Lifted trucks on oversized tires are some of our favorite vehicles to move — and some of the most misunderstood. Owners worry their build is too tall, too wide, or too modified to ship safely. It almost never is. It just needs the right carrier and honest measurements up front. Here are two recent ones we hauled: a lifted GMC Sierra Denali HD dually that ran nearly coast to coast, and a Ford F-150 Raptor R loaded out of Los Angeles.
Job one: a lifted GMC Denali HD dually, Bakersfield to North Georgia
- Vehicle: GMC Sierra Denali HD — dual-rear-wheel (dually), lift kit, forged wheels, and aggressive all-terrain tires.
- Route: Bakersfield, CA to Cleveland, GA — about 2,200 miles, nearly coast to coast.
- Transit: picked up June 23, delivered June 26 — three days, door to door.
- Transport: open carrier, $0 upfront, time-stamped condition photos at pickup and delivery.
A dually on a lift kit is wider and taller than a stock pickup, and that changes how it rides on the trailer. Dual rear wheels need the right deck width and tie-down points, and the added height usually means a lower or single-deck position so the truck clears bridges and the upper deck above it. We confirm the real, as-built height — measured to the top of the cab as it sits today, not the factory spec — before assigning a carrier. That one number is what keeps an oversized truck from getting turned away at loading.
Job two: a Ford Raptor R out of Los Angeles
The Raptor R is a wide truck from the factory, and this one added a bed-mounted chase rack and 37-inch tires on top of that. Width and accessories matter as much as height: the chase rack raises the overall profile, and the widebody fenders change how the straps run. None of it is a problem — it is simply information the carrier needs before the truck rolls up, so the driver arrives with the right loading approach instead of improvising on site.
What actually matters when you ship a modified truck
Across both of these moves, the same three things did all the work:
- Accurate measurements. Real height, width, and ground clearance as the truck sits today — not the brochure. Lift kits, leveling kits, oversize tires, and racks all change the numbers.
- The right carrier slot. Tall builds ride low-deck or single-deck so they clear the upper rack and bridges; duallies need deck width. We match the truck to the trailer instead of forcing a fit.
- Clearance on the ramp. The suspension flexing on a loading ramp is no different than rolling slowly over a speed bump. The real concern is ground clearance at the ramp angle — flag a heavily lifted (or lowered) build up front and the driver uses ramp extensions.
For the full breakdown — carrier types, how to measure your build, and what oversized trucks cost to ship — see our guide on shipping a lifted truck.
Open or enclosed for a custom build?
Both of these trucks went on an open carrier, which is the right call for the vast majority of lifted and oversized builds — it is the standard, best-rate option and they arrive fine. If a truck is a show build, has fresh paint or a wrap, or is genuinely irreplaceable, enclosed transport shields it from road exposure for the entire trip. We flag that choice at booking based on the truck's value, not by default.
Condition photos on both ends
Every vehicle is photographed at pickup and again at delivery, with the date and location recorded — exactly like the shots above. For an oversized truck traveling 2,000-plus miles, that time-stamped record is how you prove the build arrived exactly as it left.
Shipping a lifted or oversized truck?
We move lifted trucks, duallies, Raptors, and custom builds cross-country every week — including lanes like California to Georgia. Tell us the truck's real height and tire size and we will match it to the right carrier. Get an instant quote or call and we will price it honestly — no surprises at the ramp.