If trucks are defined by their utility, then surely bigger tires make for a vehicle that is "truckier" than it ever was. Big tires not only raise the truck frame's ride height, they can also help bridge ruts and obstacles that would ensnare smaller rolling stock. However, as perfect as those big tires may look and perform on your rig, odds are they don't have enough clearance to fit the really big rolling stock. That's where lift kits come in.
Lift kits come in three basic flavors: suspension lifts, body lifts and lift blocks. Lift blocks are the most basic and time-tested for leaf spring-suspended trucks. They involve simply sliding a set of spacers between the bottom of the leaf spring and top of the axle tube. Body lift kits move the body further away from the chassis with taller body mounts and longer mount bolts. Suspension lifts are the most complicated and expensive by far; they can require replacement of 90 percent of your truck's suspension components.
Lift blocks are fine for one to three inches of lift; any more than that will destabilize the truck. Never, ever use lift blocks on the front axle; the steering axle experiences a lot of side loading, which can lead to a lethal failure where lift blocks are concerned. Body lifts are a viable option if you're looking for up to four inches or so of clearance; they offer the added benefit of keeping the truck's heavy frame close to ground level for better stability and handling. Suspension lifts will give your truck much more suspension articulation and off-road prowess, but they can easily run well into four-digit prices. However, they are the only type that will actually give your truck more center ground clearance if it utilizes an independent suspension setup.
Body lift kits usually run between $100 and $200; however, they can cost more than $300, depending on the vehicle. They consist of a full set of plastic/polyurethane/metal spacers that fit between the factory body mounts and chassis, all the necessary bolts and hardware to mount them and relocation brackets to keep the factory ancillary lines in place. Some come with brake line and electrical extensions. Lift block kits cost around $70, and come with metal or polyurethane blocks, longer U-bolts and all the required hardware. Some companies (like Rancho and Skyjacker) sell rear lift block/front spring packages; expect to pay $400 to $700 for a package like this.
Suspension lift kits vary according to the kind of vehicle you have and how high you want to go. Basic lift kits are simply a set of lift springs and hardware; upgraded kits will include shocks. Taller kits (around six inches) come with new springs, shocks (or struts, depending on the vehicle), a longer "drop" Pitman arm and brake line extensions. Truly radical kits can include all of these as well as new upper/lower control arms, shock relocators/hoop assemblies, tie rod relocators, sway bars, new bushings, new driveshaft(s) if specified, a drop bracket for the transmission/transfer case and relocation brackets for the steering box.
