I'm planning to install Bushwacker "Cut Out" fender flares on my 2005 F350 4x4. I want to run 40X13.5R18LT tires and need to know how much lift is required for proper clearance.

Here is a guy who only has 2.5" leveling kit and 38" tires:

008.jpg picture by Gregch_photos - Photobucket

007.jpg picture by Gregch_photos - Photobucket

Here is a guy with no leveling kit and 36" tires:

Truckblog - Photo

Truckblog - Photo

I want an Icon lift kit and believe that a 4.5"-5.5" lift kit will be sufficient. I'm not using the stock front bumper so I'm not worried about rubbing issues there.

Is my assessment correct? Do I need a 7" lift kit?

Thanks!

 

35s, 37s, 40s....leveling kit, 4" lift, 7" lift. Man you are all over the place!

 

Ha! I provided the pics for references purposes only. I cannot find any pics of a Super Duty with cut out fender flares and 40" tires.

I want to run 40" tires.

 

To get 40s on it you will have to put some kind of lift. I don't think that they will fit without some kind of lift.

 

my excursion had 6" of lift and 37" ssr's and I still had to cut the bumper, so my thought is 4.5"
and the cut out flares should be plenty, the cut out flares remove a lot of material.

 

The 4.5" kit should be plenty to clear 40s with the cutouts. I think cutouts and 38s-40s might be in my distant future

 

That's what I was thinking too... 4.5" lift kit. The more I look at lifted Super Duties, the more I'm seeing that the greatest obstacle is the lower corners of the fender wells. They're just too narrow for any tire greater than 35 inches. So you have to add lift to place the lower corners of the fender wells "above" the tires. The cut fender flares allow the truck to sit lower on larger tires, which should allow for better handling (lower center of gravity) and practicality (lower bed height). I'm 100% sold on the idea!

 

Now, are you going to paint them white or leave them black? The ones's I've seen black on light colored trucks make it look like a huge black hole in the side of the truck, so if I do cutouts mine will be painted.

 

They will definitely will be painted for the reason that you stated. I have a tan interior. So, I'm going to add a lower accent color (probably gold, maybe copper). So I'll be painting the lower section, front and rear bumpers, and the cut out flares.

 

I wish mine had the accent panel, then I would have powdercoated my bumper that color instead of white. I like it white, but its a bear to keep clean and any pin holes or rock chips get rust stains on them. Doing the gold accent color will look good, much like the truck in Bushwacker's pictures.

http://www.supertruckusa.com/product...2F26234-lg.jpg

 

Yeap! The gold accent is "classic" on the Ford trucks and is always in style. I found a decal provider online that accomodates many font styles and will replace & add some to the truck. The "4X4" will go on the bed and the "5.4L 3V ENGINE" will go on the hood.

http://www.signspecialist.com

 

If you plan on wheeling....they'll be close under a 4.5", being skinny they will probably just clear.
If you don't plan on wheeling, they'll be fine.

I know guys who ran 8" lifts and 40" Hawgs with cut-outs and could stuff them, but the Hawgs are wider.

And I still don't think a 13.50 is going to look right under the cut-outs.

 

If needed, I'll add the Icon 1" spacer and appropriate rear block to add additional lift. Are you recommending a 7" Icon lift for true off-road clearance?

As for the width of the tire, I personally like the narrower (not skinny ) look of the 13.5" wide tire. To use 15.5" wide tires, I would have needed 12" wide wheels and the stress of the wider footprint would have been significant on my 5.4L engine.

 

A 13.5" tire should look fine as long as the wheel offset puts it far enough out so its not tucked under too far.

 

correct me if I'm wrong, but with all that turning mass, won't the 5.4 turn those tires at a snails pace ? shouldn't more gearing be considered ?

just trying to hep here