Lift Kits vs. Leveling Kits: What’s the Difference?

Are you ready to upgrade your truck’s appearance to make it sit a little higher and look more distinguished? If so, you may get hung up on the next question: should you invest in a lift or a leveling kit to get the effect you want? Understanding the differences between the two options will allow you to make an educated choice.

So, you’ve made up your mind to lift your truck and begin to do some research. But we’ve been there. And, trust us, before long your head will be spinning from all the choices: lift kits, leveling kits, air suspension, load levelers.

What is a leveling kit? What does a leveling kit do exactly? What is a suspension lift? What is a life spacer? And what the heck is the difference between all of them?

Let’s examine two of the most popular options available, whether for serious off-roading or simply just to provide a meaner stance: truck lift kits vs. leveling kits.

What is a Lift Kit?

Lift kits, such as the Rough Country option, raise the front and rear of your truck. You can either get a body lift kit, which uses blocks and spacers to raise the vehicle’s body higher onto the frame, or a suspension lift kit, which involves several tedious tasks, varying from swapping out shocks to replacing the driveshaft.

Lift kits come in two varieties, each with their own pros/cons: suspension lift vs body lift kits.

A body lift utilizes blocks and lift spacers to lift the body higher onto the frame of the vehicle without altering any of the suspension geometry. With a body lift kit (vs a suspension lift), your ground clearance remains unchanged, but the extra height allows you to run larger wheels and tires. You’ll happily notice that the steering geometry remains unaltered, too, so your rig retains most of its original driving and handling characteristics. 

Just take note that stability can be negatively impacted, due to the increased ride height. Most people find that they get used to this after a few drives with their new mod.

Body lifts tend to be more affordable and easier to install than their counterparts — suspension lift kits. So, if your budget is a big factor, a body lift may win out on the body lift vs suspension lift debate. On the other hand, our suspension lift fans might just tell you that the added cost is worth every penny. Even when you factor in a more involved installation.

Suspension lifts typically involve replacing everything from the shocks/struts and leaf springs to the control arms, trailing arms and sometimes even the driveshafts and steering components. Like we said, a bit more involved than some simple lift spacers. Replacing and upgrading these components allows for more suspension articulation, more ground clearance, the ability to run even larger tires, and an all-around more capable off-road vehicle.

As with body lift kits, stability and driving dynamics can be affected, however, as your truck will now have a higher center of gravity and altered steering and suspension geometry. Truck lift kits can range from $120 to $500 and more, depending on brand, body lift vs. suspension lift and the level of performance you are looking for.

Lift Kit Pros and Cons

There are positives and negatives to anything you buy for your truck. You just have to weigh the possibilities to see which is the better fit. Here are some lift kit benefits:

• Provides more ground clearance for offroading expeditions
• Adds to the truck’s aesthetic appeal
• Maintains a similar quality ride as prior to installation

Although a lift kit has several perks, it puts a lot of stress on the suspension. Here are some other downsides:

• Time-consuming installation
• Frame visibility
• Possible warranty cancelation

What is a Leveling Kit?

When talking about lift kits vs leveling kits, it’s really a discussion of how much height you want and where you need it. A leveling kit does exactly what it sounds like — it levels the truck. By raising the front end up a few inches, you can eliminate the factory rake in your truck and bring the front and rear level. This is primarily done for looks, but it can also add a small amount of ground clearance to the front of your truck and give you the ability to run larger tires.

Most manufacturers sell trucks that sit higher at the rear than in the front. This degree of rake helps drivers haul weighty cargo without the truck’s rear drooping lower than the front end. Leveling kits raise the front by using strut extensions, coil spacers or torsion keys to meet the rear’s height.

With an extra thousand pounds in the back, the rear springs compress and cause the rear end to drop a few inches to accommodate the added weight. But since the rear started out higher than the front, this won’t create such a dramatic “sag” in the rear. This is done for two reasons.

• First, if the front and rear were level and you then put 1,000 pounds in the bed, it would bottom out the suspension and cause the bushings, shocks, etc. to wear out prematurely.
• Second, driving with the suspension fully compressed is not only uncomfortable for the vehicle’s occupants but also dangerous because it severely and negatively affects your truck’s handling.

So, what does a truck leveling kit do when you need to haul big loads? And does that mean you have to pick between hauling your weekend toys or your leveling kit? Not at all.  

Leveling kits are a very simple design, utilizing coil spacers, strut extensions or torsion keys (depending on your truck’s suspension), and many can be installed without having to jack up your vehicle. Even better, leveling kits only raise the front of your truck – instead of lowering the rear. So, your payload capacity remains unchanged. You can still put just as much weight in the bed without fear of the suspension bottoming out. Unlike with truck lift kits, your driving experience and truck’s stability should be more or less the same. Where you’ll see the difference in your leveling kit before and after is going to be mostly looks.  

One other thing you may notice when comparing leveling kits vs. lift kits is price tag. A leveling kit costs anywhere from $45 to $200 or more, which is quite a bit less than a lift kit. That will definitely leave room in your mod budget for other add-ons.

Leveling Kit Pros and Cons

Most drivers use a leveling kit, such as the ReadyLIFT option, to even out a truck’s height when it’s not carrying a load, ultimately allowing for larger tires. This kit can give your vehicle a sharper appearance along with the following benefits:

• Offers a taller look without hindering your ability to get in
• Requires less financial obligation 
• Keeps the weight your truck can carry the same as before installation

Unfortunately, there are no performance benefits that come from a leveling kit. Further, here are some other drawbacks:

• Rear sags with a heavy load.
• Fuel economy may slightly decrease.
• Design change can cause the suspension to wear out quicker.

Lift Kits vs. Leveling Kits: Which One Is Right for You?

When deciding on which kit to choose, you should first think about your personal truck goals. Do you stick to the paved road, or do you take every opportunity you can to drive through muddy fields and hidden rocky paths?

A lift kit can turn your roadworthy vehicle into a monster truck, able to get through the roughest terrains, whereas a leveling kit is better suited for everyday travel. Each option will give your vehicle a unique look other drivers will envy.

If you’re ready to make a final decision, visit an online auto store where you can get the parts to transform your truck into the vehicle of your dreams. Whether you need a new set of wipers or a top-of-the-line Borla exhaust system, knowledgeable associates can help you pick out the best products.

And luckily, AutoAnything has countless customer reviews on our full line up of both lift kits and leveling kits from people just like you. Just think of them as your trusted friends, here to help you make a decision. And, if you’re still stumped, we also have knowledgeable staff that is just a click or a phone call away, ready to answer any of your lift kit questions!