lift, leveling or "raptor"
11-22-2017, 11:59 AM
#11
Cool, thanks Pugga.
11-23-2017, 12:06 AM
#12
I did a full raptor suspension swap on my FX4 and love it its a great starting point and I found the majority of the parts used on the raptor fourms for cheep. enjoying it as is now but its an easy set up to upgrade from later one as I go.
11-23-2017, 06:49 PM
#13
Senior Member
Originally Posted by ericeo
Hello, I bought my first ford 
..2011 f150 super crew cab. 4x4 with 5.0 . I plan on doing some off road from time to time. I live (2 years now) in Vegas so mostly desert stuff haha. I don't think I need to go all out with Baja kit type set up for the amount of money that can cost vs the amount of use it will see. for the money I don't know what would be the best option. I am not really after a certain look but more the best performance for the money. I'd like little longer wheel travel, great ride quality for street as well as off. With the ability to handle some "air time" ...and I am happy with 33"-35" tires
I thought about raptor setup. (front suspension) with aftermarket coil overs\shocks and uca. with fender flares to compensate for the wider stance
Another option is RC 4 or 6" lift with a good set of co/shocks. and uca.
I don't have any experience with the coil over suspension it's either been torsion bar or leaf spring. so I don't know which setup out ways the other...
Thanks!!
..2011 f150 super crew cab. 4x4 with 5.0 . I plan on doing some off road from time to time. I live (2 years now) in Vegas so mostly desert stuff haha. I don't think I need to go all out with Baja kit type set up for the amount of money that can cost vs the amount of use it will see. for the money I don't know what would be the best option. I am not really after a certain look but more the best performance for the money. I'd like little longer wheel travel, great ride quality for street as well as off. With the ability to handle some "air time" ...and I am happy with 33"-35" tiresI thought about raptor setup. (front suspension) with aftermarket coil overs\shocks and uca. with fender flares to compensate for the wider stance
Another option is RC 4 or 6" lift with a good set of co/shocks. and uca.
I don't have any experience with the coil over suspension it's either been torsion bar or leaf spring. so I don't know which setup out ways the other...
Thanks!!
Factory Raptor take offs are a very good starting point and given how heavy the 6.2 is, the 2.5s would actually perform pretty well on a lighter setup.
Factory Raptor front suspension with a decent leaf pack and factory fox 2.5s should be the first phase.
Once you grow tired of that you can bump up to 3.0s and a bedcage.
If that gets to be too tame, THEN I’d look towards a full aftermarket setup and a rollcage.
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Dredd75 (11-24-2017)
11-24-2017, 01:21 AM
#14
Senior Member
if your going to spend the money might as well surpass what the raptor has. id go right into the 3.0s for shocks, new control arms upper and lower, and a set of deavers. add the bump stop relocate kit. maybe consider tie rod ends too.
11-24-2017, 07:17 AM
#15
You’d be doing yourself a disservice if you do anything less than mid travel. You are in prime prerunner territory and factory spec shocks with a lift isn’t going to cut it, regardless of who makes them.
Factory Raptor take offs are a very good starting point and given how heavy the 6.2 is, the 2.5s would actually perform pretty well on a lighter setup.
Factory Raptor front suspension with a decent leaf pack and factory fox 2.5s should be the first phase.
Once you grow tired of that you can bump up to 3.0s and a bedcage.
If that gets to be too tame, THEN I’d look towards a full aftermarket setup and a rollcage.
Factory Raptor take offs are a very good starting point and given how heavy the 6.2 is, the 2.5s would actually perform pretty well on a lighter setup.
Factory Raptor front suspension with a decent leaf pack and factory fox 2.5s should be the first phase.
Once you grow tired of that you can bump up to 3.0s and a bedcage.
If that gets to be too tame, THEN I’d look towards a full aftermarket setup and a rollcage.
Listen this dude, he knows his stuff. Just check out his build thread.
11-24-2017, 09:40 AM
#16
I kind of doubt the 6.2 is a whole lot heavier than the 5.0. There is only 100 lbs difference between an old 302 and a big block 460. Probably not 100 lbs between the newer engines.
I completely agree that to jump it 3 feet off the ground, the Raptor suspension is a minimum starting point. Running fast in the rough and jumping will destroy 5100s and most run of the mill suspension systems in short order. I agree that the better mid travel off road set up is deavers and hydraulic bump stops in the rear with at least Fox 2.5s. The next step up is 3.0s and a bed cage.
I suspect you can upgrade the regular F150 but with used Raptor prices coming down, it would be a much better rig to start with for the described use.
I completely agree that to jump it 3 feet off the ground, the Raptor suspension is a minimum starting point. Running fast in the rough and jumping will destroy 5100s and most run of the mill suspension systems in short order. I agree that the better mid travel off road set up is deavers and hydraulic bump stops in the rear with at least Fox 2.5s. The next step up is 3.0s and a bed cage.
I suspect you can upgrade the regular F150 but with used Raptor prices coming down, it would be a much better rig to start with for the described use.
11-24-2017, 10:08 AM
#17
Senior Member
Originally Posted by CO Raptor
I kind of doubt the 6.2 is a whole lot heavier than the 5.0. There is only 100 lbs difference between an old 302 and a big block 460. Probably not 100 lbs between the newer engines.
The 6.2 Raptor spring rate was a tad on the light side for the weight they were supporting. Plenty of guys have swapped in a set of coils and been happy with the 2.5s (with deavers/nationals out back). The issue with the factory gear was spring rate, not dampening - 3.0s are better all around but it’s 5k for F/R while factory 2.5s can be had for a grand and being 100-150lbs lighter in the nose would put them in their sweet spot.
Since Raptor take-offs can ALWAYS be sold, it costs almost nothing to start there if the OP upgrades later on.
11-24-2017, 10:34 AM
#18
There is a 100lb difference between 5.4 and 6.2 Raptors, all other things being equal. The 5.0 doesn €™t have hydraulic steering so that is also going to add weight.
The 6.2 Raptor spring rate was a tad on the light side for the weight they were supporting. Plenty of guys have swapped in a set of coils and been happy with the 2.5s (with deavers/nationals out back). The issue with the factory gear was spring rate, not dampening - 3.0s are better all around but it €™s 5k for F/R while factory 2.5s can be had for a grand and being 100-150lbs lighter in the nose would put them in their sweet spot.
Since Raptor take-offs can ALWAYS be sold, it costs almost nothing to start there if the OP upgrades later on.
The 6.2 Raptor spring rate was a tad on the light side for the weight they were supporting. Plenty of guys have swapped in a set of coils and been happy with the 2.5s (with deavers/nationals out back). The issue with the factory gear was spring rate, not dampening - 3.0s are better all around but it €™s 5k for F/R while factory 2.5s can be had for a grand and being 100-150lbs lighter in the nose would put them in their sweet spot.
Since Raptor take-offs can ALWAYS be sold, it costs almost nothing to start there if the OP upgrades later on.
Seems like splitting hairs...100lbs on a 6000lb truck is completely insignificant. People claiming they can feel 100lbs on the front end of a 6000 lb truck are either truck wizards or just playing along to sound smart. I doubt 99% of people could feel any difference.
At the end of the day it seems that rather than modding a standard truck, just buying a Raptor would be easier. If your time is free maybe the upgrades can be done cheaper on a standard truck but I just do not see the point.
11-24-2017, 11:26 AM
#19
Senior Member
Originally Posted by CO Raptor
Seems like splitting hairs...100lbs on a 6000lb truck is completely insignificant. People claiming they can feel 100lbs on the front end of a 6000 lb truck are either truck wizards or just playing along to sound smart. I doubt 99% of people could feel any difference.
Case in point:
Raptor
5.4L Scab Front 560 lbs/in/spring
5.4L Scab Rear 190/276 lbs/in/spring (main springs/Aux leaf)
6.2L Scab Front 594 lb/in/spring
6.2L Screw Front 640 lb/in/spring
6.2L Scab Rear 190/276 lbs/in/spring (main springs/Aux leaf)
6.2L Screw Rear 205/300 lbs/in/spring (main springs/Aux leaf)
The engineers at Ford determined that a 100lb overall weight difference was enough to change the spring rates 34lbs in the front.
The factory rates are biased towards road manners - ie, still a little on the light side - hence why I brought up the Geiser Bros replacement coils that folks are swapping into their 2.5s.
There is at least a 100lb difference between the 5.0 and the 6.2 - this does not account for the additional weight of hydraulic steering vs EPAS - not saying that difference is significant, only that a delta exists. Ergo, running the 594 or even 640 coilovers a lighter vehicle WILL result in better inertial management.
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f9/spring-rates-38745/
11-24-2017, 10:46 PM
#20
So I’d thought I’d throw this in since I’m looking to do something similar. I’m looking at doing a bit of form AND function. I know those two don’t usually mix but realistically, my truck is my DD. Buying just coilovers and an uca, won’t allow me to fit larger tires like 37’s unless I do fenders$$$ but at the same time I don’t really want a 6 inch lift. So bds makes a 4 inch kit with a fox coilover option and they make they’re own UCA now as well. I figured that would give give me the clearance and performance upgrade over stock. Down the road I’d change out the rear block for better leaf springs to upgrade the rear. For me, and I’m sure most of us, I’m on a budget lol. When I started researching parts I realized getting it where I want was something that was gong to take time as my budget allows. You could maybe do something like, basic lift (to get the look), then coilovers, then UCA and so on. I wonder if baja kits or icon kits would work on a lifted truck? Anyways, that’s my plan, maybe something like that will work for you. I’d appreciate your comments or telling me my plan is lame and won’t work lol.