Functional Advantages of a lift and/or bigger tires

For those of you that lifted your truck and/or stuffed bigger tires under it for the functional benefits, what degree of functional benefits do you perceive you got? Also how did those benefits compare to other modifications you did or considered? I am trying to phrase this question to avoid discussion of the aesthetic reasons for lifting a truck. I previously asked a similar question phrased differently and it didn’t generate a lot (it did some) of the type of discussion I was looking for.

Edit: an ideal answer to this question would be something like, “I drove trail A while stock, then drove it with a 2” lift, then drove it with a 6” lift, and my experiences were X.” I know it’s unlikely I’ll get an ideal answer, but I’m giving an example to help drive the discussion to where I’d like to see it.

Edit: I’m trying to avoid spending $20,000 to answer my question by myself, but there may be no other way and that might be more fun anyway. I wish truck parts were as cheap as bicycle parts.

 

Define "functional advantage"

 

A hell of a lot more clearance while driving in the woods or deep snow !

 

Larger/taller tires is the only way to raise the differentials up off the ground. In order to gain that clearence one must spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to do so. That's it. That's the story. End of discussion.

 

Lift for bigger tires ,yes ^^^^

 

Approach angle and clearance body (lift) and axle (tires).

Some mods may be better suited. If I did more rocky offroading then sliders would have probably helped as with or without a lift I'd likely scrub the sides. An aftermarket bumper may improve and accomplish your goal if you just want approach angle improvements. I went places when I was stock that I had plenty of clearance, my approach was fine, and I never scrubbed the bottom sides of my truck (where sliders would help) BUT I kept smashing/scrubbing my rear bumper, which could have been remedied by a high clearance rear bumper.

The lift sort of helped with all of those issues, but maybe not as much as something could have helped each thing individually. I find myself most often in mud, which is why I went MT tires -> bumper + winch -> OME HD lift kit (mostly to help with the weight upfront, I like the lift, but it was ancillary to my main purpose).

 

Will I see results in the downstairs department?

 

Ground clearance. I'm dinging the shit out of everything at stock height just driving fire roads.

 

Example: Without it I could not get over obstacle A.

 

Aside from clearance and angles(lift helping body/frame clearance and tires helping diff and body/frame), bigger wider tires have a bigger contact patch which gives you more traction. A bigger tire will also have an easier time climbing near vertical faces(not talking about driving straight up, but getting up 1-2 foot "shelves")

Certain suspension set ups will give you more articulation, which can keep a tire on the ground that otherwise wouldn't. Suspension can also help letting you go faster through some terrain, soaking up the bumps and cracks better.

 

It’s debatable whether a lift is required to install bigger tires. Also, the ability to install bigger tires is not a functional advantage unless the tires have a functional advantage.

 

This is all generally accepted and well documented theory. Do you have any specific personal experiences?

 

Me too. Did you lift? How far? How much did it help? Was there a trail you couldn’t do without the lift?

 

A lot easier to clear over the snowflakes.

 

I don’t notice clearance problems in the snow until it’s so deep that I’m plowing it (15”+). At that snow depth, I’m not sure I could go over any sort of obstacle even if I had enough clearance. In snow I am more worried about traction than clearance. I have not experimented a lot with clearance though. I am curious to hear if you have.

Edit: what I mean is that I generally have traction problems in snow before I get to the point where I am having clearance problems. But snow varies so much, so it depends. Snow is awesome that way. Conditions can be complete different day to day. Keeps you guessing. I used to do a lot of bicycling in the snow and had to constantly change up my gear and tactics day to day.

 

Yes ,clearance

 

Most/all of that isn't theory unless you mean scientifically like the theory of gravity.

But yes, I have a 2 inch lift which did indeed lift the truck. My 32" ATs have more traction than the stock tires. I can definitely do bumpy fire roads, washboard, etc faster than with the stock suspension.

 

Ive been stopped dead by a downed tree across the road at stock height/tire size. With bigger tires we could have climbed over it. This was in a Forest Service pickup. I now carry a saw

 

Yes but you are just quoting generally accepted and well known theories/best practices.

 

That makes sense, but with say a 2” lift and 33” tires how many more trees could you climb over? I know it’s probably not an easy question to answer and that’s why I asked the original question.

And ya a saw is probably a better solution to your problem. I once was descending a narrow, steep, and long farm “road” when I ran into a downed tree and had to reverse all the way back up it. Hah!