Are these kits any good to use in place of a lift kit?
I understand they can add 1.5" or 2" of lift while allowing for more load in the box. Anyone have experience with these?

thx

 

Are you asking in general about AALs or about a specific kit/brand? I installed an AAL kit from generalspringkc.com and so far am very pleased. My truck no longer rides nose up when I add weight in the bed and the ride has not been degraded, in fact it handles better. See this thread for more info- https://www.f150forum.com/f38/add-leaf-255798/

 

Have have all the goodies, AAL, AirBags, Rear blocks...Coilovers...need to chat...give us a call.

 

Thanks, I'll call you guys when im ready to make a move.

 

If you do decide on an AAL, do your research on installation etc. Most are designed to be the third spring in the stack which makes installation easier because you don't have to remove the leafspring clamps. The leafs in the set I installed are long and designed to be the second spring, requiring removal of the clamps making installation a bit more difficult, but still doable. The benefit however, is they have little negative effect if any on the ride.

 

I know I put FabTech AAL's on my Ranger, don't laugh, it's the same principle!!!! It gave me 2" of lift. I've also done quite a few AALs over the years on Ford and Dodge trucks.
The FabTech ones worked out very well. I did have to cutout the springclamps, but I've always done that. They comes with new centre bolts as well, that was good, I always just cut them out too.
All in all, it's pretty easy to do, and really only stiffened the ride just slightly. The Ranger was 8 years old when I did it, so the stock springs likely had sagged a bit.
I've never noticed a huge difference in ride quality in any of the trucks I've done, at least not enough to be repulsive.

 

Here's mine - had them for a while - just got to find time. These were from autospring on eBay at good price & fit in between those clips & have new longer replacement studs & chafe pads.

 

Something that hasn't been mentioned are the Ubolts. I always replace with new ones, along with the nuts and lockwashers. NAPA up here makes them for you, or, any spring/suspension shop should have them. Once the AAL is installed, torque them down, and then again in a couple hundred miles.
There appears to be different opinions on the clamps. Like I mentioned, I cut them out with a Metabo grinder, and replace them with the Ubolt style ones. Easy peasy, cheesy pleasy. They simply slide over your leaf pack, and bolt in place. They save the hassle of bending the strap iron around your pack, and I've never been able to install those to please myself.

 

How does this compare to coilovers or a lift kit etc
...

 

Coil overs are adjustable & cost a lot more. But if your stock shocks are pissing oil ( like mine at 22k!) it's worth upgrading to. I will probably just sell my 2" auto spring spacers at this point -