Into the Wild: An Off-Roading Adventure with My Lifted Truck

Into the Wild: An Off-Roading Adventure with My Lifted Truck

For a long time, I never understood why so many people enjoy ‘off-roading’, which I interpreted as simply riding around, in a bouncing, jolting, pickup truck.  Then I moved to Long Island and with a few friends, we hit the beaches out East, in our little Jeep Gladiator Mohave, standing in the back, wind in our faces on beautiful day. That was just the beginning.

When my cousin moved out to Colorado I went to visit. She had friends preparing for one of many Off-Road competitions. Colorado offers a plethora of these events. We got to practice a bit with the crew, in a Ford F-150, Raptor —freshly outfitted with a 3-inch lift kit and a new cross bar for its first real off-road adventure. Let’s just say: I was not disappointed.  My love for off-roading was sealed.  I was glad to see that there are even special events for women.

That day, we drove as the sun dipped below the horizon, moving at a moderate pace so they could mark the trail and take note of the mud patches, rock mounts and inclines. When the sun went down the LED light bar sliced through the darkness like a spotlight from outer space.  Every twist, dip, and unexpected obstacle was revealed, transforming the trail into a runway lit up by a disco ball.

The lift kit made all the difference. We cruised over deep ruts and boulders.  The extra ground clearance improved the overall suspension.  They were ready to tackle the terrain and win the race.

If you're thinking about adding a lift kit for your truck—do it. Unlock a whole new level of adventure.