Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Lift kits ?

I recently bought a low mileage 2002 Ford F350 crew cab, long bed.
The wrong size tires are on it, as for some reason, the previous owner put 70's on it, instead of 75's.
When I brought it home, my wife says it looks like a rez rocket, and needs lifted and bigger tires put on it.
Fine, but.....
We bought it for traveling, and pulling our 5th wheel.
The 7.3L, under the hood, has the full Banks upgrade, so power isn't an issue.

I'm going to go 4 inches. The garage who is going to do the work suggested maybe 4 in front, and 2.5 in the rear to level it, and " for only 500 bucks more, we can ad air bags for when you are hauling"
Sounds good, but I don't care about the rake, and 500 bucks can go towards seat covers, and floor mats.

For tires, I'm looking at 285/75/16's. I don't have to buy new rims, they are still 10 ply, and big enough (32.5") to make it look better, BUT, not big enough to effect the speedo,and power very much. That's based on the tire places computer.

So. You guys with lift experience, what would you do ?
It also has a drag up tank with electric pump, and tool box in the bed already.

Just make sure sure all the front end geometry is right

Pickups aren't supposed to be level. They're made to haul a load and that will level them when needed.

I see a lot of those "leveled" trucks with toy haulers heading out on weekends. They are the ones with the headlights up at 45 degrees. I would lift the same all around unless you are building a street only, no tow brodozer.

Single rear wheel? 4x4?

I'm a big proponent of Air Bags. I have heard horror stories of incorrect installations causing premature failure of differential internals. Might wanna study up on it.

+ 1 on the airbags. Level ride height when unloaded. Pump up when trailering or hauling. I have them on my Duramax Silverado and would recommend them.

Unless you are lifting the truck to put 35-40" tires on it, I don't know why you'd put a lift kit on it. It looks nice but they are a pain to crawl in and out of on a daily basis and it will likely require lifting your fifth wheel or other wise accounting for the height difference between the two.

Not install any more lift kits.




Travis

Just got rid of my '03, same configuration as yours, had 285/75-16's on it the entire time, with no lift and no issues.

I just turned 78 and I need a lift kit. And I do not even own a truck.

How does somebody as stupid as you live to be 78?




Travis

It is easy. All I have to do is be smarter than you.

I have owned several trucks. Never saw any need to lift them.

This here. If your running stock tires, and you should, leave it alone. Air bags would be fine for big loads or just to stabilize your fifth wheel.

I believe you need a lift kit for a 5th wheel towing truck, like you need a hole in the head.
Air bags, on the other hand, serve a very real practical purpose.
The ability to tow your trailer level provides a lot of advantages. I have not seen a setup that would benefit from being 4" higher.

A lift kit will screw up your handling and fuel mileage, and is definitely not a plus for towing. The only rationale for them is for off road use, where the ground clearance is needed. Put proper size tires on and enjoy. I do believe air bags are a plus for towing and heavy hauling, though.

This ties in with my original thought that the thread was going to be about foundation garments for the ladies.

I'd be more apt to go with leveling blocks in the front and air bags for hauling I the rear. I've leveled every truck I've had from a Dodge Dakota to a 99 Cummins and after an alignment, I've had no ill effects from front leveling blocks. Those air bags will keep the bed level when hauling. A 250/350 frame should allow 34-35" tires after leveling the front only.

Proper tires and GOOD air bags will do the job just fine. The lift kits are a PITA and waste of money IMHO.

Will you have enough bed rail clearance you won't hit the bed the first pot hole you hit? Then you run into all the fun stuff like drive line vibration, broken u-joints, etc. I wouldn't lift a tow vehicle.

Points all taken.
First, it's NOT a daily driver. It's only uses are for road trips, and hauling a 42' 5th wheel with 4 slides, and on in the mountain trips, add 900 pounds for filling the drag up tank.
Second, the 5th wheel levels my Dodge dually. If I level the Ford, that means when loaded, it be squattin. If I leave it normal rear high rake, it'll level the truck.
The camper rides level with a higher sitting Dodge, adding a lift to a low sitting Ford will equal the heights.
Oh, single axle rear, 4wd.