Lift Kits Explained: Body Lift vs Suspension Lift
A body lift and a suspension lift both raise a truck, but they do very different things. Here's how to choose the right one for your build.
Lift Kits Explained: Body Lift vs Suspension Lift
When you want to clear bigger tires or get more ground clearance, you're choosing between two fundamentally different approaches: a body lift or a suspension lift. They're not interchangeable, and picking the wrong one wastes money.
Body Lifts
A body lift raises the body of the truck off the frame using spacers — typically 1–3 inches. The frame, suspension, axles, and drivetrain all stay exactly where they were.
Pros:
- Cheapest way to fit larger tires
- Doesn't change suspension geometry or ride quality
- Smaller impact on driveshaft angles and CV joints
Cons:
- Doesn't increase true ground clearance — the frame is still low
- Gap between body and frame is visible
- Bumpers, steering links, and brake lines may need to be relocated
Suspension Lifts
A suspension lift raises the entire vehicle by changing the suspension itself — taller springs, longer shocks, drop brackets, or new control arms.
Pros:
- Real increase in ground clearance — the frame and axle move up with the body
- More wheel travel for off-road articulation
- Required for serious tire size jumps
Cons:
- Higher cost and more complex install
- Changes driveshaft angles, CV angles, and steering geometry
- Can affect ride quality and on-road handling
- Often requires a regear to compensate for bigger tires
Which Do You Need?
- Just want bigger tires for the look? A body lift is the cheap, clean answer.
- Actually wheeling it — rocks, trails, mud? A suspension lift. Period. Ground clearance under the diffs is what gets you through.
- Going big (4+ inches)? You're looking at a long-arm or coilover conversion, not a budget kit. Plan for a regear too.
The most common mistake is buying a 6-inch lift for street appeal and then paying for a regear, longer driveshafts, and a new alignment you didn't need. Match the lift to the use.