How To Pick The Right Suspension Kit for Your Vehicle?

It’s not difficult to find truck lift kits for any type of vehicle since there are so many available on the market today. The type you choose will depend on the type of off-roading you plan to do. Truck lift kits are designed for certain types of terrains. Whether you want to try desert driving, rock climbing or jungle adventures, there’s a kit that will modify your vehicle to meet those needs. The suspension kits will lift your vehicle a variety of different heights from just 1.5 inches to six inches. For extremely specialized off-road vehicles or vehicles for show, there are kits that will lift the vehicle 12 inches or higher. This is an impractical height for practical use, but looks impressive for show. Kits can modify a vehicle just a little or they can significantly modify a vehicle requiring major vehicle replacements and welding.

 
Spring Over Axle (SPOA) Lift Kits

For the person who’s looking for a lift kit that’s ideal for off-road rock crawling, the Spring Over Axle Lift or SPOA is the ideal choice. For safe, effective and fun rock crawling, the vehicle must have maximum articulation. This is the ability of the axel to move with the chassis of the other axel when the wheel goes up and down during travelling. The goal is for the wheels to maintain ground contact even over the most uneven terrain such as what you would find rock crawling. SPOA tuff country lift kit will provide the highest level of leverage to the springs. This allows the tries to gain better traction and stick better to the ground. With such grounded tires, the chance of tipping over when crawling over even the largest boulders is greatly reduced. The SPOA is also known for providing superior side to side reflection compared to the springs that come with the average vehicle.

The ground clearance you’ll receive with SPOA is superior when used with the right lifted springs. The SPOA moves all important parts, including springs, out of harm’s way even over the roughest terrains. If a four and a half inch lift is what you’re looking for, you can use SPOA with stock springs. This height will allow you to fit your vehicle with 31-inch tires. If driving in sand or mud, the SPOA lift bar will put too much pressure on the springs over time so it’ll be likely that an additional traction bar device may be needed. Sometimes the SPOA lift can cause problems with steering and handling. To prevent or reduce these negative effects, it may be necessary to put in additional instalments. SPOA kits are reasonably priced, easy to install, and a favorite among rock crawlers.

       
Shackle Reverse (S/R) Suspension Lift Kits

If you’re dreaming of cruising through beautiful forest roads or exotic deserts while enjoying a smooth comfortable ride, then the Shackle Reverse Suspension Lifts is what you should use. For ease of speech, these are called S/R truck lifts and are very popular skyjacker lift kits for the handy person. They’re also a good choice for vehicles that have front leaf springs. S/R truck lifts absorb high speed impacts through the back of the spring and is not recommended for highway driving. They are best suited for mild terrains. They are also not recommended for vehicles with short wheelbases such as Suzuki Samurai and are best suited for long wheelbase vehicles. S/Rs could pose a danger during braking on highway roads so are usually only legal for off-road use. Be sure you’re aware of the legal limits of vehicle suspension lifts for your state before you complete any installation.

 
Coil Suspension Lift Kits

The new TJ Wrangler, considered one of the world’s best four-wheel driving vehicles, is installed with coil suspension lift kits. Mostly for long wheelbase vehicles, you can also get them for short wheelbase vehicles and even older models, but welding and extensive work may be required. This could substantially increase the cost of tuff country lift kits since you’ll also likely need the help of a professional. The cost is often worth it since the quality of the ride is superior and the articulation is excellent. Improvements are amazing even with older vehicles like an old model Samurai. Be aware that adding any coil suspension lift kit to your vehicle will likely void the warranty.

Lifted Spring Suspension Kits

The lifted spring suspension kit is one of the most failsafe kits you can use to modify your vehicle if you’re new to off-roading. It’s the most common type of suspension lift, it’s easy to install and it’s very reasonably priced. It’s great for the newbie and makes it easy to learn the basics of suspension. The kits typically come with detailed instructions that show you step by step what to do. However, even with the detailed instructions, you will still need some automotive know-how. If you have none, it’s best to hire a professional mechanic to do the installation for you.

If you want tires one to two sizes larger than your stock tires, then the lifted spring skyjacker suspension kit will easily allow you to do that while still providing enough safety for danger-free highway driving. The lifted springs can come in different stiffness and heights. Don’t buy cheap lifted springs since you’ll get exactly what you pay for which is a poorer ride. Choose the best type of springs you can afford for the type of off-roading you’d like to do. Some people like the stiffer springs to prevent the vehicle from bottoming out. These also tend to last longer. Softer springs provide a more comfortable ride, though, and are perfect for driving around town.

      
Shackle Suspension Lift Kits

If you’re on a tight budget, one of the most economical ways to add suspension to your vehicle is by purchasing and using the shackle suspension lift kit. These are more for the look than for practical reasons and are great for those who have show vehicles. They allow you to fit larger tires under the truck but don’t work too well for off-road use.