Leveling kits pretty much shy away from the limelight when it comes to 4×4 and off-road parts, but this certainly shouldn’t suggest that a leveling kit isn’t an essential piece of hardware.
In fact, with gas prices so high these days, many truck, jeep and SUV owners are looking for ways to save gas and reduce the impact on their wallet. This is where leveling kits come into play.
Although you may not guess it, a leveling kit can actually have a decent impact on your gas mileage numbers, and knowing how it can have an effect on your suspension system can save you big on gas and maintenance costs.
How a leveling kit affects fuel economy
When we talk about how a leveling kit affects gas mileage, keep in mind that we are appealing to common sense in terms of saving gas. In other words, optimizing gas mileage from a level up kit perspective won’t produce a massive jump in MPG numbers.
Rather, the leveling kit is one of many pieces of equipment that affect gas mileage over a longer period of time, or contribute as one of many improvements you can make to your vehicle to improve mileage in the short term. .
In any case, in this document we will discuss the ways in which a leveling kit, or the lack of one, can affect your gas mileage.
Leveling Lift Kits Overview
Vehicle customization is one of the most exciting parts of owning a 4×4 vehicle; however, modifying your ride can often be a complicated task that can produce a wide range of unforeseen side effects.
One particular issue that commonly affects 4×4 enthusiasts is suspension sag. Depending on the type of vehicle you own and the lift kit you add, customization can sometimes cause a vehicle to ride with an uneven stance; that is, one end travels lower than the other.
Sometimes other factors can also play a role in this. Even if you do a perfectly level suspension setup, extras like heavy-duty front bumpers and winches can sometimes overload the front end.
In addition to being simply unsightly, uneven posture can also affect long-term performance. It puts more pressure on the suspension and can also cause tires to wear out faster or go flat more easily.
Leveling kits are the perfect solution to eliminate sag as they are fairly easy to install and allow you to add those precious extra inches to level out your ride. A few inches may not seem like much, but you’d be surprised how much of a difference a leveling kit can make.
Tire wear management
It is common knowledge that front tires wear out faster and go flat more easily than rear tires, simply due to the extra movement and stress that steering causes. Now add the front end sag and your front tires will wear out even faster.
Nothing affects on- and off-road performance quite like uneven tires and, not to mention, gas mileage. In fact, flat tires are a leading cause of lost fuel economy for commuters and off-road enthusiasts alike.
Add a leveling kit and suddenly your tires will deliver the tread life and performance they should. Leveling kits can extend tire life and reduce deflation, allowing you to maximize fuel economy and also greatly improve long-term tread life.
A complete review
What good is having a truck or utility vehicle if you’re not putting it to work?
Using your 4×4 vehicle for towing, cargo hauling, and other construction applications is common practice among truck, jeep, and SUV owners. But putting a lot of stress on your vehicle is another factor that affects mileage and performance.
Enter block kits or leveling kits that raise the rear of a vehicle. A block kit can help offset additional weight or load in the rear of your vehicle, reducing stress and allowing for more efficient overall performance.
A vehicle with a raised rear end offers less drag when towing or hauling, and more overall stability for the really tough jobs, ultimately translating to long-term improvements in gas mileage.
matter of inches
In the end, a few inches can make a big difference in improving or hindering your fuel economy.
Level kits are just one of many ways to ensure you get the best MPG possible with your vehicle, and along with a level kit, the right mix of components can go a long way toward improving gas mileage.
