At Todays Gas Prices Why Lift A Truck?

knipper_03 · December 24, 2009

Yes they look great and my old truck had oversize tires and a 3 inch lift.

What I found is I lost 3-4 mpg and I couldn't tow for crap (4.8 liter although 5.3 prop wouldnt have done much better??). Now with my new one I don't want to lose either one of those advantages.

Is there anyone that actually REQUIRES a lift kit? For example a situation where they couldn't make it through an area without it? Or is it just a looks thing?

I know if money wasnt an opbject I'd just buy a GMT900 one ton with a duramax, but then again you made a muddin machine maybe but a jeep wrangler rubicon stock would out perform on REAL trails.

Just starting the conversation curious about others opinions, with todays gas prices highly influencing my decision to stay stock.

ursandal · December 24, 2009

If I had to guess I'd say that 95% of lifted trucks/suv's are done for looks alone. Nothing wrong with that, most of us do things to our trucks for looks rather than function. It cost so darn much to lift these IFS trucks that the "look" hardly seems worth it to me.

I've lifted every Jeep CJ/Wrangler (4) I've ever owned but they are cheap to lift. Mostly for looks but the added clearance was sometimes handy off road.

clemsonblozz · December 24, 2009

Yes they look great and my old truck had oversize tires and a 3 inch lift.

What I found is I lost 3-4 mpg and I couldn't tow for crap (4.8 liter although 5.3 prop wouldnt have done much better??). Now with my new one I don't want to lose either one of those advantages.

Is there anyone that actually REQUIRES a lift kit? For example a situation where they couldn't make it through an area without it? Or is it just a looks thing?

I know if money wasnt an opbject I'd just buy a GMT900 one ton with a duramax, but then again you made a muddin machine maybe but a jeep wrangler rubicon stock would out perform on REAL trails.

Just starting the conversation curious about others opinions, with todays gas prices highly influencing my decision to stay stock.

I deer hunt a ton, we run hounds,, which requires alot of movement to keep dogs from going where they shouldn't.. Hunting in four hole swamp, there is tons of water,,, which make 6 inches of lift and 35-38 inch tires a good thing to have..

Now, I'd not raise anything new, or any IFS trucks at all.. I have a raised 1979 GMC with 38 inch boggers,, and I've had water flood in around the floor shifter and steering colum countless times....

Lifts clear big tires,, and big tires have big voids, which help keep them big ole cleats clean...

knipper_03 · December 24, 2009

I deer hunt a ton, we run hounds,, which requires alot of movement to keep dogs from going where they shouldn't.. Hunting in four hole swamp, there is tons of water,,, which make 6 inches of lift and 35-38 inch tires a good thing to have..

Now, I'd not raise anything new, or any IFS trucks at all.. I have a raised 1979 GMC with 38 inch boggers,, and I've had water flood in around the floor shifter and steering colum countless times....

Lifts clear big tires,, and big tires have big voids, which help keep them big ole cleats clean...

Yeah I agree with that...lift something your not afraid to use. I'm afraid to use my new stuff, lol. My 95 yj jeep had some mud tires and was rough around the edges, but had a TON of fun stratchin and denting that!

KMGZ400 · December 24, 2009

If I had to guess I'd say that 95% of lifted trucks/suv's are done for looks alone. Nothing wrong with that, most of us do things to our trucks for looks rather than function. It cost so darn much to lift these IFS trucks that the "look" hardly seems worth it to me.

I've lifted every Jeep CJ/Wrangler (4) I've ever owned but they are cheap to lift. Mostly for looks but the added clearance was sometimes handy off road.

thats true... 95% of the trucks i see that are lifted and chromed out have never even been on a dirt road. you dont need a lifted truck or mud tires to go offroading.. i have just as much fun in my stock truck as anyone would in a lifted truck.. i bottom out all the time so a lift would help...

i would definatley lift my truck if i had the time and money because it looks way better and is way more badass

knipper_03 · December 24, 2009

If I had to guess I'd say that 95% of lifted trucks/suv's are done for looks alone. Nothing wrong with that, most of us do things to our trucks for looks rather than function. It cost so darn much to lift these IFS trucks that the "look" hardly seems worth it to me.

I've lifted every Jeep CJ/Wrangler (4) I've ever owned but they are cheap to lift. Mostly for looks but the added clearance was sometimes handy off road.

Ive only had one jeep...and agreed. Anymore I stick with atvs for extreme offroading, more places to ride around me and faster!

blackout07 · December 24, 2009

Simply put...The LOOK COOL FACTOR is off the charts!

And if you look really close, my truck is partially "off-road" in my sig.

gm4yrs · December 24, 2009

I lifted my truck for a few reasons. To add a leaf in the rear springs for added weight hauling, to level the truck without stressing the front suspension, and to have tire clearance for larger tires. Stock with 285's did rub the fender plastic on the driver's side and just did not have enough space between the tire and fender. I lost 1 mpg cause of the tire size.

knipper_03 · December 24, 2009

Simply put...The LOOK COOL FACTOR is off the charts!

And if you look really close, my truck is partially "off-road" in my sig.

Haha good one. My old truck when it went offroading a tree caved in my bedside lol. Those long bed trucks are not jeeps. Lesson learned after a $2500 bill....now if my lift kit was taller than the trees then it might have been worth it!

amtz.zero · December 24, 2009

If that was my truck, I would leave it stock. I think your truck looks good the way it is. And if you say you don't want to lose your towing ability or mpg's, then that's even more reason.

VMax2007 · December 24, 2009

Jacked up Street Queens are for guys with tiny penises who are compensating.

(Yes, I have a leveling kit, cuz I only needed a little bit of compensation ).

Stevens03 · December 24, 2009

My previous truck was lifted and I used the crap out of it. The 5.3 is VERY capable. I still got 15-16mpg city and 17-19mpg highway turning 35" tires and was a complete weekend hauler of 6500 lbs camping trailer. Also for my job, it took me off road and places I went, required a lift and big tires.

The 4.8 isn't the 5.3, so you can't compare.

Nytemare · December 24, 2009

My previous truck was lifted and I used the crap out of it. The 5.3 is VERY capable. I still got 15-16mpg city and 17-19mpg highway turning 35" tires and was a complete weekend hauler of 6500 lbs camping trailer. Also for my job, it took me off road and places I went, required a lift and big tires.

The 4.8 isn't the 5.3, so you can't compare.

Ok put it this way....

If you average 17MPG and you have a 25Gallon tank...that means you get 425miles per tank.

now you drop by 3 mpg

so now you get 14MPG, that equates to 350miles per tank. so you lost 75 miles on a full tank. So you divide 75miles by 14MPG and you get 5 gallons of gas you have burned extra in a week...or 2 week...or day...depending on how much you drive your truck.

so price is an average of 2.25 a gallon....now you spend an extra 11.25 over a specified driving period. so if a tank got you a week before...now you need to spend an extra 11 bucks to drive for a week.

Now if you have 1200-2500 bucks to spend on a lift, and another 3grand to spend on 35's and wheels....Plus who knows how much more for install if you dont know how, or dont have the facilities, why the hell are you complaining about 11 bucks a week.

You want to complain about fuel prices...come to Canada...I paid 4.52 a gallon a few days ago...its gone up since than....that was for 94 octane. Regular 87 is 3.91 a gallon. Also if your complaining about gas prices....Chevy makes an Aveo that's supposed to be really cheap on fuel....and you dont have to worry about lift kits or anything.

Thats my 0.02 anyway

Stevens03 · December 24, 2009

My previous truck was lifted and I used the crap out of it. The 5.3 is VERY capable. I still got 15-16mpg city and 17-19mpg highway turning 35" tires and was a complete weekend hauler of 6500 lbs camping trailer. Also for my job, it took me off road and places I went, required a lift and big tires.

The 4.8 isn't the 5.3, so you can't compare.

Ok put it this way....

If you average 17MPG and you have a 25Gallon tank...that means you get 425miles per tank.

now you drop by 3 mpg

so now you get 14MPG, that equates to 350miles per tank. so you lost 75 miles on a full tank. So you divide 75miles by 14MPG and you get 5 gallons of gas you have burned extra in a week...or 2 week...or day...depending on how much you drive your truck.

so price is an average of 2.25 a gallon....now you spend an extra 11.25 over a specified driving period. so if a tank got you a week before...now you need to spend an extra 11 bucks to drive for a week.

Now if you have 1200-2500 bucks to spend on a lift, and another 3grand to spend on 35's and wheels....Plus who knows how much more for install if you dont know how, or dont have the facilities, why the hell are you complaining about 11 bucks a week.

You want to complain about fuel prices...come to Canada...I paid 4.52 a gallon a few days ago...its gone up since than....that was for 94 octane. Regular 87 is 3.91 a gallon. Also if your complaining about gas prices....Chevy makes an Aveo that's supposed to be really cheap on fuel....and you dont have to worry about lift kits or anything.

Thats my 0.02 anyway

It wasn't me complaining and quite frankly I was getting that mileage lifted

knipper_03 · December 24, 2009

If you have the money to buy the truck, lift kit & tires, you should have no trouble affording the fuel. If the cost of fuel stresses your budget, go back & read economics 101 again or just ask for a goberment bail out.

Point taken, lol. Although I mentioned mpgs arent the ONLY deciding factor. Towing and performance is a bigger issue. I have no problem spending 5,000 on a whipple supercharger paying for premium because of the performance gains.

To have a good performing lift imho you NEED a rear gear and a supercharger on a gasser to get the same stock drive ability.

So to have a mean lifted truck that has the same performance as stock or maybe a little better your going to pay $10,000. In order for me to be happy with a lifted truck I need the performance too.

DIESEL! is the answer i guess, lol Dont know how you guys can put 35 inch tires with 6 inches of lift and not be irritated how slow it is.