I started my first real job and bought my first truck last week. I got a 2005 F150 Lariat Crew Cab 5.4 Triton. Soon I'll be having a good cash flow and I'd like to add to my truck. I've been doing some research and this is what I want to do so far. Add a Super Crew Frontier front replacement bumper, a 2.5" leveling kit in the front, some bushwacker pocket style flares, some type of dual exhaust and a performance tuner to get some more mpg. Any comments about the parts or advice on which parts to get?

 

I have an AutoSpring level kit on my truck. It was very affordable, and great quality. I also would recommend Edge for a programmer. I have an Edge/Gryphon with custom tunes. It has been great for me. Definitely worth the money, and has paid for itself many times over.

 

Since my front is spring design it would be a relatively easy install for the kit right? I could do it myself? Also Edge is the one that can still be hooked up while driving as an additional monitor right?

 

Don't know what you mean by "paid for itself many times over", but it normally takes 3-4 years to make payback on $400+ tuner and custom tunes assuming you gain 1mpg (which is about normal). Not saying that it doesn't "pay for itself" in other intangible forms (performance, troubleshooting, peace of mind), but it comes out to something like 110-120 fill ups of fuel or so, assuming $3.50/gal and 1mpg increase.

 

Get the Gryphon if you are going to do it. It's an Edge (the dash console) with custom tunes, it's not really worth much if you just do the canned tunes from Edge. The Diablo Trinity also has the dash display if that's what you want.

Most around here prefer Magnaflow for exhaust, as well as Gibson, Borla, or Roush (rebadged Magnaflow).

Leveling kits are ok, but a lot of guys seem to be going towards Bilstein/Rancho lifting shocks instead of the leveling kits. Your choice, just check out your ball joint angles to make sure you can live with the increased wear.

All in all, just remember that the exhaust/programmer aren't really going to help much with mpg's. You *may* get 1mpg better, but if you are making the purchase do it because you want a bit more power, ability to see other gauges, ability to customize some things, not because you think it is going to "save" you money.

 

http://www.gorancho.com/promotions.php
If you don't mind shelling out the extra money I would get the struts and shocks. Considerably more than a level but ride wise, you won't be sorry. Just something I remembered from a month back.

 

For The Exhaust, Ive Made My Own Dual Piped on Both Sides Behind The Rear Wheel, Ive Used Magnaflow Parts
If Your Interested Then I Let You Know More About It
(Don't Judge My Phones Typing )

 

SoonerTruck: I'm not really concerned with having the dash console one, is there another that does the same without having dash? I don't mind having it just curious. And what is the difference between lifting shocks and the kit? And how does that affect my ball joints?

Ryan_James: If I got the shocks how much more are you talking? My main goal with the kit is just for it to be level and give it the look of having a lift on it without shelling out all my money.

2006 Fordster: I would like to know more, you can post it here or private message me, did you have true dual exhaust?

 

I wouldn't go with the pocket style flares unless you have or plan on having a big **** set of tires. Usually, lifted trucks with huge tires that stick out past the fenders look good with the pocket flares, if not they just look goofy imho.

 

I just did a bunch of research on the struts and shocks and I think I'll do that instead of a leveling kit, thanks a lot. And when I bought my truck they just put on new tires so I guess I'll hold off on the bushwackers until I need some new tires and I'll look around then.

Also does anyone have an comments on front replacement bumpers vs grille guards? I have found the Frontier full replacement bumper as well as just the guard itself (same design connected to the bumper) and its about $400 less for just the guard

 

I meant what I said.

I put the programmer on back in 2008, and have put over 50,000 miles on the truck with it installed. I actually got a 2 mpg increase, believe it or not. I went from 14mpg to 16mpg.

50,000 miles / 14 mpg = 3571 gallons
50,000 miles / 16 mpg = 3125 gallons
3571 gallons - 3125 gallons = 446 gallons
446 gallons x $3.5 a gallon = $1,561

I guess it really comes down to my loose use of the idiom "many times". "Many times" and "many a time" mean frequently, or again and again. So I'm gonna say it still applies.

Let's say I only got a 1 mpg increase.

50,000 miles / 14 mpg = 3571 gallons
50,000 miles / 15 mpg = 3333 gallons
3571 gallons - 3333 gallons = 238 gallons
238 gallons x $3.5 a gallon = $833

While it isn't as much, the programmer would have still payed for itself twice now.

I apologize if my math is incorrect, but it seems pretty straight forward.

 

Ive seen the frontier and that would be better then a grille guard cause it has more strength to the bumper and it has one built in it looks like

 

What I'm worried about is the added weight though, if I get the full bumper would that weight affect the front end suspension? If I get the shocks in it would that accommodate the weight then?

 

@ renoved, I understand your point, but 50K is a lot of miles to make it up, basically 5 years of driving to not-quite pay for it twice, so my comment still holds that it takes ~3 years of normal driving to "pay for itself" once. I'm glad you got the 2mpg increase, but from the many threads/reviews I've seen on the programmers, you can count on 1mpg as a standard. I do recommend programmers with custom tunes, but not if people are looking for them to "save them money", as the savings doesn't occur until 3 years down the road. You definitely save money over the long haul though!

 

On the programmers, either the Gryphon, Diablo, or SCT products will work without being "plugged in" as they flash the computer. So you can use them with the dash display or not I believe. I believe the Diablo and SCT brands even have an app for your phone to adjust things or use as a dash-pod when you decide you want it. It just comes down to whether you want the unit on your dash to view other gauge parameters (actual voltage, oil PSI, tranny temp, etc). Personally I think the Gryphon LOOKS the best with the optional gauge pod, but that's just me.

Well, there's not a whole lot of difference in the lifting shocks versus the spacers. The main thing is that the lifting shocks are normally slightly height-adjustable and perform the same work as the normal shocks and the leveling kit combined. If your truck is possibly in need of front shocks anyway, you might as well kill two birds with one stone. Your ball joints wear faster at the increase height do to a non-factory angle on them. 2" is usually okay, 2.5" can sometimes cause premature wear, 3" kits almost certainly cause significant wear. It's up to you on what you actually "need" to level your truck.