What is the purpose of adding a lift?

The Lift FAQ does not address this question. It only talks about the different kinds of lift, pros and cons, etc.
The Suspension Info sticky sort of addressed this indirectly by mentioning

- Most lift or leveling kits do not increase ground clearance. On most kits, additional ground clearance comes from increased tire size only.

I figure for off-road use, you want to increase the ground clearance of the truck. And the only way to increase ground clearance is using larger tires. And in order to use larger tires, a lift is needed.

My question is, are there any other reasons where adding a lift is necessary?
Likewise, I suppose it follows that the you only need to add enough lift to accommodate the tire size you want to use right?

 

While adding a lift allows for larger tires, thus increasing ground clearance, they also allow for better approach and departure angles. But yes, the primary purpose is for larger tires to get more ground clearance.

 

what is approach and departure angle?

 

When your driving to the obstacle you don't have as much as a chance to hit the bumpers, or the front end, departure is when you are driving off the obstacle, you have less of a chance dragging the rear of the truck on the obstacle. That's what I think it approach annd departure angles are, if I am wronng someone please correct me
^That's what I wanted to say but i could not think of the right words.

 

This should help.

 

Well you see, you can't be a true mall crawler without chrome rims (or black Rockstar XDs) and a huge lift. Also, oakley glasses and a flat brim hat are also necessities. That's why you need a lift!

 

Let's not forget that the truck just looks better with a lift and bigger tires as well..

 

ok, that makes sense. That explains why I see pictures of off road vehicles with no front or rear bumpers. Armor will not help in this case right?

A vehicle with the axles closer to front and rear (like FJ, Jeeps) are better suited for handling higher approach and departure angles without adding the extra lift?

 

No argument there.
Just want to keep the topic on "necessary" purpose (like higher clearance and approach angle) and not "subjective" reasons.

 

I'm putting a light on for performance off road and a better look from my point of view.

 

lifted trucks get all the chicks!!!

 

Some people install lifts because of the higher load capacity over a stock suspension, as well. Adding more leaves and stiffer leaves means you can carry more weight before the suspension bottoms out. I can't speak for everybody else, but if do go with an aftermarket suspension it's going to be so that I can load a yard of mulch in the back without bouncing on the bump stops the entire way home.

 

Based on this, which is better, a larger tire with just enough lift to accommodate the tire? or a smaller tire with extended lift?

will using larger tires solve all off road problems?

 

Is this for real? You lift a truck to gain ground clearance front center and rear. The larger tires with lift the frame and axles. If you don't think lift is necessary take a stock Tacoma on 265 tires in a rock garden then take a 3" lifted Tacoma on 35's in the same rock garden. You will understand why the lift is necessary.

 

If you install a lift, the general consensus is to fit the largest tire you can, without rubbing on turns. Larger tires will also improve approach and departure angles. They key is to get as much of the frame and axles away from the ground. A lift by itself raises the frame, but axle clearance is just as important. Breaking it down you can look at it this way:

Lift -
Increases frame height, thus body height
Results are - better approach/departure, and break over angles
Ability to fit larger tires

Larger tires -
Increases GROUND CLEARANCE which is the height above the ground that your differentials (front and rear) have.
Results are - better approach/departure, and break over angles
Ability to clear rocks and debris as you roll over them.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

pretty much this....

 

Another way to look at it is suspension lift vs. suspension upgrade. We've all seen vehicles with huge lifts and monster tires that never see dirt beyond the gravel road leading to the boat launch.

It is true that a lift leads to the ability to add bigger tires which leads to greater clearance under the axles. However, many vehicles can do 90% of the trails with OEM suspension.

OEM suspension is engineered to satisfy a majority of the people a majority of the time as cost effective as possible. This leads to short cuts and "cheaper" parts. A suspension upgrade, while lifting the vehicle, also provides re-engineered components which can often times be stronger and more durable than OEM. They can also be less bulky which can also increase ground clearance.

That said, a majority of people probably don't need aftermarket upper and lower control arms, coilovers and anti-binding shackles but they do want the best. Many times aftermarket, when done correctly, can also improve the ride quality and handling.

 

Thanks and yes, that is very clear.

I understand from what you described that we can use a combination of larger tire size, plus additional lift beyond what is required to accommodate the tire to handle the approach and departure angle.

and based on Tacos Dorados earlier remark, the highest tire size that makes sense is one that goes up to the front edge of the vehicle, and the lift necessary to accommodate that tire size. As there is no point adding more lift if the tire is already at or past the front (rear) of the vehicle.

would you say for the tacoma, it is not feasble/possible to install such a large tire size (due to gear limitation,etc)? hence the additional lift is needed to compensate for that limitation?

 

My current suspension is still OEM stock with 181,000 miles on it.

I have a new suspension ready to install because I want better on and off road performance.