Not So Itsy-Bitsy: Pursuing Off-Road Dominance With Black Widow Lifted Trucks

If you want to set your pickup apart from the crowd while dramatically improving its off-road potential, all it takes is a little lift. With its improved ground clearance, high-performance suspension, and ability to accommodate extra-large all-terrain tires, a lifted truck is the undeniable king of the (off) road. When it comes to sourcing a lifted truck, drivers have a couple of options. The D.I.Y. approach is one popular route, and while there is no shortage of aftermarket lift kits on the market, the process can be a little intimidating for some drivers.

Installing a body lift or leveling kit might only take a few hours, but most serious off-roaders tend to gravitate towards full-on suspension lifts, which can be a whole different story altogether. Suspension lift kits, which often involve replacing almost every suspension component with new, heavy-duty upgrades, not only cost thousands of dollars but they can also take days to install.

Then there are factory-lifted trucks. Automakers have long offered off-road-ready models designed to hit the trail the moment you roll off the dealer’s lot, and these trims have become increasingly popular in recent years, with nearly every brand offering an off-road model, trim, or equipment package. Take the best-selling Chevy Silverado 1500, for example. The full-size pickup currently has two off-road trims in the Custom Trail Boss and Trail Boss, which add a host of rugged off-road equipment like Rancho shocks, all-terrain tires, a heavy-duty air filter, skid plates, and, of course, a two-inch factory lift. Known as the Z71 package, this $2,200 option transforms the already capable pickup into a proper off-road pickup that can hold its own in almost any off-road scenario. That said, drivers looking for the ultimate off-road companion have a third option: aftermarket truck upfitters like Black Widow Lifted Trucks.

Dedicated to building some of the sturdiest, most competent off-roads on the market, Black Widow has earned a reputation as the go-to choice for those who will settle for nothing but the best. This includes major automakers like Chevy, Ford, RAM, and Jeep, who have all honored Black Widow with the exclusive Approved Special Vehicle Manufacturer designation. If you think the Silverado Trail Boss is an off-road beast, just wait until you get a look at Black Widow’s version. What makes these custom-lifted pickups so special? What sort of equipment are they packing, and where can you get your hands on one?

Building The Brand

With over 40 years in the industry and more than 120,000 custom upfit vehicles to their name, the team at Black Widow Lifted Trucks knows their way around an off-road pickup. That said, the company’s roots might surprise some drivers, especially those who didn’t think that Krispy Kreme Doughnuts might factor into the Black Widow story.

Black Widow Lifted Trucks are a series of lifted sport trucks produced by an Alabama-based company, SCA Performance. The vehicle customizer traces its history back to Southern Comfort Conversions (SCC), which was founded by Rod McSweeney in 1979. When SCC first got its start, brawny off-road pickups like the Black Widow Silverado 1500 weren’t part of the equation. Rather, the company focused on building van chassis as delivery vehicles for companies like Frito-Lay and Krispy Kreme. SCC would go on to find a new niche in customizing passenger vans, pickups, and SUVs and, in 2006, would become the largest customizer in the United States with the acquisition of Centurion Vehicles.

The economic downturn of 2008 saw SCC’s majority owner shutter the business, but the McSweeneys would not be so easily defeated. The longtime upfitter brought sons Matt and Michael on board in 2009, and MCM Custom Vehicles was born. Now known as SCA (Southern Comfort Auto) Performance, the upfitter is going as strong as ever with projects like the Reaper Chevy Silverado—designed in partnership with Lingenfelter Performance Engineering—and the Black Widow series to its name.

The Black Widow Approach

Black Widow is far from the only aftermarket off-road truck upfitter on the market, so why has the company earned such a following? In large part, it comes down to Black Widow’s close relationship with some of the industry’s leading automakers. Black Widow often sources its trucks directly from the assembly line, an approach that carries a number of advantages when it comes to reliability and performance. This means that all of Black Widow’s custom vehicles are covered by the manufacturer’s original factory warranty, which is a significant selling point in the world of upfitting. When most aftermarket upfitters start messing with a car, truck, or SUV—especially the suspension—the original factory warranty often becomes less valuable than the paper it’s printed on, but not so with Black Widow. The company’s Approved Special Vehicle Manufacturer designation means that automakers will still honor the vehicle’s original warranty, which is particularly important in the rough-and-tumble world of off-roading. In addition to the original manufacturer’s warranty, all Black Widow parts and accessories come with their own three-year/36,000-mile warranty, which should go a long way in helping drivers enjoy a worry-free off-road experience.

This close relationship with automakers goes beyond mere warranty coverage. Black Widow vehicles can only be purchased and repaired at participating dealerships, and the cost of an upfit can be integrated into a driver’s original retail lender financing. Black Widow upfits aren’t cheap, with the average package running between $25,000 and $40,000, but the company does credit drivers for the value of all stock components that are removed to make way for their heavy-duty off-road replacements. These upgraded parts are often proprietary designs made in-house by Black Widow’s expert team of engineers and technicians or outsourced to a trusted team of approved vendors.

Black Widow parts are exclusive to Black Widow vehicles and can’t be purchased separately. In fact, a registered VIN number is required to purchase parts through the Black Widow warranty department. In addition to their wide selection of ready-to-drive vehicles, Black Widow also offers custom builds with dozens of options to choose from. These custom projects often take between six to eight weeks but are well worth the wait for any driver who is in the market for a one-of-a-kind off-road pickup.

Black Widow Silverado 1500

So what does a Black Widow upfit look like when applied to a popular pickup like the Chevy Silverado 1500? While models like the Silverado Custom Trail Boss and Trail Boss offer a respectable two-inch lift, Black Widow has tripled that figure with its six-inch suspension lift kit featuring high-strength cross members, steering knuckles, and upper control arm. With six inches of extra ground clearance, drivers can navigate even the most challenging off-road trails while cruising above the costly obstacles that can easily ruin a ride.

But the six-inch lift is just part of the Black Widow Silverado 1500’s growth spurt. The lifted suspension means the pickup can also accommodate large 35-inch BFGoodrich ATKO2 tires, which marks a significant upgrade over the stock rubber. The tires pair well with the truck’s 20-inch wheels, which, thanks to Black Widow, can have their trim rings customized to match the pickup’s exterior paint color.

There’s no underestimating the importance of comfort and control when off-roading, which is why a vehicle’s suspension should never be treated as an afterthought. When it comes to the Silverado 1500, Black Widow has their bases covered with the inclusion of high-end FOX shocks that strike the perfect balance between on-road comfort and off-road handling. These monotube FOX shocks are built around an internal floating piston (IFP), which excels in separating the shock’s oil from the nitrogen-charged gas chamber in order to prevent fade-causing oil aeration. Black Widow’s custom LED “puddle” projection lights excel when illuminating murky off-road trails, making them an important addition for drivers who like to keep adventuring after the sun has gone down.

The Black Widow version of the Silverado 1500 also comes with a full slate of optional off-road equipment upgrades such as a high-clearance front bumper, 9,500-lb winch, and 22-inch wheels. Not all of the Silverado 1500’s Black Widow upgrades are purely focused on off-road dominance. The full-size pickup also comes standard with a performance exhaust upgrade with black exhaust tips and five-inch, wheel-to-wheel side steps that make climbing into the lofty lifted pickup just a little bit easier.

As far as performance is concerned, the Black Widow Silverado 1500 comes standard with the pickup’s most powerful engine in the form of a 6.2-liter V8 that produces some 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. It’s the logical pairing for the off-road pickup, so it’s nice to see Black Widow not skimping when it comes to what’s under the hood. The V8 churns out enough power to achieve a max towing capacity of 13,300 lbs, which places it firmly towards the top of the full-size pickup segment.

Finally, there are the appearance upgrades. With its towering height, red brake calipers, and performance exhaust upgrades, a Black Widow Silverado 1500 is already going to be easy to differentiate from a stock Chevy, but the upfitter drives the point home with a unique Black Widow grille, hood vents, and premium badging featuring the company’s iconic spider logo throughout the exterior and interior, including custom-stitched Black Widow headrests and a tailgate badge. Red LED interior lighting, painted interior trim, and tinted front windows give the cabin a sporty look, with custom Black Widow speedometer gauges driving home the point. Optional appearance upgrades range from a “hi-hat,” full matte, fade, or two-tone paint scheme, painted bumpers and front grille, leather seat covers, and black fender flare bolts.

Black Widow is here to prove that not all lifted trucks are created equal. While D.I.Y. lift kits provide an affordable way to get a little extra height, and factory-lifted models come packed with a decent assortment of off-road equipment, upfitters like Black Widow represent the best of both worlds. With a team of experience, innovative engineers, and a close working relationship with some of the industry’s top brands, Black Widow’s products allow drivers to aggressively navigate their local off-road trails with a new level of confidence. These upfit trucks might be more expensive, but once you start to dig down into the long list of premium off-road components that come with the Black Widow package, the price becomes much easier to justify.

There’s also no discounting the importance of safety. Lifting a truck by six inches can create all sorts of potential problems when it comes to handling—especially the increased risk of rollovers—which is why sometimes it’s worth paying a little extra for a job well done. If you’ve ever been curious about the lifted lifestyle but are underwhelmed by the factory-lifted models or aren’t confident in your own D.I.Y. skills, a custom upfit lifted truck from Black Widow might be the answer.