Can a Lifted Truck Be a Daily Driver?

You can’t miss a lifted truck. They grab your attention and are clearly an intimidating and awe-inspiring presence. They make regular, full-size work trucks look like midsize hobby trucks. Maybe you’ve decided that you want to be the one behind the wheel of such a regal vehicle; however, you’re wondering about the practicalities of driving a lifted truck for your day-to-day activities. It’s no secret that people tend to think of sedans, subcompact SUVs, crossovers, and even midsize trucks when they think of cars that are easy for zipping around cities and highways. Larger trucks tend to elicit ideas of the countryside or work sites, but if you’ve got your sights set on a lifted truck, like one of the many lifted GMC trucks out there, you could still make it work.

So, can a lifted truck be a daily driver? The short answer is yes. The longer answer is that it depends on what your days look like. If you do decide to get one, the great news is that GMC offers OEM lift kits, and our GMC parts experts would be glad to walk you through your options. Here are the pros and cons of driving a lifted truck for everyday life.

Pros of Driving a Lifted Truck

If you want a lifted truck, there are plenty of benefits that will come from owning and driving one.

Enhanced Visibility

Most people just think of the added ground clearance you get when you make after-market modifications to lift your truck, but you also get increased visibility with that, thanks to a higher ride height. If craning your neck out your sedan window to see what’s causing a traffic jam has got you frustrated, you’ll like that you can see far ahead in a lifted truck. In some parking situations, like parallel parking, this increased ride height also makes it easier to see what’s happening around your vehicle and makes you a better parker. Add to that that newer GMC trucks have multiple cameras and camera angles (the 2023 Sierra 2500 HD has up to 15 camera angles), making it even easier to see everything happening around your vehicle.

Head-Turning Wow Factor

If you like a car that turns heads, then a lifted truck certainly offers this perk. The presence of a lifted truck cannot be denied. It’s always going to be the biggest car wherever you go. It makes an impression. It tells the other, smaller cars to move out of the way (figuratively – but also literally), and a GMC truck, like a Canyon or Sierra, with its iconic grille and fascia, adds to that wow factor.

Get Over Obstacles With Ease

The additional ground clearance that you get out of a lifted truck means that you don’t need to worry about bottoming out over speed bumps or objects left in the road. It’s also a benefit after a rainstorm when deep puddles would otherwise cause a problem in a lower vehicle. If you live in a more rural area where the road upkeep may not be so great, a lifted truck might be the best choice for getting through potholes and other debris.

It’s Good for-Off Road Situations

Taking it one step beyond pothole-riddled roads, if you happen to need to go off the pavement on a regular basis, then a lifted truck is an excellent daily vehicle. Maybe you have to travel to remote work sites off the beaten path or you live in a remote area and take rough roads to get to the main ones. Should that be the case for you, a lifted truck isn’t just a good idea––it’s practically essential.

More Towing/Hauling Abilities

If your everyday activities involve towing and hauling stuff, then a lifted truck is also a great daily ride. You can try to use an SUV for these purposes, but you won’t usually find the power in those that you do in a big truck. Even if you just have a large family and tons of gear/groceries/school stuff to transport daily, the trunk of an SUV might not cut it for you, and a lifted truck like the 2023 GMC Sierra 2500 HD, which has a payload capacity of up to 3,979 lbs, could be a smart choice.

Cons of Driving a Lifted Truck

We’ll preface this by saying that these aren’t always cons. It depends on the driver and the circumstances, but they can be drawbacks for some.

Parking Can Be Tricky

Parking in covered garages can pose some complications because the truck might be too tall to get into them. However, if you live somewhere that open-air parking is easy to come by, this won’t be an issue. If you do choose to enter a covered garage, just check the height restrictions first, so you don’t scrape the roof of your truck. Also, you may have to drive around or park farther away from your destination in order to find a parking space where your truck will fit, especially if people park in close quarters.

Less-Than-Great Fuel Economy

Trucks, in general, are not known for their fuel economy (unless you get an electric one). This remains even more true for lifted trucks. In fact, their fuel economy can drop a bit because the motor has to work a little harder to move those massive wheels. That being said, if your daily activities don’t require you to drive far, then the benefits of driving a lifted truck could outweigh the downside of the fuel economy. So, if you only travel short distances and on rough roads on a daily basis, a lifted truck is great, and the fuel economy won’t pose a huge problem.

Sound

Some people complain that lifted trucks are a bit too loud. However, if you outfit them properly, you can control that. Speak to your trusted technician (like our GMC experts in our service and parts department) about choosing the right accessories for your engine and fuel type. They can help you make your lifted truck quieter, so you can enjoy a loud appearance without driving an actually loud truck.

Accessibility

Unless you’re a giant, climbing in and out of lifted trucks takes quite a bit of effort. You have to grab onto something and hoist yourself up. You, as the driver, might get used to it, but you can count on your passengers to complain about this. That being said, this is another issue that can be easily fixed with accessories. Speak to our parts department about adding running boards to your lifted truck. Some GMC trucks already have these, but if your lifted truck doesn’t, they’re easy to add and give you and your passengers an easy entry into the truck.

A Lifted Truck Could Be Right for You

At the end of the day, the answer to whether or not a lifted truck makes a good daily driver lies in the answer to another question: what do your days look like? People who spend most of their time in the city or suburbs and on highways and paved roads might prefer a smaller vehicle. However, if your days are a bit grittier and you need to travel off of paved roads, tow and haul stuff and drive in severe weather, a lifted truck could be perfect for your daily vehicle.

GMC is known for making some of the most reliable, hardworking, and durable trucks out there. If you outfit one of their most beloved trucks, like the GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 HD, or 3500 HD, with a lift package, you’ll have one of the sturdiest trucks along with all of the benefits of a lift. Our sales team can help you select a GMC truck that’s great for a lift, and then our service and parts department can help you start picking out equipment to raise your truck and install it for you. Then, it’s just up to you to ride around town and enjoy the attention.