yeah man I can admit it. my family owns a nice size farm out here in texas. even when I visit to do my montly duties I park my truck and use the farm vehicle. I drive like 24 miles a day and just like the look for enjoyment. makes me want to go to work and especially leave. I had a honda civic thru college and my last year a dodge dakota. I started looking at lifted trucks then but figured bigger the better. my GF loves the stance of my truck and anything extra to keep that fire i'm all about it.

 

I'm also lucky in that aspect, as my wife likes the new look. And you know things are good when SHE sais "those tires are too small", it's like cha-ching! Unfortunately I drive mine about 35k a year so I have to keep some sanity when it comes to this stuff!

 

I have the CST kit on my 4x4 truck. I also had one on a Nissan Titan 2wd I had for a year. They are incredible kits. Yes they are more expensive but way worth it compared to the Fabtechs. I was really having problems paying the price of the CST when I had the Titan but it was the only kit available at the time (I was one of the first Titans). I had no problem forking out the price for the F-150 because the quality was just insane. I also have taken my truck out for some serious offroading and I can not even get the alignment out of whack. CST also lowers the steering system to keep everything in spec. I have not seen any other kit that does that. Go look at a truck with a Fabtech and a CST lift and you will definitely see the difference. Really worth the extra $$ in my opinion.

With my 35" Tires I am still a little higher than a Fabtech lifted truck with 37" tires

 

Do you find any rubbing offroading? What about your cv angles, do you ever drop it into 4wd and have you ever ripped a boot?

 

My GF actually paid for my Pro Comp tires. After hearing me say it just wouldn't look good on 33s she went to her accoutn and handed the money to me cash. I geuss kind of in a sense she is saying she's in the long haul with me.

 

You should see me tear up the rain puddles!

 

Haha ... actually it means she expects you to fork over some serious dough for a rock when it's time for you to buy her a ring. I just did this recently; it hurts sometimes to think of all the mods I could have bought for my truck with the money I spent on her.

 

does cst use spacers up front or longer shocks?

 

Spacers...

 

That CST kit does not look like better quality than the Fabtech w/coilovers. I'm not sure about the base Fabtech kit but the coilovers are top notch in my opinion. I might be somewhat biased but I'm not getting **** about it, I just don't see how a spacer is better quality.

And thats coming from someone who wants 24's on their MT's (no offense). I would definitely recommend the Fabtech kit, it's awesome quality, much better than my Troyer E-fans and those are getting rave reviews from people. They just don't hold up, both controller's temperature "pots" broke.

Your gf bought you tires, you better lock your doors or she might not be there in the morning My gf just bought me an ipod, now I have to buy a Pie Adapter, and then I'll have to buy a cradle...and so on. IPod's are a freaking disease, I got the 30gb video IPod and am still trying to figure out how to get mp3's on there while working on my lift, I'm such a multitasker.

 

I have seen the CST lift in person, and I have to say it is probably the best lift for our trucks, other than the JD fab long travel kit.. It is very well built, looks very solid, and comes with new upper control arms.

 

Dude I never thought that was the reason she bought the tires for me. If she wants the ring she'll have to wait because I start Grad school this Fall after I finish my teacher certification. School comes 1st then I'll think about marriage. Glad she purchased the tires for me sets off my truck just right.

 

The CST is superior to the Fabtech kit, but you're right Josiah. I wouldn't want spacers either. For a pavement pounder that wants big tires the spacers are fine, but for some real offroading I'd prefer some coilovers.

It's not really fair to compare a CST lift to a Fabtech stacked with spacers or coilovers jacked up... or Rancho, ProComp, Skyjacker, etc. There are two main reasons why the CST is "better"...

1) It upgrades your vehicle to NEW upper control arms with teflon coated uniball joints. The uniballs will last much longer than the factory upper ball joints that are retained with the other lifts. The uniballs also increase your suspension travel. The factory ball joints in the factory upper control arms are going to be more prone to wear and damage than the uniballs especially when they're handling 50% of the weight from some heavy *** 35+ tires.

2) It drops your steering linkages and adds teflon coated heim joints instead of retaining the factory tie rod ends. It also adds supports to the steering system. The other companies just raise the mounting location on the steering knuckle. The teflon heim joints will also outlast the factory tie rod ends, again... especially when they're turning some big heavy tires.

Also, stacking a spacer on top of your 4" or 6" lift, or cranking the coilovers just increases your suspensions vulnerability. In general and from an engineering standpoint, all lift kits weaken the suspension of a vehicle.

Your truck would be stronger and hold up better offroad if you installed fiberglass fenders and bedsides to make room for bigger tires and wheels than it would be if you installed a lift kit.

 

Does anyone know if you can use the DLs on the CST lift?

 

If I wanted a real offroad vehicle I would have JD do my whole truck. I won't be doing offroading with my 24"s I just want a smooth ride with droopy springs. Previously owning a lifted truck with uni-ball arms the ride is night and day to kits without this set up.