Blog posts tagged with 'off road performance'

If you’re planning to lift your truck or SUV, you’ll quickly run into a wall of suspension jargon—coilovers, leaf packs, control arms, travel, damping, and more. It can feel like you need an engineering degree just to pick a lift kit.

The good news? Once you understand the basics of shocks, springs, and control arms, the whole suspension upgrade process makes a lot more sense. These are the core parts that determine how your truck rides, handles, and survives off-road.

This guide breaks down how each component works, what it actually does on the trail, and what to look for when upgrading.

What You’ll Learn in This Guide

In this article, we’ll cover:

• The role of shocks, springs, and control arms in your suspension system

• The difference between basic lifts and true suspension upgrades

• How suspension changes affect ride quality, articulation, and control

• What to consider when choosing parts for your off-road build or daily driver

By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of how off-road suspension works—and what you really need for your truck.

Shocks: Controlling the Ride

Shocks (or shock absorbers) don’t hold your truck up—that’s the springs’ job. Shocks control how fast the suspension moves. They keep your truck from bouncing endlessly after a bump and help the tires stay planted on uneven terrain.

What Shocks Do

• Control how quickly the suspension compresses and rebounds

• Help maintain traction by keeping the tire in contact with the ground

• Affect how “floaty,” stiff, or controlled the truck feels

Types of Shocks

• Twin-tube shocks

  • Great for basic street and light off-road use

  • Budget-friendly and common in entry-level kits

• Monotube shocks

  • Better heat dissipation and more consistent performance under hard use

  • Popular in mid-range off-road and overland setups

• Reservoir shocks (remote or piggyback)

  • Extra fluid volume for improved cooling and fade resistance

  • Ideal for high-speed off-road use, heavy rigs, and frequent trail work

What to Look For

• Valving tuned for your vehicle weight and use (overlanding vs. rock crawling vs. desert running)

• Rebuildable or serviceable designs if you plan on serious use

• Matching sets front and rear for balanced handling

Good shocks don’t just make the ride smoother—they make the truck more controllable and predictable everywhere.

Springs: Holding the Weight and Setting the Height

Springs support the weight of your truck and determine your ride height. Change the springs, and you change how high the truck sits and how it reacts to load.

Common Spring Types

• Coil springs

  • Used on most front suspensions and some rears

  • Easy to tune for specific ride heights and load ratings

• Leaf springs

  • Common on the rear of many trucks

  • Handle heavy loads and towing well

  • Can be replaced or upgraded with new leaf packs or add-a-leafs

• Torsion bars

  • Found on some older and specific 4x4 platforms

  • Act like long twistable springs—ride height can be adjusted by “cranking” them

What Springs Affect

• Ride height and stance

• How much weight the truck can carry comfortably

• Ride firmness under load (cargo, camping gear, bumpers, winch, etc.)

Choosing the Right Springs

• Daily driver with mild gear: Standard lift coils or leaf packs with a small increase in spring rate

• Overland build with armor, rack, and tent: Heavy-duty springs designed for added constant weight

• Work truck: Leaf packs rated for towing and payload, matched with appropriate shocks

Springs are the backbone of your suspension. If you add heavy bumpers, winches, or gear and don’t upgrade your springs, the ride height and handling will suffer.

Control Arms: Steering, Geometry, and Articulation

Control arms connect your wheels to the chassis and guide how the suspension moves as it travels up and down. When you lift a truck, the suspension geometry changes—this is where upgraded control arms come in.

What Control Arms Do

• Maintain proper alignment (camber and caster)

• Help keep the tire in the correct position through the suspension’s travel

• Provide mounting points for shocks and springs in many designs

Upper Control Arms (UCAs)

On many IFS (independent front suspension) trucks and SUVs, upgrading the upper control arms is a key part of a quality lift:

• Restore lost caster after a 2–3 inch lift for better straight-line stability

• Improve droop travel (downward suspension movement)

• Add stronger ball joints or uniballs for durability off-road

Lower Control Arms (LCAs)

• Often upgraded in more advanced or long-travel setups

• Provide added strength and improved geometry for aggressive use

If you’re lifting your truck beyond a basic spacer kit, upgraded control arms help ensure your alignment is correct and your suspension can use its full range of motion.

Basic Lift Kit vs. True Suspension Upgrade

Not all “lifts” are created equal.

Spacer / Leveling Kits

• Add height by spacing the factory suspension away from the frame

• Inexpensive and good for looks and slightly larger tires

• Do not improve shock quality, travel, or spring rate

Full Suspension Kits

• Include new shocks, springs (or leafs), and often control arms

• Improve ride quality, control, and articulation off-road

• Designed to work together as a matched system

If you’re just after a better stance and a mild tire size, a leveling kit can work. If you want real off-road performance, a true suspension upgrade is the better long-term investment.

How Suspension Changes Affect Ride and Handling

Every suspension change has trade-offs.

• More travel and softer springs improve off-road comfort but can add body roll on pavement

• Stiffer springs and firmer shocks improve control with heavy loads but may feel harsh when empty

• More height improves clearance but raises your center of gravity

The goal is balance—matching your shocks, springs, and control arms to how you actually use your truck.

Choosing the Right Setup for Your Build

Think about:

• How much weight you’re carrying (bumpers, winch, rack, tent, tools)

• How often you’re off-road vs. on-road

• Whether you prioritize comfort, high-speed dirt, rock crawling, or towing

Examples:

• Daily driver + weekend trails:

  • Mild lift (2–3"), quality monotube shocks, slightly heavier springs, upgraded UCAs

• Overland / camping rig:

  • Lift with load-rated springs, reservoir shocks, full skids, and appropriate control arms

• Aggressive trail rig:

  • Higher lift, long-travel or heavy-duty suspension, reinforced control arms, lockers, armor

Off-road suspension doesn’t have to be a mystery. Shocks control motion, springs hold the weight and set the height, and control arms keep everything moving in the right arc. When you match all three to your truck’s weight and how you actually drive, you get a rig that feels confident, controlled, and comfortable—on the road and in the rough.

👉 At our shop, we carry complete suspension kits, shocks, springs, and control arms from leading off-road brands, so whether you’re planning a simple leveling kit or a full trail-ready setup, we can help you choose parts that work together and work for your build.

If 35s are bold, 37-inch tires are a statement. They’re massive, aggressive, and instantly transform any truck or SUV into a trail-dominating beast. But as impressive as they look, running 37s isn’t just a cosmetic change—it’s a major step up in performance, capability, and cost.

Before you order that new tire and wheel setup, it’s worth understanding how 37-inch tires affect your truck’s power, handling, and daily drivability.

What You’ll Learn in This Guide

In this article, you’ll learn:

• The advantages and drawbacks of upgrading to 37-inch tires.

• How they impact clearance, gearing, suspension, and fuel economy.

• What supporting modifications are needed to run them safely.

• Whether 37s are worth it for your style of driving and off-road goals.

By the end, you’ll know exactly what to expect before making the jump.

1. The Benefits of 37-Inch Tires

The most obvious advantage of 37s is capability. Larger tires increase ground clearance, approach and departure angles, and traction—all crucial for serious off-road performance.

• Ground Clearance: 37s can add nearly two inches of extra clearance over 35s, helping you clear rocks, ruts, and obstacles more easily.

• Traction: The larger contact patch provides better grip on dirt, sand, and loose terrain.

• Aesthetics: 37s give trucks and SUVs a commanding stance that turns heads on and off the trail.

• Durability: Most 37-inch tires are built with reinforced sidewalls and aggressive tread patterns designed for heavy-duty use.

For off-roaders tackling rocky terrain, mud, or deep sand, 37s are hard to beat.

2. The Downsides of 37-Inch Tires

The jump from 35s to 37s might seem small on paper, but it comes with real trade-offs—especially if you drive your truck daily.

• Reduced Fuel Economy: Larger, heavier tires require more power to turn, cutting MPG significantly.

• Slower Acceleration: Unless you re-gear, your truck will feel more sluggish off the line and under load.

• Increased Wear: Steering, suspension, and braking components all take on more stress.

• Higher Costs: 37-inch tires are more expensive to buy, mount, and balance—and replacement prices add up.

Pro Tip: If you plan to daily drive your truck, the added weight and rolling resistance may outweigh the benefits of going that big.

3. Supporting Mods You’ll Need for 37s

Running 37s safely isn’t as simple as bolting them on. You’ll need supporting upgrades to handle the size and weight properly.

• Lift Kit: Minimum of 3–4 inches (5–6 recommended) for proper clearance.

• Re-Gearing: Common ratios are 4.56 or 4.88, depending on drivetrain and tire weight.

• Trimming / Fender Mods: Larger tires can rub at full lock or under flex—especially on IFS setups.

• Upgraded Steering Components: Tie rods, ball joints, and control arms often need reinforcement.

• Brakes: Consider upgraded rotors and pads for better stopping power.

If you skip these supporting mods, expect rubbing, sluggish throttle response, and premature wear on drivetrain components.

4. How 37s Affect Ride Quality

Larger tires change how your truck feels on the road.

• Ride Comfort: The extra sidewall cushions bumps, improving comfort at low speeds.

• Handling: Body roll increases and steering response slows—especially on lifted trucks.

• Noise: Aggressive tread patterns hum louder at highway speeds.

37s aren’t unbearable for daily use, but you’ll definitely feel the difference if you’re used to stock tires or smaller all-terrains.

5. Are 37s Right for You?

Ask yourself how you actually use your truck:

If your truck spends most of its time off-road or you’re building a show-stopping rig, 37s make sense. For mixed-use vehicles, 35s often provide a better all-around experience.

37-inch tires deliver unbeatable off-road performance and jaw-dropping looks, but they also demand proper setup and commitment. If you’re ready to invest in gears, suspension, and supporting components, 37s can take your build to the next level.

👉 At our shop, we stock 37-inch all-terrain and mud-terrain tires from top brands like Nitto, Toyo, BFGoodrich, and Mickey Thompson—along with lift kits, re-gearing components, and wheel packages to match. Let us help you build a truck that’s as capable as it looks.

Off-road tires are a major investment, and how you maintain them directly affects their performance, comfort, and longevity. Routine rotations, balancing, and alignment aren’t just maintenance tasks—they’re essential practices that keep your truck safe and your tires wearing evenly. In this article, we’ll explain how each service plays a critical role in tire care. You’ll learn how to spot uneven wear before it becomes a problem, how often to schedule maintenance depending on your driving style, and how proper setup improves off-road traction and ride quality. Whether your truck spends most of its time on pavement or tackling backcountry trails, these tire care fundamentals will help you protect your investment and get the most miles out of every tread.