Lifting... what's involved? More trouble than it's worth?
 

Hi all! Been reading this site for a long time now, thought I'd finally start posting! I need your help!

I have a stock 2000 F-150 Lariat 7700 that I'm becoming bored with. It's the oldest and smallest of our trucks, and we tend not to drive it very often.

That said, I'd like to start driving it more. Doesn't make sense to rack up the miles on the newer vehicles. So, there are a few things I'd like to do to it...

Lift (5")
Tires (35")
Exhaust (Magnaflow)

Don't want to do anything too extreme, I can't really see spending more money on a truck that's 10 years old....

Here's my truck now:
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...1321Medium.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...1318Medium.jpg

And here's what I'd like to turn it into (first step):
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...475s-truck.jpg

For now, lets ignore the exhaust. First order of business is the lift. This is the lift kit that I'm looking into:
http://www.roughcountry.com/suspensi...0_97-03_5.html

Do I need anything else for this? Leveling kit? Etc? Sorry guys, I'm totally green at this!! From what I've been reading, it's not compatible with the stock tires? Can anyone explain to me why not? :o

I do want new tires, but $$ and the fact that my current rubber have a lot of life left on them makes me want to put off the tires until I need new ones...

I don't want serious mudding tires. I want something that is good on the highway, excels on gravel roads (I tend to do highway speeds on the gravel too), and also has some traction in dirt. But by no means is this a trail / toy truck. It's a farm truck (by that I mean most of its time is spent hauling a slip tank of diesel up and down gravel roads, through fields etc. I was thinking something like the BFGoodrich tires that the Raptor sports (LT 315/70R-17) would be good? To save money, I'd like to use my current rims, for now at least. (18 inch stock rims) Could anyone give me an idea on a ball-park price for 4 tires like this? Is that a good deal on the lift kit? Is that even a good lift kit? :confused:

Pehaps something like this? (i took the picture off this forum. i really like this truck :drool:):
https://i49.tinypic.com/wvwlsl.jpg

Final question for now! Do I need to re-gear anything, or re-calibrate the speedo? Re-align headlights? Back spacing? I don't even know what backspacing is!! This is starting to sound expensive.... :help:

well what might be the first problem with your truck is its a 7 lug truck but since its a 4x4 and your steering knuckles might work with the lift.

the pic you posted is b2therads truck and its a 2wd which gets lifted differently. but that being said hes running the same size tires you want.

first easiet thing you can do is turn your tbars to level it and then a BL and you can get 35"s and since you have the 7 lugs wheels its gonna be hard to to find after market ones youd like. wheel backspace youll need about 4.5" of BS

gears depends on what you have and what you use the truck for. were both running 4.56 with our 35"s

another option you have it to do a 5 lug swap if you dont need the 7700 package extras really. you can get the cv axles and rear axle shafts off a wreck and swap the fronts when lifting and rear with the gears

also might help if you resize the pics to make the post look better

Jake, forgive my ignorance, but what's wrong with the 7-lug wheels? I'd be happy enough to keep my current wheels and just put new rubber on it. I think b2therad's tires/rims would look amazing on my truck, but, $$.

As for what I'm doing with it, just normal driving. Mostly highway driving, gravel road driving, etc. No off-roading. I just want the lift because of my little man syndrome, I hate driving in a low vehicle. As it is I would rather drive my old F-150 than the brand new Mercedes SUV simply because the Mercedes is lower. Been driving the F-350 Harley a lot lately and am seriously loving it (the size). Not doing the modifications for an application, just for a different driving experience. And so that it's not just a stock truck like everybody elses.

Got the 7700 package for a reason, don't want to start tearing stuff out of other trucks either. Do pull a bumper hitch trailer now and again, and a full slip tank of fuel in the box, but that's about the biggest load it gets. Have the 1-ton for heavy stuff.

Turn the tbars... I'm assuming that's something on the front end? BL? Body lift? Is the body lift necessary?

On the kit I'm looking at it says it levels the truck so do I need to turn the tbars? Or the BL?



Notes:
• Will not work with factory wheels.

Benefits:
• Clears up to 35" tires.
• Increased ground clearance.
• Levels the front with the rear of the truck.
• No drivetrain or exhaust modifications required.

Specs:
• Part #: 476S [4" blocks]
• Part #: 477S [3" blocks]
• Install Time: 6 - 8 hours
• Wheel Backspacing: 4½"
• Recommended Tire Size: 35x12.50
• Download Instructions: View


Been following your transformation thread too Jake, you've done some real nice things to that thing! :)

Thanks Jake!
-Josh

First off thanks man.

1. nothings wrong with the 7 lug wheels just there are few places that make wheels for 7 on 180mm bolt pattern. eagle and a few others do thats all. plus itll have them stick out some which always looks good.

2. whats the kit your looking at? and whats your budget.

3. turning your torsion bars up will level the truck for the cost of an alignment and then a body lift (BL) will give you some more room. 35"s will fit with stock wheels and turned up tbars but might looked stuffed to you. but its up to you on the level you want.

4. im not sure what lifts will work with your truck but like i was saying since your adding your stock stuff to the new knucles i think it might work out.

1) Oh! Thought maybe 7-lug wheels meant different gearing or something (7700 package?)

2) I'm looking at the Rough Country kit, was told that they make good stuff by some friends that REALLY jack up their trucks. Like the kit because of the benefits it lists (levels the front with the rear of the truck, no driveline or exhaust modifications required), price seems in my price range.

Here's a link to the kit: http://www.roughcountry.com/suspensi...0_97-03_5.html

My budget? I'd like to stay under 5k. The truck can't be worth much more than that by now, anything over 5k in additions seems excessive for my purposes.

3) Point taken! I kind of like the stuffed look actually, but we shall have to see.

4) Sure hope so! If it turns out to be a lot of expense and trouble, I might just wait and do it to the 04 F150 Screw Lariat instead.

Thanks again!
-Josh

whats that in the bed of your truck ? a extra gas tank ? or a roll a top ?

ok thats a good kit. i just wasnt sure if you were looking a kit with tbar keys which are a waste.

id say call them up and make sure itll work and then get it, install it yourself, add some used 35"s and gears and be set for under 5K easy.

if im not mistaken thats a rollup tonneau

Is that an Aberta Plate on that rig???
 

Wow. Is that an Alberta plate?? What part of Alberta are you in? I am in Grande Prairie.

I have 1999 LD F250 that is very similar to your truck. A few years ago I was going to lift it but decided against it because of the cost. I ended up throwing 265s on it and cranking the torsion bars to level. As far as 7 lug rims you will find a few available but again will be quite spendy.

Everything is always overly expensive in Canada it seems.

Im not trying to discourage you, just letting you know my experiances. If you do lift please post a few pics.

Crank the t-bars for free and a 2 inch block in the rear for 75 bucks....with the alignment youll need thats 145 bucks and a 2 inch lift....then buy a 3 inch BL for $180 bucks and you and a buddy install it yourself and youll have a five inch lift and will clear very easily 35's on stock wheels....id say go on and buy 16" wheels and save money on tires cuz theyll be less expensive in a 16 inch.....im not a fan of BL but lot less expensive than a susp.

Brad and I have the same wheels. They only cost about $400 shipped FYI. But they only come in 5x135 lug pattern.

I'd suggest what hunterjh said and crank the t-bars and add a body lift.

GP Guy!

Yes, I'm in Alberta. Just north of Edmonton, but not as far north as you!

Thanks for the advice, do you have any pictures of your F250?





Doug, Jake's right, that's a Roll-N-Lock box cover. We have them on all our trucks.



Thanks Hunter / Dnasty.... I had wanted to avoid a body lift, but it seems the most sensible considering the price / age of the truck.

just max the t bars and put a leaf in each side in the back or get 4" blocks to replace the stock ones, then put 305/75/16 on your stock wheels and get a gold 4x4 off road sticker or remove them, the grey/gold doesnt match, My uncle has the same truck but with grey interior and he ahs 2 sets of aftermarket 7 lug wheels. everything is the same for the 7 lug except they have 1 extra spring in the rear, heavier t-bars and different wheel bearings but the front suspension is the same, knuckles, etc.

yeah im not a fan of body lifts but its the difference of a couple grand or a couple hundred