Most of us would agree that a lifted pickup truck with larger tires looks mucho and offers more ground clearance for 4×4 fun. However, there is a problem with lifted trucks that people don’t talk about. The problem with a lifted suspension and larger than stock suspension is a lower Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and a lower payload.
This graphic is a great overview of all of the vehicle weight terminology that we are discussing here.
American Expedition Vehicles’s Dave Harriton says – “If put a 10% larger tire onto your truck, you should lower your stated GVWR by 10% (same percentage).” If you are talking about a midsize pickup or a half-ton, this can drastically reduce your already low-ish payload capability and towing ability. If your truck is significantly taller than from the factory, your wheels/tires are aftermarket, your aerodynamics is worse, your braking ability is worse, and your trailer towing capacity is lower. It goes without saying – your fuel efficiency is also affected.
To explore this subject further, I picked two trucks at random at our local Colorado Auto-dealers Auction: a recent Ford F-150 Platinum 4×4 with a twin-turbo V6 and a Ford F-350 4×4 with a turbo-diesel V8. I also interviewed three industry experts: Dave Harriton (AEV), Sam Abuelsamid (Wheel Bearings Media), and Scott O’Sullivan (O’Sullivan Law Firm).
We recently published this video report and you had MANY great comments and questions. Here are just several of them.
- What about braking performance? The larger wheels/tires are significantly heavier than stock, and your stopping distances will be longer.
- What about headlight positioning/alignment? Is the headlight positioning adjusted, so that it is not blinding to oncoming traffic?
- Government involvement? Different GVWR classes affect the way you register your pickup truck, it can affect your taxes positively or negatively, or it may put you into CDL territory.
- What about the brand-new trucks with aftermarket lift kits from partner companies that you can buy and finance at the dealership?
- Hotshot drivers with lifted and/or stanced trucks!
- How do the lift/tires affect your 360-degree camera system, radar-assisted cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and other driver-assistance systems on new trucks?
Please join the video below for all of this and much more.
