HouAggie-
Looking back, mine was the smartass reply (to you). The dumbass remark was uncalled for. I guess I was trying to be funny, obviously I was not and I apologize.
But "worthless" opinion? True, it is only an opinion, which everyone has. But then again, I have been "into cars" for at least 40 years. I have seen fads come and go. I have driven all sorts of vehicles in all sorts of conditions.
My opinion, based on fact and experience, is that you need to be very careful jacking around with the factory suspension. These guys have 100 years of car building experience, and engineering and safety knowledge way beyond yours or mine.
While some modifications, especially to fit your particular use of the vehicle might be helpful, modifications for the sake of appearance usually are not. Radical changes in the tires and suspension are going to cause radical changes in handling and safety. Most of these will not be positive.
Of course, everyone has a right to modify their vehicle within legal limits, but I find it laughable to see a shiny new pickup that will never see a dirt road, much less a mud bog, with huge tires and radical lift. And frankly, my experience driving in mud and snow tells me that huge tires and radical lift aren't a whole heck of a lot better in 95% of mud than my factory 4WD with a very moderate tread pattern. In some conditions, it is much worse. If the original poster does have a 2WD, good luck to him pushing big (non-powered) front tires down a slick road.
In addition, it is irresponsible of someone to modify their vehicle in a way that compromises safety, when it compromises my safety. A lifted, big tired pickup can't stop or manuver well, and is more prone to rollover. If a modified pickup does that and crashes into me, I will hold the modifier responsible. And I certainly pray I never get T-boned by a lifted pickup whose bumper is now level with my head instead of my door.
When I was in high school, the fad was to jack up the back end of your car and put fat tires under the back, and lower the front and put little tires. The idea was to emulate drag racers of the day. I had a BQ buddy who did his 65 GTO that way. It was terrible, it rode like a wagon because he accomplished the lift with air shocks pumped to their maximum.
A dad of a HS friend laughed at the jacked-up-in-the-rear cars. He told us that in his day, they jacked up the front and lowered the rear, so the cars would appear to be accelerating.
Ah, kids........
