I am trying to determine if I want a 2" or 2 1/2" lift. What part of the truck can I measure that is the same front and back? Wheel wells? Bumpers? Etc...?

 

In '04 the rear end on the 4x4's sat real high and they needed a 2 1/2" kit to level them. For the most part a 2" for the '05's and up is all you need. I just went with the 2 1/2 and glad I did. Check out my gallery for the before and after pics. Big difference.

 

I went out and check my truck and played with the air bags a little bit. With no air in the bags my truck is "level" when measured at the center of the wheel wells. It also looks level. But with a 78" level placed on the bed rail and also in the bed the front of the level needed to be raised 3/8" to be level. So this leads me to believe that the front wheel well is larger than the rear, which does make sense, so that the wheels don't hit while turning on off camber surfaces. So apparently even with a 2.5" AS kit in my truck it is not level, although it does look like it.

 

I measured from the ground to the top of the fender through the center of the wheel, front and back.
I went with the 1.5" AutoSpring on my '05 and am very happy with the results. There's some pictures in my gallery if you'd like to take a look.

 

ground to the top of the fender at its tallest point (dead center of the fender).

 

Center of wheel to top of fender is a more accurate measurement. It takes various levels of tire inflation out of the equation.

 

That was how I measured, and it worked out to pretty darn close to 2" difference from the backs to the fronts. I have an 05 with four leafs in the back. According to many on here, the 4 leafs sit higher than the newer F150's. I think a 2.5" leveling kit would have me sitting nose high, and as it is, I'm concerned a 2" lift will have me saggy assed with any load in the bed, or trailer on the back. I don't haul anything that heavy so I should be alright, but if I did, I dunno. It would probably require air bags, block, or an AAL in the back.

 

That is what I measure to also, with the stock AT/S's, 2.5" AS and no air in the rear bags I have 40" both front and rear. But I took one of my 78" levels and according to the box (both bed rail and floor of the box), the nerf bars, and the even the body lines the rear of the truck is still higher.

I probably got a little too involved looking into this. But I guess thats what happens when I am bored at home with the week off.

 

Well if you don't maintain your truck, than yeah this is the way to go. LOL. Sorry Will, I had to zing you on this one.

 

Hey now, this is a level thread!

Besides I'm lowered now, so it's much easier to check.

 

If you measure the line on the body vs the wheel well height, they are different.
The front wheel well opening is bigger, as it should be.
The thing about "leveling" your truck is that you can do it how ever you like. Just do what looks best to you. Right now mine is with 1/4" of level measured at the wheels wells, but the rear is 1" or so higher measured by the body. Look in my gallery for pictures (unfortunately none on level ground yet). It looks great to me, but I'm probably going to bring the rear up 1" or so, because I hate it looking like it's dragging *** with weight in the back.

 

I have an '06 Lariat and just installed a 1 1/2 Autospring this weekend and now I'm exactly 39" from the ground to inside fender well on both front and rear. I ordered the 3" block from Autospring today since I want to gain an extra inch on the rear. I pull a few different sized trailers....boats, jetskis, atvs, and don't want the squat and didn't want to try the 1.5 AAL since it would be too much. I measured the factory blocks and they are 2". Kevin at Autospring said they were 1 5/8, but my tape was dead nuts 2". Anyways, I haven't had an alignment done yet until I get the blocks on. Then I gotta get some 33's-not sure which ones yet. Leaning toward Toyo Open Countrys.