Lift kits
More ground clearance, room for a bigger tire and suspension travel that works off pavement. Learn how lifts work below, then book a free consultation and we will plan the lift around your tire.
Choose the tire first
The most common mistake with a lift is picking a height and hoping a tire fits. Work the other way. Decide on the tire diameter and width you want, then find the lift, wheel offset and bump stop setup that lets it cycle without rubbing.
Unlike a leveling kit, which only raises the front of a pickup to match the rear, a lift raises the whole vehicle. That means more parts and angles to correct, but also room for 35-inch and larger tires on the right platform.
Spacer lift or suspension lift
Almost every lift starts with one question: keep the factory springs and shocks, or replace them? The answer decides how the vehicle rides, how much height it can take and what the job costs.
Keep the factory suspension
Spacers on top of the coils or struts, or blocks on a leaf-spring rear, add height while your factory springs and shocks stay in place.
- Typical height
- About 1 to 2.5 inches
- Ride
- Close to stock
- Travel
- No added travel; shocks work near full extension
- Cost
- $
- Best for
- A better stance and one tire size up, on a budget
Replace springs and shocks
Taller springs or coilovers with shocks valved for the new height, plus the arms, track bars and brackets the height calls for.
- Typical height
- About 2 to 6 inches or more
- Ride
- Often better than stock
- Travel
- Designed for the new height, with more control
- Cost
- $$–$$$$
- Best for
- Bigger tires, trail use and vehicles that carry weight
Only need the front of a pickup raised to match the rear? That’s a leveling kit. Not every lift is made for every vehicle, so we confirm fitment before anything is ordered.
What we lift most
Jeeps, Toyotas, full-size trucks and Broncos each lift differently, and the trim often matters as much as the model. Here is what each one can take. Bring your tire plan to a free consultation and we will match the lift to it.
Jeep
Wrangler JLJKTJGladiatorCherokeeRenegadeWranglers and Gladiators ride on solid axles and coils, so 2 to 3.5 inches clears 35s once the track bar, arms and driveshafts agree with the height. The Cherokee KL and Renegade are unibody crossovers that take modest spacer lifts; the XJ takes a real suspension lift.
Toyota
4RunnerTacomaTundraIndependent front ends lift a few inches easily and a lot with difficulty. Past about 3 inches, CV angles, upper control arms and alignment range set the limit. KDSS, X-REAS and rear air change which kits fit, and the TRD Pro and Trailhunter get their own plan.
Full-size trucks
Ram 1500Ram 2500F-150Silverado & SierraHalf-tons lift 2 to 3 inches with coilovers or spacers, or 4 to 6 inches with knuckle kits that drop the front differential. The Ram 2500 lifts with coils, arms and a track bar, and the Silverado and Sierra 2500HD need a drop-bracket or knuckle kit past a mild lift.
Bronco
BroncoBronco SportThe body-on-frame Bronco takes 2 to 3.5 inches for 33s or 35s, with upper control arms and a rear track bar. Sasquatch and Badlands kits must match the factory dampers, and the Raptor has its own options. The unibody Bronco Sport tops out around 1 to 2 inches.
Don’t see your vehicle? We lift plenty of others. Book a consultation, call or text and tell us what you drive.
How lift kits get their height
Kits sold under the same inch number can work very differently. From simplest to most involved. Tap a card for what you get, who it suits and the trade-offs.
What the height asks for
A lift changes geometry that the factory set for stock height. Depending on the vehicle and the inches, some or all of these belong in the quote.
Track bars
On a solid axle, a lift changes the track bar’s angle and pulls the axle off-center. An adjustable bar or a relocation bracket puts it back, set at ride height. See steering for why this part matters so much.
Caster correction
Lifting tilts the front axle or knuckle and reduces caster, which makes steering feel light and less willing to return to center. Cam bolts, adjustable arms or aftermarket upper control arms bring it back.
Bump stops and brake lines
Extended bump stops keep a bigger tire out of the fender at full compression. Longer brake lines or relocation brackets keep the lines from stretching at full droop.
Driveshafts and slip yokes
Taller lifts steepen driveshaft angles. Some kits call for an aftermarket driveshaft; older Wranglers often need a slip yoke eliminator kit, which we install, to stop vibration from the rear shaft.
CV axles on IFS
On independent front ends, extra height steepens the CV axle angle, which wears boots and joints faster. Differential drop spacers can ease that angle; whether one makes sense is decided job by job, and we talk it through with you.
Gearing and electronics
Larger tires make the speedometer read low, can shift camera and radar aim, and feel slower on naturally aspirated engines. We don’t regear, reprogram speedometers or recalibrate driver-assist systems, so we flag those needs early.
What drives the quote
We don’t publish one lift price because the range between a spacer kit and a long arm system is wide. These are the things that move the number and the install time.
Kit design
Spacers install fastest; IFS kits with new knuckles and crossmembers take longest.
Shocks
Twin-tube, monotube, remote reservoir and adjustable coilovers span a big price range, and they are where most of the ride quality comes from.
Add-ons
Track bars, control arms, driveshafts, brake lines and a slip yoke eliminator add parts and labor when the height calls for them.
Condition
Seized bolts, rusted hardware or worn joints found during the install can add time.
One drop-off, finished at pickup
We install the kit and its supporting parts, torque everything to spec, set the track bar and bump stops, mount and balance your wheels and tires, and finish with an alignment. We are Northern Colorado’s MetalCloak specialists and have a direct account with Rough Country, and with Sport Truck USA for Fox, JKS and Zone Offroad. We’re open Monday through Friday, 9 to 4, with early drop-off and late pickup available, and special requests can be discussed.
A lot of lifted rigs here spend more time on gravel county roads than on trails. Weld County alone maintains roughly 2,080 miles of gravel road, and washboard is where soft, underdamped shocks give up first.
Colorado law also regulates suspension changes (C.R.S. 42-4-233) and caps headlamp height at 54 inches to the center of the lamp. We build to keep your vehicle road-legal. Local pages: Windsor, Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley.
See it on a real build
Photos and parts lists from rigs we’ve done in the shop. More on our builds page.
- Don’s Wrangler Xtreme Recon: a MetalCloak lift on 37s
- Rex’s JL Rubicon: a MetalCloak Game-Changer lift
- Jordan’s Toyota Tacoma: an Old Man Emu MT64 2-inch lift
- Chris’s Ford Bronco: Eibach coilovers and ICON upper arms
- Wendolyn’s Toyota Sienna: a 2-inch minivan lift for snow
Lift kit FAQ
Can I supply my own lift kit?
We will install it, at a higher labor rate and with no warranty from us on the parts or the labor. Before you buy, compare: we do not mark kits up, so our price usually matches the manufacturer’s own, and a kit bought from a deep discounter can leave you with only their return window instead of the manufacturer’s warranty. More on customer-supplied parts.
How much lift do I need?
Enough to clear the tire you want, and not much more. Tell us the tire size and we will tell you the lift, wheel offset and bump stops that go with it.
Will a lift make my ride worse?
Not if the springs and shocks suit the vehicle’s weight. Spacer lifts keep stock shocks, so they ride closer to stock but gain no damping.
Short arm or long arm?
For most solid-axle lifts up to about 3.5 inches, a good short arm system works well. Above that, long arms keep angles flatter and usually ride better, at a higher cost and with brackets that can catch on rocks.
Do I need an alignment after a lift?
Yes, every time. Every lift we install leaves with the alignment done in the same visit.
Will bigger tires need new gears?
Often, on naturally aspirated engines with much larger tires. We don’t regear axles, but we will tell you when your tire choice is likely to call for it.
What customers say
5.0 from 46 Google reviews
Zach did some suspension work on my truck and it came out great, he was quick and the price was fair. Will definitely be back for more work in the future.
I had some Rubicon takeoff springs installed on my Wrangler JL Sport 2 door. It was awesome to watch Zach work. He took time to torque everything properly and still completed the job in a very timely fashion. It was a great experience!
Zach did a great job on the lift install for my sequoia. Highly recommend!
I recently had a set of Fox 2.0 shocks installed on my daughter's Jeep at Off-Camber 4x4 Garage and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From start to finish, the Zach and Team was knowledgeable, professional, and efficient. They took the time to explain the different shock options, ensuring we chose the best setup for her needs. The installation was done quickly and with great attention to detail. The Jeep now handles better than ever—smoother on the road and more capable off it.
Zack made a great recommendation on the Old Man Emu overland suspension for my 2021 Ford Ranger. Also on the installation. Truck rides and handles great.
I can’t say enough good things about this jeep shop and Zach was super friendly and even looked at something I thought could be an issue. As someone that works in the trades and was hoping for a smooth experience. They exceeded any expectations that I had. My jeep looks a lot better lifted. I had very specific time frames I was hoping to meet and they made it work, answered dozens of questions that I had, and provided tons of information I wanted to know and didn’t think to ask.
Zach and his team are nothing but stellar. They helped me a winch install, new upgraded suspension lift, and off-road lights for my Silverado. I would highly recommend them for any off-road upgrades you are looking to do for your rig.
Zach did an excellent job replacing my Jeeps ball joints. Very satisfied with the joints he suggested and the work that was done.
Plan your lift
Lift kit installs in Windsor, CO, for Jeeps, Broncos, Toyotas and trucks from Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland and across Northern Colorado.