Body/Suspension/Tire lifts. What’s the difference?

Body Lift

A body lift is one where the body of the rig is lifted higher than the frame. It gives the appearance of the rig sitting taller but is only for looks while keeping the engine, drive train and suspension components within factory specs. It will do little for off road performance other than raising the fenders slightly to potentially stop your tires from rubbing when at full flex.

Suspension Lift

A suspension lift raised your rig from the frame up and gives you better clearance of the middle of the rig when going off road. This typically gives you a better “break over” angle to reduce the amount of scraping on the skid plate. It also raises the center of gravity of your rig which now changes the tip over angle making it more “top heavy”. This type of lift does noting for the axles/differentials as they are still at the same height and you will have to be cautious of objects that can hit your axle and damage it. Suspension lifts also require more hardware to ensure that your caster is set correct to minimize the wear on your tires and keep a good alignment.

Tire Lift

Tire lifts, or simply adding larger diameter tires will increase the clearance of your axles by raising them up. This gives your higher clearance for your axles and breakover angle. It also helps keep your center of gravity lower. Now with only adding larger tires you will run the risk of rubbing your tires on your rig and potentially causing other damage.

Summary Note

You can use the above 3 different types of lifts in conjunction with each other to increase the stance on your rig to fit your build requirements. It all depends on your budget and what you want to do with your rig. The current trend is to go with bigger tires and as little lift as possible to keep the center of gravity low which will increase your rigs off road prowess and minimize alterations on the suspension. No mater what direction you go, be aware of the affects of each to your rig.