Looking to lift your SUV or truck? Lifting it can grant you a whole new world of capability, with conquering tougher trails, venturing deeper off the beaten paths, and increased ground clearance, approach, departure, and breakaway angles. However, choosing the right lift kit and suspension system for your vehicle is critical to maintaining optimal dynamics and on-road performance.
A mismatched or poorly installed lift kit and suspension system will spoil your on- and off-road experience and could be downright dangerous. That's why ExtremeTerrain is on hand, with the Top 5 lift kit and suspension systems you can buy in 2022. With years of experience in a wide range of off-road accessories, we're ready to assist. Let's get into our list.
Rough Country Suspension Systems
Founded in 1975 as one of the first aftermarket off-road shock-absorber manufacturers, Rough Country has since diversified into a broad portfolio of components that cover nearly every major system across almost any mainstream off-roader that you can buy in the USA. The company is owned by Heckethorn Products Inc.
ExtremeTerrain carries a wide range of Rough Country suspension systems. Our range of lift kits contains everything you'd need, including shock absorbers. If you want to go really high, we offer kits with a whopping 7.5-inches of lift! If you’re looking for something milder, our range starts at 2-inches of lift, so there’s something for everyone, really.
Teraflex Suspension
TeraFlex produces suspension components, and the company is primarily focused on Jeeps, having dipped its toes into the aftermarket waters in the 1950s, making parts for military use. If you've got a Jeep, a Wrangler, or CJ in particular, you can browse the Teraflex line-up right here.
TeraFlex does not produce entire lift kits, but rather lift-compatible shock absorbers, able to handle zero to 4.5 inches of lift, so you could install them for a suspension upgrade without a lift if desired.
Readylift Leveling Lift
ReadyLift produces a range of lift and leveling kits, as well as individual components for a broad range of SUVs and trucks from Jeep, Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, Ram, and more. ExtremeTerrain carries a wide range of their products right here. A relatively young company in comparison to the first two, ReadyLift entered the market in 2006 and is currently owned by Wheel Pros.
What is a leveling kit? It's usually installed to even out what's known as rake. Rake is when your vehicle's front is lower than the rear, and manufacturers tend to do this on vehicles such as trucks, so that rake evens out when the vehicle is loaded. However, you're not likely to be loading your vehicle with heavy cargo and hitting the trails, so to even out rake when unloaded, you can use a leveling kit.
Proryde Liftmachine Leveling Kit
Proryde has been around since 1980, producing OEM suspension geometry components for North American manufacturers. Their products are largely adjustable, including their lift and leveling kits, allowing you to make desired adjustments once the equipment has been installed.
A user-adjustable lift or leveling kit can be extremely useful, as you can adjust the height and leveling of your lift and leveling kits at will, from the comfort of your garage or driveway, with simple tools and another person assisting you.
Daystar Comfort Ride Leveling & Lift Kit
Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, and dating back to 1977, DayStar Products has been at the aftermarket suspension game for over four decades. They’ve diversified into chassis, underbody, and interior products as well, and their ride leveling and lift kits offer solid, dependable performance. You can browse their range on our website right here.
Their lift kits include polyurethane mounts for added durability. Pair a Daystar kit with a shock absorber of your choice, and you've got a winner. If you're unsure of an appropriate pairing, our experts can help.
Things to Consider With a Lift and Leveling Kit
When installing a lift and leveling kit, there are a few factors that you should consider and take appropriate precautions accordingly. These are:
- Your vehicle’s overall height will increase. This might be an issue if you’ve got a height-restricted garage or low garage door.
- On-road dynamics will also change, since lifting your vehicle increases the center of gravity. While aftermarket suspension systems can somewhat tame the increased body roll, if you’re an aggressive driver, you’ll need to take it easier on cornering, lest you flip over your vehicle.
- If you're using a leveling kit, but you also load your vehicle with heavy cargo, the installation of a leveling kit might cause the rear to sag and the front to point upwards when your vehicle is loaded with cargo. In this situation, an adjustable leveling kit is best.
If this list has you hankering after accessories for your off-roader, then you're in luck: ExtremeTerrain has some of the best deals around and carries a wide range of lift and leveling kits.
