So, you’ve decided it’s time to put a lift kit on your Jeep or truck. Maybe you want to take your Jeep or truck offroad where ground clearance is a critical factor. Maybe you just like the way it looks, not to mention the improved vision from sitting higher from the road. Whatever your motivation, a lift kit can make a significant change to your Jeep or Truck.

It’s even safe to say that a lift kit is transformative. When you’re done, your truck just won’t look the same. It will be like an entirely different Jeep or Truck. But, if you’re going to add a lift kit, you want to go all the way. That means that you want to do the job right.

The first issue presented by adding a lift kit to your Jeep or Truck is that it will move the rear differential away from the back of the transmission. This means that the length of the driveshaft needs to increase to compensate for the change. If you don’t make this critical adjustment, you may find yourself on the side of the road when your driveshaft falls out of the back of the transmission.

The next issue isn’t necessarily as mechanically critical; rather, it’s more aesthetically critical. You want larger tires. This will probably require replacing the wheels, too.

If you don’t replace the tires with a bigger set of meats, you’re probably going to find that the Jeep or Truck looks a little funny with those tiny tires under it. The tiers may not have looked so small before you added the lift kit but, you can believe, they’ll look miniature after the lift kit is installed.

It’s all a matter or proportion. Of course, as you increase the size of your tires and wheels, keep in mind that you want to make this increase based on the amount of lift you’ve added to your Jeep or truck. If you don’t give the truck that much lift but you add humongous tires, the tires may bottom out and rub on the fenders and wheel wells when you go over bumps.

You may also want to consider the offset of the wheels and tires. Larger tires are usually wider than smaller tires. For instance, you may require some negative offset to keep the tires from rubbing on the inside against the wheel wells (negative offset brings the mounting hub closer to the back of the wheel and, therefore, move the tire and wheel out away from the vehicle – positive offset does the opposite).

There is a wide array of measurements you’ll want to make before you choose the size of tire and wheel, as well as the offset.  It’s a good idea to seek the assistance of a professional before you choose a tire and wheel. Of course, it’s not a bad idea to seek the advice of a professional for the entire modification. You’re spending good money on your lift kit. You definitely want to do it right the first time.