Are you considering purchasing a lifted truck? Driving a lifted truck turns heads everywhere you go, enables you to see the road more clearly, and lets you easily tackle off-road obstacles. But you might face some unexpected challenges as you drive around Sanford, Florida, in your taller-than-usual truck. One of the common concerns of lifted truck drivers you may also be wondering about is whether your truck can fit in a parking garage. Read below as our team at Gibson Truck World shares this guide to help you find the answer.
What You Need To Know About the Height Limits of Parking Garages
Knowing the maximum vertical clearance of a parking garage is essential before you drive your lifted truck into it. Otherwise, you may end up slamming your truck's light bar or roof into an overhead structure, pipe, or duct, causing severe damage to your vehicle and the property. If this happens, the damages may exceed the coverage limits of your insurance policy, which can put a big dent in your savings.
Maximum height limits can vary from one parking garage to another. But the floor-to-floor heights in parking garages typically range from 10 to 12 feet. Overhead clearance heights must follow local building and accessibility codes. They're generally 7 feet (84 inches) for ordinary parking spaces and 8 feet 2 inches (98.4 inches) for van-accessible spaces. Some parking garages have height limits below 7 feet, which can be concerning if you drive a lifted truck. Of course, you'll also come across facilities with over 7 feet of maximum clearance.Â
How To Calculate the Overall Height of Your Lifted Pickup Truck
Now that you have some idea of the overhead clearance heights of parking garages, the next thing you need to do is to calculate the height of your lifted pickup truck. There are several factors you need to take into account when calculating this figure, including the initial height of the truck, the amount of lift, and the size of the tires on your truck.
In stock condition, the heights of pickup trucks can differ significantly depending on the make, model, model year, trim level, and cab style. On average, a standard truck in the regular cab configuration measures 6 feet 4 inches (76.8 inches). Full-size trucks are larger than compact and midsize ones, so they're also typically taller. The following are the heights of some popular full-size pickups:
- 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: 75.5 inches tall.
- 2020 GMC Sierra: 75.5 inches tall.
- 2020 Toyota Tundra: 76.2 inches tall.
- 2020 Ford F-150: 77.2 inches tall.
- 2020 Nissan Titan: 77.2 inches tall.
- 2020 Ram 1500: 77.6 inches tall.
If you drive a heavy-duty pickup truck, you may want to think twice about entering a parking garage. Heavy-duty trucks can be more than 80 inches tall, which is almost the height limit of a typical parking garage. For example, the 2020 Ram 2500 has an original height of 80.2 inches, while the 2020 Ford F-250 measures 81.5 inches tall. A heavy-duty pickup will barely fit in most parking garages, even if it has only 2 inches of lift and standard tires.
When calculating the height of your lifted pickup truck, you need to add the amount of lift and the difference in tire size to the truck's initial height. Suppose you own a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 that was originally 75.5 inches tall, and you gave it a 4-inch lift. You also installed new tires that are 4 inches larger than the original ones.
As such, the height of your lifted Silverado is 75.5 inches + 4 inches + 2 inches (4 inches divided by two), which comes to a total of 81.5 inches. The size difference between the new and old tires is divided by two because the part of the tire above the axle doesn't contribute to the height increase.
You also must take into account any exterior add-ons that may raise the overall height of your truck. Some of these accessories include roll bars, light bars, roof racks, and rooftop cargo carriers.
Can Your Lifted Truck Fit in a Parking Garage?
In most cases, a parking garage, especially an underground one, has a maximum clearance bar or sign at its entrance to give a clear warning to those who drive over-height vehicles. So you can simply compare the height of your lifted truck with the displayed height limit to determine whether you should park there or go somewhere else.
To be safe, make sure there's a gap of at least 2 inches between the top of your lifted pickup truck and the height limit of the parking garage. Driving over uneven surfaces or objects can raise your truck and cause it to hit an overhead structure. If your truck only narrowly fits under the clearance bar of a parking garage, you would probably be better off parking elsewhere.
Be especially careful when driving in snowy conditions. Snow at a parking garage entrance can elevate your truck an inch or two, making it more likely to collide with an overhead obstacle. You don't have to worry about this if you live here in Sanford, thanks to our year-round warm climate, but it's something you should keep in mind if you travel north during winter.
Shop for an Awesome Lifted Truck at Gibson Truck World
If you're considering buying a lifted pickup in Sanford, Florida, come to Gibson Truck World to check out our amazing pre-owned lifted truck selection. Serving Sanford, Lake Monroe, DeBary, Longwood, Midway, and Geneva, our dealership boasts one of the largest lifted truck inventories in Central Florida. We can help you find a quality lifted truck that suits you perfectly, regardless of your budget, driving needs, and lifestyle. If you don't have anything in mind, our friendly, knowledgeable sales consultants can help you make the right choice. Contact us today to schedule a test drive.Â
Parking Garage Entrance by Tony Webster is licensed with CC BY 2.0
Lifted Chevy Silverado by DiamondBack Covers is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0