Everything You Need To Know About Lift Kits

This month at Milner Off Road, we’ll take you through what a body lift kit is, what a suspension lift kit is, which one is right for you and where you can get one. Basically, everything you need to know about lift kits.

If you’re a keen 4x4 off-roader, you’ll no doubt have come across lift kits - at the very least you’ve probably heard people talking about them. Let’s start by defining the two most popular lift kits and why people use them.

What is a body lift kit?

A body lift kit does exactly what it says: it lifts the body of your vehicle. The body of your vehicle is lifted away from the frame by the addition of spacers inserted over the original mount bushings on your vehicle. You can usually achieve between 2 and 5 inches of lift with a body lift.

The reason people opt for a body lift is usually to be able to fit larger tyres than the standard configuration allows for. Since you’re only lifting the body from the frame a few inches, you don’t gain any extra ground clearance this way - something to be aware of when choosing your lift kit. You may find that handling is slightly affected, with the chances of a body roll increased by a small amount due to the slight raise in height.

What is a suspension lift kit?

A suspension lift kit lifts the whole body and frame of your vehicle by extending your suspension. Your suspension is used to absorb the bumpy ride but can be adapted with a suspension lift kit to help give the bottom of your vehicle extra ground clearance. A suspension lift kit is essentially larger coils and shock absorbers than the standard configuration in order to gain that extra height. You can usually achieve between 2 and 9 extra inches of lift with a suspension lift.

This is a great tool for anyone who really loves their off-roading, as it means you’re less likely to encounter issues going over rocky terrain or when trying to drive over obstacles such as fallen trees and debris. However, since the whole of the vehicle is raised, there is an increased chance of vehicle roll because the centre of gravity has been lifted. This means greater care is needed when driving to account for the altered handling of your 4x4.

Which lift kit is right for you?

Choosing which lift kit is right for your vehicle depends on what you’re trying to achieve. If it’s an aesthetic choice in order to allow you to fit larger tyres for your vehicle then a body lift kit should do the job. If you’re looking for greater ground clearance when going off-road, a suspension lift kit is going to give your entire vehicle that extra elevation to allow for driving over tricky terrain.

Where can I buy lift kits?

If you’re looking for high-quality lift kits - whether for body or suspension lift - then look no further than Milner Off Road. We’ve been specialist suppliers of parts and accessories for 4x4s since 1981, shipping worldwide for a range of makes and models. Unlike when you purchase from a private online seller, with us you get peace of mind knowing the parts are up to the job and that we have a team of friendly advisors who you can call if you need advice and information about any of the products we sell.

Take a look and shop online with our range of body lift kits and suspension lift kits today.