Elevated Mindset

In the world of custom trucks, stock height is unacceptable. Sure, a stock suspension is the result of thousands of hours of research and development; it's just not tuned to the needs and tastes of the custom truck builder. Just the same, truck builders pay close attention as new models hit the dealer lots each year, taking note of design improvements. Why do custom truck enthusiasts pay so much attention to stock trucks? It's simple: A carefully engineered stock truck is a great platform from which to build a custom ride.

Brad Fisher of San Bernardino, California, is one such custom truck enthusiast. Brad has been tuning and customizing trucks since his Illinois days in Antioch High School's auto shop. A Chevy fan, Brad built a Pro Street El Camino. With street performance in mind, a series of slammed dualies -- four to be exact -- were produced under Brad's watchful eye.

After the fourth dualie was carefully slammed, Brad grew tired of the low life and turned his attention to the sky. A lifted truck was in order. What to choose? A Chevy, of course! The General's '00 Crew Cab dualie 4x4 was brought home from a dealer lot in Libertyville, Illinois, and the customizing began.

Adding lift height to a truck does more than give it an aggressive look: Taller suspensions make room for taller tires. Lifted trucks happily go places where slammed rides fear to tread. Want to stow your dirt bike in the bed of your frame-scrapin' pride and joy? Better choose a track or trail that begins next to the pavement because you're not going very far beyond the blacktop. Brad, however, now goes wherever he pleases.

A custom creation such as this needs a name. Brad selected the name Rip & Tear "because it rips up the pavement and tears through anything else." Welcome to the high life of lifted trucks, Brad. We think you're gonna like it up here.