Construction jobsites require vehicles and equipment that can handle many conditions. A well-equipped truck is essential for a crew or business owner to operate effectively on muddy job sites, over rough terrain, hauling heavy materials and more. As an essential tool for your business, you need a pickup truck that can keep up with the workload. It serves many purposes – an office, a trusted tool and a place to carry additional equipment on board that will help you get tasks done quickly.
A sturdy and reliable pickup truck keeps business running smoothly and four-wheel drive is a given, because you never know where your next job may take you, or what the weather will bring. A pickup truck can navigate a lot of challenging areas, but they can’t manage everything. That’s why a lifted pickup truck should be considered to meet the demands of a challenging job site so you can traverse all types of terrain. Some benefits offered by a lifted truck equipped with larger tires include increased visibility, along with needed ground clearance, both of which reduce risk of damage to the undercarriage when driving over rugged terrain. In addition, larger tires will flex around obstacles like large rocks, providing more tire contact with the ground for better traction. There are a couple of ways to lift a truck that offer different on- and off-road capabilities.
Leveling Kits an Entry-level Option
By design, leveling kits offer a quick and easy solution to raise the front end of a truck for a level stance plus clearance for larger tires. In most cases, leveling kits are limited to 2-inches of additional front ride height for improved appearance with a leveled stance and clearance for slightly larger tires. However, leveling kits don’t typically offer any improvement to the vehicle’s performance and if they are not engineered properly, they will limit vehicle performance by overextending ball joints, causing clearance issues or overextending CV axle angles. This can lead to premature wear of front-end components. If you are interested in improving off-road capability while gaining clearance for larger tires, rather than mostly street use, be certain to explore more advanced, complete suspension lift kits.
Intermediate Lift Kits Offer More Support
An intermediate lift kit, which is designed specifically for pickup trucks with independent front suspensions, is a step up from a leveling kit. An intermediate lift kit can provide more lift height, 2-3.5-in., over a leveling kit, while improving vehicle performance with replacement upper control arms capable of more suspension travel and differential relocation brackets to ensure you will not overextend CV axles. Many of the kits are also offered with high-performance shock absorbers for improved damper control.
Lift kits should maintain the factory suspension mounting points and steering geometry while offering a more comprehensive lift package without the cost, complexity, or liability of taller lift kits. Any lift kit should be designed to work within the limitations of the factory suspension, steering, and driveline geometry while helping to increase the vehicle’s driving and handling capabilities with clearance for larger 33-35-in. tires, depending on the application.
If you want to go beyond an intermediate lift kit, some companies offer solutions at taller 4-in., 6-in. and, in some cases, 8-in. lift heights able to fit 35-38-in. tires, depending on the application. These will keep your pickup truck within legal limits—check your state’s regulations—and maintain comfort for a truck capable of handling on- and off-road driving on the job or for weekend adventures. These kits are designed for bolt-on installation, with only a few applications requiring minimal cutting and welding to install.
A lift kit increases the truck’s ground clearance and suspension travel while making room for larger wheels and tires that provide the ability to handle different terrains and weather conditions. A reputable, experienced shop that specializes in lifted trucks can help you determine the best lift kit and tire size for your pickup truck.
