One of the quintessential upgrades for any performance or tuner car is the widebody kit. These kits have long been a staple of that scene, but who’s to say they can’t fit just as well in other custom vehicle scenes? No one, because over the past several years they’ve made a bold foray into the truck world. Whether your passion project is a trail-ready off-road rig or a show-stopping street truck, adding a widebody kit can offer a dramatic upgrade to your overall aesthetic, and they even have the potential to improve performance. That doesn’t mean they’re without their drawbacks, though, so today we’re going to highlight some of the pros and cons of adding a widebody kit on your truck.
What Is a Widebody Kit?
First and foremost, we obviously have to cover what exactly a widebody kit is for those who aren’t aware. After all, they’re still fairly new to the custom truck community, so those of you who have never had an interest in the performance car scene might have no idea what they are. A widebody kit is essentially an visual upgrade that includes pieces such as extended fender flares, side skirts, quarter panels and maybe even new bumpers.
The point of adding a widebody kit is to, well, widen the stance of your vehicle. This enables larger wheels and tires to be added to the vehicle while giving the truck a more aggressive and planted stance. While there are plenty of bolt-on kits out there, some do require cutting and welding to create a seamless fit, but the decision of which one is best for your rig ultimately rests on your shoulders.
Pros of Widebody Kits on Trucks
Let’s start with the benefits, the most obvious being their aggressive aesthetics. If you’ve ever seen a widebody truck, you know exactly what we’re talking about — they look mean! The widened stance and flared fenders add a high-performance aesthetic to your rig that is sure to turn heads at meets, shows, trails and job sites alike. But this isn’t the only pro of adding them, as there are some performance benefits as well.
Oversized tires are often one of the earliest upgrades modders will add to their custom truck, but if you start with a widebody kit first you’re opening up room for even bigger tires. So even though the aesthetics might scream performance or show truck, off-roaders actually gain something from this practical benefit as well.
But they can also improve handling, thanks to widening the track width — or distance between the left and right wheels. This can enhance cornering stability and reduce body roll, thus delivering your improved handling and a little safety to boot. It’s the perfect complement to your upgraded suspension system.
Lastly, they open up the door for even more customization. The aggressive aesthetic of a widebody kit creates a blank canvas for modders who want to stand out, giving you even more customization options. For example, the kit pairs well with custom paint, riveted flares, LED lighting and air suspension setups.
- Aggressive Aesthetics
- Wheel Clearance
- Improved Handling
- Customization Potential
Cons of Widebody Kits on Trucks
But, as we mentioned, the widebody kit is not without its drawbacks. The most obvious trade-offs for adding a widebody kit to your custom truck are going to be cost and labor – the kits aren’t cheap, and installation can be labor-intensive, both of which are especially true if you want a high-quality kit – and reduced resale value — while we might love the look of a widebody kit, they do appeal to a niche audience, which can severely limit your resale market.
Adding the wider panels found in a widebody kit can also negatively impact fuel efficiency and acceleration, thanks to the increased weight and decreased aerodynamics. And lastly, you’ll have to make sure your widebody kit is street legal, as it could potentially push your truck’s dimensions beyond the legal limit.
Add a Widebody Kit Today at Glover Customs
If you’d like to add a widebody kit to your custom pickup truck, we can help you navigate the pros and cons to make sure you’re getting the best setup for your rig. Be sure to give us a call right here at Glover Customs to discuss your vision, we can’t wait to get started.