To level or not to level
Texas A&M Aggie
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,527
Likes: 1,353
From: Pasadena, TX
Originally Posted by msgross
http://www.daveramsey.com/ start listening to his radio show or podcast... changed my life. I have a CC with $20K limit and Cabelas gave me one with $15K (closed now), luckily not carrying a balance. I paid off $90K in debt in 3 years. Snowball the debt and start using cash/debit. Get a rainy day fund... makes life much easier.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 286
Likes: 27
Why not just fit the biggest tires you can and Leave it stock? I bought my truck because of the higher payload/towing capacity from my 04.last thing I would want to do is mess with it! The leveled trucks look good but not with a load on them.. With that, does anyone know the max tire size that can fit on a stock truck?
Why not just fit the biggest tires you can and Leave it stock? I bought my truck because of the higher payload/towing capacity from my 04.last thing I would want to do is mess with it! The leveled trucks look good but not with a load on them.. With that, does anyone know the max tire size that can fit on a stock truck?
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 313
From: Kentucky
So, I've got my 2" AS spacers sitting in the garage. I've spent more time than is likely healthy cruising all the topics, looking at all the pictures, reading all the posts, but I'm getting cold feet about this whole level thing. I read in somewhere along the lines an argument against the whole process, saying why change the angles that Ford worked on getting right - which I think is a valid point.
Well, to make the truck look better is the counterpoint - also valid.
Then there's this whole spacers vs. coilovers argument. On one hand, the coilovers at least improve performance, but on the other, the same cons with changing the angles and such exist, but at a much higher cost (albeit, probably within my reach if I wait a little while).
I guess what I'm lacking is the confidence that the cost of doing the spacers is a worthwhile endeavor, especially when I'm not planning on throwing away (or selling cheap) the remaining life of the factory Goodyears. I can't help but feel like the truck doesn't look terrible with the 2.5-3 inches of rake, and that money could be spent elsewhere, like on new headlights, leather, or new stereo equipment, that would actually have some real usable value. But then again, everyone's pictures of their leveled rides look so good.
Dang internet and too much information. Anybody else work through this thought process, or am I just losing it from too much time on the forum?
Well, to make the truck look better is the counterpoint - also valid.
Then there's this whole spacers vs. coilovers argument. On one hand, the coilovers at least improve performance, but on the other, the same cons with changing the angles and such exist, but at a much higher cost (albeit, probably within my reach if I wait a little while).
I guess what I'm lacking is the confidence that the cost of doing the spacers is a worthwhile endeavor, especially when I'm not planning on throwing away (or selling cheap) the remaining life of the factory Goodyears. I can't help but feel like the truck doesn't look terrible with the 2.5-3 inches of rake, and that money could be spent elsewhere, like on new headlights, leather, or new stereo equipment, that would actually have some real usable value. But then again, everyone's pictures of their leveled rides look so good.
Dang internet and too much information. Anybody else work through this thought process, or am I just losing it from too much time on the forum?
But the drawbacks are numerous. Less CV joint life, less fuel economy, nose sticking up when you haul/tow, stiffer ride, less shock downtravel, altered pinion angles, etc. Ford dialed these trucks in for the best performance, ride quality, and capability.
It really is a form vs. function question. There's no magic to it. Which is important to you?
Turbo --> :-)
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 282
Likes: 67
From: Montreal
You are correct. There is ZERO reason to do a level, except for the look. It looks better, and allows for a slightly larger tire which also looks better.
But the drawbacks are numerous. Less CV joint life, less fuel economy, nose sticking up when you haul/tow, stiffer ride, less shock downtravel, altered pinion angles, etc. Ford dialed these trucks in for the best performance, ride quality, and capability.
It really is a form vs. function question. There's no magic to it. Which is important to you?
But the drawbacks are numerous. Less CV joint life, less fuel economy, nose sticking up when you haul/tow, stiffer ride, less shock downtravel, altered pinion angles, etc. Ford dialed these trucks in for the best performance, ride quality, and capability.
It really is a form vs. function question. There's no magic to it. Which is important to you?
For the CV wear, yes the angle is more, but, if they don't turn (2WD) they don't wear. How much time our trucks spend in 4WD? I think the added wear is negligible.
Nose high during towing, yes. But if someone spends 90% of his driving not towing (most of us), the truck will look better 90% of the time.
I'm not very nervous to install a leveling kit on my truck. I already ordered the kit, and it is sitting on my bench, waiting for better weather to be installed.