Lifted Truck Buyers Guide

Lifted Truck Buyers Guide

Lifted Trucks for Sale

With every passing year, the popularity of lifted trucks continues to rise. For a wide variety of reasons, all of which we’ll cover here in this guide, drivers are turning more and more to custom pickup trucks. Lift kits have been around for decades, but only in recent years has it become incredibly common to see pickups with a suspension lift installed driving around on the roads and highways just about everywhere. Here at Ultimate Rides, we’ve been passionate about these custom vehicles for well over a decade, and are all about sharing that love with our customers. If you have been considering a lifted truck as your next vehicle, you’ve certainly come to the right place. However, it’s understandable if you’re not fully committed yet. It’s important to learn as much as you can about owning, driving, and maintaining a lifted truck before you make a purchase. After all, buying a vehicle is a major commitment, and it’s something you want to be sure about before you dive in head-first.

Look over our guide, where we attempt to answer all your questions about lifted trucks. Afterward, if you still need to learn more, please go ahead and get in touch with our office over the phone. We’ll tell you about our affordable vehicle delivery, the ability to customize any ride in our inventory, and our hardworking team of technicians who get your vehicles ready.

Is It Better to Buy a Truck Already Lifted?

Buying a truck already lifted is going to be better than lifting a truck yourself. There are a number of reasons why this is the case. First and foremost, most drivers don’t have the expertise needed to successfully upgrade a truck’s suspension system. It requires lots of equipment, and even beyond that, you need to know exactly what you’re doing with confidence. Some drivers end up trying to install this upgrade on their own, and they end up botching the job or seriously compromising their own safety on the road. While there are some basic lift kits out there that are easier to install without being an expert, they aren’t going to provide the same level of quality as a full suspension lift system. Buying your lifted truck from a dealership might cost you a little more, but you’ll have a guarantee of quality that you just won’t find if you attempt to install the kit yourself at home. Shop our lifted trucks here at Ultimate Rides.

If you’re the type of person who values being able to go anywhere in your truck, a suspension lift could be just what you need. With it, you’ll be able to take your pickup into the wild, with countless adventures waiting for you up ahead.

How Much Would a Lifted Truck Cost?

The cost of lifting a truck can range anywhere from $100 for a cheaper kit to as much as $5,000 for a high-performance suspension lift. That’s quite a vast range, giving drivers plenty of choices when it comes to upgrading their trucks. Unless you’re just looking to dip your toes into the lifestyle, we always recommend opting for a suspension lift. While it is true that they are more expensive, the level of performance found in cheaper kits is usually sub-par. A good suspension setup will cost you, but you won’t have to worry about a drop in performance. Some drivers might want to install their own lift kit at home, but as we pointed out above, this is usually not the greatest idea, and it could end up costing you even more down the line in repairs. Your best bet is to find a dealership like Ultimate Rides, where we offer high-quality lifted trucks ready for you to start driving right away.

Do Lift Kits Hurt Your Truck?

Installing a lift kit will not hurt your truck, just as long as you’re fully confident the installation process is done correctly. It is true that an improperly installed lift setup can cause a number of issues, from compromising the truck’s suspension system to ruining your tires and much more. A shoddily-installed lift kit can even put the safety of you and your passengers at risk. Additionally, cheap lift kits can often alter your handling and can reduce performance in some situations. However, a high-quality lift kit that is installed correctly will not hurt your truck. That’s why it is so important to choose the right lift kit, and lift kit installer, carefully. As long as you go with a trusted source, you’ll be able to continue driving with confidence that your vehicle is in great shape.

Is A Lifted Truck Practical?

It can absolutely be practical to drive a lifted truck on a daily basis. There are even a number of ways in which getting behind the wheel of one of these custom vehicles can improve your experience. Lifted trucks can help you see the road around you better, increase your towing capabilities, and provide a boost in confidence that makes driving a joy once again. If you plan on using your lifted truck as a daily driver, you’ll want to choose your tires carefully to provide the best experience. You will also want to think about where you’ll be doing most of your driving – on the road and highway, or on the trail. The answer will influence which tires are best for you. There are countless drivers out there who get behind the wheel of their lifted trucks each and every day. If you’d like to join in, all you need to do is investigate the right setup, and then make it happen.

Lifted Truck Buyers Guide
long with a suspension lift, the right set of tires are important to ensuring your vehicle is properly prepared for off-road action. Mud tires are best for those who plan to spend most of their time in the truck off-road, while all-terrain tires are probably preferable for anyone who will be splitting their time between pavement and trail.

Owning a Lifted Truck

Driving a lifted truck can be quite different than getting behind the wheel of a standard vehicle. While you’ll obviously find quite a few similarities, there are many things you should know before you take a lifted vehicle out on the road or on a trail. The simple process of getting in and out of the truck can become more difficult, often requiring the use of running boards to make things easier. Additionally, with a higher center of gravity, it’s important to exercise care when making turns, especially sharp ones. Move too fast, and you’ll find out that it’s easier to tip a vehicle when it’s raised higher off the ground. However, you don’t have to worry too much about your safety in a lifted truck. As long as you stick to the rules of the road and, as always, take care while behind the wheel, we’re confident you’ll find yourself even safer than in a standard vehicle. Before you make a final decision on buying a lifted truck, do plenty of research on what it can be like, from learning about the added costs associated with these vehicles, to the daily life changes that you can expect to find. We cover a whole lot of ground in this guide, but there’s nothing that can match the experience of talking to an expert, so feel free to reach out if you’re interested in learning more.

Are Lifted Trucks Worse on Gas?

It’s true that lifted trucks will have decreased fuel economy. The question is whether or not you find the added costs of gas worth everything you have to gain. With the heavier weight of lifted trucks, it will require more power to move forward, therefore eating up additional fuel. On top of that, there is greater wind resistance, reducing the aerodynamics of the vehicle. While you will likely see a higher total at the pump in these vehicles, the vast majority of lifted truck drivers find the difference worth it. Additionally, there are ways to optimize your fuel economy, such as choosing the right tires for your truck. Be sure to consult with experts to figure out how you can save the most money when it comes to fuel.

What Problems Do Lifted Trucks Have?

The biggest problem drivers find with lifted trucks is fuel mileage. Beyond that, a high-quality setup and reliable installation can reduce or even eliminate many of the issues people find with these vehicles. Some drivers have discovered that their handling and braking have changed for the worse after lift kit installation, but this often depends on the quality of the kit. One problem that some experience behind the wheel is lackluster lighting, but this is more of an issue with your headlights than your lift kit. You can have your headlights adjusted, ensuring that they point down towards the road instead of out ahead of you. With the right kit and setup, the vast majority of these problems can be avoided.

Do Lifted Trucks Cost More to Insure?

Lifted trucks cost more to insure, but probably not for the reasons you think. It’s simply because adding upgrades to a vehicle is going to increase its cost, therefore increasing how much it takes to keep it insured. There are some people out there who believe that these vehicles have more potential for danger, and that’s why the insurance costs more, but that’s simply not the case. One problem you may find, however, is that some auto insurers won’t cover modified trucks. If this is the case for your current insurer, you’ll have to look around and find a company that will have a plan for you. We encourage you to get in touch with our staff at Ultimate Rides, who should be able to point you in the right direction.

Lifted Truck Buyer Guide
When you start driving a lifted truck, the world opens up to you. Whether you own wide-open property and need to navigate your acreage, or you’re the kind of person who goes out on weekend adventures, the right pickup truck can completely change your life.

Are Lifted Trucks Safer in Accidents?

Lifted trucks aren’t necessarily safer in the event of an accident. However, they aren’t the death traps that some out there believe they are. It’s true that it is easier to flip over a lifted truck due to the raised center of gravity. That’s why it’s important to take great care when behind the wheel, especially while making turns. Beyond that, however, you’ll find that these protect you the same as a standard pickup truck, which is usually quite strong. Like with any vehicle, your safety comes down to how you drive it, and that means staying proactive and aware of everyone on the road around you. Maintain a safe speed, keep your eyes open, and be ready to come to a stop if you see something dangerous.

How Long Does a Lifted Truck Last?

Like just about any vehicle, the amount of time a lifted truck lasts depends on how you take care of it. In general terms, you can expect your lifted truck’s engine to last between 10,000 and 20,000 hours. However, that number could be less without proper maintenance, or even more if you take great care of the vehicle. That’s why it’s important to stay on top of maintenance, and that means more than just oil changes. Take your truck in for tire rotations, to have the fluids checked, and to make sure all your bolts are tight and secure. Once you find a team of mechanics you can fully trust, they’ll be able to help you stay on top of these procedures so your lifted truck can have a long and healthy lifespan.

Do Lifted Trucks Do Good in Snow?

Lifted trucks are good in the snow for a number of reasons. They feature increased ground clearance, letting you drive over deeper snow without issue. Additionally, they have the ability to install larger tires, including those that are specifically designed to tackle heavy snow conditions. Your performance in the snow is going to depend a lot on the tires you choose, so make sure you are prepared when winter arrives. If you’re anticipating having to drive through very heavy snow, chains are always a good idea. While a lifted truck isn’t automatically going to help you tackle these situations, it’ll be easier to get prepped compared to your standard pickup truck.

Lifted Truck Buyers Guide
With the added benefit of pickup bed storage, a lifted truck can help you get equipment out to the wild, including bikes, ATVs, work tools, and so much more. Just make sure to properly protect your bed from damage, or you’ll lower the value of the vehicle over time.

Why Do People Drive Lifted Trucks?

People primarily drive lifted trucks for increased performance capabilities off-road, as well as the awesome new look they can provide a vehicle. Raising the height of a truck with a suspension lift will increase ground clearance, making it easier to get around off-road. Additionally, you’ll have the ability to put larger tires on, improving your towing capabilities, and opening up your options when it comes to mud and all-terrain tires. Many drivers also like the higher vantage point these trucks provide, letting you see the area around you with a new kind of clarity. Each individual has their own reasons for getting behind the wheel of a lifted truck, and they range from performance-based to simply aesthetic. Try it out yourself and decide what you love about this new style of transportation.

Why Not to Buy a Lifted Truck

There are some reasons why lifted trucks aren’t for everyone. With an improper installation or an unreliable kit, you can do some pretty serious damage to your vehicle. That includes destroying the frame, suspension system, and even the transmission. If this is something you’re worried about, it could be a reason to decide not to start driving a custom lifted vehicle. However, by taking care of your truck, and ensuring you get it set up with the right kit by a trustworthy team of techs, you’ll almost certainly be able to avoid this kind of damage to your vehicle. Shop around to find the right suspension setup, and speak to as many professionals as you need to feel comfortable about the changes to your vehicle, and learn how to take care of it the best way possible.

Can a Lifted Truck Be a Daily Driver?

You can absolutely use your lifted truck as a daily driver, just as long as you keep a few important things in mind. First, be very mindful of what kind of tires you install on the vehicle. Depending on what you’re using the vehicle for, you’ll either want something like all-terrain tires for a mix of on- and off-road use, mud tires if you’re primarily going to be off-road, or a set of quality highway tires. Additionally, you’ll need to be extra vigilant in keeping up with maintenance. The more use your truck gets, the more work it will require. If you hope to keep it running for a long time, taking good care of it becomes all the more important.

What is the Best Lift for a Truck?

In our opinion, Rough Country and Skyjacker offer the best lift kits for a truck. They combine quality with relative affordability, ensuring you can have a safe experience on and off the road without costing a fortune. However, in order to truly figure out the best lift kit for you, it’ll take some research. Everyone has different needs when it comes to a lifted truck, and there are countless options out there. We highly recommend consulting with an expert to figure out which suspension setup is right for you and your vehicle. That way, you’ll be able to hear an expert opinion and won’t need to guess based on questionable online reviews.

Lifted Truck Buyers Guide
Suspension systems can be quite complicated to work on. That’s why it pays off to hire experts to take care of the installation. Without doing so, you could end up with reduced ride quality or compromised safety.

How Much Does a Lift Affect Gas Mileage?

Every 100 lbs. a lift adds to your truck reduces gas mileage by 1 or 2%. Depending on the type of suspension lift kit you install, you could be increasing your vehicle’s weight by less than 100 lbs., or by 200 or 300 lbs. That means there will be up to a 6% reduction in gas mileage when all is said and done. However, that’s close to the worst-case scenario, and more often than not you’ll be looking at a less than 5% reduction in fuel economy. For most drivers, this added cost at the pump is worth all the advantages a suspension lift brings. You have to do your research and think long and hard as a driver to decide if a suspension lift is the right move for you, and our team is here to offer any advice or answer any questions you might have.

Can a Lifted Truck Go Back to Stock?

It is possible to take a lifted truck back to its stock setup, but the difficulty depends on the type of lift kit. Body lift kits and leveling kits are quite easy to remove. However, more in-depth suspension kits take quite a bit of work, and will wind up costing you a lot to have uninstalled. It can also compromise the vehicle’s safety if not done correctly, so you should only rely on experienced professionals to remove a suspension lift kit from your truck.

Does Lifting a Truck Affect Driving?

Lifting your truck will affect the way it drives – the extent to which that is true depends on the lift kit you install. More expensive kits will help you maintain the high level of handling present in your stock setup, or depending on your tastes can even improve the way your truck handles. Cheaper kits, however? They can often negatively affect handling. Additionally, you’ll need to be aware of the higher center of gravity, as it can make it easier to roll your truck over, putting your safety as well as that of everyone else on the road at risk.