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When I bought my '11 the previous owner had just installed a set 5100's and a set of KO2's (LT275/70R18). I believe he said they were set at 1.5" but I can't remember for sure (and I guess I never got around to sticking my head in the wheel well to check). As far as ride quality, I moved up to the F150 from a '01 Explorer and the F150 rides a lot better than the Explorer ever did. 90% of my travel is on pavement and I bought the truck to pull our travel trailer (currently a 19' Jayco but plan on growing that by a few feet soon). I do go out to the desert - towing the trailer and just off roading. It isn't my old Wrangler and I don't try to drive it like that but to me the off road handling is fine. I'm sure if you are more hardcore off road, then they would be less than you'd want but for me, they work fine.
So I wonder how the ride will be if I keep the Bilsteins at 0" and leave the 2" level kit in there, it shouldn't be as stiff right? I just hate hopping around on these terrible roads, it will throw you right off the road..
It probably wouldnt be any different than setting the bilsteins to 2.25" with no spacer. The shocks will still be valved the same and the truck will still be lifted about the same. I wouldnt leave the spacer in.
My guess is the bilsteins will take care of the hopping as the have more rebound dampening. You wont get the rear bouncing off of bumps like with the stock shocks.
Yes the rear hop essentially went away for me when I put the 5100 rear shocks on. They handle the bed bounce much better than the stock ones do. This is especially true here in New England where the roads are atrocious. I have the 5100's up front as well at the highest setting (2.25") and don't regret a single thing. Yes, the truck rides a bit more like a truck now but to me it's better than the stock car-like ride. Only have about 8k miles on the 5100's but they have been great and exactly what I wanted. I wasn't looking to spend 800+ on coilovers like the BOSS ones. If I did want to spend the money, it would be the BOSS ones over the Fox's.
I do keep eyeing that 6" lift + BOSS coilovers package on Stage 3's website....my hand wants to click on the order button really really bad...haha.
I also put in 3" rear blocks to add a little rake back in and the tires are 275/65/20 Falken AT3W's.
Well everything was ordered last night. All 4 Bilsteins and a set of redi-lift 1.5" leafs. Just in time for the warm weather and the task of getting into camp with terrible roads. Thanks for the advice everyone.
When I bought my '11 the previous owner had just installed a set 5100's and a set of KO2's (LT275/70R18). I believe he said they were set at 1.5" but I can't remember for sure (and I guess I never got around to sticking my head in the wheel well to check). As far as ride quality, I moved up to the F150 from a '01 Explorer and the F150 rides a lot better than the Explorer ever did. 90% of my travel is on pavement and I bought the truck to pull our travel trailer (currently a 19' Jayco but plan on growing that by a few feet soon). I do go out to the desert - towing the trailer and just off roading. It isn't my old Wrangler and I don't try to drive it like that but to me the off road handling is fine. I'm sure if you are more hardcore off road, then they would be less than you'd want but for me, they work fine.
im looking at doing the same thing, are you running stock wheels? do you have any pictures?
Yes, stock rims with LT275/70R18 KO2's mounted on them. Here's a couple pictures - not the best angles but they give the general idea. As I mentioned earlier, I'm not sure of the settings used but the truck sits level and the wheel to fender gap looks about right to me.
So I wonder how the ride will be if I keep the Bilsteins at 0" and leave the 2" level kit in there, it shouldn't be as stiff right? I just hate hopping around on these terrible roads, it will throw you right off the road..
Back in 2009 when I had my '04, I had the dealership install my 5100 struts and they changed the level from 2" to 0". I threw a cow about it and they fixed it at no cost. I recall noticing the firmness difference driving it unleveled and recall no ride difference when leveled, only the obvious, the hood was higher, step board wasnt slanted, and headlamps beam was too high. No ride difference as the strut itself is what changes the ride.
03-01-2017, 10:49 PM
