Are you a truck guy but there is something missing with your truck, like do you even lift bro? If your truck is stock then it’s time for some upgrades for summer! Your truck is an extension of yourself and just like getting yourself ready for summer, you need to get the truck bulked up and ready for summer. You know there’s aftermarket parts out there but you’re not sure what to buy. Today we are going to go over a few simple steps to bulk up for summer!

1. Lift Kits:  Let’s start off with your lift kit, why, well let’s face it that’s what we do best! There are simple things to lift kits to full-on suspension systems. Shocks, coil springs, control arms, tie rods, spacers, blocks, end links and more can go into making up a suspension lift system. Lifting the suspension is also one of the most popular modifications made to a vehicle, especially trucks. Lifting your ride can give you the answers for going off-road, better ride performance, the “LOOK” you want or just looking to install bigger wheels and tires. Take a look at each of our lift options to see what is right for you.

Leveling kits:

Leveling Kits are an easy starting point to lift your truck for a great leveled stance. Most ReadyLIFT leveling kits are a 1.5” to a 3” to allow for slightly larger than stock wheel and tire combinations. Our leveling kits give you that look and tire upgrade while maintaining factory ride quality.

Mid Level SST Lift Kits:

Smart Suspension Technology (SST) Lift Kits and are designed to provide a lifted, but level or near level stance along with clearance for maximum wheel/tire sizes, all while maintaining your factory ride. SST kits are designed for folks who want more than just leveling the front. These kits are the perfect middle-ground by providing a mild lift in front and rear and without the cost of a much larger lift. SST Lift Kits are all-bolt on and install in one-third the time of a more expensive conventional lift kit.

Big Lift Kits:

Big lift kits are the full suspension solution for your complete lift kit package by ReadyLIFT. Run large tires and give your truck an aggressive look. ReadyLIFT’s big lift kits provide maximum lift while maintaining factory handling. Big Kits will allow you to take your off-road adventure to the next level. This is the go-to truck lift kit for performance-minded customers. If you want a really large lift on your truck, suspension lift kits deliver, allowing you to achieve up to 6, 7, 8, or 9 inches of lift. These kits are also excellent if you want to really build a customized truck because they allow you to virtually install any tire and wheel size.

2. Tires: Tires play into how your truck looks so be sure to take a look at the tread pattern and sidewall to make sure that you like the styling that goes along with the performance. You may have an idea of what tire size you want on your truck before you pick a lift kit but it is important to make sure whatever lift kit you decide on that the tire/wheel combination will work with your new lift. Knowing the lift height allows you to pick the perfect tire to sit under your truck for that stance, comfort, and performance! Obviously, tires are going to have a HUGE impact on the way your truck performs. There are a few different types of tires you need to be aware of before you purchase.

MT - Mud Terrain:

These tires will give you the most aggressive look for off-road use as they are designed for harsh terrain. These tires typically have the most road-noise, most aggressive tread, and give you the shortest mileage before wearing them out.

AT - All Terrain:

These tires are designed primarily for road/daily use and longevity. These typically have the least amount of road noise and the least aggressive tread.

XT - Hybrid:

Hybrid tires are a mixture of MT and AT tires. They can be used on asphalt or on the trails. These are great for a “tough” look while giving you a better driving experience and more miles than the MT.

3. Wheels: Wheels are a chance for you to show off your personality or in this case your truck’s personality. Wheels are similar to tires as size and offset may vary based on your lift kit selection. Be sure to check out what recommendations of size and offset of wheels ReadyLIFT recommends for the lift kit you want on the truck. There are a lot of different styles of wheels but things like offset shows how for out or tucked in your wheel will sit, wide measurement gives you that wider or skinnier tire look, and diameter can really give you a chance to show of the creative look of a wheel. Learn more about tire/wheel sizing, offset and more with our tire sizing guide. The following are the most common types of wheels offered by the aftermarket wheel industry.

Steel Wheels:

This is where the aftermarket wheel industry got started. They consist of a steel outer/rim and a steel center. Chrome plating is very easy on this type because the rim and center are polished and chrome plated separately then pressed together and welded.

Steel/Composite:

This method of building wheels was started back in the 60’s. It consists of a steel rim and a cast aluminum center. This allows for more styling in the center. The aluminum centers are cast with steel cleats or inserts on the outer edges so it can be pressed into the steel rim and welded just like the Steel Wheels. These wheels are offered primarily chrome plated.

1 Piece Cast Aluminum:

This is now the most common wheel sold in the aftermarket. It offers the most variety of styling, sizes and finishes. These wheels can be painted, machined, polished or chrome plated. They are offered in sizes from 13″ to 26″ (28″ & 30″ are in development). These also offer reasonable weight savings over Steel or Steel/Composite. The disadvantage of the 1 Piece Cast is the backspace/offsets are fixed in the mold.

Forged:

This is the type that offers the lightest weight. Because of the forging process, the wheel can be built using much less material than a 1 Piece Cast. The styling is limited in comparison to a 1 Piece Cast and the tooling and manufacturing costs are much greater. These too can be painted, machined, polished or chrome plated. Because of costs, the sizes offered are limited.

2 Piece Aluminum:

Also known as Billet, this type of wheel has been around for about 20 years. Like the Steel Wheel, it is made of a rim and center. The rims are rolled or spun and the centers are cast, forged or machined billet aluminum. The rim and center are pressed and welded together which also allows for a variation in backspace/offset. Forged and billet aluminum centers are typically stronger than cast centers because of the density of the aluminum. Finishing is limited to painting, machining or polishing. Chrome plating is difficult because the welding has problems created by the copper, nickel and chrome from the plating process.

3 Piece Aluminum:

These are also known as Modular wheels. The rim is made up of 2 pieces, the front rim section and the rear section which are either spun or formed. The center can be of a cast, forged or machined billet type. The 3 pieces are assembled with the center sandwiched between the front and rear rim sections with bolts or rivets securing the pieces together. Styling is again limited, but finishing choices are like the 1 Piece Cast.

Now that you know more about wheels check out our parent company as we offer all the top brands and types of wheels in the aftermarket, WheelPros. WheelPros gives you more looks, sizes, and quality with leading brands like Fuel Off-Road, Black Rhino, American Force, KMC, and many many more!

Now you know the top three items to make your truck stand out this summer you can go shopping and see what setup is right for you! Start today by entering your vehicle make, model, and year in our vehicle configurator at the top to see what great products we can offer you here at ReadyLIFT.