The Beginner’s Guide to Automobiles

Tips for Buying a Lifted Truck

Buying a lifted truck, also known as a 4 x 4 truck, can be tricky. After all, it is a rather rare vehicle, modified and designed for off-road adventures and other demanding jobs. The idea behind a lifted truck is to provide protection to its body by lifting it high in the air, which keeps it from crashing against the ground or any ground level objects..

Below are things to remember before you actually a lifted truck:

Drive Shaft Length and Angle

To operate properly, a lifted truck should have a drive shaft with an appropriately adjusted length and angle. A usual truck’s universal joint has a 1 to 3-degree pinion angle, and all lifted trucks should have a differential pinion angle no greater than 2.50 degrees. Slip travel differential should be within 3/4 of an inch to an inch to make up for the vehicle’s significant “give and take.”

Brakes and Tires

Lifting the truck’s chassis provides more room for big tires and wheels. This gives the truck ability to drive over rough terrain without damaging the vehicle’s underbody. However, the brakes of a huge truck must be modified if it must be raised and driven safely. This is simply due to the fact that bigger tires and wheels are bulkier and need larger and stronger brakes to stop the vehicle completely. Make sure the brakes of the lifted truck have been modified, with larger than usual roots and calipers that can put the truck to a halt within a fair distance. Also check if the tires of the vehicle suit your purpose for buying it.

Examining a Truck Thoroughly

As when buying any other kind of pre-owned automobile, you must thoroughly inspect a lifted truck before you decide to have it. Ask the seller for information about the owner and the amount of off-road experience the vehicle has. Know what type of lift it is, who did it and if there were any problems with it. In most cases, lifted trucks are sold used, so have a flashlight, inspect vehicle truck and check nooks and crannies for hardened mud. This will give you a picture of the truck’s off-roading life. Don’t forget to look into the U-joints, half-shafts, bearings and idler arm.

Being a shopper, you should pay attention to lift blocks found on the truck’s rear axle. They indicate that a cheap lift kit was installed. The best lift kits are those with fairly new, if not brand new, arched springs with suitable length, which prevent abnormal shackle angles. Check the truck’s fluids for their dipstick level and color, and whether or not they contain water. Also check the anti-freeze for any oil. Lastly, take the truck for a spin on rough terrain, and observe for noises, leaks and difficulties with steering response.