Why not 3.5" lift spindles, 1-1.5" coil spacers, and some slightly bigger leaf packs, or AAL's like you said?
Then you can go ahead and throw some 35's on there which are MUCH easier to find if you need a spare.

 

I'll just mod my truck like Impact9. I think he has the best survival truck on this forum, lol. I mean, he built it to chase tornados for crying out loud!! Find another force out there more powerful to survive against than a tornado (besides a hurricane or women drivers, hehe)...

 

that's why i love this forum - i had no clue about availability of the tires i mentioned; thanks, that's a good call.

I'm more than willing to go with the 3.5 as you have suggested however, as to the coil spacers, wouldn't i be better off with just taller (better?) springs?

 

i will definitely take a look that, thanks!

 

I just saw impact9's web site... holy cow!! i copied his lists of mods to my notes.

thanks for the tip!

 

Technically yes, I think a larger coil would be a little more efficient, but that also goes back to the availability. Who makes a coil specifically for that extra height? If your truck is a V6, you might want to check into grabbing a set of V8 coils off of another 2WD f150. I'm sure a local junk yard would have them. Im guessing a 5.4L model truck would have slightly taller springs. Again, I'm not exactly sure about that swap, I know it would definitely give you a stiffer ride and you would handle weight better, but I'm not sure about the extra height you would need.

IMO, I think the spacers are the cheapest and easiest. You can pick up a set for about $80-$100, and theyre really easy to install. Remember though, all you need is 1.5" spacers with your spindles to fit 35's. You CANNOT install anything over 1.5" or you would need aftermarket (prerunner) upper and lower control arms.

 

Yeah when my truck grows up, I want it to be just like his. The only thing I'd do differently would be a superduty axle and suspension swap to handle the weight of the front end. Call me crazy but I was checking out his pictures and now I'm looking to get a 10 meter radio, haha! I figured if you want to survive somewhere, you'd need some form of communication. I have a 4w CB radio but I need to tinker with the antenna and mount to get better TX & RX. Also, CB isn't enough. I don't know jack about HAM radios (UHF, VHF, FM, whatever all that stuff is) but I know I want one. I also know I need to get an FCC license for it. Other than that, I want my truck just like his, haha! It's a frickin tank, I'm certain will survive any zombie apocalypse.

 

just give me my MRAP with a Ma Deuce mounted on top, ill be good.

 

there you go again, teaching me something else i didn't know! you guys are a gold mine of information.

i'm going to have to get the factory manuals (you can get anything on the internet) and check out that kind of stuff - like the springs you mention. that seems to me the best way to go.

jg

 

yeah, i'm looking at ten meters and a license as well. as to the rest, well, one of you guys got me looking into the Raptor, that led to looking up long travel suspensions, and that's what i'm digging into now. i'm pretty sure i'll wind up with something like that; it seems to answer the concerns i've had all along about lifts.

jg

 

So, How's project survival truck coming along? Lets see some pictures!

 

Since it sounds like you are on a tight budget, I would rule out lift kits except maybe a body lift, they arent the best alternative compared to suspension lifts, but more clearance is always handy. with careful driving, you hopefully wont need a whole lot of clearance. get a pair of mud terrain tires, most brands are good, i would higly reccomend BFG Mud Terrains or buckshot mudders. if you cant afford some mud terrains at least get a set of all terrains. you would be surprised how far you can get with a pair of 35 all terrains if you know how to drive and take your time.

With a 2wd if you get stuck you would definately want to have a winch. I would say go with a good reliable winch at least 12k with 2" receivers front and back. Also get one of these http://www.offroaders.com/directory/...ybilt-WASP.htm- it is useless having a winch without any trees or buildings around to hook it to. Get a ****** block, they are only about 80 bucks for a good one and will allow you to double your winch capacity. get a few d-rings and a ****** strap or a heavy chain. make sure you have anchor points front and rear.

carry a lot of useful tools. of course, have all of the tool needed to fix anything, including specalty tools. a hi-lift jack is a MUST for offroading but it also has many other uses as it doubles as a winch. carry a spare tire or two and also get handy at patching them.

I would also have alot of lighting, start off with a good pair of aftermarket offroad lights up front. just wire up a few tractor lights in the back and sides. solder the connections and shrink wrap them. no need for having the brightest lights in the world except in the front. carry a few maglites and have spare batteries

carry a lot of food and supplies. pack MREs or some sort of food that won't go bad. also get good at hunting and fishing as well as preparing food in the wild. carry a small gas stove with plenty of gas. learn how to filter water and carry water tablets. carry some fresh water with you as well.

I would have a CB or two as well as a handled radio. definatlly get an optima yellow top and consider a dual batery setup. carrying a jump starter would also be a good idea. I would stay away from modding the engine alot as that just creates more things that could fail. a stock 4.2 with 60k miles will be relaible, it might not be a big block but it will do for your purposes and your budget. I would reccomed a snorkel that is turned backwards, even if you dont plan to cross water, they help fend off water and dust. Get a K&N filter that can be cleaned and reused. also get a good oil filter and carry extra oil as well as some anti freeze.

a highly overlooked thing in survival situations is boredom. bring a lot of books to keep you entertaines. boredom can sometimes be the death of people in survival situations

That's all i can think of and I hope alll goes well with your project. Thanks for rading and I hope these suggestions help.

 

that's probably the best advice summary i've seen here. Thanks!

obtw, Finally, the pictures! Kindof lame, i think, but it's where it is at the mo. i'll get some pix of the bed interior this weekend maybe, showing the giant packrat toolbox.

 

Well I love this thread mostly cause mad max is one of my favorite movies and I've thought about this stuff before. I would be getting a portable welder and some extra gas tanks man. I would personally build like a full roll cage over the bed cause if your better set during apocalypse you will proably have people trying to take yours. I mean, You gotta sleep sometime.

 

this is project survival truck>? ya need to get that cap all rigged up for campin