Lift Kits and Chevrolet Trucks

Lift Kits and Chevrolet Trucks - Here's What You Should Know

The Chevrolet truck lineup is versatile and highly customizable. One customization truck owners often consider is adding a lift kit to their vehicle. Lift kits can add to the aesthetic appeal of a truck or SUV, improve off-road capabilities, and allow you to customize your wheels and tires further. There are several factors to consider before you have a lift kit added to your vehicle. Let’s explore them.

There are two main types of lift kits. The primary focus of both is to increase the distance between the body of your vehicle and the ground. The difference is how they accomplish this, the resulting benefits, and the drawbacks.

Body Lift Kit

How It Works

Body lift kits work by raising the body of the truck higher than the frame while leaving the suspension and drivetrain at their original height. Your service technician will unbolt the body of the vehicle from the frame and install spacers between them.

Benefits

The benefits of a body lift kit include:

• Increased Curb Appeal: Let’s face it. When you see a lifted truck cruising down the road, it instantly adds a certain level of rakish appeal.
• Affordability: Body lift kits require fewer modifications than suspension lift kits and involve fewer parts, translating into better cost-effectiveness.
• Larger Tires: By lifting the body of the vehicle away from the frame, you’ll be able to install larger tires.
• Maintained Ride Quality: Because the suspension of your vehicle remains unchanged, you’ll experience fewer changes to the driving dynamics.
• Center of Gravity: A body lift kit doesn’t change the height of the frame and therefore affects the vehicle’s center of gravity less than a suspension lift.

Drawbacks

• No Change to Ground Clearance: A body kit doesn’t affect ground clearance on its own, and any increased distance of the frame from the ground will be due to the addition of larger tires.
• Limited Lift Height: Body lift kits are limited in how high they can raise your vehicle from the ground, only allowing for 1 – 6 inches of increased height.
• Aesthetic Gaps: A body lift kit will leave gaps between the body of the vehicle and the suspension and bumpers, which some drivers may not find appealing.

Which Vehicles Are Eligible

Only body-on-frame vehicles like the Chevy Colorado, Silverado, Tahoe, and Silverado HD models are eligible for body lift kits.

Suspension Lift Kit

How It Works

Suspension lift kits raise the frame and body of the vehicle several inches from the ground, which often requires replacing several suspension components.

Benefits

• Aesthetics: Because a suspension lift raises the frame as well, there are no gaps between the suspension and frame.
• Tire Size: You will be able to mount larger wheels and tires on any lifted vehicle.
• Ground Clearance: A suspension lift can increase the vehicle's ground clearance by as much as 12 inches.
• Articulation: A suspension lift can improve your vehicle wheel articulation, which is especially important if you intend to use it for rock crawling or other off-road activities.
• Better Angles: You will have higher approach, break-over, and departure angles, meaning your vehicle will be able to clear obstacles with less difficulty.

Drawbacks

• Cost: Because it is a more complex process that involves replacing several parts, suspension lifts generally cost more.
• Decreased Tow Rating: Depending on how high you lift your vehicle, you may need to install a drop hitch for towing trailers, which will lower your vehicle's maximum tow rating.
• Fuel Efficiency: Lifting your vehicle will likely result in a decrease in fuel efficiency.
• Higher Center of Gravity: Both types of lift kits raise the vehicle's center of gravity, but because suspension lifts raise both the frame and the body, the center of gravity is even higher. This can result in increased body roll, lower wind resistance, and a higher risk of tipping.
• Voided Warranty: Replacing the OEM parts of your vehicle will void parts of your warranty.

Which Vehicles Are Eligible

All vehicles are eligible for suspension lifts, whether they have a body-on-frame or unibody design. That includes all of the Chevrolet ZR2 vehicles.

Should You Get a Suspension Lift?

Deciding whether or not to get a suspension lift and which type to get is dependent on your goals for your vehicle. If you want to increase your vehicle’s off-road performance, a suspension lift like the 1.5-inch suspension lift kit offered by GM can help you achieve that. Visit Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Naples and speak with one of our service center experts about your goals, and we’ll help you choose the best option for you.