Lifted trucks--why?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Las Cruces, NM
Lifted trucks--why?
I have always wondered why people put lift kits on their trucks. We see post after post from people who want to do truck-specific tasks like pulling a fifth wheel, but have lift kits. From the pictures I've seen, they are not used in off-road events, so I am assuming they are lifted for looks. My truck, an F-350 CCLB is already high enough. In fact it is taller than any truck I've ever owned--from the factory. Expensive truck, expensive lift, expensive new tires and wheels, but does not work as a truck. Hence the many questions about what to do with a trailer for it to pull level--safely. So why the lifts?
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 670
Likes: 6
If you have to ask, then I would venture a guess that you don't get out of the city and off the beaten path very much. A lot of folks who lift their trucks spend a considerable amount of time camping off the grid and away from maintained roads. If you've never done it, then you probably don't understand it. Lots of people do lift their trucks just for looks. But just as many are hunting, fishing, 4wheeling, kayaking etc. in places you can't get to very easily with a stock truck. Not everyone who buys a Superduty is buying it just to pull work related equipment. Some people like the heavy duty running gear to better handle large tires. I regularly have my pop-up camper in the bed of my truck with a kayak rack in the rear hitch and mountain bikes on the front hitch. All this taken off road in very primitive places. Not doin that in a 1/2 ton.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: Bellville TX.
My factory 4x4 is high enough. I live in the country, Go camping quite offten, Pull my RV, Pull My boat, and pull a landscaping trailer Daily.
As we get older its harder and harder for me to get in and out of it...
I have never ran into any issues
But I dont go rock crawling...
and I have better things to do on weekends than replace ball joints and such from a lifted truck.
I suppose some want the look, others its a must.
I see many where I live. Mostly the younger crowd, 20ish, that’s daddy’s money
because I see them rubbing on these things all the time.....
I’m my area, any lifted truck has never had a speck of mud on it.....
I guess if I didn’t have a house payment, insurance, kids, etc. etc, etc......
and I was 20ish, and had a daddy with deep pockets.
I too may have the tallest, cleanest truck in Texas.
As we get older its harder and harder for me to get in and out of it...
I have never ran into any issues
But I dont go rock crawling...
and I have better things to do on weekends than replace ball joints and such from a lifted truck.
I suppose some want the look, others its a must.
I see many where I live. Mostly the younger crowd, 20ish, that’s daddy’s money
because I see them rubbing on these things all the time.....
I’m my area, any lifted truck has never had a speck of mud on it.....
I guess if I didn’t have a house payment, insurance, kids, etc. etc, etc......
and I was 20ish, and had a daddy with deep pockets.
I too may have the tallest, cleanest truck in Texas.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 253
Likes: 51
From: billings mt
why do harley riders change almost every aspect of their bike? why do lo-riders with hydraulics or rat rods exist? why do people turn their grocery getter into a drift car? because people love to build things the way THEY WANT.
i have to say im glad for all the things that people do. i dont like alot of it, but to me a vehicle isnt just a tool, its part of who i am.
i have to say im glad for all the things that people do. i dont like alot of it, but to me a vehicle isnt just a tool, its part of who i am.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,507
Likes: 121
From: Oregon
why do harley riders change almost every aspect of their bike? why do lo-riders with hydraulics or rat rods exist? why do people turn their grocery getter into a drift car? because people love to build things the way THEY WANT.
i have to say im glad for all the things that people do. i dont like alot of it, but to me a vehicle isnt just a tool, its part of who i am.
i have to say im glad for all the things that people do. i dont like alot of it, but to me a vehicle isnt just a tool, its part of who i am.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: Bellville TX.
why do harley riders change almost every aspect of their bike? why do lo-riders with hydraulics or rat rods exist? why do people turn their grocery getter into a drift car? because people love to build things the way THEY WANT.
i have to say im glad for all the things that people do. i dont like alot of it, but to me a vehicle isnt just a tool, its part of who i am.
i have to say im glad for all the things that people do. i dont like alot of it, but to me a vehicle isnt just a tool, its part of who i am.
now thats what I like, the old-school look, and way.....
I turn my white letters out.....
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
unless I’m lucky or I just know what I’m doing when I build (I like to think it’s tha I know what I’m doing...) I’ve NEVER had any steering braking vibration issues.. plus I do think personally my truck looks better lifted (to me at least and that’s what I care about)
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
We’ll actually I lied, my ball joints on my ford DO need to be replaced. “Aaahhhh see lifted trucks do need ball joints often” you might say. Well I determined even before the lift (stock height) the joints needed to be replaced which will lead me to create a ball joint thread.. And no I am not sponsored by mommy and daddy.. I work my *** off and built my trucks myself!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 2
My lady says that I am bigger now. I have an F-350 with only a leveling kit, and slightly larger than stock tires, plus a few performance mods.
I would have been happy with a bone-stock F-250, but have no cause to complain either.
I would have been happy with a bone-stock F-250, but have no cause to complain either.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,154
Likes: 7,984
From: Texas
I have always wondered why people put lift kits on their trucks. We see post after post from people who want to do truck-specific tasks like pulling a fifth wheel, but have lift kits. From the pictures I've seen, they are not used in off-road events, so I am assuming they are lifted for looks. My truck, an F-350 CCLB is already high enough. In fact it is taller than any truck I've ever owned--from the factory. Expensive truck, expensive lift, expensive new tires and wheels, but does not work as a truck. Hence the many questions about what to do with a trailer for it to pull level--safely. So why the lifts?
Also, why do people go out and buy a Turbo RZR; and when one looks at the mileage vs hours it has a lifetime average speed of 12 MPH??????
Kind of relates to....Why does the dog lick his azz?”........because he can!!!!!
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,338
Likes: 255
From: Livermore Ca.
Here in sunny California I see lifted trucks all the time. Not sure why because you also see where they had to drop the hitch so they can tow their boat. LOL Those bigger tires cost big bucks to have replaced so it's not for me. Also some guys dont think about getting bigger brakes and drive shafts to go with there lift kit. Bigger tires cause more stress on things like that. Some look cool but not practical. Cleaning all the underside of a lifted truck looks like a pain also.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
Here in sunny California I see lifted trucks all the time. Not sure why because you also see where they had to drop the hitch so they can tow their boat. LOL Those bigger tires cost big bucks to have replaced so it's not for me. Also some guys dont think about getting bigger brakes and drive shafts to go with there lift kit. Bigger tires cause more stress on things like that. Some look cool but not practical. Cleaning all the underside of a lifted truck looks like a pain also.
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,337
Likes: 346
From: Breckenridge, TX
And to me it's entirely just a tool, if my car shows weakness it's gone like a 118# freshman during August two-a-days 
Takes all kinds to turn the world, one isn't better than the other.
Takes all kinds to turn the world, one isn't better than the other.