Is it ever really necessary to install a lift?

So I’ve pretty much got my build picked out. But one major area I’m stuck on here. Do I ever really need to lift my truck?

I don’t plan on doing any crazy off-roading. What I’m interested in is some casual “overlanding.” Light trail riding, nature preserve type stuff. I don’t want to put any unnecessary wear on my truck if the stock height should be fine. And coming from an SR5 with KO2s to an OR with stock wranglers, I really love the new ride. It’s so much smoother and bumps are far less noticeable which I’m attributing to the suspension, and I don’t want to lose that quality. So if anything I will level out the front end like I did my last taco, just because I prefer the look, and save myself some $$$. Or if the bilstein 5100s ride the same or better than stock, I’ll choose those to level.

Thanks!

 

Stock OR is pretty capable. Can get a 32" tire without lifting which is plenty. Just change out the wheels and tires and maybe ditch the sway bar and you're good to go for any easy and intermediate trail.

 

Get the lift. The stock truck is plenty capable of getting you places. The question is how much scraping are you comfortable with?

 

Well I really like the stock OR wheels, but I’m going to go with 265/75/16 Falken At3w. Unsure if I’d like to remove the sway bar, I’ll be a weekend warrior tbh.

 

I will tell you the truth, however there will be a lot of posts after mine that will try to justify their reasons for lifting.
Ready? No, for normal offroading a lift is not required and is even detrimental. While a lift will improve approach and departure angle, it will also raise your center of gravity, decrease your mpg, not increase your ground clearance (only larger diameter tires do that) and not help with fitting larger tires, if you expect your tires not to rub throughout full articulation.
A lift looks cool. A lift also causes all sorts of new problems like additional maintenance, increased wear and decreased reliability and durability. Your vehicle is the most reliable and durable in it's stock configuration.
Look at any vehicle designed to go a long way off road. They keep the vehicle as low as possible. Good luck and let the counterpoint arguments begin lol.

 

I was planning on adding more / larger skid plates to help with that. Even if I did a lift

 

Yeah to each their own. I kept my sway bar in too. Not planning to crawl through any crazy rock gardens so the on road advantage is nice. Plus I drive my truck like I stole it so I like keeping my front wheels planted.

 

Well you just provided the answer I was thinking. I’m not looking to go over 265/75 in tire size. If I can maneuver myself through most trails with that tire size and no lift (aside from whatever I do to level my front end), I’m happy.

 

Just level out the front

 

Don’t level the front. If you do that and do nothing to the rear you will have some sweet bro lean when loaded up for extended camping.

 

I wish there was a compromise... Maybe I can level the front and put something stronger in the rear to limit the bro lean lol.

 

Level the front, airbags in the back. Air em down while city driving, air em up when loaded...
Edit: And check out the Bilstein 6112’s. They’re basically a bigger better 5100 with the same height adjustability.

 

My biggest concern with doing the bilsteins was the difference in ride quality over the stock OR bilsteins. I really like the ride currently. I did not notice a change in ride quality when I did the 2” RC level before. But it was also a 4x2 and didn’t take it off road.

 

Why don’t you try going places and decide later if you ever need a lift. That way you’ll definitely know ☺️

 

A 1-inch leveling lift, a la TuRD Pro, should be fine in terms of wear and tear on the truck.

 

I can understand not wanting a lift, and as you know a new Stock OR is a VERY capable truck just the way it is. That said i would add a “few” things.

1) Skids- as mentioned above, depending on where you live choose appropriately. I opted for @Mobtown Offroad ALUMINUM reinforced plates and couldn’t be happier. That said if you live near Moab and plan in dragging over rocks Daily, choose steel. Aluminum saves TONS of added weight to your truck.

2) SLIDERS- i didn’t see this mentioned but I’d say more important than the skids. Off-roading you can really mess up the side of your vehicle without these. Imagine front tire in a rock/ log/ ext and rolling off that without sliders that object implants itself into the bottom sheet metal/ rocker panel of your truck sometimes rendering the door useless. NOT COOL. I would do sliders over skids personally if choosing only one. Again i went with @Mobtown Offroad but again you may want to look for shops close(r) to where you live to save shipping. These things are hefty.

3) Tires. If you plan on staying with you’re stock OR suspension and wheels right now, I would get 255 85 R16 Tires. My choice. Cooper ST Maxx. They are amazing and THE BIGGEST tire you can and will fit in your OR without a lift or using a grinder. There are threads 100’s of pages long to read about that if you want. I have this tire size AND went with a 3” OME Lift and couldn’t be happier with how it looks so.... if you do decide to lift your tire choice will still be relevant.

Just my $.02

Good luck in whatever path you take!!

-YOTA

 

I took my truck through some pretty tough trails when stock. I traveled all over to hit different wheeling spots. Ended up lifting it to clear 33s because I was coming very close to damaging rocker panels and the undercarriage. A lift is only needed if you plan on hitting rough trails which require more ground clearance

 

I have seen enough evidence that lifting your truck does more harm than good. The OR model is pretty capable stock.

 

Very good point.