Why a body lift kit might be the right choice for your truck

A body lift kit is an affordable way to gain 3″ to 5″ of body lift

Truck owners often consider lift kits because they want to install larger tires. Two fairly inexpensive ways to do that are a leveling kit or a body lift kit. A leveling kit raises just the truck’s front end by up to 2″, while a body lift kit raises all four corners by as much as 4″.

How a body lift kit works

It works by replacing the thin body-to-frame bushings with thicker spacers. The job involves disconnecting all the body-to-frame bolts and lifting the body off the frame. With the body raised off the frame, the technician swaps in the kit’s taller spacers and longer body bolts.

This image shows how a body lift kit is installed. The body is disconnected from the frame lifted up, and the factory grommets are replaced with lift blocks.

In most cases, the shop must also install bumper repositioning brackets so the bumper matches the raised body height. The kits include all the spacers, brackets, and bolts needed to complete the lift.

Since you have to raise the body to access the bushings, it’s not a DIY job. Depending on local labor rates, professional installation costs $200 to $600 or more.

Body lift kits range in price from as little as $120 to a maximum of $800. The price varies based on the lift height and the hardware needed to relocate the bumper

Body Lift Kit Components:: • Frame-to-Body spacers, • Longer frame-to-body bolts, • Bumper repositioning brackets and bolts

What a body lift kit does and does not get you

• You get greater fender-to-tire space, so you can install bigger tires/wheels
• You get slightly more front and rear ground clearance that helps when entering or leaving steep driveways
• It does not get you more frame ground clearance for off-roading. However, if you take it off-road, the raised body will help avoid scrapes and dents from rocks and brush.

Pros and cons of raising the body

PROS:
• Raises the body height by 3″ to 4″ at a much lower cost than a suspension kit.
• Doesn’t require any modifications to steering alignment
• Provides added fender clearance for larger tires.

CONS:
• Requires professional installation.
• It raises the truck’s center of gravity. The higher your truck is, the more susceptible it will be to body roll in turns, making it slightly less stable.
• Raises the body, not the frame so you can add bigger tires. But it doesn’t get you more frame-to-ground clearance for off-roading.
• Requires a complete ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) calibration and in some cases, can negate all the features of ADAS.

©, 2024 Rick Muscoplat