Florida Vehicle Regulations – Maximum Height
Across the United States, there are laws put in place that restrict vehicle customization in the name of safety. Depending on where you live, you’ll need to know these laws if you’re hoping to customize your vehicle with a lift kit. If you are a Florida resident, you’re in luck, as the regulations are quite relaxed, with only a few restrictions on the height of your ride. Unlike many other states, Florida does not restrict the height of your suspension or frame. The overall height of the vehicle must be under 13 feet and 6 inches, which will still allow you to raise up your vehicle with a wide assortment of lift kits. You will, however, have to pay attention to the height of your bumper, as the state has each vehicle regulated by a bumper height limit based on the vehicles GVWR, or gross vehicle weight rating. Read the section below to find out how high your bumper can remain off the ground depending on the weight of your truck or SUV. With this information, you can get ready to start driving a lifted ride in Florida.
Law on Bumper Height
Florida laws state that drivers must have both front and rear bumpers mounted within certain height levels, with those numbers based on the weight of the vehicle. Models under 2,000 lbs. must have a front bumper at 24 inches off the ground and a rear bumper no more than 26 inches off the ground. If your vehicle has a GVWR of between 2,000 and 2,999 lbs., your front bumper can be 27 inches off the ground, and your rear bumper must be 29 inches from the ground. Vehicles between 3,000 and 5,000 lbs. can have a front bumper 28 inches off the ground, and a rear bumper 30 inches off the ground. If the vehicle weighs more than 5,000 lbs., there are no bumper restrictions to worry about in Florida.
Best Lift Kits for Trucks and SUVs in Your State
Once you’ve decided you’d like to lift your vehicle, and you’re familiar with the laws in Florida so you know how high you can raise it, it’s time to start thinking about which lift kit to purchase. There are a ton of options available, ranging in price from around $100 to thousands of dollars. The quality of these options varies just as much. With a budget kit, you’ll be able to experience a slight increase in height, but these body lifts won’t improve off-road performance and in some cases may even make your vehicle less desirable to drive. If you’re serious about lifting your vehicle, it’s better to save up some money and opt for a full suspension lift kit. These systems will raise your vehicle’s suspension, providing more clearance and improving performance on and off the road. We strongly encourage you to get in touch with a team of custom mechanics that you can trust, who will listen to your needs and offer up a suspension setup that will work for you, and that fits within your budget.
Lift Kit Installation
There are some lift kits out there that are relatively manageable to install at home, but more often than not those are the kinds of kits that will end up compromising the quality of your ride, as well as your safety. In almost every circumstance, you’re better off taking your truck or SUV to a professional, either in Florida or elsewhere in the United States. Discuss potential lift setups with these professionals, and ask them how much it will cost to install them. From there, you’ll be able to decide which lift system works for you, and the professionals will be able to get the job done for you. Depending on where you take your vehicle for the installation, it could just be a few short days before you’re able to hit the road in your awesome custom ride, ready to explore countless trails ahead.
Driving a Lifted Vehicle
When the installation process has been completed and you get your vehicle back, you’ll have to adapt to the differences in driving a lifted ride. Depending on how high you raised the vehicle, and what kind of lift kit you went with, the differences may be minuscule or highly noticeable. You always want to have a steering alignment done after installing a new lift system, and hopefully, the professionals you chose will handle that for you. From there, you just need to get used to driving a vehicle with a higher center of gravity. As the driver, you’ll want to take turns slower, as that higher center of gravity can make it easier to flip the truck. As long as you stick to the laws of the road, however, this shouldn’t be something too concerning for you. You’ll also get to enjoy the many benefits of lifted rides, such as improved off-road performance, so go ahead and get started exploring Florida, and let us know how it works out for you!
Maintenance and Care Tips
With driving a lifted vehicle comes the responsibility of taking care of it. In many ways, it’s no different than a standard pickup or SUV. However, there are some elements of maintenance that drivers need to be aware of. It becomes important to check the tightness of any nuts and bolts more often, so start including this in your regular maintenance procedure. Additionally, keep a close eye out for rust on the suspension system or in any aftermarket parts, as that’s a sign that they’ll need to be replaced in the future.
