Most trucks with lifted suspensions are meant for something other than general use. While they have practical applications for off-road driving and handling rugged terrain, most of these distinct jacked-up trucks are also an asset for businesses like landscaping. But how do you customize your truck or buy these high-clearance trucks online? These modified vehicles require special care and consideration, whether you adapt an existing pickup truck or are in the market for a used truck with a lifted suspension.
If you’re looking for guidance on modifying your truck suspension for landscaping purposes, keep reading. If you’re more interested in having someone else do the work so you can focus on your business, check out my comprehensive guides to used trucks and what to consider when purchasing them (be cautious!).
Navigate this guide:
- Lifted Truck Suspensions For Landscaping
- Truck Tires For Landscaping
- Laws and Regulations
- Lift Kits for Landscaping Trucks
- Lifted Suspension Safety
- Start Modifying Your Work Truck
Lifted Truck Suspensions for Landscaping
A traditional truck suspension incorporates shocks and springs. Modern vehicles utilize struts instead of shocks, but this core combination provides the suspension, which is critical for trucks with lifted suspensions, especially in landscaping.
All vehicles “float” on their suspensions. When your tires navigate over an obstacle, be it on a road or in a rough landscaping site, the spring in your truck’s robust suspension absorbs the impact, thereby minimizing the disturbance. This ensures comfort for the driver and passenger, and also protects the truck’s mechanics. Crucially for trucks used in landscaping, this process aids the driver in maintaining control over challenging and unpredictable ground.
In trucks with lifted suspensions, primarily used in landscaping, it is the suspension that you modify and raise. Increasing the size of the suspension’s springs or using larger springs is typically the first step. This is usually the primary means to achieve the greater ground clearance needed in lifted trucks. Following this, new shocks and tires are required to match the new springs. Two simpler alternatives to a full suspension lift are body lift kits or leveling kits.
While a proper lift kit changes the truck’s appearance and enhances its capability over tough terrain, it can sometimes reduce the ride quality on standard roads. However, premium truck lift kits from companies like Skyjacker and Rancho can offer a ride comparable to the truck’s factory suspension, balancing on-road comfort and off-road landscaping capabilities.
If ride quality and aesthetics are prioritized over rugged terrain handling, a body lift kit or a leveling kit should be considered. A simple body lift offers greater height and space for larger tires, like a full suspension lift, without significantly affecting ride quality.
Finding trucks with lifted suspensions for sale can be challenging due to their highly customized nature. Lifted trucks, particularly beneficial for landscaping tasks, can be both impressive in appearance and functional.
Just as there are low rider trucks, there are also cars with lifted suspensions. But in the landscaping world, well-designed lifted 4×4 trucks are often seen as superior in both functionality and form, suited for the varied demands of landscaping tasks.
Truck Tires for Landscaping
Aside from the exceptional ground clearance, the tires or wheels of your truck with a lifted suspension are its most prominent feature. These large tires, often referred to as monster truck tires, have an entire industry built around them, similar to custom truck bumpers.
Though second to springs in functionality, the sizable tires on these trucks significantly contribute to increasing clearance and enhancing the truck’s capability, which is especially useful in landscaping for navigating rough terrain.
It’s important to note, however, that these large tires can decrease fuel efficiency, impact acceleration, and generally turn the truck into a specialized vehicle less suited for regular road use. However, for a landscaping truck, these performance considerations are often secondary to their practical advantages.
Lifted Suspensions Laws and Regulations
Discussing the most relevant suspension-modification laws and regulations here seemed vital, but the diversity of regulations across states makes it challenging to summarize them effectively for everyone. Laws for lifted suspensions and modified vehicles vary greatly, so it’s crucial to research the specific regulations in your area before investing in a suspension lift, body lift, or leveling kit.
Here are some general guidelines: The main measurement for modifications will likely be based on Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings (GVWRs), focusing on setting appropriate bumper heights and/or frame heights according to these ratings.
Generally, state laws prioritize road handling, collision compatibility, and, most importantly, road safety. Regardless of the state-specific details, the vehicle owner is responsible for their modified truck.
Therefore, it’s essential to decide the primary purpose of your modified truck. Will it be predominantly for off-road and landscaping use, or will you also need it for regular road driving? Understanding the applicable regulations for your intended use is crucial.
A key to ensuring both safety and legality is to purchase quality components from reputable suppliers and not to overextend yourself in modifications unless you have the necessary experience and tools.
Lift Kits for Landscaping Trucks
While it’s possible to gather individual components for the lifting process, selecting a quality suspension lift kit is often more time and cost-efficient.
Lift kits include more than just the basic jacks; they may come with shocks, springs, a leveling kit (essential for a proper lift job), body lifts, sway bars, and more. It’s important to choose a kit that is comprehensive, complete, and suited for your specific truck model. Toyota lift kits or Jeep lift kits, for instance, may not be compatible with a Ford F250 or F350.
Alternatively, you can bypass the hassle of assembling your own lifted truck for landscaping by looking for quality pre-lifted trucks available for sale online.
Lifted Suspension Safety
Safety is paramount when using jack stands on any vehicle. Always take appropriate precautions and exercise common sense to avoid severe consequences. Essential safety steps include detaching all fuel lines and removing the coolant radiator tank when beginning the lift.
Each jack stand has specific weight limitations and space requirements. Never use jacks on equipment that exceeds these limits and always allow plenty of space for your work.
It’s also important to research the specific aspects of lifting your particular truck model. Lifting a Ford truck, for instance, might be a very different task compared to lifting a Dodge truck. Lifting Chevy trucks may present yet another unique set of challenges. Every lifted truck has its own set of unique considerations. For example, a friend of mine who specializes in Nissan and Toyota trucks often finds himself at a loss when working on classic American pickup truck lift jobs.
Start Modifying Your Work Truck
Begin by removing the body support block’s nuts, then disconnect the brake lines. Position the jack correctly, which will depend on your truck model. If your truck has coil springs, place the jack on the coil spring pockets in front and on the trailing arm in back. This setup provides optimal stability and security while you perform the lift.
Once you’ve achieved sufficient clearance, remove the tires and start adjusting or replacing the springs. After installing the new springs and large tires, proceed to balancing, leveling, and aligning. These steps can be challenging, particularly on very large or older trucks. Proper alignment is essential, not just for off-road performance, but also for the longevity and reliability of a truck used in landscaping.
Honestly, if you plan to do a lift job only once, it might be wiser to have a professional modify your truck, or you might want to consider pre-lifted trucks available in the market. However, if you’re interested in making this a recurring part of your landscaping business, you’ll find the process becomes more manageable with each attempt.