Body Lift Kits

How a body lift differs from a suspension lift

A body lift leaves the frame, axles and suspension exactly where they are. Taller blocks go between the body mounts and the frame, so the body sits higher and the wheel openings move up relative to the tires. Ground clearance under the axles does not change, but you gain room for a larger tire, and the suspension geometry, ride and alignment stay factory. Because nothing moves in the drivetrain, a body lift is a cheaper and simpler route to clear 33 inch tires on a TJ or 35s on a JL than a suspension lift of the same height, and the two can be combined.

The tradeoff is cosmetic and mechanical. The gap between the body and the frame grows, which is why Daystar sells gap guards to hide it, and the bumpers either stay with the frame and look low or get relocated. Steering columns, shifters, fan shrouds, fuel filler necks and brake lines all cross the body-to-frame gap and have to be addressed.

Choosing a height

• 1 to 1.25 inch: the mild option for a JK or JL. Often enough to clear a 35 inch tire on a JL with stock suspension, usually with only bumper brackets and a shifter adapter required.
• 2 inch: the common choice for pickups like the Ram 1500, Colorado and Frontier. Expect a steering extension, bumper brackets and sometimes a fan shroud spacer.
• 3 inch: the maximum sold for most vehicles, used on the TJ and older Ford and Dodge trucks. Requires more hardware and more installation time, and tall blocks put more leverage on the body mount bolts, so quality hardware matters.

What is in the box

Kits differ widely in completeness, and the listing titles do not always say so. Look for the spacer material: fiberglass reinforced nylon, polyethylene and polyurethane are all in use here, and CNC machined aluminum spacers are sold separately for TJs. Confirm whether the kit includes new longer body bolts of grade 8 or better, a steering shaft extension, front and rear bumper relocation brackets, transfer case and transmission shifter extensions, and a fan shroud drop. The Rough Country TJ kits, for instance, add grill and radiator support brackets, and some TJ kits are automatic only or require a six speed upgrade piece for 2005 and 2006 manuals.

Automatic versus manual matters on Jeeps because the manual shifter protrudes through the body and binds when the tub moves up. Check for the transmission note before choosing.

Installation tips

Allow a full day for a 2 or 3 inch kit; Daystar quotes 8 to 9 hours for its Frontier kit. Work on a flat surface, loosen every body bolt before raising, and lift the body a few inches at a time, alternating sides, with wood blocks as a safety backup. Watch the brake lines, wiring harnesses, fuel filler hose and the steering shaft slip joint as the body rises. Replace any rusted body bolts, use thread locker, and torque the new bolts to the kit instructions. Recheck them after a few hundred miles.

After the lift, the hood may need its latch adjusted, the radiator fan should be centered in the shroud, and the parking brake cable and transfer case linkage usually need adjustment. Headlight aim does not change, since the lights move with the body only an inch or so.

Legal and safety notes

Some states limit total lift height or bumper height, and a body lift adds to whatever suspension lift you already have. Check local regulations before stacking them. Body lifts over 3 inches are not sold here for a reason: taller blocks transfer crash loads poorly and strain the mounts.