How Much Lift For Overlanding? [Is It Even Necessary?]

Are you thinking of going overlanding? Do you have questions regarding the lift on your vehicle before going overlanding on rough terrain? If you are asking yourself any of these types of questions, we can help you find some answers.

How Much Lift For Overlanding?

The most common lift height for Overlanding is 3 inches. However, the minimum amount of lift is 2 inches, and the maximum lift is 6 inches. The lift height of a vehicle can be adjusted according to what activities the vehicle will be participating in and the owner’s preferences.

To learn more about lifting your car specifically for overlanding, keep reading.

Is a Lift Necessary for Overlanding?

A lift kit is not necessary for overlanding. It is completely up to the type of experience you want to have while out on the road. 

If you are wanting to have a more adventurous, exploratory experience and will take on rough terrain on trails that are off the beaten path, then a higher lift might be a worthwhile modification.

If you are wanting to have a more observant, smooth experience while overlanding, then you may just want to stick to the standard 2-inch lift, since you wouldn’t be encountering too much variation on the road. A stock Jeep Wrangler is perfectly capable of overlanding without additional lift.

If you were to take a more off-roading trail and didn’t have a lift any higher than 2 inches, you most likely wouldn’t get very far, nor have the experience you are searching for.

This is why making sure you have an amount of lift that will give you enough clearance to go over any dirt road, rocks, roots, hills, and less traveled roads is important so you are able to take on any and all obstacles that you may come upon.

If you take on a less rough trail, it wouldn’t hurt the vehicle to have a higher lift, but it really isn’t necessary. The amount of lift on the vehicle is always up to the driver’s discretion, but it is important to consider the type of experience you want to have.

How Much Lift Do You Need for Off-Roading?

While you may not necessarily need to lift your car when going over basic trails while overlanding, if you want to have a successful, fulfilling off-roading experience, you are going to want a little bit of lift. 

The purpose of the lift while off-roading is to have space underneath your vehicle to pass over the inevitable roadblocks and obstacles that you will encounter. That being said, the higher the lift, the more freedom, and ability to go off-roading in more treacherous places you will have.

The suggested amount of lift for off-roading is anything above 2 inches, but you can always get additional lift if you want it. You can gauge how high of a lift you want based on what kind of trails you are wanting to go on. 

If you are not sure and are wanting to take on the road as it comes, it would probably be in your best interest to go with the maximum lift, which is 6 inches, so you have that option if you do decide on the trail to take a trail with rougher terrain.

As far as how much lift you need for off-roading, the minimum amount is 2 inches, but it limits where you can off-road; while the maximum is 6 inches, which opens so many off-roading trails to you for endless exploring.

Is a 4 Inch Lift Legal?

The legality of 4 inch lifts varies between states. For example, in Massachusetts, you cannot have a lift higher than 2 inches, which makes 4 inch lifts illegal in that state. 

Contrary to Massachusetts, in the state of Rhode Island, you can have a 4 inch lift, but cannot go any higher than that. 

That being said, it is important to check the limits within your own state, so you are aware of the laws you should be abiding by and avoid being ignorant of the expectations where you live.

Some may ask what the purpose of having a law that limits the height of the lift on a truck, so here are a few reasons. Oftentimes, when there is a high lift on a vehicle, it becomes less and less easy to control, especially at high speeds.

The main concerns that are had with vehicles that have a high amount of lift are that those vehicles are more dangerous to be involved in a crash with than opposed to a vehicle the same size. 

Safety on the road is the top priority of all law enforcement, and it is important to follow the laws put in place.

While it may feel cool in the moment to drive around lifted a couple of inches higher than all the other vehicles driving on the road, it is not cool to lose control of the vehicle and create dangerous situations for yourself and other drivers.

Does a Lift Ruin Your Truck?

Whenever you are contemplating whether or not to add something to a vehicle, it is normal to have some hesitation in regards to harming your vehicle. As far as how lifting your truck will affect it, the truth of the matter is, is that if the lift is done properly and taken care of in an efficient manner, you should do no damage to your truck.

On the contrary, if done incorrectly, the lift can cause strain on other parts of the truck, especially the suspension.

If there is unnecessary stress put on the suspension, that can cause it to wear down sooner than it would have otherwise. 

You have a better chance of lifting your truck correctly if you have a professional do it, instead of trying to take care of it yourself.

Something to consider when lifting your truck is that when you lift your truck, it will alter the way it feels to drive, and it will more than likely become more difficult to drive your truck. This will cause you to need to be more aware and cautious when encountering potholes, speed bumps, and train tracks because if you hit them with too much force, it can cause damage to the suspension.