A Guide to Choosing a Lift Kit for Your Ford
There are many reasons why you might want to lift your off-road Ford, such as providing higher clearance, protecting it from the elements, or just making it easier to get in and out of your property. No matter what your reason, you’ll find that there are many different types of lifts available on the market today, each with their own set of benefits and drawbacks. In this article, I will discuss the pros and cons of each type so that you can make an informed decision about which lift is best for your needs.
Types of Ford Lift Kits
First, let’s take a look at the different types of lifts:
- Straight-Arm Lifts (SAL) – These are the most common type of lift and are usually found at your local dealer. They’re also the cheapest option available, as they only require one or two arms to be bolted onto either side of your vehicle’s front frame.
- Dual-Arm Lifts – As the name suggests, this type of lift has two arms that extend from the frame of your vehicle and are attached to a hydraulic ram in order to raise and lower them simultaneously. This means that you’ll only need one power source in order to operate both sides of your vehicle at once.
- Single-Arm Lifts – This type of lift has only one arm and is usually found on more expensive aftermarket products as it requires a power source on both sides in order to operate. However, they do have their benefits as they can be used for things such as oil changes or other vehicle repairs.
Pros and Cons of Lift Kits for Ford
Different types of lift kits for Ford come with different pros and cons:
SALs are typically quite cheap, so if you’re looking for something that’s going to save money then this might be the right one for you.
However, they do have their disadvantages as well. They only lift one side at a time which can be inconvenient when you need to access the other side of your vehicle. They don’t provide much clearance over obstacles, especially ones that come up close to the frame such as rocks or logs. This means that you’ll have to be extra careful when driving on rough terrain with a SAL. The arms themselves can also be quite fragile, which makes them more susceptible to damage than other types of lifts.
Dual-Arm Lifts are great because they’re able to operate both sides of your vehicle at once and provide higher clearance over obstacles than SALs or SAs. This can make it much easier for you to get over larger rocks and boulders that might normally be difficult with a regular lift.
They’re also very easy to use and require only one power source in order to work- The only downside of a dual-arm lift is that it’s quite expensive, so if you’re looking for something economical then this might not be the right option for you.
Single-Arm Lifts are best used for vehicle repairs or oil changes as they can easily get under the frame and access all areas of your vehicle. They’re also much more sturdy than other types of lifts as there is no chance of them toppling over like with SALs or DAs.
However, they only lift one side at a time which can be inconvenient when you need to access the other side of your vehicle.
The cons of each type are fairly obvious: SALs don’t provide much clearance over obstacles and can topple over if not driven carefully over large rocks or boulders; DAs require two power sources in order to operate (one for each arm); and SAs are more expensive than their counterparts.
If you’re looking for something that’s going to save you money and provide good clearance over obstacles, then a SAL is the way to go. If you’re looking for something that can easily get under your vehicle, then a SA is your best option. And if you’re looking for something that’s going to be able to do it all and provides higher clearance than other types of lifts, then a DA is the one for you.
Popular Australian Brands
Now that you know which type of lift is right for your needs, you’ll want to choose the brand that fits your budget. There are many different brands on the market today, and you’ll have to do a bit of shopping around to find one that suits your needs best. Some of the most popular Australian brands are Tough Dog, ARB, and Canvasback.
Tough Dog is a well-known brand that provides high-quality products at affordable prices. They have various different types of lifts available on their website, including SAs, DAs, and single-arm lifts such as the Tough Dog 2.5 tonne single-arm front lift.
ARB is another popular brand that you might want to consider if you’re looking for something in the mid-price range. They have various different types of off-road products available on their website, including tyres and wheels, winches and accessories, driving lights, steering kits and more.
Canvasback is another well-known company that provides excellent products at reasonable prices. They have a wide variety of off-road accessories available on their site, including suspension kits and upgrades, lockers, snorkels, winches and more. You can also get accessories such as bull bars and brush guards which will help protect your vehicle from rocks or other obstacles that come up close to the frame.
If you’re looking for something economical then Tough Dog is definitely the way to go. They have a wide variety of different types of lifts available on their site, including dual-arm, single arm and standard front and rear ones. The best part about them is that they’re all reasonably priced.