How to Do the Carolina Squat on Your Truck

You can spot a squatted truck from a block away. The nose points at the sky, the tail sits low, and the whole thing looks like it's about to launch off a ramp. If you've been staring at one in a parking lot and wondering what it takes, the short answer is two separate jobs done to the same truck.

What you're really building

A squat is a front end that sits high and a rear end that sits low. Nothing about it is a single part. You raise the front with a leveling kit or a front lift, and you drop the rear with a lowering kit or a flip kit. The look comes from how far apart those two numbers end up.

Check the rules before you buy parts

This one matters more than the parts list. North Carolina restricts how far the front of a vehicle can sit above the rear, and other states have their own rules and their own inspectors. Look up yours first. It's a lot cheaper than redoing the build.

Start with the front

Most builders start with a leveling kit because it's the simplest piece. On a late-model Silverado or Sierra, a 2 or 3 inch kit is the usual range, and we sort those on our Silverado and Sierra leveling kits page. Other trucks are in the main Leveling Kits collection. Pick the amount you want the nose to rise, then check tire clearance, because a taller front pushes the tires closer to the fender and the control arms.

Then drop the rear

The rear is where the stance is made. A lowering kit or flip kit brings the tail down, and the size of the drop is printed in every title. On the 2021 to 2026 F-150, for example, Belltech flip kits come in 4.5 to 5.5 inch and 6.5 to 7.5 inch rear drops. On the 2019 to 2025 Silverado and Sierra there's a flip kit with a C-notch for a 6 to 7 inch drop on crew cabs. Big drops usually need that C-notch, because the axle needs room to travel without slamming the frame. Browse the options in Lowering Kits.

Dial it in before you drive it

Get an alignment, because raising one end and dropping the other changes every angle in the front end. Re-aim the headlights, since a nose-high truck throws the beams into oncoming drivers. Check that the shocks match your new ride height, and make sure nothing rubs when you turn lock to lock.

What it feels like on the road

Expect a different truck. There's less weight over the front tires, so steering and braking feel lighter, and the forward view gets shorter. Heavy loads and towing get harder with a big rear drop. Start with a smaller difference, drive it for a week, and go further only if you still like it. Dropping too far is a lot easier to do than to undo.

Not sure how far to go on your truck? Tell us what you drive and how high you want the nose, and we'll tell you what fits. Call 513-285-4000 or email customerservice@highliftoffroad.com.

Keep reading: Leveling vs. lowering: how to pick your stance | What a Belltech lowering kit does to your ride