Should You Lift Your SUV? What to Know Before Adding Height

Thinking About Lifting Your SUV? Read This First

Lift kits aren’t just for trucks you know, SUVs are more than capable of taking part of the fun in boosting your ride height for better looks and easier ground clearance when you’re off-roading. But before you just go willy-nilly to the store to pick out a lift or leveling kit, there are some things you should know first. There’s more to adding a custom suspension option to your ride than oversized tires and a cool look. Adding a suspension kit completely changes how your vehicle rides, turns, and even burns gas.

The good news is that we’re here to help with all that. This guide will tell you everything you’ll need to know before throwing on a suspension kit to your SUV, and we’ll even give you some recommendations on which brands or kit options to go with, so you aren’t going in blind. Whether you’re looking for better clearance on the trails or simply a tough new look for your daily driver, we’ll tell you what you should know before jacking your ride sky-high.

Lifts are Super Cool, But Let’s Talk Strategy First

So before you get ahead of yourself browsing lift kits or coilover setups, we’re going to smash the pause button quick to map out a plan of attack. Most SUV builds don’t really need a 6 inch lift and beadlocks, sometimes a simple leveling kit works better than going all out and needing a step ladder to climb into your 4Runner or Explorer. The best way to figure out what kind of suspension option you need is by figuring out exactly what you want to equip one for. After all, if you want one purely for the stance/catching attention on the roads, that can require a different suspension option than one that you intend to mostly take off the paved roads. We’ll help you figure that out without making the process too complicated, so let’s break it down.

Getting a Lift Kit vs a Leveling Kit

At this point, you might be wondering what the difference between a lift and leveling kit right? Some think they’re practically the same thing and totally interchangeable, and they’d be very wrong. These options serve different purposes and function in different ways. A leveling kit is a more subdued option than a lift kit, it brings the front of your SUV up to match the height of the rear, which eliminates the stock rake and makes room for slightly larger, not oversized tires. Like we said, it’s more of a subtle change than a full-blown lift kit, but it still tightens up your stance and can be functional in off-road situations, and won’t require as much work on your vehicle.

A lift kit, on the other hand, cranks up your vehicle across the board, from the back to the front and everything in between. Lift kits tend to include more components than leveling kits, like new control arms, struts, spacers, and more, depending on how high you’re planning on going. These suspension upgrades allow for much larger tires, better ground clearance, and a much more noticeable presence on the road than a leveling kit. But with those benefits comes its own complications as well, including higher price point and a more complex install-process, which is definitely something to keep in mind when trying to decide what your lift goals are going to be.

Considerations Before Lifting Your SUV

Lifting your SUV is about so much more than just giving it a fresh new look, any kind of suspension upgrade changes the way your vehicle drives. If you’re planning on upgrading your daily driver, things you can expect to see are changes in ride quality, fuel economy, you might even have to take height into account when entering a parking garage when you’re cruising downtown. If this SUV serves as your weekend trail rig, you don’t have to worry as much about how big you want to go, but you still have to consider some factors such as steering angles, shock travel, and even articulation.

Another big factor is your fitment. 35s look hella tough on your ride, but it might not be until you realize that your tires are scrubbing every time you pull into your driveway that you might have not made the correct choice. Lift height, wheel offset, and tire size all need to work together in harmony when choosing the correct suspension upgrade, when you get one of those wrong you can end up having to trim fenders or replacing components mid-build when they wear out prematurely. But we can’t talk about considerations without mentioning the all-mighty dollar. Your budget has to take into account the kit itself, labor if you aren’t planning on installing it yourself, proper alignment, and any surprise upgrades if you find something you weren’t expecting to mid-installation. Lifting an SUV can snowball in terms of cost really fast if you aren’t prepared.

Trusted Lift and Leveling Kit Brands for SUVs

When your goal is building your SUV the right way, one of the biggest choices you can make once you know what kind of suspension upgrade you want is what brand to choose. There’s a reason that Rough Country is such a popular choice for enthusiasts, they make quality suspension upgrades that cover pretty much every vehicle under the sun, and for a great price that’s sure to make your budget happy. They’re reliable, easy to install, and can give you the right amount of clearance to let you go nuts on tire/wheel sizes for lift kits. If you’re seeking a bit more refinement than Rough Country, but aren’t ready to take the full plunge into premium options, ReadyLIFT is the perfect middle ground between the two. Their kits perfectly mimic the ride quality of stock suspensions while still giving your SUV the aggressive stance that you’re looking for. They’re a perfect choice for daily driver builds that want to place comfort above all else in their build, but they’re also no slouch when it comes to being able to handle off-road excursions.

When you need a suspension option that flexes unrivaled strength and performance, then BDS Suspension should be the obvious choice. A brand capable of shrugging off any kind of abuse, BDS kits come loaded with everything from heavy-duty control arms to premium coilover and shock upgrades, depending on the application. They have the kind of setup you’d want on a rugged overland build, and they have the ultimate peace of mind included, they’re No Fine Print warranty. Break it, and BDS will replace it, no questions asked. Rounding out the suspension lineup is Zone Offroad, a no-BS brand whose approach to suspension is ideal for mild to mid-range builds. As a sister brand to BDS, Zone kits share a lot of the same engineering specs, just without some of the extra sizzle that BDS has. Despite that, they’re known as a dependable, rugged, no-brainer choice for budget-conscious SUV drivers who’re looking for an option that conveys capability over penny-pinching.

Shop All Suspension Options for Your SUV at SD Wheel!

We’ve given you the know-how, so now it’s time to spread your wings and find the right suspension setup for your particular SUV and driving needs. Whether you’re crushing rocks and roots in an off-roader or you’re just looking to make your commuting feel cushier than ever, you’ll find all the suspension needs you could ever want at SD Wheel! Every purchase comes with free shipping and quick delivery for total ease, and if you’re serious about sticking to a budget, we have some great financing options that help keep your purchase easier to afford by making payments over time. Plus if you decide to complete the look with a new set of wheels and tires, when you bundle any of our in-stock options, you’ll get free mounting and balancing included, no assembly required! Just throw on your new setup and you’ll be ready to go!