2WD to 4WD
 

Alright here's the deal. I've been reading magazines since 7th
grade, not understanding much. I'm now 16. The original plan was that i
would have to buy my own truck. I was looking at an '83 RamCharger with a
6" lift and 38" swampers for 2500 or so. However, i did not have the cash
and 6 months later my parents finally got tired of letting me use their cars
and hauling me to places, so they bought me an '04 F-150 heritage
edition STX. However, its 2wd!!!! :( At first i did not complain because:
1. it would be the definition of "kicking a gifthorse in the mouth" and 2.
because it is a nice truck and essentially free, though i have to pay 100 a
month. Is there any possible way of converting the 2wd to 4wd? If so, how?
I have a limited income seeing as i am only 16 and play sports, not to
mention that little thing called school. Any help would be appreciated.
PLEASE I DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP!

It's just not worth it man. It's gonna cost wayyyyy to much money and so many factors to consider. Best bet would be to trade in that 04 for a slightly older F-150 that is a 4x4 and keep the same payment. There has been many threads started asking about this topic, check out this one..... some good info....

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=248626

must be nice, why do you need 4WD anyway?

Well, do you think it would be good enough to go mudding with a 2WD truck? (I'm going to probably put a lift on it, too)

sure, I do at times... granted I always make sure I go with at least one other truck so if\when I get stuck they can help me out. If you have the limited slip rear you should do pretty good. I've gone through some nice mud and stream corssings with my lifted truck, it does pretty good. :thumbsup:

Start off by putting on some good tires (BFG A/Ts or Bridgestone Dueller A/T REVOs), and a good limited slip if you don't have one. Then, see what your truck can and can't do. You'd be suprised. My 2wd has made it places that most normal (read: parents) people wouldn't take a 4x4. Only "traction" aides my truck has are the oversized Bridgestone Dueller A/T REVO's and the factory limited slip. I can also drag and pull out my buddy's waaay stuck Land Cruiser FJ80 (about the size of an Expedition).

Because I have a 2004 F150 Heritage Edition, it's the old body style (2003) but technically a 2004 model. When I order a body lift for it, which model year do I use to know which lift to order? What about a suspension lift?

Put it in as a 2003. And I'd vote against a body lift.

Why would you vote against a body lift? Cost is also an obstacle here too, keep in mind. Still a 2003 model for a suspension lift, too, right?

How about keep the truck like it is..... After all is said and done it's still a 2wd truck. Maybe instead of lifting the truck, and spending the money on that you can get a 4x4 4wheeler, and then go places even a 4x4 truck cant go! Just my 2cents worth! Good Luck with what ever you decide.

Keep in mind once you life the truck.... your gonna want to put bigger tires on it.... then your gonna loose a lot of power because of the gearing... so then you'll be out a few hundred to get a gear swap.... Once you start changing stuff you have to keep working down the line and tweaking this n that.:smoke:

well, this is my truck, thand is my friend, he made this thread for me while i was out of town. I already have a 4wheeler at my friend's ranch in texas, i'd really like to fix up my truck and go to the mudding events here. Why not a bodylift? if a suspension lift, what kind? (im looking for 4-4.5" and have a limited amount of money.)

In my opinion: body lifts are ugly. They create gaps in the frame, and your hitch, exhaust, and bumpers are now 3" or so lower than the body. True, you can relocate the bumpers, but from what I understand they are much weaker. Also, body lifts do NOTHING to increase suspension travel, or give you more ground clearance, unless you upsize tires. As for a suspension lift, stick with a namebrand. (RDS, Skyjacker, etc)

Throw on a lift, some bigger tires, and a locker in the rear and you'd be suprised what you can do...

When I got my truck everyone though I was half-a$$ retarded for getting a 2wd, but Ive went everywhere they've went. Including places they deemed "4x4 accessible only." I think they just dont know how to drive :D

That's exactly what I was sayin :thumbsup:

alright thanks guys now i just need to find a lift kit inmy pricerange