EZ Lift Kit Buying Guide
If you are looking lift your truck or build an off road rig there are a ton of things to think about before you jump in. Things like ride height, tire size, price, ease of install, how frequently you plan to hit the trail, and much more. Lucky for you EZ Wheeler is here to make lifting your truck EZ. By gathering all the information you'll need to make an informed decision when shopping for a lift kit, and putting it in one convenient place. This guide should be useful for both lifted truck new comers, because we will tell you everything you need to know before you lift your truck, and to lifted truck veterans, because we will offer quality and price comparisons to help you easily see what is the best lift kit for you.
Contents
- Where to start
- What kind of lift is right for me?
- How high do you want to lift your truck?
- Installing your kit
- Brand Comparisons
- Useful Accessories
Where to start
There are a couple of things that you need to keep in mind before lifting your truck or Jeep. Those things are your tire size and the type of driving you'll be doing in your vehicle. In our opinion the best place to start when choosing a lift kit is with tire size. This is because if you know your tire size then you'll know how much lift you need to prevent rubbing on your inner tire wall. Next, you need to keep in mind what type of driving you'll be using this vehicle for. Will this be your designated off road rig? Or is this going to be your daily driver? Knowing the answer to these questions will help you answer the next question:
What Type of Lift Kit is Right For Me?
There are two main types of lift kits to choose from. Which one you choose really depends on the type of driving you do.
Body Lift Kit
This is where knowing your driving style comes into play. If you don't do a lot of off roading but are still looking for an aggressive off road stance then you'll want to go with a body lift kit. This type of lift kit doesn't offer a lot of ground clearance because, as the name implies, only the body is being lifted. A body lift kit does however, give you more room for bigger tires. So if that is what you are looking for then this may be the kit for you. The main benefit to body lift kit is that they are much cheaper than suspension lift kits, so if your looking to lift your truck on a budget then you will definitely want to look into body lift kits. Give yourself a more aggressive look with a body lift from EZ Wheeler.
Suspension Lift Kit
Now, if you do a lot of serious off roading then a suspension lift kit is what you're looking for. The extra ground clearance that a suspension lift provides is exactly what any off road enthusiast needs. A suspension lift kit lifts the whole suspension of your vehicle giving you more ground clearance so you can rock crawl and hit those more extreme off road trails. The only down side to a suspension lift is in the price. Not only will you be spending more on the lift kit itself, but also on the other components that you will need to keep your vehicle riding smooth on the road. It will however, be worth the investment once your having hours of fun off roading.
How High Do You Want to Lift Your Truck?
The height of your truck is another important factor to be thinking about before you purchase a lift kit. Because the height will determine what size tires you can install, how much ground clearance you get, and how intimidating your ride will look while riding down the road. The height of your lift, just like the type of lift, really just depends on the type of stuff you'll be doing with your truck. If it's your daily driver you'll probably want to go with a lower lift kit, to prevent premature wear on some of your components. If you're going to be hitting the off road trail a lot, then lift that truck or Jeep as high as you can! Lift it high because you'll be able to tackle tougher terrain. But keep in mind you want to keep a low center of gravity so don't exceed what is recommended for your tire size.
Installing Your Lift Kit
A lot of our customers take pride in the fact that they are mechanically inclined. They get great enjoyment from having an off road rig that they built with their bare hands. If you are one of these people you don't have to worry because EZ Wheeler makes sure to package all of our lift kits with detailed instructions so you can install the kit yourself.
With that being said, lift kits can be a pretty tough install sometimes, depending on the size of the kit and the year/make/model of your truck. That's why here at EZ Wheeler we tell our customers to follow these rules of thumb:
- A 1"-2.5" lift is easy to install yourself, as long as you have the necessary tools and knowlage of how a suspension system works.
- 3" kits and above start to get more difficult. You'll need to have an intricate understanding of the bracketry that is usually included in those kits.
- When you cross 4", 5", 6" and more, it becomes almost a certainty that you are going to use one of our installers, or an installer that you already trust very well. The amount of headaches that you will save will be worth it, trust us.
Brand Comparison
It's always important when purchasing a lift kit of any kind to go with a well known reputable brand. There are a lot of imitators out there that cut corners when it comes to quality to save money. Don't be fooled by unknown brands that promise cheap kits online. Always do your homework and know that it's always best to go with one of the brands listed below.
Zone Offroad
Zone Offroad has been involved in designing lifted suspension systems for over 20 years so you know they know what they are doing. Their kits have been designed to fit within your budget without sacrificing quality or performance. This is our go to brand when you're is not looking to spend an arm and a leg, but still looking to do some heavy off roading.
| Lift Type | Starting Price | Warranty | Available Heights | Ease of Install |
| Leveling | $81.95 | Yes | 1"-2.5" | 1/5 |
| Body | $89.74 | Yes | 1"-3" | 2.5/5 |
| Suspension | $ 129.95 | Yes | 2"-8" | 4/5 |
BDS Suspension
BDS Suspension is one of our favorite lift kit brands. These guys really care about their lift kits and it's pretty obvious once you see the quality of their lifts. The high quality of BDS will cost you a little bit more, but it's worth it because of the long lasting parts and no fine print life time warranty. Their warranty is really awesome, It pretty much says if your part ever breaks they will replace it, and you can't beat that. Also, all BDS Suspension parts are made right here in the USA, so when you purchase a BDS lift kit you can take pride in the fact that you are supporting American companies and jobs.
| Lift Type | Starting Price | Warranty | Available Heights | Ease of Install |
| Leveling | $141.62 | Yes | 1"-2" | 1/5 |
| Body | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Suspension | $ 579.69 | Yes | 3"-8" | 4/5 |
JKS Manufacturing
JKS Manufacturing exclusively makes parts for Jeeps. So, if you have a Jeep JKS is the best brand to go with. It's no coincidence that those who know Jeep performance best choose JKS products for their own vehicles. It's because JKS products take advantage of original equipment components and technology whenever possible, this means that vehicle drivability and reliability are never compromised.
| Lift Type | Starting Price | Warranty | Available Heights | Ease of Install |
| Leveling | $81.95 | Yes | 1"-2.5" | 1/5 |
| Body | $105.00 | Yes | 1"-3" | 2.5/5 |
| Suspension | $ 948.20 | Yes | 2"-8" | 4/5 |
Useful Truck Accessories After You Lift
The fun shouldn't stop after you've lifted your truck. There are still plenty of accessories that you'll need if your going whether your going to hit those off road trails, or just want the aggressive looks of an off road rig.
Skid Plates
If you are going to be doing any sort of off roading then you will definitely want to invest in some skid plates. A good skid plate will ensure that no sticks or rocks jump up and damage the crucial components of your truck. This is one truck accessory that any off road enthusiast can't do without.
Side Steps
If you've just lifted your truck then this one seems pretty obvious. You're going to need something to help you get into that lifted vehicle, and that's where side steps come into play. Side steps make it a lot easier to climb in and out of your truck and that is why they are a must have for any lifted truck owner.
Shock Absorbers
Most lift kits come with shock absorbers, but in the rare case that yours doesn't, make sure you go with a top quality brand. Shock absorbers play a vital role in any suspension system and is not something that should be glossed over. There are two types of shock absorbers hydro and nitro. If you are looking for high performance we would recommend nitro shocks, if you're looking to save some money go with a hydro shock. To learn more about the difference check out our hydro vs nitro blog post.
Recovery Gear
If your going to be out in the wild off roading chances are you're going to need some recovery gear. Things like wenches, tow hooks, and d-rings will be needed if you get into a pinch. Always make sure you are prepared for anything before you head out on to the trail with recovery gear from EZ Wheeler.
Floor Mats
If you are out on the off road trail chances are you are going to get muddy. Think about getting stuck in the mud. You have to get out and push or tie your winch to a tree and hope it pulls you out. Either way you're gonna get mud on your boots, and that mud makes it into the cab and all over the floor. It's always a good idea to make sure you have some floor mats to protect your interior from situations like this.
Fender Flares
This one is for those of us that love the aggressive look of an off road rig. Fender flares give your ride a tougher look that will intimidate everyone on the road.
