The demand was extremely high when it came out the first time and even higher when the 2023 was accepting offers.

Some people have received their 2023 Maverick before others have gotten then 2022 Maverick and people are annoyed!

This reddit thread (below) got a bit heated, but provided some interesting insight as to why some customers haven’t heard any updates from Ford, and how to potentially get your order moving faster.

What Impacts Ford Priority?

In this section we will discuss some potential reason why some 2023 Maverick orders are being completed before 2022 Maverick orders.

Ford Priority Codes

When you place an order, you will receive a priority code associated with it. This code will be a two digit number printed on your order summary.

A brand new order is given the code of 99. With a code like this, Ford won’t even look at the order created.

Something important to consider is that any order that has been converted from a 2022 Maverick to a 2023 Maverick will become a priority code 99.

When an order is ready to be placed, the dealership must manually go in and change this code to a number between 10-19. This indicates to Ford manufacturing that the order is ready to be completed.

A lower number on this scale will have higher priority.

See video below for full explanation.

Some Ford orders may see that they have a code labeled “02”. This is a different type of priority code.

When a code is in priority 10-19 Ford has not yet acknowledged the order.

When an order moves to priority 2, it is basically a way of Ford telling you that you were supposed to be next on the list, but due to some kind of constraints, your order was not scheduled.

When you are priority 2 it doesn’t necessarily mean that your truck will be built next, but it does put you on the top of the priority list. When Ford allocates a truck to your dealer, they will check to see if the can fulfill orders with priority code 2 before they look at orders with priority code 10.

This dealership does a good job explaining this in the Q&A.

Dealership Allocation

So mentioned in the prior section is dealership allocation.

Dealerships can not order and fulfill as many orders as they place. Based on historical data, size, and location, dealerships are awarded a certain number of allocations.

An truck order can only be scheduled if the dealership has been granted an allocation for that inventory.

So some dealerships simply have higher demand than they are awarded to fulfill which increases the lead time.

Why your order may not have been fulfilled yet

Your order may not have been fulfilled for a couple of reasons.

The first reason is that your are stuck in priority 2 because of some manufacturing constraint. In this case, you are in the top priority level, but Ford is facing issues with completing your order.

The second reason could be that your order has not made it past priority 99. This means that your order will never be fulfilled by Ford until your dealership manually goes into the system and changes that request.

Another reason is simply that you ordered from a small dealership and they haven’t been granted enough allocations to fill the order.

The last reason that you may think your order is behind is that you haven’t received any email updates. Some customers have noted that when their order changed, for whatever reason, the new order was not connected with another email so there were no status updates due to a lack of a communication channel.

So what can you do about this issues?

What can you do to potentially speed up your order

One of the biggest reasons that 2023 Mavericks are being delivered before 2022 Mavericks is that larger dealerships are getting through their orders first. This is something that customers can’t control. Keep this in mind for the future that dealership location impacts fulfillment times.

Unfortunately, if you are in priority 2, there isn’t much you can do except wait. You are at the highest level and are at the mercy of Ford to choose to schedule your build.

If you are at any other priority code, you should contact the dealership and request to be put at 10. You absolutely want to make sure that you are not at 99, but if you have been waiting a very long time for your order, the dealership may be willing to manually bump you up to 10 which is the highest priority the dealer can set. (Some dealerships may forget about old orders and prioritize new orders before old orders).

The last thing you can do is to call Ford customer service to get the VIN and determine the status of your vehicle. If you feel you haven’t had any communications, there could possibly be some error in your contact information. So your truck may be in the works, and you just don’t know it yet.

Conclusion

You may be experiencing long wait times for your Ford because potentially:

• You ordered from a small dealership that hasn’t gotten proper allocations
• You have a priority code of 99
• You were granted a code of 02 and weren’t scheduled because of manufacturing constraints
• Your contact information is incorrect so you don’t know the current status of your order

Things you can do to potentially speed up your order is to:

1. Check your priority code
   • Make sure it is not listed at 99 then request it be moved to 10
2. Call Ford customer service to check on the status of your build

They have 7 different truck bed cover offerings.

Two of the most popular covers are the BAKFlip MX4 and the BAKFlip F1 tonneau covers. These two covers are both quite similar to each other on many levels.

The main difference between the F1 and MX4 BAKFlip tonneau covers is that the MX4 has a matte finish while the F1 has a glossy finish. The other difference is that the MX4 can hold up to 500 lbs on top while the F1 can only hold 400 lbs. And lastly, the F1 has a dent-resistant polymer material compared to aluminum in the MX4.

The rest of this article will go into more detail about the difference between the two as well as the similarities.

What is the same about the F1 and MX4?

Before we go into more detail about what makes the BAKFlip F1 and BAKFlip MX4 different, let’s look at the similarities, because there are far more of those.

Both covers are hard, tri-fold aluminum truck bed covers.

Both align virtually flush with the height of the truck bed. The folding mechanism is virtually identical. Both covers allow for up to 100% full bed access.

The cover can be held open completely with prop rods that will keep the folded cover components vertically upright behind the rearview window.

There is also an option to strap in the cover to clips affixed to the cover (as seen in the image below) to hold the cover partially open.

Neither tonneau covers require any drilling into the truck bed for installation. Occasionally there is some drilling required if a hard bed liner is installed.

Neither the F1 nor the MX4 is waterproof, but they are water-resistant with a built-in drainage system. BAK does not claim that the items under their truck bed covers will remain completely dry, and this should be taken into consideration in your decision.

And lastly, their biggest similarity is in security. The F1 nor the MX4 have their own lock, they simply lock with the tailgate of the truck. If the BAKFlip tonneau cover is closed, the tailgate is closed, and the tailgate is locked, the tonneau cover cannot be opened.

F1 and MX4 Accessory Compatibility

Because the F1 and MX4 are so similar, BAK has the same recommendations for additional accessories with these tonneau covers.

It can be hard to add any additional truck bed accessories, such as a toolbox, bed rack, or headache rack, but there are options for all three with the BAKFlip F1 and MX4.

Standard toolboxes won’t fit with these covers because they typically sit above the height of the truck. However, there are three toolboxes that will fit underneath these covers.

The first is the TruXedo Tonneaumate Toolbox, the second is the Undercover swing case storage box, and the third is the BAK-designed BAKbox 2.

All three of these were recommended by BAK in their Q&A section as being compatible with the F1 and MX4 covers.

TruXedo TL Tonneaumate toolbox

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UnderCover swingcase storage box

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BAKbox 2 utility toolbox

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If you are looking to install some type of truck bed rack above your cover for extra capabilities, the only rack you will be able to install is the TruXedo Elevate Rack System.

It appears this system sits on the edge of the bed frame so it does not interfere with the truck bed cover.

Truxedo elevate rack system

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And lastly, if you have a headache rack already installed in your truck and want to add a F1 or MX4 tonneau cover, you will need to contact BAK customer service and make sure you get the appropriate adapter to accommodate a Backrack with the BAKFlip F1 or BAKFlip MX4.

F1 VS MX4 Comparison

Now let’s look at the major differences between the F1 and MX4.

Finish

Visibly, the F1 and MX4 look a bit different. The F1 has a glossy finish and the MX4 has a matte finish.

You can see the difference between the two from the pictures below which show a glossy and matte cover. It is quite noticeable that the F1 is quite shiny and reflects light easily, whereas the MX4 is softer.

Price

The MX4 is more expensive than the F1. At the time of writing this article, the F1 was about $30 cheaper than the MX4 for the same vehicle on the BakFlip website. (There is a bigger difference on Amazon.)

Warranty

Both tonneau covers come with a manufacturer’s warranty. This warranty is 5 years for both covers.

This warranty package requires that you register your cover at BAKindustries.com in order to potentially qualify.

They will not accept any warranty claims if they determine that any damage has been made by accident or the fault of the user. They stress that replacements through warranty can only come from defective materials or manufacturing.

Weight

The weight of the cover depends on the size of the bed.

However, BAK does mention in their Q&A that the MX4 (from Amazon) is about 10 lbs lighter than the F1 (from Amazon).

The weight of these covers is in the range of 60-80 lbs, though.

*It is important to note the weight of this addition because it can impact the towing capacity of your vehicle. To see how this can impact towing capacity check out: How is towing capacity calculated?

Supporting Weight

Both the F1 and MX4 can support evenly distributed weight on top of the cover. The MX4, however, is a bit thicker with a stronger foam core and can support up to 500 lbs.

The F1, on the other hand, can only support 400 lbs of evenly distributed weight.

This weight refers to the weight directly placed on top of the cover.

Tailgate Seal

The tailgate seal for both of these covers have the universal seal.

The this means the MX4 and F1 have the ability to open and close the tailgate independent of the tonneau cover position. This is referred to by BAK as the Dual-Action Tailgate Seal.

Material

The MX4 is made from an aluminum material and the F1 has a dent-resistant FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer) coating.

The type of material is something to consider depending on the weather conditions you will face. The F1 is best for hail and truck bed racks and the MX4 aluminum is better for locations with lots of sun.

BakFlip F1

Bakflip F1 hard folding tonneau cover

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Common Complaints

The BAKFlip F1 has exceptional ratings on both Amazon and their shop. On every cover I looked at, there were at least 4 stars on average.

The most common complaint is that this truck cover leaks. This is not designed to be waterproof and is meant to drain as best as possible, but installed improperly, excess water will leak into the bed.

Many people have the misconception that this is intended to keep everything in your truck dry; that is simply not the case.

Installation

As mentioned before, the F1 does not require any drilling for installation. The video below will provide some insight into the F1 BAKFlip and will show the installation if you are interested.

Alternatives to F1

For a cheaper option than the F1, the XCover is, in my opinion, the next best thing.

It is still a high-quality hard plastic folding cover. It is similar to the F1 because it can hold 500 lbs, it has a 5 year warranty, and it is dent resistant.

It is slightly different because it is plastic rather than composite.

Xcover Low Profile Hard Folding Tonneau Cover

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• Plastic hard folding
• 5 year warranty
• 500 lb weight support
• no-drill installation

BakFlip MX4

bakflip mx4 hard folding tonneau cover

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Common Complaints

Similar to the F1, there are many complaints about leaking for this truck cover. Again, it is important to note that the MX4 is not waterproof and does not claim to be, so you should expect things in your truck to still get wet if the cover is exposed to water.

Though there were some complaints on the F1, there were more complaints on the MX4 for dents and scratches. Some customers seem to report that hail and acorns have dented this cover. Similarly, placing anything on top of the cover has resulted in some scratches for some users.

I haven’t placed anything on top of my cover and I mostly keep my truck in my garage, so I haven’t noticed these problems.

Installation

Alternative to MX4

The DNA Motoring Hard Truck Bed Cover is a great alternative to the BAKFlip MX4 if that is too expensive. With a rating of 4.5 stars, it is comparable in approval among the truck community.

The main difference here is that it only supports 350 lbs of weight on top as opposed to the 500 lbs in the MX4.

It does, however, have a matte finish and a similar dual-action tailgate seal installed.

DNA motoring ttc-hard-014 truck bed top

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• Aluminum hard folding tonneau cover
• matte finish
• <350 lbs
• dual-action tailgate seal
• no-drill installation

Final verdict: Which BAKFlip cover is best?

This decision honestly comes down to personal preference. If you prefer the Matte look, then go with the BAKFlip MX4, if you prefer the glossy look (like me), then go with the BAKFlip F1.

Honestly, in my opinion, the other differences are relatively minor that they don’t have much of an impact. The only other decision you may want to think about is whether or not you plan to load the top of the tonneau cover with over 400 lbs (which would require the MX4).

Interested in other truck bed cover options? Read Types of Truck Bed Covers to get a full picture of all options available.

They have 7 different truck bed cover offerings.

Two of the most popular covers are the BAKFlip MX4 and the BAKFlip G2 tonneau covers. These two covers are both quite similar to each other on many levels.

The main difference between the G2 and MX4 BAKFlip tonneau covers is that the MX4 has a matte finish while the G2 has a glossy finish. The other difference is that the MX4 can hold up to 500 lbs on top while the G2 can only hold 300 lbs. And lastly, the MX4 allows you to access and open the tailgate independently of the cover while the G2 requires that the cover must be open in order for the tailgate to close.

The rest of this article will go into more detail about the difference between the two as well as the similarities.

What is the same about the G2 and MX4?

Before we go into more detail about what makes the BAKFlip G2 and BAKFlip MX4 different, let’s look at the similarities, because there are far more of those.

Both covers are hard, tri-fold aluminum truck bed covers.

Both align virtually flush with the height of the truck bed. The folding mechanism is virtually identical. Both covers allow for up to 100% full bed access.

The cover can be held open completely with prop rods that will keep the folded cover components vertically upright behind the rearview window.

There is also an option to strap in the cover to clips affixed to the cover (as seen in the image below) to hold the cover partially open.

Neither tonneau covers require any drilling into the truck bed for installation. Occasionally there is some drilling required if a hard bed liner is installed.

Neither the G2 nor the MX4 is waterproof, but they are water-resistant with a built-in drainage system. BAK does not claim that the items under their truck bed covers will remain completely dry, and this should be taken into consideration in your decision.

And lastly, their biggest similarity is in security. The G2 nor the MX4 have their own lock, they simply lock with the tailgate of the truck. If the BAKFlip tonneau cover is closed, the tailgate is closed, and the tailgate is locked, the tonneau cover cannot be opened.

G2 and MX4 Accessory Compatibility

Because the G2 and MX4 are so similar, BAK has the same recommendations for additional accessories with these tonneau covers.

It can be hard to add any additional truck bed accessories, such as a toolbox, bed rack, or headache rack, but there are options for all three with the BAKFlip G2 and MX4.

Standard toolboxes won’t fit with these covers because they typically sit above the height of the truck. However, there are three toolboxes that will fit underneath these covers.

The first is the TruXedo Tonneaumate Toolbox, the second is the Undercover swing case storage box, and the third is the BAK-designed BAKbox 2.

All three of these were recommended by BAK in their Q&A section as being compatible with the G2 and MX4 covers.

TruXedo TL Tonneaumate toolbox

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UnderCover swingcase storage box

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BAKbox 2 utility toolbox

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If you are looking to install some type of truck bed rack above your cover for extra capabilities, the only rack you will be able to install is the TruXedo Elevate Rack System.

It appears this system sits on the edge of the bed frame so it does not interfere with the truck bed cover.

Truxedo elevate rack system

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And lastly, if you have a headache rack already installed in your truck and want to add a G2 or MX4 tonneau cover, you will need to contact BAK customer service and make sure you get the appropriate adapter to accommodate a Backrack with the BAKFlip G2 or BAKFlip MX4.

G2 VS MX4 Comparison

Now let’s look at the major differences between the G2 and MX4.

Finish

Visibly, the G2 and MX4 look a bit different. The G2 has a glossy finish and the MX4 has a matte finish.

You can see the difference between the two from the pictures below. It is quite noticeable that the G2 is quite shiny and reflects light easily, whereas the MX4 is softer.

Price

The MX4 is more expensive than the G2. At the time of writing this article, the G2 was about $100 cheaper than the MX4 for the same vehicle.

Warranty

Both tonneau covers come with a manufacturer’s warranty. The MX4 does have an extra 2-year warranty with a total of 5 years while the G2 only has a 3-year warranty.

This warranty package requires that you register your cover at BAKindustries.com in order to potentially qualify.

They will not accept any warranty claims if they determine that any damage has been made by accident or the fault of the user. They stress that replacements through warranty can only come from defective materials or manufacturing.

Weight

The weight of the cover depends on the size of the bed.

However, BAK does mention in their Q&A that the MX4 is 5 – 8 lbs heavier than the G2.

The weight of these covers is in the range of 70-80 lbs, though.

*It is important to note the weight of this addition because it can impact the towing capacity of your vehicle. To see how this can impact towing capacity check out: How is towing capacity calculated?

Supporting Weight

Both the G2 and MX4 can support evenly distributed weight on top of the cover. The MX4, however, is a bit thicker with a stronger foam core and can support up to 500 lbs.

The G2, on the other hand, can only support 300 lbs of evenly distributed weight.

This weight refers to the weight directly placed on top of the cover.

Tailgate Seal

The last major difference between the MX4 and G2 is the sealing mechanism in the tailgate.

The BAKFlip G2 cover needs to be open in order for the tailgate to close. This cover does not have the ability to close and lock while the tailgate is shut.

The MX4, however, has the ability to open and close the tailgate independent of the tonneau cover position. This is referred to by BAK as the Dual-Action Tailgate Seal.

G2

Bakflip g2 hard folding tonneau cover

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Common Complaints

The BAKFlip G2 has exceptional ratings on both Amazon and their shop. On every cover I looked at, there were at least 4 stars on average.

The most common complaint is that this truck cover leaks. This is not designed to be waterproof and is meant to drain as best as possible, but installed improperly, excess water will leak into the bed.

Many people have the misconception that this is intended to keep everything in your truck dry; that is simply not the case.

The next most common complaint was that over about 2 years, owners claimed that the cover lost integrity. They said that parts were falling apart.

Though I haven’t personally had this problem, there is a unique problem that I found on youtube which is good to be aware of.

Installation

As mentioned before, the G2 does not require any drilling for installation. The video below will provide some insight into the G2 BAKFlip and will show the installation if you are interested.

Alternatives to G2

For a cheaper option than the G2, the Gator EFX is, in my opinion, the next best thing.

It is still a high-quality hard aluminum folding cover. It has a glossy finish, a 3-year warranty, and no-drill installation.

One thing it has that the G2 doesn’t have is the dual-action tailgate seal. This is actually an upgrade from the actual G2.

gator efx hard tri fold truck tonneau cover

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• Aluminum hard folding
• gloss-like finish
• 3 year warranty
• dual action tailgate seal
• no-drill installation

MX4

bakflip mx4 hard folding tonneau cover

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Common Complaints

Similar to the G2, there are many complaints about leaking for this truck cover. Again, it is important to note that the MX4 is not waterproof and does not claim to be, so you should expect things in your truck to still get wet if the cover is exposed to water.

Though there were some complaints on the G2, there were more complaints on the MX4 for dents and scratches. Some customers seem to report that hail and acorns have dented this cover. Similarly, placing anything on top of the cover has resulted in some scratches for some users.

I haven’t placed anything on top of my cover and I mostly keep my truck in my garage, so I haven’t noticed these problems.

Installation

Alternative to MX4

The DNA Motoring Hard Truck Bed Cover is a great alternative to the BAKFlip MX4 if that is too expensive. With a rating of 4.5 stars, it is comparable in approval among the truck community.

The main difference here is that it only supports 350 lbs of weight on top as opposed to the 500 lbs in the MX4.

It does, however, have a matte finish and a similar dual-action tailgate seal installed.

DNA motoring ttc-hard-014 truck bed top

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• Aluminum hard folding tonneau cover
• matte finish
• <350 lbs
• dual-action tailgate seal
• no-drill installation

Final verdict: Which BAKFlip cover is best?

This decision honestly comes down to personal preference. If you prefer the Matte look, then go with the BAKFlip MX4, if you prefer the glossy look (like me), then go with the BAKFlip G2.

Honestly, in my opinion, the other differences are relatively minor that they don’t have much of an impact. The only other decision you may want to think about is whether or not you plan to load the top of the tonneau cover with over 300 lbs (which would require the MX4).

The Dual-Action Tailgate system is a nice feature, but I don’t find it that difficult of an adjustment to make. However, if you think that feature is worth an extra $100 bucks then go for it; it’s totally up to you!

Interested in other truck bed cover options? Read Types of Truck Bed Covers to get a full picture of all options available.

You may choose to go with a truck cap, simple and light with a soft cover, or durable with a one-piece.

But what are the different types of truck bed covers?

1. Soft Rolling
2. Soft Folding
3. Soft Truck Caps
4. Seal & Peal Covers
5. Snap softcover
6. Hard folding
7. Hard Rolling
8. Retractable
9. Truck Caps
10. One-piece

It can be confusing so I break down the different types of truck bed and tonneau covers you can get for your truck, some easier than others.

We will help you choose the right one by sharing the pros and cons of each type so you can make the most informed decision.

Things to consider before buying a truck bed cover

There are many factors that you need to consider when choosing the right cover for your truck bed. Depending on your needs there are different types of covers that will suit you. Here are some of the important things you need to take into account when you buy a truck bed cover or tonneau cover.

Installation and Attachments

Most truck bed covers are fairly easy to install, but there are some that are more intense than others.

For example, some truck beds require bolting to install. These usually come with the appropriate accessories to attach the truck bed, but not the necessary tools.

Because this is less desirable nowadays, there are more covers coming out with no drilling installation.

Some also are compatible with the truck bed track systems. The way in which the bed cover closes is also a consideration. Some use velcro, some use snap buttons, some use rails, and others just use a tight fit.

Bed access

The different types of truck bed covers provide various amounts of access to the truck bed. If you plan to use your bed frequently, you’ll want to consider a 100% access cover, as some don’t open completely.

Bed protection

Depending on your needs and weather conditions, you may need a heavy-duty cover, or you may just need something to keep the leaves out.

Though truck bed covers will protect the bed of the truck to some degree, there are some that are stronger than others. Of course, truck bed covers by themselves cannot protect the actual bed of the truck from cargo damage, they can protect from external forces.

Security

Most bed covers provide some level of security, but many soft covers do not have added protection.

You need to consider whether or not you plan to use this bed cover to protect and secure items. Hard covers seem to be the most reliable in this category.

Of course there are many lockable toolboxes that can be secured in the bed as a second option and there are some covers that will be able to accommodate these.

Price

From my research, there are some bed covers as low as $150 and some as high as $1,500 and more. If you go with fancier covers and high-end covers, you can look to spend upwards of $5,000.

Durability and material

Similar to protection, you will need to keep in my the durability of the material. Some materials will do more protection and last longer than others. The cheaper ones will tend to rip or dent easier than the harder materials.

The most common materials are vinyl, aluminum, and polycarbonate covers.

Size and compatibility

Due to the slightly different measurements of truck beds, you will need to make sure your cover fits your bed perfectly. There is no one size fits all. There is one size fits many, and oftentimes manufacturers make multiple covers to fit many models and years for a specific truck.

Functionality

Will you frequently add large cargo to your truck? Will you add a rack on top? Will you have a toolbox underneath?

All of these factors will determine the type of cover you will want. Any cargo that you plan to add which is higher than the bed height will require a cap or simple cargo nets/bags. But if you don’t require your cargo to be protected by the cap, you can get some kind of retractable, rolling, or folding cover to access the truck bed.

There are some covers that can hold significant weight on them as well. Like thousands of pounds!

Warranty

Because trucks go through a lot, any cover will also be tested by external forces. Many of these covers, especially the more expensive ones come with some type of warranty.

If you plan to keep your truck for an extended period of time, we recommend you buy a cover with excellent warranty programs to ensure your cover lasts as long as possible.

Tonneau cover vs truck bed covers

A tonneau cover is a type of truck bed cover, but not all truck bed covers are tonneau covers.

“Tonneau” comes from the French language translating to the term cask or barrel (Offroadxtreme.com).

In my opinion tonneau covers refer to the type of covers that are flat in the back of a truck and a truck bed cover is anything that can cover the bed of the truck, no matter the shape or material.

Tonneau Cover Features

For the flat style tonneau covers, there are three main features to assist in your decision.

Hard vs Soft

This is probably one of the toughest decisions to make. This choice has a significant impact on other features offered.

Soft covers are typically much cheaper than hard covers, and the ways in which they open are more versatile without significant cost additions.

Hard covers have more protection and durability of higher security. Many hard covers lock when the tailgate is closed.

Folding vs Rolling

Believe it or not both hard and soft covers come in either folding or rolling options. The rolling hard covers are built with small aluminum slats that can roll-up.

The folding option in hard cover are much cheaper than the rolling hard covers, but the rolling covers are cheaper for soft covers.

There is a third option here which is non-folding. These are only available with the hard covers and hinge at the back of the cab/the front of the bed.

Manual vs Electronic

The last main feature on truck bed covers is the way in which they open. There are some motorized or remote-operated truck bed covers.

Not all types of covers are compatible with automatic and manual options, but there are some options that are solely available in one.

Why you need a truck bed cover

I truly believe that most truck owners for regular use should have a truck bed cover. Those with some type of business or operation which requires frequent, large cargo transportation.

The main benefits of a cover are:

• improved aerodynamics
• improved fuel efficiency
• bed protection
• cargo protection
• weather protection
• cargo security

Types of Truck Bed Covers

Soft Rolling

Soft rolling beds are typically the most basic type of cover. They are the cheapest, least intrusive, and easiest to handle.

Sometimes these types of covers come with support bars, but sometimes they don’t so I wouldn’t rely on them to have much support for weight.

Soft Folding

Soft folding beds are a step up from rolling beds because they have a better structure. Since they are folding, there are support bars at each of the folds.

Soft Truck Caps

There are not many soft truck caps on the market from my research. I think these are great options for people looking for a truck cap but don’t quite need a full truck cap. They are lighter covers to the truck bed that add more cargo space than regular tonneau covers.

There is only one brand on Amazon that sells this type of cover, but it has multiple model options.

bestop black diamond supertop truck bed cover

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Available for:

• Ram 1500/2500/3500
• Chevy Silverado
• GMC Sierra
• Ford F150/F250/F350
• Toyota Tacoma
• Nissan Titan

Seal & Peel Soft Cover

This type of cover is a form of soft roll-up cover with a specialized locking mechanism for a better, more water and weather-resistant seal.

Some soft covers have velcro, but the seal and peel covers have additional seal components.

lundgenesis seal $ peel truck bed tonneau cover for ford ranger

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Snap Soft Cover

This is another type of soft cover, but is a cheaper option due to the decreased seal that is made by the snapping buttons.

This is essentially a tarp cover for the back of a truck bed with a snap button securing. They are not very secure since most don’t come with any kind of locking mechanism.

Hard Folding

The most common form of hard tonneau cover is the hard folding cover. These are the cheapest of the hard covers.

They typically come in trifold versions.

They are better than soft covers because they can be locked, provide greater protection, and have better durability.

Two of the most popular hard folding tonneau covers are the BAKFlip G2 and MX4. Read here if you are interested in learning about them! BAKFlip G2 vs MX4 (Full Comparison)

undercover flex hard folding truck bed tonneau cover

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Hard Rolling

Hard rolling covers are a mix between soft and hard covers. They are not quite solid.

Rather than having larger, hard sections, it has multiple hard, skinny slats that can roll up.

It is sort of the best of both worlds to have the convenience of a roll-up, but the sturdiness of a regular hard cover.

baK REVOLVER X4 HARD ROLLING TRUCK BED TONNEAU COVER

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Retractable

Retractable truck bed covers to me seem very fancy. They are usually either remote-operated and/or electronic.

What makes this type of bed cover unique is that when rolled up, you cannot see the roll. The roll system is secured under the truck bed itself creating a more sleek and clean look.

gator recoil retractable truck bed tonneau cover

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Truck Caps

Truck caps to some are not considered truck bed covers, but they do exactly that. They essentially turn a truck into a large SUV. Rather than adding more seating space, it adds covered cargo space.

Truck caps are quite heavy and reduce the amount of additional weight that can be added and are not great if you plan to tow. These are great, however, for those interested in sleeping in a truck bed or using the truck bed as normal trunk space (such as more personal items that need protection while driving).

They are the most durable form of cover you can get.

The most well-known brand for truck bed covers are the LEER covers.

One-piece lid/Hinged

The next best thing to truck caps are the one-piece covers. These are very durable and sturdy. The open on a single hinge and with proper paint can match the factory color of the truck.

undercover elite one-piece truck bed tonneau cover

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Alternatives to truck bed covers

If after all these options, you still don’t ‘think there is a bed cover that fits your needs, there are two options to help protect and secure your cargo and truck bed.

Bed Tarp Cover

A very cheap and easy option to create a waterproof cover for your truck bed is to use a tarp cover. Thes come with bungee cords to secure the tarp cover.

The benefit of using this type of bed cover is that it is adjustable and can work for multiple models if the sizes are comparable.

truck bed tarp cover with bungee cords

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Cargo Bag

Cargo bags are great ways that mostly protect your cargo in the back of the truck. Though they cover the floor of the truck bed, they are not designed to do any protection in that area.

They are convenient because they can be packed before being put into the truck bed and will keep the cargo secure and clean.

alltoauto heavy duty truck bed cargo bag

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FAQ

Can I install a toolbox with a tonneau cover?

Yes you can. There are two options to install a toolbox with a tonneau cover. The first is this specifically designed truck bed cover that is compatible with some toolboxes. Unfortunately, these are widely accessible.

extang solid fold 2.0 toolbox hard folding truck bed tonneau cover

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20 inch toolbox and 6′ 6″ bed

If you haven’t yet installed a toolbox into your truck, you can get a toolbox that is designed to fit under a tonneau cover. (See TruXedo below).

The other kind of toolbox that can fit under a tonneau cover is a cover that fits over the wheel well (See UnderCover SwingCase below).

truxedo tl tonneaumate toolbox

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undercover swingcase storage box

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Best type of truck bed cover for snow

The best type of truck bed cover for snow is the one-piece. This type of cover can support a bit of weight, will be easiest to clean, and will be the most water-resistant.

Best type of truck bed cover for camping

Truck caps are the best covers for camping because they maximize the amount of space available to pack for camping. This also creates a safe space to actually sleep in a truck bed if preferred.

If you are towing a camper, however, you need to keep in mind that the weight of the cap will reduce the towing capacity of your truck.

Read How to Calculate Towing Capacity

Best type of truck bed cover for security

Hard cover tonneau covers of all kinds are best for security because they are harder to break and allow you to lock them with the locking of the truck bed tailgate.

Can you put a rack on a tonneau cover?

Depending on the mechanism, yes racks can be placed above tonneau covers.

Here’s an example. Since the racks sit on the outer edge of the cover, they do not interfere.

retraxpro xr retractable truck bed tonneau cover with rack

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Find the right truck bed cover for you

To make your search extra easy, Amazon allows a compatibility confirmed fit for your truck. If you follow the link below, you should see the option to filter the results by your vehicle.

https://amzn.to/3KV0vai

Hopefully, you learned everything you can about truck bed and tonneau covers and can now pick the best one to fit your needs!

We will compare the benefits and costs of each type of kit to help you understand what is better for your needs.

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to leveling kits or lift kits and depends on a lot of factors.

In its simplest definition, a leveling kit is a lift that only impacts the front of the truck and raises the truck to be level with the rear. A lift kit will lift both the front and the back of the truck providing an overall increase in truck height.

Let’s dive into more details about each type and how they compare to one another.

What is a leveling kit?

A leveling kit is a type of adjustment to the height of a truck or car that only affects the front end of a truck.

Pickup trucks naturally come with what is called rake. Rake is the build-in angle of a truck downwards where the front of the truck is lower than the back.

This rake is important for towing vehicles. This allows the truck to sit level when a heavy load is carried or a trailer is pulled.

Leveling kits will keep the front end of your truck equal in height to the back end.

Pros of Leveling Kits

Cheap

The basic leveling kits for trucks can easily be less than $100. At the time of writing this post, the leveling kit for the Ford F-150 was only $49.95! (See product below)

rough country 2 in. leveling kit for ford f150

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There are multiple types of leveling kits and what you see here is a spacer leveling kit. If you choose for a coilover, or another kind of suspension leveling kit, you may find yourself spending up to $500.

For more information on the types of leveling kits available, read: What is a leveling kit?

Improve ground clearance in front

Though the difference in the front and back of a truck is usually only a couple inches, when driving in conditions in which large obstacles are present, this could cause scratching to the bottom of the truck.

By lifting the front end of the truck, you reduce the risk of scratching or scraping your truck when going over rocks or large potholes.

Improve front end weight bearing attachments

When you level a truck you provide extra room and suspension sag in the front of the vehicle.

When you add any weight to a truck, you will experience some sort of sag. If weight is added to the front of a vehicle (such as a plow or large grille), the front will begin to sag.

If there is no leveling kit, this extra weight will cause the car to sag more than it already is from the factory rake.

The leveling kit allows the extra room to account for any front-loaded vehicle.

Allow larger tires or wheels

Due to the increasing height of the front of a truck, you can often upgrade your wheels or tires. Remember that this only impacts the front of the truck, so you will now only be able to accommodate the largest tires that are also allowed on the back wheel wells.

Easier to install

With the most common type of spacer lift, and with the need to only install on the front of the truck, the installation process is quite simple.

For those who aren’t as good with their hands, like me, this may be a little overwhelming, but for those with experience this is fairly easy to do.

If you’re interested check out this installation video below.

Cons of Leveling Kits

Reduce fuel efficiency

The rake in a truck also improves aerodynamics. So when you level your truck, you inherently create more space underneath the truck reducing fuel efficiency.

Do not adjust vehicle height

Those who want a large truck on the road will be dissatisfied with a leveling kit because it does not add any additional height to the truck. It only brings up the front of the truck to match the back.

This means that any leveling kit will only adjust the truck to the set height in the back and there is no customization.

Increases sag with cargo and towing

Rake is put in place to allow the truck to sit level when carrying large loads and towing.

If you install a leveling kit, the truck will sag in the back if additional weight or a trailer is added.

This can put strain on the vehicle and will decrease fuel efficiency even more than the stock counterpart.

Should I install a leveling kit?

Leveling kits are best for those who:

• do not plan to tow
• do not plan to carry heavy loads
• want to get rid of stock rake
• plan to plow or add other front end weight
• increase front end clearance

What is a lift kit?

A lift kit is an upgrade to a truck that increases the height of the entire vehicle. It both increases the height of the front and the back of the truck.

Cars can be lifted by either body lifts or suspension lifts.

Body lifts will add a spacer between the frame and the body of the vehicle. Suspension lifts will alter something within the suspension to lift the truck.

For a full list of the different types of lift kits, read: What is a lift kit?

Pros of Lift Kits

Can adjust to different heights

The major draw to lift kits is that you can add a lot of height. Lift kits come in many different sizes. There is no minimum or maximum height specified.

Of course there are other factors that impact the maximum height that can be installed, such as local laws or internal support, but generally, there are many heights to which a truck can be lifted.

Allow large wheels and tires

Other aesthetics that truck drivers like to add are large wheels. With a higher truck, the wheel well becomes less restrictive to install larger tires.

Cons of Lift Kits

Poor fuel efficiency

Fuel efficiency can be really poor with lift kits. Because the lift kits raise the truck from the ground, the aerodynamics are significantly worse.

The additional suspension system may also decrease engine efficiency. Often lift kits come with larger tires, too. Larger tires mean that the engine has to work harder to rotate the wheel to produce the same speed as before.

I was watching a video the other day and they said that after installing a lift kit on their Hummer it now only got 8 miles to the gallon……..others can be as low as 2!

Expensive

Though body lifts can be as low as a couple hundred dollars, suspension lift kits usually sit at around $1000 and that is on the cheaper end.

Some high-end suspension lifts can be upwards of $6000. There is also the installation cost which needs to be taken into account to make the total estimate.

There are some cheaper alternatives to getting a lift kit, but there is risk associated with that. Some kits don’t come with all the necessary components to make all the internal changes. Some are very poor quality, some will decrease ride quality significantly, and some may just not work right.

Increases sag with cargo and towing

When a lift kit is installed it usually adjusts the truck so that the truck sits level after lifting.

This means that similar to leveling kits, there will be increased sag on the back of a truck when any cargo or trailer is added.

More difficult to load passengers and cargo

Though this may seem obvious, sometimes people forget to consider the impact that the height will have on the day-to-day functionality of the truck.

Sometimes this makes it more difficult for passengers to load and some people need to install a running board.

A higher truck also makes it more difficult to load anything in the truck bed.

Consider the use of your truck to consider whether or not this may be a major change for you, your business, or your family.

Need a running board?

Should I install a lift kit?

Lift kits are best for those who:

• want to install larger wheels and tires
• want to improve ground clearnace
• want to go off-roading
• want a higher truck look

What’s the difference between a lift kit and leveling kit?

Cost

Leveling kits are almost always cheaper than lift kits.

Leveling kits are often spacer components for just the front of the truck making labor and parts cost a bit lower.

Due to the potentially significant impact of a lift kit, suspension component parts can be very expensive to minimize the ride quality.

Installation

Leveling kits to my understanding are easier to install than lift kits. Though this is not a statement that is true all the time, it follows a general pattern.

Ride quality

Depending on the type of kit used for either a leveling kit or lift kit, there can be varying levels of ride quality.

Different types of kits impact the output of the truck.

Poorly installed, cheap kits can significantly reduce ride quality. If you are not experienced, it is best to have an auto shop install your kit to ensure proper installation for both safety and ride quality.

Tire size

Lift kits can accommodate much larger tires than leveling kits in general.

A leveling kit only allows an upgrade the maximum wheel and tire size on the stock truck whereas the lift kit can raise the height and clearance allowing a larger wheel to fit in the well.

Ground clearance

Lift kits have the potential to increase ground clearance more than leveling kits.

Leveling kits increase the ground clearance in the front but maintain height in the back. Leveling kits allow both the front and the back to be raised off the ground.

Can you install a lift kit and leveling kit together?

It is NOT ADVISED to ever install a lift kit and a leveling kit together. There can be many incompatibilities between the two different types of lift kits and depending on the type can significantly damage your suspension.

Naturally most lift kits will in fact level a truck. The best way to explain this is with an example.

Let’s say you have a truck with a 2 in rake. This means that the front of the truck sits 2 inches lower than the back. Let’s say that is 34 inches in the front and 36 inches in the back.

If you were to buy a 3 in lift kit, this would raise the front of the truck three inches for a total of 37 inches.

Since the back of the truck already sits at 36 inches, the back would only need 1 inch to level the truck.

Before you select a lift kit, you should always make sure what the final product of the truck will be. You will want to confirm whether or not this will level the truck, but this is usually the case.

Final thoughts: Is a leveling kit or lift kit better?

Choosing between a leveling kit and a lift kit is dependent on a lot of factors.

You need to know your final goals in order to make an informed decision.

Are you going for looks? Are you going for a specific type of driving (such as off-roading)? What’s your budget?

Only until you know these things will you be able to make a final decision on which is best for you.

The big difference here is that a leveling kit will only lift the front end of the truck and a leveling kit will lift both ends.

If you want to get rid of factory rake and add a plow in front, a leveling kit is right for you.

If you are going for a really high lift look, want to put in larger tires, and have the extra budget to do so, you may start looking into lift kits to suit your needs.

It is also important that you consider the other changes that need to be made when adjusting your truck. This includes:

• adjusting the headlight angle
• reviewing the impact on payload and towing capacity
• adjust gear ratios
• adjust speedometer with speedometer calibrator if larger tires were installed

If you go to a quality auto shop, they should be able to assist you in these changes. Make sure to discuss with them these changes before you upgrade your truck.

You may know that your friend recently got a lift and want to know how it works, you may have a new car or truck and want to research the different types of lift kits, and you just might want to know what a lift kit will actually do to your truck.

Any of these questions will surely be answered in this article.

Lift kits are modification parts that can adjust the height of a truck. This can be done by adjusting the suspension or lifting the body of your truck. The main types of lift kits are: strut spacer, torsion key, coilover, strut replacement, and body lift kits.

We will go into more detail on how each of these work and what is best for you.

What does a lift kit do?

A lift kit raises your truck higher in some way. There are two main types of lift kit categories. These are body lifts and suspension lifts.

Since there are many components in suspension systems, there are 4 different types of these kinds of kits.

Commonly the terms lift kit and leveling kit are confusing to many people.

A leveling kit essentially is a lift kit for only the front of a truck.

Trucks, when manufactured typically come with what is called rake. This means that the front of the truck sits slightly lower than the back of the truck.

A leveling kit will lift the front of the truck to meet the height of the back of a truck.

If you need more explanation on leveling kits, check out this article.

Does a lift kit level my truck?

Most lift kits will in fact level a truck.

Let’s give an example. Let’s say your truck has a 2 in rake. That means the front of the truck sits 2 inches below the back.

If you get a 4 in lift kit, the components within the kit will allow you to add 4 inches to the front of the truck, but will only add 2 to the back so that your truck sits evenly.

This is not always the case, but it can be the case.

Sometimes due to adjustable components and lack of rigid heights, the final level of a truck with a lift kit may vary.

Need more information on a leveling kit vs lift kit? Read here for a thorough breakdown.

Pros of a lifted truck

Ground clearance

When you lift a truck, you have the ability to travel over higher things. This is great for off-roading conditions and reducing the risk of bottoming out while driving.

Improved Suspension

Some, but not all lift kits include suspension upgrades. This can improve the overall quality of your ride depending on the application.

For those with tougher working conditions, you may be able to create a more comfortable ride while taking on larger obstacles.

Larger Wheels and Tires

As a truck gets higher from the ground, it allows for larger wheels and tires to be installed. The distance between the top of the tire and the wheel well increases for larger clearance.

Aesthetics

A lifted truck can just look cool!

Cons of a lifted truck

Expensive

For most lift kits, you can expect to pay $1000 for a quality lift kit. Higher-end suspension lift kits can cost $3000 or more!

And then there’s labor.

Void warranty

Most of the time a lift kit will void any warranty on the car since you have not altered some of the primary components of the stock car.

Poor fuel efficiency

I was watching a video the other day and they mentioned their car was getting nearly 8 miles per gallon, highway. I’ve seen even worse.

Larger tires, leveled trucks, and increased distance under a truck will all account for poor fuel efficiency and aerodynamics.

Decreased towing capabilities

When you lift a truck, you often lose power due to the changing mechanics within the system.

Less stability

A truck high off the ground has a higher center of gravity making stability more difficult. Turns with a lifted truck will need more caution.

Do lift kits hurt your truck?

If installed correctly and used correctly, lift kits will not hurt your truck. However, if a kit is not installed with professional help, the likelihood of something going wrong significantly increases.

A lift kit requires a number of components and adjustments to a car, and we recommend you get professional help to do something like this.

Types of Lift Kits

There is not really a one size fits all lift kit. The parts needed and the best option is dependent on the make/model and the desired functionality of a truck.

You may not have many options when it comes to your truck depending on how it is made, but there are 5 main lift kits. Here’s a quick summary before we dive into each one in more detail.

Before we go into the depths of each of these types of lift kits, this video is a great visual to help you understand what I’m talking about here.

Strut Spacer

By far the most common lift kit is the strut spacer. This is one of the cheapest on the market, and fairly easiest to install.

A strut is a shock absorber that is part of a truck suspension system that carries most of the weight of a vehicle. It typically is surrounded by a spring.

What this type of lift does is add a spacer block above the strut in your car to raise the truck over the suspension system. This allows the other parts of the stock suspension to continue to perform as desired. This allows the truck to maintain the stock ride.

The downside of having this type of lift kit is that it is not necessarily made to handle very large lifts.

The ride quality of this type of lift kit is best suited for those just looking for a simple cosmetic lift for their truck without wanting to add very large tires.

Strut spacers, do require other hardware components to adjust for the changes in the inner geometry. This is going to vary based on year, make and model.

For example, this F-150 2wd lift kit comes with 4 in spacers, but can also see the additional knuckles, torsion key, and other components.

Coilover Lift Kit

A coilover is a spring that is fixed surrounding a strut. As mentioned previously, a strut often has a coil spring surrounding the part, so the entire unit may be referred to as a coilover.

The biggest difference between a coilover and a regular strut is that a coilover is adjustable, sometimes in more than one way.

These lift kits tend to be more expensive than spacer lifts. They look very similar in terms of parts, but come with dampening adjustments and preload adjustments.

This means that with some coilover lifts you can actually adjust the lift of the car with a singular coilover, and you can adjust the dampening by either softening or stiffening the ride.

A coilover kit does not mean that you will get the softest ride, but it will typically lead to the best performance. This means the handling and drive quality will typically be better than other kits.

These kits are great for offroading!

Below is an example of one of the Rough Country Lift Kits with a coilover.

Strut Replacement

Similar to coilover kits, but not the same are strut replacement kits. These will actually replace an entire strut component to create a lift whereas strut spacers keep struts in their stock form, but add a block on top.

The strut replacement will not have any adjustable components to the suspension. It will, likely, still have a coil surrounding the strut and will require the uninstallation of a strut for replacement.

Coil Spring Spacer

As mentioned earlier, coilover kits can allow you to adjust the height of a lift kit, but you can actually add a coil spring spacer which seems to act similarly to the adjustable aspect of the full coilover kit.

What this spacer does is create spring compression that increases the spring rate so that the spring doesn’t compress as far when the body weight is added.

For example, a spring compresses 4 inches when the body of a truck is added, but if you add an inch of compression, the truck will only compress 3 inches, therefore, creating a 1-inch lift difference.

Below is an example of a coil spring spacer for the Ford Ranger.

Body Lift Kit

Body lift kits also tend to be cheap units in list price but can be costly when applying.

This type of lift kit adds spacers between the frame of the truck and the body of the truck.

This prevents any need for adjusting the suspension components in the truck. However, with new trucks, this can cause a problem in the electronics.

When you add a body lift spacer, you increase the distance between the frame and the body, so any electrical components need extra slack to be able to make the gap across the space.

Older trucks are less likely to have this issue due to the fewer electrical components and wiring installed.

Body lift kits will create some cosmetic issues within the truck. The space created between the frame and body will likely be visible, especially from the side above the wheel.

You may also notice some misalignment in the exhaust, too.

Conclusion

The type of lift kit you will need will depend on your make/model/year and how what you are looking for.

If you are going for pure aesthetics without a crazy lift, a strut spacer is best!

If you are looking to lift your car for offroading, you’ll want to use the coilover suspension lift kits.

I rarely recommend body lifts because they come with many risks and aren’t cheap enough to justify.

A lift kit will raise your truck higher than the ground, so there may be a few things you need to consider with this move. Not only will you need to need to find the right kit for your truck, you will also need to decide whether or not you want to add a running board to make it easier for you and your passengers to enter and exit your truck.

You may notice that your stock truck comes with the front axle slightly lower than the read axle. This is called rake.

The purpose of this is to create a level truck when towing or carrying heavy loads.

A leveling kit is a truck lift that only affects the front of the truck. It lifts the front a couple of inches to match the back suspension. This is done mostly for aesthetics. The front of the truck can be lifted with a spacer, coil spring, adjustable strut, and a torsion key.

How do leveling kits work?

When a car comes out of a factory, the front of the truck sits slightly lower than the back of the truck.

This is called the rake. Rake in a truck refers to the position of the front of the truck lower than the back of the truck. This usually is a difference of 2-3 inches.

The purpose of a truck rake is to improve aerodynamics when nothing is loaded on the truck, but more importantly, it allows the truck to level out when weight is either added to the truck bed or a trailer is towed.

The extra weight in the back of the truck makes the rear sink so that the truck sits level when towing.

Leveling kits simply heighten the front of the truck so that the truck sits level without any cargo or towing.

This means that a truck with a front axle that sits 2 inches below the rear axle will need a 2-inch leveling kit to flatten out the truck suspension.

Types of Leveling Kits

Strut Spacer Leveling Kit

This seems to be the most common type of leveling kit. What this does is add a small piece of metal that sits above the strut.

It is cheap, relatively easy to install, and performs similarly to stock trucks for most everyday use.

The metal thickness provides an exact amount of how much a truck axle can be lifted.

A strut is a component of the car that holds the weight in the framework of the truck. It is a major part of the suspension system but it is designed so that it doesn’t compress.

It is more of a structural support to hold the weight of the vehicle. They connect the wheel to the body of the truck (JD Power).

For a good visual of how these work, check out the video below on a full installation on a Toyota Tacoma.

Adjustable Height Strut Leveling Kit

Another way to adjust the height of the front of your truck is to use an adjustable strut leveling kit.

One of the best examples of this is the Bilstein 5100. This is a strut designed to be used for various heights. It is best used for half-ton trucks, though (See product here).

How this works is that you replace the stock strut with this adjustable strut but fit directly into the coilover springs and mountain hardware.

In the video below at 3:52 they start actually talking about this type of leveler.

Essentially they say that although this can change the height of a truck, adjusting the strut does not change the stiffness of the spring. This height difference creates more compression travel and less droop travel in the end.

Coil Spring or Spacer Leveling Kit

Coil springs are part of a suspension system that surrounds a strut. These are known more under the term of coilover; standing for coil spring over shock absorber.

Like adjustable heigh leveling kits, these types of components are most commonly associated with lifting a truck rather than leveling a truck, but if only applied to the front end, it certainly has the capability to level a truck.

Coil springs actually restructure the suspension unit and require many more modifications to other parts such as steering components and extra brackets to fix geometry.

Unfortunately with these types of replacements, the exact amount of lift is not as predictable. Because it changes pieces within the suspension system, it doesn’t take into account the wear of the current suspension or lack thereof.

It is not recommended that this type of lifting mechanism be used for leveling because it will be hard to align the front with the back due to the unpredictable nature of the lift and rigidity.

The video below does a good job explaining the difference between a coil lift and a spacer lift. Check it out!

The coil spring spacer is slightly different than the spring lift because it adds a spacer that sits on top of the coil spring. It creates spring compression yielding a lift and stiffer spring. This type of kit typically yields a stiffer rid.

Torsion Bar Key Leveling Kit

This process involves changing out the torsion key of a car. The torsion key is connected to the torsion bar of the car.

The torsion bar is a ”long spring-steel element with one end held rigidly to the frame and the other end twisted by a lever connected to the axle” (Brittanica).

The torsion key is responsible for keeping the torsion bar at the right height. So altering the torsion key can change the torsion bar which can then, in turn, lift a truck.

Doing this type of leveling does not require any new shocks and integrates with stock suspension systems (Suspension Maxx).

For a great visual on these types of kits, take a look at the video below! This shows the removal and installation of torsion keys in a GMC Sierra.

What do leveling kits do?

Some of the main reasons that you would want to install a leveling kit are to accommodate larger tires/wheels and for aesthetics. There aren’t many functional reasons to level a truck other than adding ground clearance to the front of the truck for something like offroading and attaching a load on the front of your truck such as a plow.

Take a look at the pros and cons of installing a leveling kit on your truck

Pros

• Higher clearance
• Easy to install and remove
• Improves off road capability
• Operate equipment on front end (such as plow)
• Fit larger than stock wheels
• Inexpensive
• Aesthetics

Cons

• Potentially void warranty
• Lower gas mileage
• Wear and tear – altering geometry could put stress on components
• Creates sag if heavy cargo or towing is attached

Do leveling kits hurt your truck?

For the most part, leveling kits will not hurt your truck. If installed correctly, the minor changes in a couple of inches should not damage truck suspension too much for day-to-day driving.

For offroading, towing, or carrying large cargo and more aggressive driving, you could see a negative impact on the suspension.

The most common spacer leveling kit does not typically come with any other suspensions components, but this shouldn’t affect the ride all that much because the factory suspension system stays in tact below the spacer.

However, with other lifts, such as coilovers, this can add a change to the geometry of the front suspension. What can happen here is that the other components such as control arms and other geometrical components may experience stress.

Certainly if installed incorrectly, you could experience serious damage to your truck.

Though I disagree with the statement made in the video below, it does demonstrate the potential impacts you could see in your truck if you don’t adjust the rest of the suspension system.

Finding the right leveling kit for your truck

Depending on your year and model, you may require a different leveling kit for your truck.

There is no one-size-fits-all necessarily.

Custom Offsets has an extensive shop to search by year, make, model, and drive to ensure you get the right fit.

Shop Custom Offsets

Ford F150

Toyota Tacoma

Chevy Silverado

Chevy Colorado

Toyota Tundra

Ram

Leveling kit Brands

These are some of the top leveling kit brands.

Rough Country

MotoFab

Kryptonite

YitaMotor

ReadyLift

BDS

Cognito

ProRyde

Conclusion

Before making the decision to level your truck you need to ask yourself this question.

Do I plan to tow or carry equipment frequently with my truck?

If you answered YES to this question, you should not level your truck.

If you plan to only use your truck for regular driving and light loads, want to upgrade your tires, and just want to remove stock rake, then a leveling kit is for you.

I suggest you do your due diligence before you attempt to install these yourself as you could damage the suspension if done incorrectly.

Find the right leveling kit for you right now!