Ok I've been toying with the idea of putting a body lift on my truck and I'm worried about one thing. When I articulate my truck the box will flex very little. What I'm worried about is when I put a body lift on will it flex more and put the corner of the box into the rear overhand of the cab putting the little dimples in it. One of my friends thinks that it will flex more and give me this problem. I on the other hand don't think that if you install the lift good enough this won't be a big problem.

------------------
1997 F-150 Lariat
Ext Cab Short Box
4x4 Off Road Package
3.55 Gears
285/75 R16 Kelly Springfield Trailcutter RTs



My 2 cents worth

If you're gonna stroke it, POWERSTROKE IT!!!

http://www.powerstroke73.homestead.com/

 

Powerstroke73
Sorry I can not speak from personal expereince. I have heard several people on this board complain of the same thing. The is one or two threads on this, not sure where ( maybe other body or suspension), I believe they are fairly old. In general I tend to agree with you. It would have to be installed sort of sloppy and you would have to go under some hard articulation to make it move that much. But that's just IMO.

------------------
97 Ford F150 XLT 4x4 4.6L auto, Std cab/Long bed, 3.55LS rear axle, PW,PL, and PM, captian chairs w/arm rests
Sylvania Cool Blue Bulbs, Ford logo hitch and license plate, tinted windows, blackouts front and rear(w/ford logos on front blackouts),ventvisors all around, painted logos on door sills and under hood, 55w backup lights, K&N Filter, custom 4x4 emblems, cup holder/LED mod, 99 F150 Triton V8 emblems, and much more to come

 

I put my body lift in yesterday, I don't see how you could articulate the bed/body more with the lift. All the lift is, is blocks that raise the body. The bushings and mounts/perches stay the same. Besides, the blocks are amazingly strong, they will not flex.

Crotteau



------------------
1997 F150 4x4

4.2L V6
Open Filter Housing
K&N Filter

Factory 5-Speed

3.08 Gears

3" PA Body Lift

305/70/16 Goodyear AT/S
16x8 American Racing Baja

 

ever taken physics?

Hrm, lets see how simple I can make this.

Take a 1 foot long stick. Swing it up and down. Measure the outer distance traveled.

now do the same with a 3 foot stick.

Which one moves more? The longer stick. Same thing with a body lift. The frame is designed to twist so the bed/body will move more since they are farther off the frame with a body lift.

 

I understand that the frame is designed to flex. That is obvious.

Your post makes sense, I never thought of it as a lever. It (the body) would travel more since it is farther away from the frame (would that be the fulcrum?).

However, the blocks themselves do not twist nor, do they flex in any way.

Crotteau


------------------
1997 F150 4x4

4.2L V6
Open Filter Housing
K&N Filter

Factory 5-Speed

3.08 Gears

3" PA Body Lift

305/70/16 Goodyear AT/S
16x8 American Racing Baja

 

I personally suck at physics but excel in common sense. HAHA

Thanks, you got more scientific on me there. Glad to clear that up.

 

I would like to try out some of these trails that really get the frame twisting. All that I have around my place (Cloquet, MN)is mud. Simply put, mud... Now, I actually am a little bit worried about the box hitting the cab. Has anyone run into this problem?

------------------
1997 F150 4x4

4.2L V6
Open Filter Housing
K&N Filter

Factory 5-Speed

3.08 Gears

3" PA Body Lift

305/70/16 Goodyear AT/S
16x8 American Racing Baja

 

One of the first steps in a body lift installation is to measure all the bumper to cab, cab to bed, and bed to bumper distances. If you can put everything back as OEM specs you will be fine because you are not changing the lenght or physical properties of the frame. The new plastic blocks are so strong and short (just 3") that they will not flex. 12"-up blocks may be another story.

When doing a body lift and jacking up one side of the bed measure how many inches you have to lift in order to almost hit the cab. Do you really think the frame will flex all that in order for the bed to get there? If yes that's not normal under normal circumstances and I think the frame will suffer damages.

Practically there are no changes in reference to each other (cab and bed) if you keep the distances.

I've been trying to flex mine all the way and still no way to get there.

Good luck.

------------------
My Ride: 1998 F150 4x4 Lariat Supercab Flareside 5.4L in Oxford White/gold, ORP, Tow Package, 3.55 Gears.

Modifications:
Optima Red Top Battery
Split Fire Spark Plugs
K&N FIPK
Gibson Supertruck Exhaust System
Stepshield door sill protectors
Performance Accesories 3" Body Lift
Performance Accesories Lift Lips by Mountain Enterprises
Superlift 3" lift blocks
Gabriel Gas Ryder LT VST Shocks
Daystar Front Anti-sway Bar Polyurethane Bushings
Heckethorn Steering Stabilizer
35x12.5R16.5LT BFG All Terrain KO's
16.5x9.75 American Eagle 589's.
McGard Premium Wheel Locks

Photos at: http://www.communicomgroup.com/jmtruck