I have a 2010 Lariat 4X4 and would like to lower it and make it ride like a two wheel drive. This truck will never see off road and will haul minimal payload. The wife and I enjoy camping therefore must also pull a 7500 lb trailer. Previous to my 2010 I had a 2004 4X2 and would like to recapture the stance and ride. The 2004 had LT tires as goes my 2010.

Any suggestions on how to get what I want.
Thanx
Tal

 

Take your 4x4 stickers off?

 

unfortunately, i don't think it will ride like a 2wd even if you lower it. it will sit like one, but not ride that way. if i am not mistaken the suspension on the 4wd's are a little stiffer than the 2wd, then if you add a lowering kit, well, you get the idea. why not just raise the front up some and try a little bigger tire. this will absorb some of the road harshness and in the long run save you some money.

 

You will not be able to get rid of the sprung and unsprung mass that goes along with adding the transfer case, front drive shaft and front differential. Also the wheels are heavier because of the locking hubs.

The current wheel travel of the 4X4 trucks is there to accommodate terrain variances while traversing off road areas, but you also get the benefit of greater ground clearance which may be very useful when driving in snow. We get over 30 inches every year, and some years we get it 3-4 times. Having the truck height such that I can successfully drive through 25-30 inches of snow is a plus for me.

 

I don't mean this to sound rude, but why did you pay a couple grand extra to get a 4x4 if you just want to lower it and never use the 4x4?

 

Now here's a can of worms.....
The wife and I needed a different truck. The 2004 F150 XLT 2wd was showing it's age and Ford was offering some good incentives to buy. So, in August we ordered a candy red, 4X2 Lariat as our salesman said we could. I didn't want black or white, must be a supercab, Lariat and 2wd (didn't want 4wd). Three weeks later our dealership told us Ford cancelled our order. Not wanting white or black, there was not a 2wd supercab lariat available in Canada at that point (so we were told) and took what was left. Don't get me wrong, I love the look, the interior, the silver color, power etc, but I want my 2wd height and ride.
Snow hit us a couple days ago and do I like the 4wd.
This is the short answer.
Thanks Tal

 

I've been to Lethbridge...how you could function in the winter with a rear wheel drive truck is beyond me. It's cold as hell and snowy. You're better off with front wheel drive or 4x4.

 

ill trade you my 2010 xlt 4x2 for your 4x4, and then you'll have a 4x2.

 

Lethbridge isn't that bad, doesn't stay cold long and the snow doesn't get that deep. I drove my 88 Turbo Coupe all year round.

And thanks for the generous offer mpaterno, but I think I'll pass. I'd be giving up a Lariat for an XLT.

 

well tal, you can certainly lower it to sit like a 2wd, but it won't ride like one. at least you could have the height you want and still have 4wd, so that might work for ya??