WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

help me with this.
I don't understand and I am into super hi-performance. It would seam to me that the mfg has put alot of research in the ride height of the trucks for balance and center of gravity so why would one change the dynamics and engineering to a more unstable ride? I could bet that many of those who 'lift' up their trucks don't go 4wheel'n, so what is the deal.
Additionally using a lifted truck in many cases reduces the safety of towing a boat-wtf?
With this said a friends father of mine had a stock height Carrerra4 and was hit head on by a lifted truck and let me tell you, the liability that the lifted truck owner incured was almost criminal-he lost his house to the attorney fees trying to defend why he lifted the truck that caused bodily injuries to my friends father.
My 14 year old stays that chicks dig it but I would think that chick wouldn't dig you too much when you loose all your money to a some lawyer.

Teach me wise-ones :cool:
Flame-on :evilb:

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

When I was a teenager we jacked our trucks up (if they were 4wd) and put the biggest tires we could afford on and went thru the deepest,nastiest mud pits,ruts,swamp,water etc. If course we wrecked parts non-stop and got stuck constantly :D . As far as trailer queen/show trucks that don't EVER go off road I think its retarded. Rarely do they have the proper brakes and right gearing to even pull their tires in o/d and the ride is terrible.I seen a ford dually that was lifted so high it had at least 44's under it,the guy was STRUGGLING to pull a 4 place snowmobile trailer thru the snow (the bigger tires float on top and have no bite). This thing looked like the hood was 8 feet off the ground with 4 foot under the front bumper. It is still considered the cool thing to do in my area though as we have several 4 wd clubs and some of these guys do actually go off road. As far as liability,you are very correct,most insurance companys if you read the policy completely will say they are not liable for vehicles modified for racing,off road competiton,unsafely altered or altered substantialy from stock. I think that means if a guy has 33's and a few components to lift truck slightly he would be o/k but some wieny with a 12 inch lift kit,2" body lift with 44's is SCREWED when truck spins out and rolls over killing the passengers and some old women heading to bingo. I'm not against four wheeling,I had a jeep with 39.5 super swamper boggers,I didn't drive it on the road though because it was built for mud and used accordingly. I do get quite a bit of work from guys who burn out there transmissions on lifted trucks without enough axle gearing though so lift em to the moon,Smitty

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

Why?

For the same reason they buy sports cars and fancy boats. Small wieners. ;)

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

Agreed. If people wanna spend the money to do it, and that's what they enjoy, the more power to 'em.

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

It can make a huge difference in appearance of the vehicle.
Here is my 90 bronco with a 3" lift and 33" tires.

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

Simple....

So I can make a living.

Why do people buy the product or service you are behind? :D Same difference. ;)

Buck

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

It looks so cool :cool: :cool:

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

If you have to ask then..............you just wouldn't UNDERSTAND! :rolleyes: :drink:

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

I agree with your son ... cuz chicks dig it :cool:

My high school ride .... and ya .. it saw lots of mud :drink:

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

Here's my high school ride and my current ride. Small weiner.....I don't think so , just always loved Big Trucks !!! :drink: Dave

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

they look good lifted mho

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

I spent several years building some pretty radical 4x4's. My last project was a Ford Ranger, with a Dana 44 up front, 9" in the back. Complete custom built suspension netting about 16" of lift, & of course the steering was also a challenge, but when it was complete....this truck was very safe. I've seen some butcher jobs on suspensions & these trucks are on the road everyday...that's scary....Oh, I couldn't pull a trailer at all.....extreme transmission would just overheat, but that's not what I built the truck for. I think before someone jacks up a truck, they should do the research. There are some outstanding suspension companies that build very safe kits, & do well pulling. I just purchased a 99 Donzi 26ZX, I live in South Mississippi, the boat was in South FL. I borrowed a 2003 2500HD, duramax with an 8" Fabtech lift....I will say, I was quite impressed. I don't even think the truck knew the boat was there, & the ride was very nice, & it felt very safe....

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

i used to run a f150 with 6 in lift with a 428cj. it did not take long to eat the 1/2 stuff. so out came it in went dana 60 4.56 gears and detorit locker in the rear, true track in the front and 40 ground hawgs . 10miles to the gallon loaded or unloaded . now i'm to old to even get in that truck so now i ride in style in a ram 2500ctdqc 4x4 stock i might put my 33x12 17 back on it one day . back then it was fun and the women did like it alot . :drink:

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

as for lifted truck's not being safe if it is done right it's safe. these lift kit company spend millions on r&d to make safe proudects you know they doin't want to be sued so there libilaty ins to cover thee ass .

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

rg3 sweet ride . i knew you were ok

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

Lots of reasons, but mainly for function. A lifted and properly equipped truck will go places that not many, if any, stock trucks will go. As for stability, many lifted trucks are more stable than they were when they were stock. Yes, lifting a truck does raise the center of gravity, but also consider the increase in track width when you change from a stock tire and wheel to something like a 14-18" wide tire on a wide wheel. Also, most lifted truck springs (especially leaf springs) are stiffer than stock springs, which reduces body roll.

Keep in mind that a lift has to be done properly to be safe. There are some unsafe, home made lifts out there, but the increasing use of IFS by the auto makers and the availability of engineered systems for nearly any truck has cut down on the amount of home made stuff dramatically. As for the legal issue, if you lift the truck within the limits set by the state, you will not have any problems. These limits vary greatly from state to state. Some state are strict and others don't have hardly any limits.

The bottom line to everything here is that a properly lifted truck will go places and do things that a stock truck won't.....and it's fun! :D

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

My high school truck. 1989 Blazer lifted 11 inches (spring & body) running 39X18.50 Mickeys, 400ci small block, 4.56 gears, etc... It wasn't great in the mud because of the tire selection, but it would run down the beach like it was on pavement.

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

My next lifted truck. 1997 F-250 lifted 6" running 35X14.5 Mickeys. Powerstroke, 4.30 gears, swapped IFS for high angle Dana 60 from Dynatrac.... That was one of my favorite trucks. I sold it a few years ago to get into an F-450.

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

Another stock truck stuck, after prom none the less. Boy high school was fun!

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

Now this is a fun way to spend a Sunday...at the Mud Hop!

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

You know, there are times when even the Police wish they were driving trucks. Like this time....got stuck in the median shooting radar. He didn't realize he was stuck until he went to go after somebody! CLASSIC!! :D

Of course, since we work with these guys quite a bit I felt sorry for him and stopped to help him, but he already had a tow truck on the way. Besides, I just had to have pictures of this for the firehouse! :D

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

There's no way to engineer around the physics of the situation. The higher you lift a truck, the higher its center of gravity is. The higher its CG is, the more prone to rollover it becomes.

Width (track) is also a significant factor. When you make something wider, it changes the leverage ratio, requiring more force to cause a rollover.

Most lifted trucks also gain some track width due to additional positive wheel offset. It usually isn't enough width to make up the difference in the higher CG, though.

So we get to WHY do we lift em?
1) To get the sheetmetal clear of the big tires we want to run.
2) To get additional suspension travel (in some cases) to better articulate over uneven (rock crawling) terrain.
3) To get additional rocker panel clearance to keep from getting hung up on the tops of hills.
4) To be able to drive around in creeks.

These are the reasons that have to do with FUNCTION.

Then comes the LOOK part of it. Much of the lifting is strictly aesthetic.

No matter how you do it, or whose kit you buy, there is no way to deny that raising it causes compromises in many areas.

I've driven lifted trucks that DRIVE BETTER than the stockers. This doesn't mean that they are "safer" by any means. It is a modification, and like most of them, are aimed at improving some aspects of the vehicle's abilities or behavior often at the expense of some other aspect.

I like big ole jacked up trucks. But I treat them just like any other modified vehicle. You have to know what areas have been compromised and which ones have been improved.

Is a Z06 vette safer than a standard Vette? I say no. I say it is easier to get into trouble with a Z06. But you know it going in and you treat it that way. If you want to argue tht a Z06 is a factory engineered vehicle, then let's compare a stocker with a Magnacharged one. Same deal.

mc

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

Hey I say to each their own. I have done both ridiculous lifts and minor lifts for people. Personally I like the minor lifts, for the best stance and function. But then again I usually slam all my $hit on the ground. People say the same stuff and I drive them in all types of weather

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

i have a 1999 F-250 Xtra Cab 4x4 with a powerstroke and 100k miles, i intially want to just do a leveling kit to the front after adding a set of 33" tires on 20" wheels, when i priced the kits...for a few hundred more if you did the entire kit, you got new shocks front and rear AND new leaf springs...was a no brainer for me. now shes on a 5 1/2" Fabtec lift kit and rides just as good as she did stock and tracks better

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

My first truck will have a lift kit. :D

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

My two cents;

For every inch of lift I add one inch of track/tire width.

Tires rated "D" minimum "E" if available.

Top quality components including shocks. Currently running Blisteins.

Top notch hitch receiver with a Steel stinger that has been designed for a lifted truck (&tongue weight) and keeps the trailer level.

I always match the gears to the taller tires. Rear LSD a must.

Currently I have a 06 F350 powerstroke. 6 inch superlift with 36x15.5 mickeys and 4:56 gears. Tires clear the fenders and it tows very well. Yes wide tires float on snow and mud but are great on slimy ramps.

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

It just looks so much cooler when you do this to a buddies driveway.... :evilb: :evilb:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...+burnout&hl=en

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

That guy definitely has a small wiener!

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

I'd whip his azz if I wuz you Matt!

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

Got any pictures bent over that?

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

hmmm

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

after the lift

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

i lifted mine because i like the look, and the offroad ability of it. My girlfriend likes the fact she can see things further ahway. She says mine is too big now, but liked it when it was on 35 and 38....so when she gets her new truck we are going 5-6 with 35's...lifted trucks are like fast cars and boats..some just like it that way, and we all have our own reasons for doing what we do....mine is just for playing, though it would do just fine on the street...

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

For a daily driver I like to lift the front of the truck so it sits level. Nothing worse than these new "4x4's" that sag 2" in the front.....looks stupid.

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

:p :D

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

...not the poster, the doofus doing burnouts on wet pavement.

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

Now that's what I'm talking about! Awesome trucks that actually get used. Are they Rockwells under the Ford? That thing is a beast. Great pictures.

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

yes those are rockwells....as well as under the dodge. her some more of the lifterd trucks in action

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

That Ram looks pissed. :cool:

Looks like it's comin after me like I'm in trouble, lol.

Re: WHY does one 'jack-up' their truck?
 

I am the doofus youre referring to...its a long story though, my buddy did the same thing in front of my house once a long time ago and I told him I would repay him. I was putting new tires on the truck the next day, so I thought it was time for payback. I would have done it on dry pavement, just didnt have a choice..