What is a Carolina Squat?

The "Carolina Squat" is a weird trend where truck owners modify the suspension of their vehicle, so the front is pointing towards the sky and the rear end is pointing downward.

Are they making the Carolina Squat illegal?

Currently squatted trucks are illegal in North Carolina and Virginia. There are indications that South Carolina may also ban them. In May 2021, North Carolina lawmakers approved legislation making squatted trucks illegal in the state. The legislation went into effect on December 1, 2021.

Is the Carolina Squat illegal in California?

Roots in racing

Some call it a safety hazard, others are angry it's no longer legal — it's the Carolina squat. The origin of the practice appears to trace back to California's Baja racing circuit. It not only shifts the center of gravity toward the back wheels but helps when landing jumps on uneven pavement.

Why did NC ban squatted trucks?

The law was passed after an online petition to outlaw the Carolina Squat in North Carolina drew tens of thousands of signatures last year, with supporters noting the challenges it poses to other drivers. "These trucks blind people with their headlights pointed to the sky," the petition stated.

Is the Carolina Squat safe?

Another safety hazard regarding the "Carolina Squat" is the severe wear and damage on suspension components that required tires Washington NC to be routinely maintained.

Carolina Squat - Where It Started, It's History, and More!

What does Cali lean mean?

Sometimes referred to as the Carolina Squat, the Cali Lean trend involves people squatting their trucks. They elevate the front of the truck while the rear gets lowered or left alone. The front end of the truck is higher than the rear so that when you hit a jump at a high speed the rear hits first.

Are they banning squatted trucks?

If you don't see trucks like this around you already, you probably aren't about to, as the Carolina Squat has been outlawed in a second state following a grisly fatal crash. This Monday, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed Senate Bill 777 according to NBC 29, banning squatted trucks from state highways.

What states have made squatted trucks illegal?

Squatted trucks are legal in every state within the US, with the exception of North Carolina. Authorities in North Carolina passed a law in May 2021, making squatted trucks illegal within the state.

Can you still squat your truck?

House Bill 692 says: "A private passenger automobile shall not be modified or altered by elevating more than three inches from the manufacturer's specified height in the front and lowering the automobile more than two inches from the specified height in the rear." Well, you can do that, but you can't drive such a thing ...

What is the purpose of squatted trucks?

The squatted truck trend started in California and spread across the country. Members of the Baja Racing Circuit wanted to race better in the desert sand, so they raised the front of their trucks to improve landing after jumps. Their goal was to prevent nosedives that could damage the vehicle or injure the driver.

How high can you lift a truck in SC?

Summary: Like North Carolina, S.C. limits "passenger" motor vehicles to 6 inches of lift. "However, this shall not apply to motor vehicles commonly called 'pickup trucks' (§56-5-4445)."

Are Lifted trucks illegal in NC?

As stated above, vehicles in North Carolina may not be lifted or lowered more than six inches. A bill that recently passed the legislature would amend current law to shift focus away from the overall ride height and instead to rake angle.

What is the appeal to Carolina Squat?

This gives the car a lower center of gravity and better handling, or it can just be a way to look cool. Which brings us to the Carolina Squat, where the front end of a pickup or SUV is lifted and the rear is lowered. It gives the whole vehicle a kind of rakish angle.

How much does it cost to squat your truck?

Squatting your truck will set you back anywhere between $300 to $10,000. The cost is dependent on the make and model of your truck, the squat kit you choose, and whether you perform the job yourself or have a professional do it. Squatting your truck comes at a hefty price.

How do you do a Carolina Squat truck?

For readers who are blissfully unaware, a Carolina Squat is when the owner of a pickup truck or SUV chooses to install a lift kit on just the front half of their vehicle. This creates a situation in which the rig rides high in the front but at stock height (or lower) in the rear — hence the 'squat' terminology.

What is rake on a truck?

Rake means that the front of the truck is slightly lower than the back. If you were to put a carpenter's level on the bed rails, you'd see the bubble positioned toward the rear of the truck. This design is quite deliberate, especially in a vehicle with a high cargo capacity.

Who started the Carolina Squat?

Contrary to popular belief, the Carolina Squat began in California, which is why it was also referred to as the "California Lean" or "Cali Lean." The trend emerged from Baja racing in California. Seeing as Baja racing takes place in the desert, the Carolina Squat actually had a practical purpose.

What is a tooted truck?

Tooted/ Cali Lean/ Carolina Squat/ Tennessee Tilt

A truck that has been lifted in the front and lowered in the back. Originating from Baja trucks, but now used in show-style trucks.

Are squatted trucks banned in NC?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A law banning the "Carolina Squat," a popular pickup truck modification in the Carolinas, took effect on Wednesday, Dec. 1 in North Carolina. Under the new law, any vehicle with a front fender that's 4 or more inches taller than the height of the rear fender is illegal.

Why you shouldn't squat your truck?

When your vehicle squats, more of the underbody of your vehicle is exposed, increasing frontal area and therefore increasing aerodynamic drag. According to the EPA, aerodynamic drag is the greatest factor impacting engine efficiency when traveling at high speeds.

What is the legal lift limit in NC?

The law currently says passenger vehicles “shall not be elevated or lowered, either in front or back, more than six inches.” The language in this new bill, if it becomes law, would say passenger vehicles cannot be lifted more than three inches in the front and also lowered more than two inches in the back.

Are exhaust cutouts legal in SC?

Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke and no person shall use a muffler cutout, bypass or similar device upon a motor vehicle upon a highway.

What is the biggest street legal lift kit?

Vehicles with a GVWR from 4,501 to 7,500 have a max frame height of 26 inches and a max bumper height of 27 inches in the front, and 29 inches in the rear. Vehicles with a GVWR from 7,501 to 10,000 have a max frame height of 28 inches and a max bumper height of 28 inches in the front, and 30 inches in the rear.

Are Lifted trucks illegal in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, it's already illegal to lift or lower a vehicle by more than 6 inches, but that law specifically exempts pickup trucks.