16 of the Top Lifted Trucks at SEMA Throughout the Years
The annual SEMA convention had another stellar year at the convention center in Las Vegas, NV. The leading specialty truck convention, SEMA has made a name for itself as the place to launch new lifted trucks, now with 2,400 exhibiting companies. This past year, we saw the release of dozens of exciting makes and models from some of the biggest manufacturers in the industry, including Ford, GM, and Ram.
As excited as we about this year’s roster of lifted trucks, we thought we’d take a moment to walk down memory lane and revisit some of the best lifted trucks presented at SEMA over the years. Here’s our SEMA lifted truck hall of fame:
2018 Ford F-250 - The Baja Boss
Let’s start with some of the best offerings from the 2018 convention. One of the biggest beauties on display was the impressive Ford F-250, with its nickname “The Baja Boss” splattered across the side of its bright yellow body.
This truck features massive Baja Boss 24” wheels for the ultimate off-road adventure. It comes with a 6.7-liter diesel V-8 engine, a performance exhaust, and a custom pair of turbochargers for maximum horsepower, now at 900 hp. You’ll also notice the ultra-duty grill protector that’s perfect for cruising through the wildness. With its bright yellow color, everyone had their eyes on this bold piece of machinery.
2018 Ford F-150 - Transfer Flow
This Transfer Flow F-150 is perfect for your next outdoor family adventure, especially those who like to kayak in the middle of the wilderness. The truck features the company’s signature 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 engine, but they added a 50-gallon fuel tank for even more mileage, helping you explore those far-off destinations with ease.
They also fitted the truck with an off-road suspension kit, raising the body another six inches. It’s also got front and rear off-road bumpers for more protection against the elements. The kayak roof rack is just the icing on the cake—the perfect addition for any outdoors enthusiast.
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 RST
As part of their Silverado lineup, Chevrolet recently launched a new RST off-road truck loaded with useful accessories to help you explore the outdoors. It comes with a Baja light package for more depth perception and visibility in the wild and a 2-inch suspension lift kit for leaping over all kinds of hazards that might otherwise slow you down.
You’ll also find some locking interior storage for keeping your valuables out of harm’s way, which really comes in handy if you need to leave your car unattended for a few hours or days.
2019 Chevrolet Silverado - The RichLine Motorsports Truck
Go big or go home. This monster truck was turning plenty of heads at last year’s SEMA convention. What started as a Chevy Silverado soon evolved into one of the meanest trucks on or off the road. The lift kit really gets the body off the ground, with one truck sporting a lift kit of nearly two feet. The hearty wheels would make it easy to cruise over all kinds of terrain, and the body was lined with some impressive LEDs for more illumination.
You might not see one of these monster trucks on the road any time soon, but just knowing someone willed one of these trucks into being is sure to satisfy any truck lover.
2018 Ford F-150 Freak-O-Boost
One of many F-150 models making the rounds at last year’s SEMA convention, the truck dubbed the Freak-O-Boost got its name for a reason. It comes with an EcoBoost turbo engine for powering through just about any situation. XDI custom built the high-flow fuel pump that’s perfect for high-performance vehicles.
The tires are the real star of the show. Measuring at 37 x 12.5 inches, these mega mud tires from the Maxxis RAZR collection are strong enough to crush just about anything that comes your way. Attendees were also quick to point out the FiberwerX widebody fenders and bedsides for more durability, and the Morimoto projector headlamps for added visibility. All this with a gorgeous orange and blue paint job.
2018 Ford F-250 – Super Duty
This slick piece of machinery was made specifically for the outdoors by the Wilderness Collective, an outdoor tours company that needs to move its customers around the outdoors by any means necessary. It starts with a Ford F-250 Super Duty, but the company added a 2.5-inch lift, from one of the most in-demand lift kit brands around, and a heavy-duty track bar.
Perfect for keeping their passengers calm and comfortable, the company also added a dual opposing steering stabilizing kit, anti-roll bars, and manual front wheel lockers. The Hellwig airbags add another layer of safety in case anything goes awry during the tour. The truck also featured slick vinyl wraps featuring the company’s logo, thanks to the pros at Vaderworks.
2017 Ford F-150 Hennessey VelociRaptor 6x6 – Best in Show Winner
Winner of the esteemed SEMA Best in Show award back in 2017, this lifted beauty from Ford is truly worth remembering. It featured both a front and rear lift kit, giving it the freedom to fly over all kinds of debris. They also extended the frame for more room to play around, including 8-foot bed and extra rear axle. The sleek black custom paint job put the finishing details on this prized possession, giving it the right look for all these slick upgrades. Plus, you can’t go wrong with a name like VelociRaptor.
2017 Ford F-250 SD126 – Monster Winner
Another Best in Show winner from the 2017 SEMA, this gargantuan orange monster truck was impossible to miss. What started as a heavy-duty pickup truck from one of Ford’s best-selling lines soon became a force to be reckoned with. It sported a massive 126-inch wheelbase with 4.30:1 gears mounted inside an F-450 Dana 60/M300 rear axle.
Last, but not least, these 42-inch tires really pack a punch when you’re cruising through the mountains or a deep swamp. Nothing can slow you down when you’re behind the wheel of this bad boy. The bright orange paint job and the sheer size of its body really caught our eye on the showroom floor.
1965 Ford F-250 Six-Pack - Restoration Winner
This classic Ford 1965 Six-Pack was winner of the prestigious Restoration prize at the 2017 SEMA. Still in relatively mint condition, the owner raised the body of this beauty by about six inches, a stand-out among the many lift suspension kits on display. The 5.9-liter Cummins inline six-cylinder engine had been worked up, so this old-timer still had plenty of juice left in him.
The frame was from a 2006 Dodge, complete with a new set of axles. However, the beauty was in the details. Every inch of the truck had been polished with some truly inspiring upgrades, including newly fastened door handles, beautifully upholstered seats, and a gorgeous trim. Let’s hope this truck will stick around for years to come.
2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 AEV Concept – Concept Winner
Chevrolet and American Expedition Vehicles came together to win the 2017 convention’s top Concept prize, which is reserved for truck owners that truly think outside the box. This started as a Colorado ZR2, and AEV took things one step further by suiting it up with loads of accessories, including massive Baja wheels, a full LED panel, and a six-inch suspension lift kit. With its tan paint job and heavy-duty design, this guy could become Chevy’s next major seller.
2016 Chevrolet Colorado ZH2
A force to be reckoned with, this new Chevy concept was so powerful, it started garnering interest from the U.S. military. It featured a slick camo-style paint job with sharp LED panels and sleek body that would make the Dark Knight swoon. This ZH2 run on a hydrogen fuel cell, making it stand out from the competition.
Fitted with a lift kit, this truck had about 12 inches of ground clearance. According to the specs, its top speed clocked in at round 60 miles per hour with a 48-degree approach angle and a 39-degree departure angle. We may see these on the Chevy lot in the next few years if the military doesn’t scoop them up first.
2016 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Hurley
Quickly dubbed “the beach truck,” this slick lifted truck from Chevy was made to race across the dunes. It’s loaded with extra room in the back for all that bulky surfing equipment. The interior storage will also come in handy if you’re lounging on the beach for hours on end while your truck is in the lot.
It even comes with a towing weight capacity of 7,000 pounds, so hauling all your gear around wouldn’t be a problem. The interior was stunning, to say the least, with its water-resistant seating. Durable and built to last, this Chevy truck is sure to stick around for several years to come.
2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD Alaskan Edition
A rare offering at SEMA, this Alaska Edition of the Chevy Silverado came fitted with everything you need to plow through the open tundra. It was sporting a massive snow plow on the front, complete with some slick polar bear vinyl graphics. The emergency flashing light on top and the shimmering blue paint job made it a stand-out in the crowded showroom. Slightly raised, it’s perfect for cruising over previously uncharted terrain, including the rocks and gravel roads of Alaska.
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Ford’s F-150s were on full display at the 2016 SEMA show. The company unveiled the F-150 Raptor during the festivities, giving the public its first glimpse at what the company had in store for the following year. This beauty was designed for speed, tricked out with all kinds of exciting racing accessories, including a steel roll cage, several Rigid LED light panels, a puncture-resistant fuel cell, and racing seats with a harness for more stability and support.
With all this extra gear, Ford raised the body of the truck about six inches. It still came with the 450-hp 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that you’d find in most F-150 models, but this version was a real eye-catcher.
2016 Ford F-150 Hulst Customs EraThr3
Hulst Customs went the extra mile with this EraThr3. The auto accessory company tricked out this sleek ride with many of its most popular offerings, including a new silver front and rear bumper, hood extractor vents, carbon-fiber splitter, and a drop visor. They also added a rear four-link suspension for more ground clearance, making way for the massive 26-inch Lexani Monza wheels on 295/30-26 front and 305/40-26 rear tires.
Getting up to 750 horsepower, the Whipple-supercharged 5.0L V8 engine was another major selling point for the company—not to mention, the truck’s custom leather upholstery, full subwoofer, and even some sleek headrest tablet cradles.
Bojix Design Ford F-150 XLT 4x4
This Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 would never be the same after the 2016 SEMA convention. It featured a 7-inch lift kit with Fox Racing coilover shocks and 22-inch Grid Off-Road GF-2 forged wheels with 37-inch Nitto M/T tires. It features a sleek gray body with some orange accents to catch the eye, plus a Paramount Restyling grille and fender flares, an LED light rack, and a truck bed with sliding doors for more storage options. Every detail was designed to leave a lasting impression on the audience.
Get Ready for SEMA 2019!
SEMA is always a cause for celebration, and these lifted trucks were truly a source of inspiration. It’s no wonder this event attracts over 140,00 attendees per year. Some of the biggest auto and accessory manufacturers get to strut their stuff at one of the biggest venues in the biz. It’s never too early to start prepping for SEMA 2019!