Owning and driving a truck in the neighborhood indeed looks cool. It’s even more remarkable if you can drive a lifted 2WD truck. But lifting the 2WD truck using the correct lifting tools can be confusing. So, can you lift a 2WD truck? what are Pros and Cons of Lifting a 2WD Truck ?
You can use small and large lift kits to lift your 2WD truck. Small lift kits will lift the car to 1 to 2 inches, while large lift kits can lift it 2 to 3 inches.
You must jack the truck to install various lifting kits. Cotton pins and springs play a vital role in raising the car.
You’ll enjoy the fruit once you drive your lifted 2WD truck. However, some difficulties also come with a lifted 2WD truck. If you know the disadvantages, driving a 2WD truck becomes simple.
Can You Lift A 2WD Truck? || From The Inbox
Pros and Cons of Lifting a 2WD Truck
I have been using a 2WD truck for years now.
After using it for almost four years, I recently decided to give it a lift as I moved to a place surrounded by rocky mountains.
So far, I have loved my experience with the lifted truck, even though I found some cons too.
Before you decide to lift your 2WD truck, you must consider some aspects.
And as a lifted 2WD truck owner, I will guide you through all the things to keep in mind if you are planning on lifting your truck.
So, stay tuned until the end of my article to find out the advantages and disadvantages of lifting your 2WD truck!
Advantages of Lifting a 2WD Truck
Ground Clearance
Surely you can go off-road with your 2WD truck. But lifting means more ground clearance.
It will give it more space underneath to cross obstacles more easily.
You can increase the ground clearance of your truck up to 4 inches, but lifting it from 2 to 3 inches should be enough.
If you want to go higher than 4 inches, you must keep in mind the fact that it will completely change the structure of your truck.
Better appearance
Well, you can not deny the fact that while modifying a vehicle, its appearance is our topmost priority.
Lifting allows you to fit larger tires, and the additional height will give your truck a better and stronger appearance.
But choosing the right set of tires is also important, so you must know which size of tires will be fit for your lifted truck and perform the best.
Better Control
It is a lot easier to handle a lifted truck, especially during turns and corners.
A lift gives your truck more control to drive faster and safer.
You will also feel more comfortable driving it on rough terrains and highways.
Minimized Braking Pressure
The design of a 2WD truck is not suitable when it comes to driving an unloaded and empty truck as it has a higher back and lower front.
The lift will not only make your truck higher, but it will also help the truck to balance by distributing its weight equally.
If you ever need to pull the brakes during an emergency, it will help with that as well!
Operating Attachments
If you live in a place where it snows throughout the year or mostly during the year, then you might need a snow plow attachment in front of your truck.
This attachment is set in the front of the truck where its most weight goes. The front axles of a 2WD truck are usually a little bit delicate, and lifting will give the axles the extra support to carry the attachment.
It will also prevent the wheels from rubbing against the fender, which results from the extra weight.
Avoid Damages
When your truck is raised, its running board and other parts will also rise higher from the ground.
As a result, you will be able to avoid any kind of damage to those parts easily.
Disadvantages of Lifting of 2WD Truck
Resale Value
Lift kits are very popular among truck owners lately. It will cost you some dollars, but it is never a waste for a truck enthusiast.
But not everyone prefers a lifted truck, and they won’t be interested in investing in it.
Although a lifted truck comes with an abundance of benefits, some people will still think about their fuel economy and other cons that come with it.
Warranty Void
Some vehicle insurance comes up with a term that you can not make any change or modification to your vehicle.
There’s a chance of losing your warranty, and after that, if anything happens with your truck, you will have to pay for it.
So, read the terms and conditions of the warranty of your truck before making any changes to its structure.
Fuel and Mileage
When you lift a vehicle, its engine needs more fuel to cope with the wind resistance, and it will need to work harder and use more gas.
So there will be a change in your fuel economy which will lead to reduced mileage.
Suspension Wear out
Another drawback of lifting your vehicle is the faster suspension wear out.
The suspension equipment will have extra stress due to the lifting, which will create more pressure.
This pressure on the system will make it wear and tear out faster than before.
Less Comfort
Ever since I lifted my truck, I am feeling the rides a little bit bumpier than before.
It has a fantastic riff while I drive off-road, but it feels less smooth on a typical street.
But you don’t need to worry about bumps and dips if you install a high-quality lift kit to your truck.
Should You Lift Your 2WD Truck?
I have given you all the insights about the pros and cons of lifting your 2WD truck.
Now, you can decide whether or not you want to compromise a few things by ignoring the cons and lifting your truck for a better, taller, and fiercer ride.
If you ask me, lifting my 2WD was totally worth it! It gave my truck a better performance with a tougher and beastly look, more ground clearance, and clearer visibility. But I faced some complications with fuel economy, suspension wear out, and the risk of warranty void too.
Is it Dumb to Lift a 2WD Truck?
It is always a good idea to lift a 2WD truck if you want to enhance its off-road capabilities.
But you have to set up the lift kit properly in the truck and have to ensure you take good care of it.
Because only installing a spacer and skipping other kits is a no-no! It will elevate the stress on the suspension.
Required Essential Lifting Kits To Lift A 2WD Truck
You must use essential lifting kits to lift your 2WD truck. It’s common for new drivers to identify the ideal lifting kits for their 2WD. If you’re eager to know more about which lifting kits you should use, look at this explanation.
Small Lift Kits
Small lift kits will lift your 2WD truck to 2 to 5 inches. You can use shock spacer lift kits to elevate your 2WD truck to 1 to 2 inches. They are pretty elementary to install.
Large Lift Kits
On the other hand, bracket lift kits will lift your truck to 2 to 3 inches, which is ideal. It’ll be a perfect choice if you want to skip road curbs and speed breakers. However, if you’re going to balance your 2WD truck’s load, you can install suspension kits.
Step-wise Guide To Lift A 2WD Truck
You can drive quickly with a lifted truck. But you should know how to raise a 2WD truck before moving. An ideal method will help you lift your 2WD truck using a suitable lifting kit.
If you don’t know which method to follow to lift your 2WD truck, follow this step-by-step guide.
Step 01: Using Jack
Use a jack to lift your truck’s front. Then, put the jack on a jack stand. Ensure safety before removing your truck’s front wheel.
Step 02: Detach Front Shocks
Now, take out the front socks with a wrench and socket set. Remove the socks from the control arm. They’ll come out from the spring center.
Step 03: Compress The Spring
Compress your 2WD truck’s front spring using a spring compressor. Tighten it until you lift all the tension from the spring.
Step 04: Pressurize The Arm
Now, place the jack under the lower arm to create pressure. Since you’ve set the spring compressor, there won’t be any pressure on the spring. The jack will control the arm until the spring comes off.
Step 05: Separate Cotton Pin
Detach the cotton pin from the upper control arm using a cotton pin puller. Now, detach the ball joint and the spindle.
Step 06: Freeing The Spindle
It would be best if you used a hammer to separate the spindle from the ball joint. Use a joint separator and push it with a hammer if you fail to detach them following the previous method.
Step 07: Release Spring Compressor
Remove the spring while moving it slowly after you’ve removed the spindle. Don’t forget to loosen the spring compressor while doing it.
Step 08: Tighten Taller Springs
Follow the same process to tighten the taller springs with a spring compressor. An impact wrench applies more torque but keeps the tension balanced while tightening the springs.
Step 09: Insert Cotton Pin
First, insert the taller spring in the coil pocket. Now, reassemble the upper arm to the spindle and insert a new cotton pin.
Step 10: Reassemble
Now that you’ve installed a new cotton pin and taller springs, it’s time to reassemble the structure. Decompress the springs slowly. Remember to keep them in the right pocket. Put the tires back, take out the jack, and you’re done.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Lifting A 2WD Truck
You will enjoy a thrilling and exciting ride with your 2WD lifted truck. However, driving with a lifted 2WD truck has some benefits and drawbacks. When you’re aware of the pros and cons of using a lifted 2WD truck, it’ll help you to discover amazing facts.
So, what’re the advantages and disadvantages of driving a lifted 2WD truck? Allow us to explain the whole scenario.
Advantages
First, let’s discuss the sparks of using a lifted 2WD truck. Don’t be surprised if you discover any uncommon benefits of using a lifted 2WD truck.
More Available Ground
A lifted truck offers you better ground clearance while driving over curbs. You don’t have to go around them; instead, you can drive over the curbs quickly. The lift kits lift the truck a few inches clearing more ground for the driver.
Space For Large Tires
You can install large tires since you’ve enough ground clearance. Your truck’s fender and bumper affect the front of your vehicle while driving over cubs. So, lifting the truck’s front to 2 inches provides more clearing space for large front tires.
Less Braking Pressure
A 2WD truck has a lower front and higher back. It’s a perfect design when you’re loading your vehicle. But the plan isn’t helpful while unloading the truck. Using a front leveling kit helps you balance the truck’s load. However, leveling kits don’t hamper your truck’s actual weight.
Extra Equipment Installation
If you are a farmer or use your truck for various occasions, lifting the car will help you add equipment or tow a trailer. Front lifting kits might put some loads on the vehicle but benefit the user significantly.
Disadvantages
As you know, things with benefits also deliver some disadvantages. So, here’s a quick review of the cons you might face using a lifted 2WD truck.
Discomfort
You’ll face difficulty while taking a turn with a lifted 2WD truck. It will give you a boat riding experience. Handling the car on uneven pavements becomes tough with a lifted truck.
Reduced MPG
Your truck will consume more fuel since you use large tires and lifting kits. The engine will require more energy to provide enough power to run those big tires of your truck. So, considering using big tires, consider the fuel cost.
Parts Decaying
Joints like ball joints, shaft drives, and controlling arms decay rapidly as they lift the vehicle load and the additional parts. Sometimes, it affects the interior truck parts.
Reduced Value
You won’t get a higher value while selling it. A lifted truck corrodes the parts faster and damages them if you try to drive on terrains. So, the value decreases significantly for these defective parts.
Pro Tips To Choose Ideal Lifting Kits For A 2WD Truck
Have you recently bought a 2WD truck? Want to lift it a few inches but don’t know how to select the perfect lift kit? Then, these pro tips will help you to gather some knowledge in an instant.
- Select the kit type before installing. Generally, there are five types of lift kits. You should confirm with the kit installer if your vehicle goes under any investigation.
- Try to purchase trucks with bracket lifts. You can save a chunk of money if you buy a 2WD truck with a bracket lift.
- Don’t use body lifts if you don’t know where to install them. Otherwise, you might insert these kits in the wrong positions and make a mess of your 2WD truck.
- Always cross-check the spacer lift kits of your truck. Otherwise, it might affect the joints of your vehicle in the long run.
- Installing spindle lift kits on your 2WD is a must.
Cost Of Lifting A 2WD Truck
In reality, you’ve to pay the price of the lifting kits, known as lift kits cost. The prices vary according to the quality and availability of the gear. Many 2WD truck lift kits are available online, while some are rare.
If you’re thinking of lifting your 2WD truck to 2 to 5 inches, you should spend $400 to $12,000, depending on the kit’s category. When it comes to lifting the car to more than 6 inches, it’ll cost you around $10,000 to $15,000.
On the contrary, moderate lift kits are also available if you’re on a tight budget. You should spend $200 to $1000 to install these kits on your 2WD truck.
Final Words
Once you know how to lift a 2WD truck, you should inspect your truck’s specs. Otherwise, inserting lifting kits in the wrong place will cost you, consequently costing you more to fix your vehicle.
We hope the discussion about whether you can lift a 2WD truck has properly guided you. Follow the step-wise guide to install the lift kits safely. You also lift your truck’s rear end using the same equipment. Avoid driving on holes if you want your truck parts to last longer
