indicated the reason is the ability to carry a bigger off-road tire more so than a lift-kit capacity.

The reason motorists opt for the body lift is the affordability since the suspension lift is considerably more costly with the highest price point at roughly $2000 where the body lift will top out at approximately $750 before installation.

While a DIY installation is possible with the body lift, it’s much more challenging with the specialized tools required with suspension lifts. You could see as great as $2500 additional charges for installing the suspension lift.

What Are the Benefits of Lift Kits

There are a few advantages to installing a lift kit, with only minor downsides. The primary concern is how the center of gravity might be altered when the lift kit is installed. The effects of a body lift won’t be as drastic since it will only elevate the weight by roughly 20 percent of the truck’s total weight.

With a suspension lift, the elevation can be increased by as much as 90 percent of the truck’s total weight. The vehicle’s stability is affected by the center of gravity, body roll. A high center of gravity leads to a “less responsive ride.”

Lifting a vehicle will void any warranties and can reduce fuel economy but this depends on the kit’s weight and the upgraded tire size if applicable. Go here for advantages and downsides of buying a lifted truck and then follow for further benefits of truck lifts.

The view

The view is unmatched from the driver’s angle when lifting a truck. The body lift will increase this by up to as great as five inches with the suspension going as high as nine inches with an increase in height.

You’ll have the top seat as far as seeing possible obstacles, hazards, traffic blocks, and enhancing confidence and safety for you as the driver. Other drivers will have an easier time seeing you to avoid potential crashes.

The ground clearance

A primary reason for drivers to install the lift kits or buy a lifted truck in Florida, notably the suspension lifts, is to gain added ground clearance to avoid obstacles and hazards. A driver will be able to avoid most impediments with off-road driving. These usually include a suspension kit that allows minimal hassle with off-road and easy driving in the “backcountry.”

Towing

When a truck needs to be towed, lifting the vehicle isn’t necessarily helpful with this process but it does prevent the car from bottoming out when it’s being hauled.

The truck could require a “drop hitch” to allow for the vehicle’s height when towing but there will still be the capacity to haul as much as when not lifted.

Final Thought

When lifting a truck, considering the ground clearance and enhanced ride height, the driver must consider changing out stock tires for upsized sets with off-road capabilities.

The bigger all-terrain variants are essential for off-road excursions. These give motorists improved control and traction on any terrain with greater, aggressive grooving compared to the stock options. That will allow ideal handling in conditions of ice, snow, or other hazardous road situations.

Lift kits are the ideal method for adding height to a truck to your specifications whether you want to have better undercarriage access, improved driver view, or express your confidence as an oversized vehicle on the road.

Body and suspension kits are the two primary lifts available for drivers with suspension kits being expensive and extensive in time and effort with installation. Still each offers comparable advantages with the objective of improving a pickup’s off-road performance.