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Squatted Truck Blog .btn { background-color: #4afcb8; padding: 12px; color: #000000; font-weight: bold; line-height: 50px; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 8px; display: inline-block; margin: 24px 0; letter-spacing: 1px; } .section { margin: 24px 0; } .image { display: block; margin: 24px auto; } The Culture Surrounding Squatted Trucks (Video Explanation) Before you dive into the blog, watch this video to learn why people squat trucks—sometimes called the Carolina Squat or Cali Lean—so you can decide if it's just a trend or something worth trying. We spoke to enthusiasts and learned a little bit about why this stuff is so popular! Everything You Need To Know About Squatting A Truck There are a ton of different modifications you can make to your truck to customize it and make it uniquely yours. Some of the biggest include aftermarket wheels, tires, suspension, lighting, and performance parts. However, maybe you're looking to make a serious statement, and you wake up one morning and decide, "I want a squatted truck." If that's the case, you probably know by now you're going to get some dirty looks and confused faces on the road, and you've accepted it. Or, that hasn't crossed your mind quite yet, and if that's the case we don't know what to tell you. Either way, keep reading to discover what exactly is a squatted truck and why people do it, so you have something to tell your friends and family when they ask why the hell your truck looks like that. SHOP WHEEL / TIRE PACKAGES UPGRADE YOUR TRUCK'S PERFORMANCE Quick Links: What Does it Mean to Squat Your Truck? How Do You Squat Your Truck? How Much Does it Cost to Squat Your Truck? Why Do People Squat Their Trucks? Is Squatting Your Truck Bad? Are Squatted Trucks Illegal? Final Thoughts What Is A Squatted Truck, Actually? A squatted truck is a pickup with a raised front and lowered rear, typically achieved with a lift kit or block removal. It’s also called the Carolina Squat or California Lean. This "lifting-and-lowering" makes it so the front fender of the truck is sticking up, sometimes to the point where drivers have difficulty seeing over the dash. Photo Credit: GMAuthority How Do You Squat Your Truck? There are a variety of ways to achieve a squatted truck. This is because you can decide the "severity" of how dramatic you want the squat to be. In some cases, removing the rear blocks from your suspension may give you the look you're trying to achieve. In more drastic cases, you'll need a lift kit or leveling kit to raise the front end. When choosing one, remember that lift kits and leveling kits are designed to be tailor to specific years, makes, and models, so find one compatible with your truck. A suspension lift is usually spendier and more labor-intensive than the alternative: a body lift. A body lift may also give you the look you're going for. They're generally way cheaper than a suspension lift, have fairly easy installation, and won't drastically change your truck's performance. Achieving the Carolina Squat works best on trucks with independent front suspension. To maximize the squatted look, pair a body lift/suspension lift with the removal of the rear blocks. UPGRADE YOUR TRUCK'S SUSPENSION Creds to billy_dunlap19 on YouTube How Much Does it Cost to Squat Your Truck? There's no great one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The best way to be prepared for truck-squatting costs is to be aware of all the expenses associated with it. First, the choice of how you want to squat your truck comes into play. Are you removing the rear blocks? Body lift? Suspension lift? Both? Body lifts are typically anywhere between $200-$400. Lift kits and leveling kits can range anywhere from $200 to $10K and beyond depending on how high-quality of a system you're looking for. Because of this, there's no way to give a solid estimated cost, as it boils down to preference and individual budgets. Plus, it's recommended that you take your truck to a professional mechanic to work on suspension-related upgrades. So you'll also have to find out rates from your local shop and factor in labor time along with any additional parts they might need for a successful installation. UPGRADE YOUR TRUCK'S SUSPENSION Why Do People Like Squatted Trucks, Then? The name "Carolina Squat" is pretty misleading since it originated from California. Another popular term for it is the "California Lean" or the "Cali Lean." It came from the Baja racing circuit back when it was popular in the hilly, desert terrain of California. This is because when racers would fly over a jump and hit the ground, the rear would hit first. The thought process behind this was that it would help to avoid serious crashes. Racers could still make wild jumps without fearing they'd nosedive into the ground. Since desert racing isn't really a thing anymore, there's no real functional purpose as to why people want to squat their trucks. It's basically a looks-only change these days, and most people think it looks pretty ridiculous. However, that doesn't mean that it isn't still popular - it's called the "Carolina Squat" for a reason after all, and though that term might be a bit pejorative you'll still see plenty of people (especially in Myrtle Beach) with their trucks modified like this. The reasons for the Carolina/California squat's popularity are a bit more nuanced, but if you ask most enthusiasts they'll tell you that the styling and clout are super important. Like it or not, plenty of TikTok trends exist for the squat, and there's a deep community aspect around these builds. Is Squatting Your Truck Bad? Determining whether squatting your truck is bad for its looks is entirely up to you. However, using your squatted truck on the road will come with some drawbacks. Most of them are safety concerns too due to the height of the front being different from the height of the rear. Some of these safety concerns associated with squatting trucks include: Poor steering and braking control due to the tilt of the driver's seat resulting in less control on the wheel and truck brakes Driver no longer has a clear view of traffic Headlights are aimed higher and into the eyes of oncoming drivers Rough drive due to uneven suspension lift Truck has less ability to handle body roll Reduced towing capability After introducing squatted trucks to Instagram, others quickly picked up the trend. Whether the intention is to look obnoxious on the road or not, most other drivers perceive it that way. ADD YOUR TRUCK TO THE GALLERY Are Squatted Trucks Illegal? Once squatted trucks started popping up more frequently, it raised more concern among other drivers on the road due to safety concerns. This ignited petitions across multiple states to start circulating calling for their ban. In the state of North Carolina, 70,000 people petitioned to have the practice banned. It looks like a lot of people, especially Carolinians, aren't very supportive of the Carolina Squat. With so many people against it, the North Carolina House of Representatives proposed a ban to the Senate. Governor. Roy Cooper signed a bill into law on Dec. 1, 2021 which outlawed the Carolina Squat, making it officially illegal in the state, which means North Carolina was the first state to outlaw the practice entirely. Some are viewing this ban as a bunch of people with no sense of humor wanting to take away people's love of truck modifying, while others see it as a necessary measure for safety on the road. Either way, there is now precedent. SEE THE MOST BADASS TRUCKS IN OUR GALLERY Should You Squat Your Truck? As far as truck modifications go, squatted trucks are definitely on the more controversial side. With it about to be banned in North Carolina, it won't be surprising to see other states soon follow the same route. So if squatting your truck has been a life-long dream of yours, now might be the time to do it. Let us know in the comments below if you have a squatted truck or plan on making this extreme modification any time soon! Also, what are your thoughts on the ban in North Carolina? Is this a little too extreme or necessary for the safety of others? Let's say you want to do a more sensible build on your truck, and if that's the case, we've got you covered. Check out our suspension store today and grab a lift or leveling kit that can open your truck up to fit bigger wheels and tires! LEARN MORE TRUCK STUFF ON OUR BLOGS

Blogs at Custom Offsets

Why Do People Squat Trucks? (Explained)

June 4, 2025