Recommendations for F-150 Ride Height-Leveling Kits
Check out some cool kits for your Ford F-150 truck.
When it comes to leveling the ride height of a truck there’s a lot of options out there. AmericanTrucks Ford offers answers and easy instruction in their latest video. Host Justin Dugan values both American made quality, getting value for the money, and makes the buying process an easy one. So, if you’re thinking about larger tires, getting a little extra ground clearance up front, or just evening out the stance on your F-150, then this video is definitely worth checking out.
Dugan explains that leveling your truck “is the act of raising the front end anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 inches, which serves two purposes. First and foremost it’s going to eliminate that factory rig…Secondly, to squeeze some bigger tires underneath.” It sounds easy enough, and Dugan assures us that this is both cheaper and easier compared to suspension lifting.
The first kit from Rough Country is a simple and easily reversed option to remove the factory stock rake angle. Simplicity is the key word, but the strut extensions do look very well made. The 2-inch raise comes from a pair of billet-aluminum collars that bolt directly on to the existing strut assembly. This kit is likely to be “far and away the most popular here in the category.” says Dugan, given the ease of altitude at about $100.
The second kit by Mammoth brings ride height up a little higher to 2.5-inches. The solution here is also in the form of strut extensions. This time, however, they are made of powder-coated steel. Dugan does make a very good point about this 2.5-inch option versus going that bit further to 3-inches; for trucks that go off-road, that extra half inch can certainly put a strain on CV joints and axles. For this reason, Dugan does not recommend going above 2.5-inch for serious off-roading.
The third kit, also by Rough Country, is aimed towards people that tow a lot or carry heavy loads in the bed. It includes 2″ extensions for the front, as well as new shocks for the rear as well as the necessary hardware to fit them. It’s still excellent value for money at around $200. Of course, if you don’t install the kit yourself it’s going to cost more in labor costs then the front-end only solutions.
It’s also worth remembering that any changes to ride height should be followed by an alignment check. Nobody wants to fit a new set of big tires only to find them wear unevenly and prematurely.
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