Why Do People Drive Squatted Trucks?

When a truck carries weight, the back end lowers and the more weight it holds, the lower the truck’s rear end will go. In the truck community, people refer to this as “squatting.” While it’s an obvious sign that a vehicle is likely exceeding its payload capacity, it somehow has become trendy to make it look like your truck is overloaded all the time and drive squatted trucks.

 So why do people drive squatted trucks? Let’s dive in and discover why it has become stylish in the truck community.

What Is a Squatted Truck?

A squatted truck is a truck with a lift kit on the front, while the rear either remains the same or sometimes even lowered. The final result is that the front end is substantially higher than the truck’s rear end. Some refer to this as the “Carolina Squat.” While standard trucks sit almost entirely level, this truck style will likely cause you to do a double take the first time you see them.

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What Is the Purpose of Squatting a Truck?

Squatted trucks serve no purpose other than aesthetics. Modifying a truck into a squatting truck makes it less capable of towing, kills fuel efficiency, and drastically reduces a driver’s ability to see around them. However, if you’re looking to attract attention to your vehicle while you cruise down the highway, this truck style is one way to do it.

Why Do People Drive Squatted Trucks?

Many drivers view their vehicles as artwork and express themselves by working on and modifying them. Instead of having a cookie-cutter truck like all the others rolling off the assembly line, their vehicles stand out from the rest. A squatted truck stands out from other trucks on the road. Since these trucks are less safe and less capable, there are few other reasons a driver would drive a modified truck.

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Does Modifying a Truck Hurt It?

When you do the job correctly, squatting a truck doesn’t necessarily hurt it. However, the more aggressive the angle, the more likely it will cause strain on other components in your vehicle. Over time, you’ll likely experience issues with parts that have nothing to do with your lift.

A squatted truck is also less capable of towing and less aerodynamic, making it less fuel efficient. Depending on how you plan to use your vehicle, squatting it could hurt it. However, driving a truck you modified in this way won’t hurt if you’re not planning to tow with your vehicle or aren’t worried about fuel efficiency. 

How Much Does It Cost to Squat a Truck?

If you want to modify a truck, you should expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $10,000+. The total costs significantly depend on your vehicle, how much you want it to squat, and how much work you’ll do on your own. If you cannot do the work yourself, you’ll pay for the parts and the labor. 

Are Making Modified Trucks Illegal?

Like many highway laws, the squatted truck laws are up to individual states. Since state laws can change often, you’ll want to check the legalities of squatting a vehicle in your state.

Currently, Virginia and North Carolina are the only states where it is illegal to drive a squatted truck. However, South Carolina is actively taking steps toward banning squatted vehicles. Drivers could face $100 fines for their first offense, and repeated violations can be upwards of $300. In addition, a driver could have their license suspended if they experience multiple infractions.

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Who Invented These Modified Trucks?

Squatting a truck first became popular in California’s Baja Racing Circuit. Drivers raised the front of their vehicles to help land jumps. A higher front end meant they were less likely to experience a nosedive during their landings. This could cause severe damage to the vehicle and the driver.

Eventually, drivers took notice of the unique look of the vehicles, and they began to appear in passenger trucks. The trend quickly spread across social media, and squatted vehicles have been popping up across the country ever since.

Is a Squatted Truck Worth It?

Not only are squatted trucks more challenging to drive and less fuel efficient, but they’re also less safe. A driver in a squatted vehicle has reduced visibility. Therefore, the increased angle of their headlights can make it extremely challenging to drive at night. In addition, by changing state laws, you could flush a lot of money down the toilet if your state changes the rules once you complete your project.

However, some truck owners will lower the ends of their trucks and haul them to automotive shows to showcase them like art. If that’s your plan, then squatting your vehicle can be worth it. Still, we don’t recommend squatting your vehicle if it’s your daily driver or if you plan to use it for towing or hauling.

Would you modify a squatted truck? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

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