There are many aspects that are related to the sale of lifted trucks that have to be clearly understood. First of all, as said above also, driving the lifted trucks is not like driving a car. These trucks are very difficult to drive and thus, at the time of buying a used lifted truck, it should be seen if there is any deformity in the truck occurred due to accident etc. If there is so, it should be enquired whether it is possible to get it rectified completely or not. A person should go for buying the lifted truck only when he is quite confident that he can drive it safely because the person who may be hit by the truck would be badly injured and a person might have to give heavy compensation also. The next aspect that must be understood is that there are some legal requirements that are to the completed. For example, there is a maximum distance limit for the lifted trucks between the frame of the wheel of the truck and the ground. These vary from one country to another. Generally, this distance varies from 23 to 31 inches.

Make sure you do your research before installing a lift kit


By Brian Turner

August 14, 2014
No doubt about it, the segment of the new vehicle market that sees the most dollars spent on accessories is the light truck division. Whether it’s functional, such as side steps or tonneau covers, or purely decorative like striping and chrome fuel-cap doors, truck owners like to put their own personal stamp on their rides.
One of the most popular modifications that truck owners can make to their vehicles is the installation of a lift kit. These kits range from the mild two-inch variety all the way up to the car-crunching arena-star category. Many non-truckers may argue that they are a waste of time and money, but for a real off-road enthusiast, nothing beats ground clearance and even the most vocal critics would have a hard time not being impressed with the image of rough and toughness bestowed upon a new truck with a four-inch lift and properly over-sized wheels and tires. As with any complicated and involved add-on such as a suspension lift, some homework needs to be done before hitting the accessory stores.
For the uninitiated, lift kits come in a variety of forms. Short two-inch lifts usually involve mounting specially-formed steel or alloy blocks to the existing shocks/struts or to the springs to increase the distance between the truck’s body and the axles. Larger kits such as four-inch to eight-inch packages involve swapping out suspension control arms, springs, linkages, and a large number of other components to increase the truck’s ride height. Few of these kits are easily installed by a do-it-yourselfer as they usually require special tools, equipment and knowledge. Prices can range from a few hundred dollars to well over $5,000 when you include the price of new rims and tires.
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On a new vehicle you need to be concerned about warranty ramifications. All automakers are specifically silent on lift kits in their owner literature and will refer anyone who asks to their universal paragraph: “Warranty shall not apply to any failure directly related to the installation and operation of non-OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts or equipment.” That being said, off the record, most truck makers will have no problem with up to two-inch lifts, but will pretty much refuse any warranty repairs on anything higher. Some lift kit suppliers will offer their own powertrain warranty to customers in order to help reduce the financial risk with the lack of OEM warranty coverage. Auto makers will point to the additional strain that larger wheels and tires can put on axle bearings, steering and suspension and drive-line components as the reason for their refusal to extend their warranties on modified trucks.
When considering a four-inch or higher lift, do some research. Good kits will include longer brake lines, modified steering linkages, and some type of equipment to maintain the drive-shafts’ working angles. This latter item is often overlooked by eager off-roaders and it can cause the most expensive damage to axles and transfer cases. When a truck suspension is raised the distance between the transfer case and the axles increases, and the angles between the drive-shafts and those components change. If left unattended, these changes can destroy transfer-case seals and bearings among other things in short order. A proper lift kit will include angled lift blocks, or differential spacers or specially designed radius arms to minimize this change. Some kits will even contain modified drive-shafts. Not all repair centres are familiar with this type of work, so you may have to search out 4×4 truck modifier specialists.
While many lower lift kit suppliers (two-inch to three-inch) don’t suggest having a wheel alignment check done after installation, it’s a good idea to verify those specs to save prematurely wearing out tires. Almost all higher lift kit instructions recommend a wheel alignment. If the new, larger wheel rims require spacer plates, make sure a coating of heat-proof lubricant is applied to any surface that will contact either the rim or wheel hub. Most of these spacer plates are aluminum and will react badly when in contact with steel or iron components in wet conditions. Don’t ever take for granted the damage that wider tires will cause to the painted surface of your truck. If your new tires and rims cause the tread to stick out any distance beyond the fender line, the stones that the tires will kick up will ruin the paint in a matter of a few kilometers (even on a paved road). If you’re taking the time, trouble, and expense to install a lift kit and some sick tires and rims, get a good quality set of fender flares to protect your truck’s finish.

source : http://driving.ca/ford/auto-news/news/the-pitfalls-of-jacking-up-your-pickup

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