New To Board

GRNzer03XLT · #1 03-16-2008, 08:39 PM

Hi guys, I have been looking around on this site for a few weeks now and must say I am very impressed, so much useful information. I recently bought my new F-150 (well new used). I picked up a 2003 S/CAB 4x4 with an 8' bed. It has a little over 100k miles and I got it for $9500. My vehicle before this was a 2000 Jeep Cherokee, so I am familiar with lift kits, but unfortunately not too familiar with leveling kits. How exactly do they work, and are they a cheap way to gain clearance for larger tires without having to put a lift on. As most of you know, the 8' bed and supercab F-150s have extremely long wheelbases (mini F-250 almost) and I have no desire to lift the truck right now, but the previous owner has BFG radial's on that are 255's and its just not cutting it. Any feedback would be appreciated, thanks.

JT's F-150 · #2 03-16-2008, 09:33 PM

You can crank your torsion bars for an additional 1.5" or more depending on your truck. If you have any questions about torsion bars or how to crank them try doing a search. You should come up with some helpful info.

JT's F-150 · #3 03-16-2008, 09:34 PM

Oh, btw welcome

Barrett · #4 03-16-2008, 10:04 PM

welcome to the site

wandell · #5 03-16-2008, 10:29 PM

I agree. You don't need a leveling kit. Just crank up the torsion bars and get an alignment. All a leveling kit for our trucks is are a set of reindexed torsion bar adjustment keys. They just allow you to put more preload on your torsion bars than you can with the oem keys, which is bad. Too much preload will created extreme cv and ball joint angles which will cause premature wear and tear.

GRNzer03XLT · #6 03-16-2008, 10:32 PM

thanks for the welcome. Torsion bar cranks have been the one thing that i have seen alot of on this site, and also leveling kits thats why i asked about them. I am looking for my best option, as of now my truck kinda slopes downward towards the nose, my guess is becuase of all the weight under the hood. I want to lift the truck but i don't have the money right now, I just hope a small mod like a t-bar crank and some bigger tires improve the look of my big green limo lol

blkmgk · #7 03-16-2008, 11:13 PM

crank your torsion bars and get some 33's under there, you won't need any sort of lift. Welcome to the site, these guys on here are super helpful for all your mods and questions. Take a look at my gallery, I have pre body lift pics w/ 33's and torsion bars cranked as well as pics with body lift.

GRNzer03XLT · #8 03-17-2008, 07:53 AM

Your truck looks awesome. How much did you crank your t-bars, and is an alignment necessary after doing so. Also, whats the difference between these tires LT285/75R-16/D1 122R, or either of these

33-1050R15C1 114R RW

33-1250R15/C2 108R W.

Right now I am running 255/75/16's, but which is a better tire to get...the LT 285, the one below it?

wandell · #9 03-17-2008, 12:55 PM

A 285/75-16 is basically a 33x11.50 tire. As for the others, don't worry about them because you cannot use a 15 inch wheel because it won't clear the brakes. I'd suggest using a 16x10 inch wheel with 4.5 inches of bs and a 285/75-16 or a 305/70-16 (33x12.50) tire. You will have to trim a little bit of plastic off the front bumper's lower valance to fit this combo. I have some pics in my gallary.

coobies5 · #10 03-17-2008, 05:06 PM

welcome = ]

Hash278 · #11 03-17-2008, 05:36 PM

Welcome to the site......

GRNzer03XLT · #12 03-17-2008, 06:54 PM

^thanks again for the welcome guys. Hey Wandell (and fellow members of course

), in your opinion which would be a better scenario (aka would fit my rig better) a T-bar crank and a 285 or a 3 inch body lift and a 305 tire. Remember I have a supercab long bed, so my truck as of right now is like a 4x4 limo and definately has some front end leanage. I am looking to clear bigger tires but also give it that agressive look, minus any assorted trimming that comes along with it. Oh, and I don't really tow anything (I have a boat but it will be scrapped soon), and the most I haul is furniture, yard waste, or normal odds and ends like sheetrock and plywood.

wandell · #13 03-17-2008, 08:32 PM

I know what you mean. And lifting a truck does create the optical illusion of making the truck look shorter. You can fit 305/70-16's easily at stock height with minor trimming. They will look even better with a body lift. Just so you know, if you add a 3 inch body lift you can fit up to a 35x12.50 (315/75-16). This is what I have.

GRNzer03XLT · #14 03-17-2008, 08:51 PM

Ok so im sorry if I come off like a complete noob, but which would be a better option. I am a bit leery of the t-bar crank. Does the body lift put abnormal wear on cv joints and other components?

On a side note-I saw the TBL license plate on your truck wandell, are you a LEO?

wandell · #15 03-17-2008, 08:55 PM

The body lift will not affect anything with your suspension. It just lifts the body off the frame 3 inches. Also, as long as you don't go crazy with the torsion bar preload you will be fine. I'd just crank them enough to level the front of the truck with the rear or at least get it close.
And yes, I've been in LE going on 18 years.