Does Lifting a Truck ACTUALLY Ruin Fuel Economy?

In the automotive world, tall tales are lurking around the corner in just about every garage. With countless opinions swirling around, figuring out what’s the truth and what’s something your crazy uncle came up with after too many late nights can feel like navigating a maze.

Fortunately, the internet serves as a place where we can find the hard facts, dispelling myths that lurk around the automotive community. Instead of relying solely on anecdotal accounts from friends and family, online resources offer concrete evidence to either corroborate or refute these claims. Sometimes, these beliefs are so ingrained in the culture that they can become accepted as fact. However, with some of these ideas, the numbers often speak to the contrary.

Today, we set our sights on a contentious issue: whether modifying your truck—specifically by adding a lift kit—can adversely affect fuel economy. It’s been said over and over that lifting a truck can cut down the MPGs. While fuel efficiency might not be the primary concern when purchasing a truck, maximizing mileage is still a priority for many owners, offering substantial savings at the pump.

To put these rumors to the test, we turn to the Denver 100-mile trial and the crew over at TFL Truck. This rigorous examination pits a 2024 GMC Sierra 1500, modified from the factory, against the skepticism that modifying a truck is bad for MPGs. Alongside it, a 2023 Ford Super Duty F-350 Lariat Crew Cab, a behemoth in its own right, also enters the fray to debunk these myths.

Through meticulous testing and data analysis, TFL aims to shed light on the impact of lift kits and other modifications on fuel economy, separating fact from fiction in the process. Armed with empirical evidence, truck enthusiasts can make informed decisions about customizing their vehicles without sacrificing efficiency. As they say, knowledge is power!