thewrubelator

With a long travel and being 4x4 you will have to get extended CV axles, which are about $700 I think from camburg. Along with upwards of 6k for the kit alone.

WarSurfer

^^ correct ^^

MT / LT definitions are a tad squishy because there is such a capability variance across vehicle brands.

Generically speaking, MT is 12-16 inches and LT is 17 and up.

By the above definition, both MT and LT typically require both LCA and UCA upgrades. Tacoma's throw a wrench in this because some years can pull as much as 14 inches with the stock lower arms and a UNI upper. Because of this, common definitions of MT include stock lowers with upgraded uppers (stock width).

In our case, the F150 doesn't gain much with a UNI upper - non Raptors will pull just over 10 inches and Raptors will pull just over 13.

It's important to understand what a UNI does. The factory UCA will bind at full droop, which limits overall travel. A UNI upper allows the suspension to drop another ~ 1.5 inches without binding. The travel gain is positive, but from a capability standpoint that 'gain' is minimal because its only on droop, there is little to no gain in up travel.

Big hits will cycle suspension up AND down which means that in order to keep up with a vehicle with 6+ inches of up travel, you will need 6+ inches of up travel - or you'll be bottoming out your front and eventually causing damage.

Some guys (Raptors included) will preload the springs, raising the front and effectively applying that 1.5 inches to both up and down travel (.75 per). The issue here is that you run the coilovers on the edge of their effective valving.

Short answer to all this is, there are ways to 'cheat' but ultimately the real capability is pricey - and SOOO worth it.

Skyline

Okay... are the king oem series considered mid travel, because that is what I was looking at. I was under tthe impression I could get around 12 inches of travel in the rear with new shocks leafs and bumpstops, is that correct?

Thanks once again for all the help!

WarSurfer

I can't speak to the Kings, but the MT/LT association is irrelevant in this case. If you are going with a UNI upper and a stock lower, the Factory replacements will work, regardless of what they call them.

If you were adding longer arms (upper/lower) then you would need longer shocks.

As an example from another member on here:



As you can see, factory F150 length as compared to a factory Raptor length (MT). The Raptor front coilovers won't fit a non Raptor unless you have longer arms.

As far as the rear, with Deavers/Nationals and a good bypass, you can get over 16 inches of travel, over 20 with a bed cage.

I'm not trying to split hairs or say one method is 'better' than another, just trying to give context.

Skyline

^ thank you so much for the response again, pictures really help me understand things.
not looking to put a bed cage, because i still want the be able to put stuff back there when i need to. Would you recommend getting longer lower control arms also, as i was already planning on getting different upper control arms?

or would it be a fine idea to just keep the stock lower arms, and upgrade the upper arm, to go with the OEM king series?

Thanks once again, you guys are all really helpful

WarSurfer

Unfortunately, to keep the factory fenders you'll need to stay at the factory width. That means you are limited to UNI uppers and factory lowers - and to just over 10 inches of travel. This isn't 'bad' it is what it is, a significant improvement over stock.

You will be very happy with the improvement on and off road when paired with a decent OEM replacement (King, Fox or ICON). With this front setup and Deavers/Nationals leafs and a set of bumps out back, you'll be very close to Raptor territory (just shy up front and exceeding in the rear).

If you want / need 'more', then you'll need to spend a lot more money and you'll need wider fenders up front. The rear will be the same either way.

buster096

just a little insight on fitment of raptor shocks. they will fit on a 04-current f150's with a six inch lift kit on. at lowest perch they lift 3.25" and at middle perch they lift 5.5". the rears will fit with an almost stock rear end. im getting custom kings made for my lift and after doing all the math with uca's and heim steering ill be sitting at 10.25" of suspension travel, i think my cv's could be the limiting factor but performance ones from rcv are $2500 so no thank you. its really not that much of travel but it will be better than the stock 7".

WarSurfer

Fronts will fit with a lift because the lower arm is moved away from the coil bucket, thus affording the use of a longer coilover. However, the shock is internally designed to operate in a certain range (ie, on a Raptor at low perch). When run in another configuration, you aren't getting the max benefit from the bypass technology because you aren't riding in the correct zone. You would be better served by getting coilovers designed for that setup.

I don't know if I can link to another forum but here is a phenomenal resource for understanding shock tech:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...lovers/Part_1/

Example of lift kit installation. Newer F150 but the frames are the same:

http://youtu.be/k3vfW_0xZLI

Custom coilovers are absolutely the best option for a hybrid setup like yours.

Keep an eye on RCV, their stuff will come down in price as this series of axle becomes older. That's my plan as well.

Skyline

sorry to bring back an old thread, but i was wondering if i could fit 35" tires if i went with upgraded UCA and king shocks? would it tuck under the fender or would it hit?

Black FX2

you should be able to it depends on your offset of your wheels