xlttune

I do whatever it takes to get ~1.5" of rake, 4x2, most of the time, lowered in back, 4x4, raised in front.

Cowpig

what would I do with my lifted CRV on 35's if I also lifted my truck? It's just silly to have two lifted vehicles, so obviously I'd lower my f150 to try and get handling and mpg's. That's silly, you're just being crazy now.

beetlevegas

To me it does not make a lot of sence to lift a 2 wheel drive short bed 2 door truck. It will look better lower. No to slam a any 4x4 (to me ) is not smart. It is just throwing money away.

CountryYorker

I've actually seen a lot of lifted trucks. Some do it well and add the wheels with a few extra body accents to make it flow. Some messy lifts using stock small tires and such. Yesterday I had seen my first lowered F150. Now for me, I come from an import scene and lowering is one of the number one things you do and most but not all look absolutely great. I never thought about a pick up truck lowered, but seeing it, I honestly have to say I liked it a lot. Looked good. It had a great stance. I HAVE unfortunately have seen the beat up pick ups that are bottomed out and nearly scrapping. Sorry, but that is definitely not something I can understand, nor do I find to my liking. But to each their own.

Wiggum

A lowered truck has never looked right to me at all ... it's just not my style. As I've said before, I have nothing against those who do it, it's just not for me.

As for the lift, I just did a level/lift because I don't like the factory rake ... it's a tad too severe for me ... couple that with the fact that I think that the enormity of today's full sized pickups is not in harmony w/ the size of the stock tires they put on them. 32" tall street tires that are relatively low-profile do not look right on a 4x4 truck. So, after my level/lift, I was able to put 34" tires on which are much more in proportion w/ the size of the truck, and the overall look is (to me) night and day difference from when I took it home off the lot.

I don't do any hard-core off roading ... mainly just some mild stuff at the hunting camp and the occasional "play day" in the dirt/mud. I also have to spend a lot of time on the road ... so I just went w/ aggressive AT tires, which are still great on the road, but give me a little extra "oomph" when off the pavement, and they fit the look of my truck a gazillion times better than street tires.

safetypin

i like lifted trucks. lifting, however, does not improve ground clearance. it does improve approach and departure angles.

the only way to increase ground clearance (the lowest part of the truck being the differential) is to get bigger tires, which a lift will allow.

also raises the truck's center of gravity.

Wiggum

Actually, it DOES improve ground clearance. Your clearance along your axles and differentials won't change, but those usually clear whatever you're going over because they rise up when your tires go over whatever you're traversing. Where ground clearance really comes into play is when your front tires clear something, and you are "straddling" an object ... you want the under-body of your truck (between the axles) to be high enough to continue over the object before your rear tires roll over it.

but to your point, yes, the only way to get your true, absolute ground clearance higher is with larger tires, thus pushing the lowest points under your truck higher.

safetypin

breakover angle! can't believe i left that one off. you are absolutely right.

CountryYorker

OMG! My bane of existence! Every time my 'friends' would call me it would be to help them move, or to haul car parts from East LI, Jersey, Connecticut... it never ended. Told them I no longer have the truck registered, and BAM! calls stopped instantaneously. SMH

CountryYorker

I was always thinking, seeing trucks with the lift and bigger tires, still leaves their axles low enough that I still don't see much of any extra ground clearance they gain... outside of the extra half inch of clearance for every one inch larger of the tire. I was thinking if there is a modification to actually lift the truck axles to a higher point without only relying on monster truck tires.