No More Leg Day: South Carolina Squat Ban Goes Into Effect Soon
Of all the stupid vehicle modification trends over the last few decades, “squatting” has to be one of the worst. People giving their trucks the “Carolina Squat” by raising the front end but leaving the rear alone will hopefully be a thing of the past soon, however, as officials in South Carolina will start handing out tickets for the utterly ridiculous practice beginning on May 10.
In a rare show of political unity, a bipartisan effort was organized to ban squatted trucks. The mods not only look stupid but fundamentally change the way the trucks drive and can make it hard to see—which is kind of important when driving. South Carolina now joins North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia with the ban.
Owners have had six months to get things straightened out since the ban was initially announced in November 2023, but similar efforts to prohibit other idiotic mods haven’t stopped some from trying. People still alter diesel trucks to “roll coal,” and loud exhausts – not always a bad thing – remain a problem for some communities.
We’re all for modifying your car for better performance or even to get a desired look, but there has to be some common sense involved. Running a mod that makes a truck less drivable and safe while mangling its appearance doesn’t fall under those rules. If you’re going to lift a truck, make sure you lift the whole thing, and please, whatever you do, don’t do the squat.
[Image: Myrtle Beach Cam via YouTube]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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Would be sweet on a Telluride.
How is this different than a fully lifted truck? I see trucks rolling off the lot with the back lifted already, and then folks get the front lifted to match. Are there specific "metrics" at how high they can and can't be? The example shown has the truck's front lifted more than normal, but I've seen these around here where the backend is dropped and the front end is at a regular height.
I had to read the article because I had had no idea what the headline meant. I've never seen this in the Northeast. Don't understand the point. Doesn't seen efficient aerodynamically
Come try to take it, Pal. Environmental Whacko.