Choosing the right lift kit for your teen’s truck or SUV
In my business, I get a lot of calls from moms and dads. People whose sixteen to eighteen-year-old children beg them to put lifting gear in their trucks or SUVs. People who want to know if it is safe, economical and responsible to lift their teens’ vehicles for recreational or visual purposes. If you have these or similar questions, rest assured that you are not alone.
A lift kit can make a great gift for your teenage son or daughter’s truck or SUV. Lift kits can increase ground clearance, decrease car shake caused by road irregularities, and give the vehicle a unique and robust look. However, before diving into the world of lift vehicles, there are a few things to consider when finding the right lift kit for your young driver.
Suspension lifts vs. Body lifts
There are two main types of lift kits available today. Suspension lift kits are a spring system used to raise a vehicle by suspending the frame, body, engine, and power train above the wheels. Body lift kits are a block system used to lift a vehicle by suspending the body above the frame. I recommend the suspension lift kits for the performance customer and the body lift kits for the cost conscious customer.
If your son or daughter is only interested in a lift kit for visual effect, I usually recommend body lift kits. They are easier to install, do little or nothing to affect the vehicle’s ride quality, and allow for the addition of larger tires if desired. A body lift kit can make a vehicle look tough at a cost effective price.
However, if your son or daughter is also interested in the performance capabilities of a lift kit, or would like to learn to deftly drive off-road, I would recommend a suspension lift kit. Although slightly more expensive, suspension lift kits give the vehicle the ability to crawl over dirt roads, rocks, and trees, and even mud and water. They give a vehicle the ability to go where most vehicles cannot and see amazing natural wonders.
The best lifting equipment manufacturers
Once you’ve decided on a suspension or body lift kit, you’ll need to know which type you want. Now when it comes to body lift kits, there is one world popular company that I always recommend: Performance Accessories. Performance Accessories offers high-quality components, easy-to-follow installation instructions, and affordable prices.
When it comes to a suspension lift kit, the decision gets a bit more difficult. There are many excellent suspension lift kit manufacturers that offer many different features. When choosing the right one, you will need to consider cost, performance capabilities, ride quality, warranty, and customer service.
cost
If price is your main concern, I usually recommend Pro Comp or Trailmaster. For what you get, these two companies offer one of the best prices. Both companies have complete lift packages, including all necessary components and hardware, with rugged parts ready for the road.
Performance Capability
If the performance of your truck in muddy or rocky conditions is your main concern, I normally recommend Fabtech or SuperLift. Although slightly more expensive than many of the other manufacturers, these companies create kits for off-road fun. With quality components and multiple packages, Fabtech and SuperLift will provide a truck or SUV with high-performance capabilities in any off-road situation.
Driving quality
Most people already know that a suspension lift will affect the ride quality of your vehicle. If this worries you, there are manufacturers whose lift kits get rave reviews for their comfort and road riding. Personally, I listen to the best testimonials from Rancho and Skyjacker. Rancho and Skyjacker are two of the oldest and most respected lifting equipment companies in the world. Their kits are created to have good off-road capabilities without negatively impacting ride quality. Their kits will help a raised vehicle retain at least some of its factory feel.
Warranty and customer service
And finally, when buying a suspension lift kit, you need to do a little research on the company you plan to purchase from. Lift kits of any type can have problems, missing or faulty parts. I highly recommend looking at each company’s warranty guidelines, as well as seeing how easy it is to call or email them in the event of an emergency. Finding the company that you think will best support your product is essential.
Overall, buying a lift kit for your teen can be a great learning and bonding experience. By following these rules, you should be able to maximize that experience by choosing the best lifting equipment for you and your child’s needs.