Ok, here goes....

I have a 2004 F-150 4x4 Lariat SuperCrew. I've added the following wheels & tires.

35/12.5/18 Toyo Open Country M/T Tires
18x8.5 Weld Evo 445 Andro Wheels
Revteck 2" Front Leveling Kit

I like the looks, but I just recently decided I wanted the truck up off the tires more. Basically I want to improve the looks of the truck. I do not do allot of 4-Wheeling. I do run up a fire break road once in awhile, but nothing serious. The truck is on the highway 98% of the time.

Here's the problem.... I decided to go with the new Rancho 4" suspension kit. Take it in and we're all set for the install. I get a call a few hours later and the tech says "your wheel backspace is too much and this kit will NOT install on your truck". That sucked... I was looking forward to picking it up all lifted and looking good.

My wheels have a 6.32" backspace. The Max the Rancho kit allows for is 6.0" I know it's just a hair over a 1/4", but I guess that's enough to make it NOT work. The spindles will NOT fit.

I've done more homework and now I would rather get the Fabtech 6" suspension kit. It's mu understanding the fabtech is ALLOT better kit then the Rancho. The problem gets worse... the Fabtech allows 5.0" backspace.

I bascially have three options.

1. Sell the wheels (I do NOT want to do this)

2. Install 1/4" spacer which should give enough clearance for the Rancho kit. These will cost roughly $20.00 for all 4 wheels.

3. Install a wheel adaptor that would make my backspace be 5.0" which would allow me to install the Fabtech kit. This adaptor fits over the stock lugs. It's tightened down and now the adaptor has it's own lugs. This will cost around $250.00 for all 4 wheels. Biggest problem with this is I've been told this will put allot more stress on suspension parts such as the ball joints etc etc...

What are your thoughts? Anyone have the Rancho or Fabtech installed on their 04 F-150? I don't know what to do. I would like to hear from people who actually have these kits so I can get a true MAX for the backspace.

Thank you,
Rich

 

From what I have read, Rancho and Fabtech both make an excellent kit for the new F-150's. Since you love your wheels, (and they are sweet) I think I would just go with a 1/4 inch spacer and use the Rancho kit. However, I would check for myself to make sure that your wheels will not fit without it. Sometimes manufacturers err on the side of caution.

 

You could almost definately get away with tossing a 1/4" spacer on there without any problems. The only thing I would double check would be the stud length. Make sure that you have enough length in the wheel stud with the spacer on there. The lug nut should be at least 1/2-3/4 of the way engaged on the stud in order to keep the correct amount of torque on the wheel. If there is less than that (the amount in length that the stud is engaged into the wheel lug), I would look into getting a longer stud swapped into the hub.

Truck looks sweet though! With that Fabtecj lift, she'll look even better!

 

I'm shooting for the Fabtech. I've received some valuable info regarding the adaptors. I think I will have one designed that will give me right at 5.0" backspace. I was told the adaptor can cause additonal wear & tear on the parts, but now I'm being told otherwise.

Here is what a guy who manufactures parts had to say-

Rich,
The difference between 6.00" and 6.10" is minimal, I don't think it is going to mean anything, but you might want to talk to Rancho about it. As far as the adaptors are concerned, what you have been told is B.S. This is typical rhetoric from people who haven't got a clue. As an example- Porshe used 3" to 4" adaptors for many years and Ford used 8" to 12" adaptors on the front of their E350 duallie vans. Our adaptors are billet aluminum and when they are bolted to the truck they virtualy become part of the front end. The reason you need to use a 1.50" thick adaptor is so you won't have to cut a lot off the end of your studs if any. In my opinion, the Fabtech is the best kit on the market. The spacer will work for the Rancho, but I highly suggest the adaptor with the Fabtech. You will have one awesome ride.

 

Maybe I'm an Idiot but what about a Body lift?

 

Most of the local shops will not install body lifts. I was told they are unsafe and in some cases... useless!

I don't have any facts on this, but I've done allot of homework and everyone states body lifts are NOT a good idea.

 

If i was just trying to get my truck up off my tires i think the first place i would have looked would have been at a body lift. You will save over $1000 and it is worth it if your truck is on the highway 98% of the time IMO.

 

My truck has a 3 inch body lift and 35/12.50s and it looks good. My buddy has a 6in. suspension and 35/12.50s and it almost looks like it riding on pizza cutters(in my opinion) but alot of people love it i guess its you own opinion.I think the 4 inch rancho lift would make it look perfect.

 

I'll say this about body lifts. The only gripe I have with them is the fact that all your basically doing.... is putting the entire body of your truck up on "stilts" for lack of a better term. Do they work? Yep. Do people swear by them? Yep. Is there anything inherently wrong with them? Not really....


But I can't get away from the idea of putting the entire body of my truck up on 8 3" pieces of plastic and having to drive around expecting them to withstand an impact in case I get in a serious accident. I've actually seen a truck tear the body off the frame in a medium impact crash due to it being on body lifts. Body lifts are not something I would personally consider, but to each his own.

 

The only thing wrong with a body lift is when idiots try to rig up one in their backyard. I've seen and heard of people trying to make body lifts out of metal pipe, hockey pucks and even wood. Crap like that is what gave body lifts a bad name. I'm currently on my third truck with a body lift and have never had a problem. There is absolutley nothing wrong with a properly designed body lift, like the Performance Accessories kits.

 

I was waiting for you to replay wandell.

I realize that there are some very well designed kits out there and there are tons of guys using these kits with no problems whatsoever. You being one of them. They are an easy and inexpensive alternative to doing a suspension lift and they do work. I'm just playing the other side of the coin and seeing it from a different point of view. I've just never been a big fan of them and the accident I worked that was mentioned above, the guy had a company made kit (not sure which one) that was installed professionally. That's the biggest reason I'm somewhat boased against them.

 

GDDYUP-
The thing we must remember is that many (if not most) of the people lifting their trucks do not care about how the truck works so much as how it looks. The majority of the mods out there diminish performance and safety, but they 'look cool'. If they cared about how the truck worked then they would be shopping for tuner chips and gears first. I'm glad someone is willing to stand up and point out some of the downsides to all these modifications.

 

Rich, what did you end up doing?

 

More than likely I'll go with the Wheel Adaptors. I really don't have much of a choice. If I would of known... I could of gone with the same wheels in a 20" and had no problems. The bad thing about that is the 20" wheels cost about $750.00 a piece. YUCK!!

I'll keep everyone posted...

Rich

The adaptors are going to cost around $340.00 for all four wheels.

 

body lift = $120