We know why you drive a diesel truck: you want to be bigger, badder, and have more power than anything else on the road. You bought a diesel truck to stand out, but now that everyone else also has a diesel 4x4, you want to build yours bigger. Before you go out and buy the cheapest lift kit and the tallest tires you can afford, you need to realize what you are getting into. In general, Fords are the easiest trucks to lift, then Dodges, and then GMs. That doesn't mean you should ditch your Silverado, just be aware that it's going to cost a little more than a similar lift for a Super Duty.
 Avoid the temptation to lift...  Avoid the temptation to lift your truck as high as possible. Your truck suspension is critical to the handling, steering, and ride quality. The higher you lift the truck, the more important it is for you to invest in top-quality kits and components. We're using Fabtech Motorsports' new 8-inch four-link conversion kit on our '02 Super Duty, featuring the new 4.0 Dirtlogic coilover shock. |  How tall you lift your truck...  How tall you lift your truck should be based on what size tires you want to run. These 46x15.50 R20 Michelin XMLs fit with a 6- to 8-inch lift, but we had to cut quite a bit from the fenders and remove the front bumper to make the tires clear. |  If you want aluminum wheels...  If you want aluminum wheels with big tires, you need to make sure you buy wheels with enough load capacity. The ratings are stamped right into the wheel. Typically, you'll need to run a forged aluminum wheel or a steel wheel to get the strength needed to support a monster 3/4- or 1-ton. Be wary of cast aluminum wheels made by a company you have never heard of. These Weld Racing Sand Storm wheels are forged from a single piece of 6061 aluminum and are rated for 3,200 pounds each. |
 Mounting large tires up to...  Mounting large tires up to 40 inches in diameter can be done by almost any tire shop. Here, it pays to buy your tires and wheels from the shop that will be doing the work on your truck because they'll be much more willing to mount and balance your tires. |  Bead lock wheels are all the...  Bead lock wheels are all the rage now, and if you need them for extreme off-road use, there really is no substitute. Most commercially available bead lock wheels are not recommended for street use on daily-driven vehicles because they can require an enormous amount of maintenance and often leak air. If you want the looks, but not the headaches, you have plenty of cosmetic bead lock options. |  On our 8,000-pound Super Duty,...  On our 8,000-pound Super Duty, we mounted a set of 40-inch tall Toyo Open Country tires on Weld Racing forged aluminum wheels. Adding taller tires will screw up your speedometer and, in some cases, the way your transmission shifts. Many diesel-tuning modules that add power will also allow you to correct for taller tires. |