How to Lift a Truck

Whether our Salt Lake City neighbors drive with Ford, Jeep, Chevy, GMC, RAM, Nissan, or Toyota, they can generally expect that the rules we go over will apply to their truck. That said, it’s always best to consult your owner’s manual first and to call your manufacturer to make sure any changes you make fall within your warranty. Also note that there are many types of lift kits with different requirements. These instructions attempt to be very general—to get you started so your lift kit instruction manual can take you the rest of the way.

If you’re wondering, “how do I lift my truck?”, and your gut is telling you you’re out of your depth, leave it to the experts. The National Auto Plaza mechanics know the ins-and-outs of how to lift a truck and can do this for you affordably and effectively. While you’re here, don’t forget to check out our service specials. 

What Tools Do I Need to Lift a Truck?

The tools Draper drivers need to install a lift kit are:

• Vehicle jacks and jack stands
• Socket wrench
• Torque wrench
• Lug wrench
• Screwdriver 

We also recommend that you have a pry bar and a hammer on hand, just in case there are some stubborn old parts that you’re having trouble removing. Also get some WD-40, or something stronger. It doesn’t hurt to have a few extra nuts and bolts too, just in case you need to replace some rusted ones along the way. 

How Do I Lift My Truck at Home? A Step-by-Step Guide

No set of online instructions can act as a substitute for the instruction manual that was included with your lift kit when you purchased it! And again, for 90 percent of you, we recommend a professional installation, but if you’re an experienced DIY enthusiast in South Salt Lake, and this guide already seems intuitive to you, feel free to continue. 

Make sure that you’ve purchased a lift kit that is appropriate to your vehicle’s specifications. Then, take the following steps to lift your truck at home:

1. Remove the negative cable from your battery.
2. Loosen up the lug nuts on your wheel so that your tires can be quickly removed once you’ve raised your car off the ground. 
3. Use your jack and jack stands to elevate the vehicle. Since you’re going to be at this job all weekend, be extra certain that the vehicle’s center of gravity is right where it should be. 
4. With your truck elevated, take off the wheels and tires. 
5. Remove the old U-bolts, along with your vehicle’s current shocks and springs.
6. Attach the new bolts from your lift kit. Assemble any parts according to the instructions that came with your kit. Follow the instructions to attach the new shocks and any suspension modifications. 
7. Grab a torque wrench and tighten all of the bolts according to proper specifications. 
8. Reattach your old tires or the bigger ones you may have purchased for your new, higher clearance.
9. Lower your vehicle ever so carefully. 

One thing to note is that you may need to install a new transfer case, a longer drive shaft, or additional components. This will likely be mentioned in your instructions, but don’t hesitate to call us for a once-over. 

The Mechanics at National Auto Plaza Know How to Lift a Truck 

If West Valley drivers are still wondering, “how do I lift my truck” after reading this guide, we highly recommend you take your truck into the garage at National Auto Plaza in Sandy. We can get your truck lifted in no time. 

The fact is, truck lifts are extensive work. We know many of you are capable DIY mechanics, but this is a big job that may require some seriously expensive equipment to perform. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask. In the meantime, if you have other questions, explore our site for our many helpful guides covering topics like whether or not you can get full coverage on a used car.