"When you lift your truck, you change everything about how it interacts with the road," says Gage Burlingame of Gem State Diesel. "A higher truck needs bigger tires that give a rougher, more rugged ride. The center of gravity changes, making it handle differently on tight curves. Your fuel economy changes when your truck has a higher profile."

For off-road driving through muddy terrain, raising your truck pays off, he says, but what you gain in clearance, you lose in control. "As long as drivers are aware of the changes before they get a lift kit installed in their GMC/Chevy Duramax truck, Dodge Cummins vehicle or Ford Powerstroke model, they can compensate for the different handling." He recommends driving on gentle slopes and city streets while getting a feel for the truck's new handling.

"Drivers may not know it, but their lift kits will cost a little more over the lifetime of the truck, not just for installation," says Burlingame. "Fuel costs go up with every inch of lift you get. For a small lift, you might not even notice any change at the pump, but if you go really high with your lift kit, you're going to feel it." He notes that everything from the truck's suspension to its common rail injectors may get more wear when a truck's lifted. "You're burning more fuel to do the same amount of work, and that makes everything run a little hotter and harder."

While Burlingame is aware of all the hidden changes a lift kit can make to a truck's handling and performance, he doesn't tell his diesel engine repair center clients to forgo lifting. "If you're prepared to pay a little more over the lifetime of your truck and drive your vehicle for recreation as well as for business, a lift kit can be great fun. You know you're in a truck when you step up to get in the cabin, and a lot of truck owners appreciate that."

For more information visit: www.gemstatediesel.com or call 208.288.5555.