On the weekend I went camping with a couple of buddies, and ended up doing some damage going offroad. I took my truck just in case my buddies got stuck in there trucks, and sure enough, they did, one beside the other. The problem I had was getting out to them! I came across a trail with some really bad ruts. Some parallel and perpendicular to the trail. My truck ended up with one front right tire and one rear left in the air, twisting the frame and the box. With the new design of the F-150 with the rear window sticking out and with the box having the lip around the sides, the corner of the cab now has a scratch and a dent on both sides! Has anybody else have this problem? I was trying to go as slow as possible over the ruts, but it didn't help at all.

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'98 F-150 XLT Reg. Cab Flareside 4x4, Black, 5.4l, 3.55LS, tow package, K&N, GTS headlight covers, Alpine changer w/FM mod, Clifford alarm system w/keyless entry & starter disable // Future considerations: 285/75/r16 Mud Terrain BFG's, bed mat, tonneau cover, 4" suspension lift.

 

I have had my truck twisted up a few times in ruts and ditches and haven't had a problem. It would seem like my s/c would flex more than your reg. cab. I do know that this generation of trucks is stiffer than previous ones.

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1997 4x4 5.4 ORP XLT extended cab Dark Toreador red Westin nerf bars tint HARDER THAN A ROCK AND FASTER THAN A HEART BEAT

 

I'm talking extreme ruts here. I've had it happen before, but this time was worse then ever. I could actually hear it screach on the cab!

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'98 F-150 XLT Reg. Cab Flareside 4x4, Black, 5.4l, 3.55LS, tow package, K&N, GTS headlight covers, Alpine changer w/FM mod, Clifford alarm system w/keyless entry & starter disable // Future considerations: 285/75/r16 Mud Terrain BFG's, bed mat, tonneau cover, 4" suspension lift.

 

I just went to some ditches and put the left rear tire off of the ground and the right front one almost off of the ground. I got out and looked and I still had about 1.5 to 2 inches in between the bed and cab. You must really meen extreme.

 

The suspension only stretches so far, and when it stops, the box starts to twist from the cab, resulting in the contact. What I was saying in my first post wasn't entirely accurate. My front right tire was in a rut, and my rear left tire was up in the air, creating the frame twist. Surprisingly, I had no problems whatsoever getting out of this position, due to the LS in the rear diff. I would assume an aftermarket lift/suspension kit would increase my suspension travel, which then would decrease the chance of the contact happening again. But it's to bad they had to design the window and box that way. They usually don't consider 4x4 situations when they do the designing for these trucks though.

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'98 F-150 XLT Reg. Cab Flareside 4x4, Black, 5.4l, 3.55LS, tow package, K&N, GTS headlight covers, Alpine changer w/FM mod, Clifford alarm system w/keyless entry & starter disable // Future considerations: 285/75/r16 Mud Terrain BFG's, bed mat, tonneau cover, 4" suspension lift.



[This message has been edited by fordification (edited 10-22-1999).]

 

The only way the bed could rub the cab is if something pushed up on the bed or if the frame bent?

 

fordification,

I had them on my 97 SC. If you go off road enough you will most likely come to a situation that will cause this. I call them "Off Road Dimples". It is a badge of Honor worn proudly by the few...

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

P.S. My 00 has yet to earn them :-(

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00 F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 4.6 w/5spd
Warn XD9000i, skid plates, Draw tite class III,
Rancho RSX Reflex shocks,
SmittyBilt Nerfs, Borla Cat Back
Modified Air Cleaner Outlet Tube
To Be installed;
Superchips

 

I know what ya mean about the offroad dimples. I have one on the back of my cab on the drivers side. Its been there a while and i dont know when or where i was to get it. I do know that i took my truck out this past weekend to test out my trucks articulation. I had the drivers side rear wheel way up into the wheel well and on the other side it was well below the body and i have 34 inch tires. Ive never checked this out before and i was totally impressed by the way everything flexed. I checked the gap between the bed and the cab and it really didnt change that much. I plan to go back tomorrow with a camera to take some pictures after i hit a car wash( i have about an inch and a half of mud on my hood and roof and clumps stuck all over the side). God i love this rain

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98 f150 4x4, 5.4, 4 inch Rancho lift kit, westin nerf bars, mannik grill guard, 4 kc daylighters(2-100 watts and 2-165 watts), Delta tool box, 16x8 KMC inferno rims, 295x75x16 BFG all-terrains, air raid filter kit, pioneer deh-p8000r deck, 4 pioneer 6x8 3 ways, 2 Rockford fosgate punch 10s, and a rockford fosgate punch 250 watt amp....soon to come....superchip,warn 9000 winch, and possibly a supercharger

 

I imagine an aftermarket suspension lift would improve suspension articulation eh? If I can afford it, I hope to pick one up when my warranty runs out.

P.S. I'm glad I'm not the only one with the "off-road dimples".

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'98 F-150 XLT Reg. Cab Flareside 4x4, Black, 5.4l, 3.55LS, tow package, K&N, GTS headlight covers, Alpine changer w/FM mod, Clifford alarm system w/keyless entry & starter disable // Future considerations: 285/75/r16 Mud Terrain BFG's, bed mat, tonneau cover, 4" suspension lift.