Lift Kit Sizing Guide
Lift kits look the same in a photo but drive very differently. This guide walks through leveling, body, and suspension lifts - what each height clears, what else has to change with it, and what we actually recommend at the shop.
Four Kinds of Lift
Leveling Kit
$Spacer or torsion key that lifts only the front to match the rear ride height. Cheapest entry point.
Body Lift
$$Spacers between body and frame. Doesn't touch suspension. Looks tall, drives stock.
Suspension Lift
$$$New control arms, shocks, springs, sometimes new knuckles or axles. Real off-road clearance and travel.
Long Travel Kit
$$$$Wider track, longer A-arms, coilovers. Built for desert running and high-speed off-road.
What Changes With the Lift
- Shocks - Must be valved for new ride height. Quality kits include them.
- Driveline - 4\"+ lifts often need carrier bearing drops or longer driveshafts.
- Steering - Drag link flip or pitman arm correction to keep bump-steer in check.
- Brake lines - Extended lines or relocation brackets above 3\".
- Alignment - Camber, caster, and toe all shift. Always re-aligned after.
- Gearing & ECM - Re-gear at 35\"+, recalibrate speedo on every tire change.
Lift Kit Questions
What's the smallest lift that actually does something?+
A 2-inch leveling kit. It removes the factory rake, clears one tire size up (33s on most 1500s), and runs $200-600 in parts. It will not give you off-road clearance - for that you need a real suspension lift.
Will a lift kit void my warranty?+
Magnuson-Moss says the dealer has to prove the lift caused the failure. In practice, drivetrain claims (axle, trans, transfer case) get denied on lifted trucks. Stick with a reputable brand (BDS, Fox, ICON, Cognito, Carli) and keep paperwork - you'll have far fewer fights.
Do I need new shocks with a lift kit?+
Yes, anything 2.5" and up. Factory shocks weren't valved for the new ride height and will blow seals fast. Quality lifts include matched shocks; budget kits often don't.
Will I need to re-gear after lifting?+
Not for the lift itself - for the bigger tires that come with it. Once you cross 33", plan on re-gearing. 35"+ trucks need 4.56-4.88, 37"+ usually need 4.88-5.13.
What's the difference between a spacer lift and a coilover lift?+
Spacer lifts use a metal puck on top of the factory strut to lift the truck. Cheaper and simpler, but the strut still tops out at the same place - you lose down-travel. Coilover lifts replace the strut entirely with a longer shock and proper spring. More travel, better ride, much higher cost.
Can you build a lifted truck I can still daily-drive?+
Yes - that's most of what Kustom Truck Fab does. 3-6" lifts with quality coilovers, re-gear, calibrated speedo, and corrected steering geometry drive almost like stock. We build them to last on the highway, not just look right in photos.
Ready to lift it?
We spec, install, and tune complete lift packages - kit, tires, gears, geometry, and calibration. One shop, one bill, one truck that drives right.