Is This A Safe Way To Lift My Truck?

Those "boat rollers" you posted will NOT work. They're way too flimsy. Here's the pic of the style he got in that build thread.

Picture017.jpg
 
Instead of doing something haggered with hockey pucks on such a new truck(more on that later), why not do it the right way?

Summit Racing offers a 98+ bodylift kit for a whopping $143.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-7888300/

Take into account Summit's supplier, Performance Accessories offers their kit at a $270 price...
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PRA-70033/

That should make your decision alot easier. Both kits come with everything needed except manual shift extension. Only real difference between the '98+ trucks is the fuel filler neck and the fuel vent tube sizes. Which could easily be cured with a trip to Home Depot plumbing department or your local hardware store. And best part about it, it's been done countless times on trucks not listed to fit that Summit Kit....but it does. No bologna about trying to find the correct bolt lengths, making bumper relocation brackets, the steering shaft extension(safety first...steerings kind of important, lol), not to mention the excellent instructions the PA kit comes with(which you can download for free and use during Summit kit install).


I've been in your shoes before... IDK how old you are but with a 2011 truck, and with only 3hrs of work a night, I'm kind of assuming you may be young and in school? I would be VERY thankful for having such a nice new vehicle to drive. I was 17 about to turn 18 when my parents co-signed the $10k loan for the then 3 year old truck that graces my avatar. I was making less than you are and managed to make little mods here and there while still making the payment and insurance. In your shoes without really knowing any details about your case(lol), I suggest a torsion twist and 32's and call her good. I didn't start really dumping money into mine until I had already owned it 4 years and had just paid her off. If my assumptions are somewhat factual, just save it, DONT HACK/HALFASS a new truck, and the point is.....If you're gonna do it, why not do it right? $143 ain't much. If you can't afford that, you certainly can't afford the astronomical price of larger tires for your 18"(?) GT500's.

Again, I am assuming some things and hopefully someone doesn't read this and dig way too deep into my logic here, just trying to give some helpful advice. Hopefully when you read my post, you'd understand what I'm trying to say.
 
I forgot about another option, a kind of cheap lift option... Pre-Key!

Beginning the '08 model year, Ford started indexing the torsion bar keys to give a lower ride height. The Pre-Key mod is installing a 98-07 torsion bar key. With the same spring pre-load(aka the adjustment bolt in the same spot), net gain is about 2" over stock. Perfectly safe.. these are NOT the typical "lift" or "leveling" keys. This mod is making your 08+ just like a 07 and older. Nothing else changed but the key...I was partial innovator of this mod back in early '09.

They also changed the rear to a 1.5" block instead of the normal 4x4 block height of 2.5". You can get some extra height from putting in older blocks or installing the earlier mentioned shackles. The ones I suggest are Belltech 6400 shackles....they provide either 1.5" of lift of 3/4" lift depending on what hole you install the spring into. I prefer the shackle route since a: they're easier to install b: no risk of u-bolts not being long enough c: adjustability and d: shackles typically help with ride. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BEL-6400/
 
^ Yea, but did you read the differences he quoted above? It's only the fuel filler neck and vent tube.
 
Fx4wannabe01 said:
Instead of doing something haggered with hockey pucks on such a new truck(more on that later), why not do it the right way?

Summit Racing offers a 98+ bodylift kit for a whopping $143.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-7888300/

Take into account Summit's supplier, Performance Accessories offers their kit at a $270 price...
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PRA-70033/

That should make your decision alot easier. Both kits come with everything needed except manual shift extension. Only real difference between the '98+ trucks is the fuel filler neck and the fuel vent tube sizes. Which could easily be cured with a trip to Home Depot plumbing department or your local hardware store. And best part about it, it's been done countless times on trucks not listed to fit that Summit Kit....but it does. No bologna about trying to find the correct bolt lengths, making bumper relocation brackets, the steering shaft extension(safety first...steerings kind of important, lol), not to mention the excellent instructions the PA kit comes with(which you can download for free and use during Summit kit install).


I've been in your shoes before... IDK how old you are but with a 2011 truck, and with only 3hrs of work a night, I'm kind of assuming you may be young and in school? I would be VERY thankful for having such a nice new vehicle to drive. I was 17 about to turn 18 when my parents co-signed the $10k loan for the then 3 year old truck that graces my avatar. I was making less than you are and managed to make little mods here and there while still making the payment and insurance. In your shoes without really knowing any details about your case(lol), I suggest a torsion twist and 32's and call her good. I didn't start really dumping money into mine until I had already owned it 4 years and had just paid her off. If my assumptions are somewhat factual, just save it, DONT HACK/HALFASS a new truck, and the point is.....If you're gonna do it, why not do it right? $143 ain't much. If you can't afford that, you certainly can't afford the astronomical price of larger tires for your 18"(?) GT500's.

Again, I am assuming some things and hopefully someone doesn't read this and dig way too deep into my logic here, just trying to give some helpful advice. Hopefully when you read my post, you'd understand what I'm trying to say.
Click to expand...

This ^^ Once you buy/ make the bumper brackets, steering shaft extension and all the hardware you would be better off just buying the kit.
 
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Youve got a point. Im used to my El Camino where a hack job is part of the game lol. This is the first new vehicle Iv had. And most of your logic is correct FX4, except im not in school lol. Everything else is right. I was working at a fastfood job for 35 hours a week and pulling a $220 paycheck every week. Lost my temper... lost my job... Started at UPS for $100 a week. Skimming by is an understatement lol. Iv debated selling my Ranger just so I dont have to worry about money.. But Iv put a lot of work into the stupid thing already... I think my best bet (and most cost friendly) is save my money from here on out and wait til I pay it off... in 4 years. I just dont like the sound of it tho lol
 
kozal01 said:
This ^^ Once you buy/ make the bumper brackets, steering shaft extension and all the hardware you would be better off just buying the kit.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:

I was going to type out the price differences, but felt I was typing way too much! lol. But you are right...

theelcaminoman said:
Youve got a point. Im used to my El Camino where a hack job is part of the game lol. This is the first new vehicle Iv had. And most of your logic is correct FX4, except im not in school lol. Everything else is right. I was working at a fastfood job for 35 hours a week and pulling a $220 paycheck every week. Lost my temper... lost my job... Started at UPS for $100 a week. Skimming by is an understatement lol. Iv debated selling my Ranger just so I dont have to worry about money.. But Iv put a lot of work into the stupid thing already... I think my best bet (and most cost friendly) is save my money from here on out and wait til I pay it off... in 4 years. I just dont like the sound of it tho lol
Click to expand...

Gotcha Gotcha. I had a '65 IH 4x4, '71 Chev short-narrow, '88 XJ, and an '85 Toyota before I finally got something nice and newish. All four of those rides were kinda hacked up and the beginning of the Ranger was kinda the same hack stuff, but nice hack. haha. BUT...those vehicles helped me learn to do things right...and plan. I didn't like the sound of waiting 4 years either...but I had her looking pretty good and kinda ghetto back in the day. Little mods here or there to get you by. But one things for sure....my payments weren't as hurtful to the wallet as yours might be. And with those kinda numbers, IDK how you can afford to keep it....AND drive it.

And thanks for reading my blahblahblahFEST post earlier.
 
Lol it was a lot of info. I dont mind. And somehow, I always make my payments. It seems when I think Im definitly gonna miss one, I get some money rollin in somwhere. I need another job... lol
 
No, you need a BETER job. Come up here and work for the Gas/drilling companies. You'll be pulling in $1000/week in no time. Granted you'll be working 80-90 hrs/week but its worth it.
 
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