i have an 03 f250 crew cab long bed 4x4 truck (v10) with a skyjacker 6" lift kit and recently replaced rancho shocks. the ride on this kit is horrible and im trying to see if there are better kits for a reasonable price. i know lift kits will not have the best ride, but i would like the closest to a smoothe ride i can get. i dont really want to spend more than $1500 and if its possible to replace some components on my current kit, that would be helpful as well.

if its recommended to get something new, im thinking about going from the 6" to maybe a 4-4.5" kit or just stay with a 6". i currently have 35" toyo mud terrains with 20x10 -25mm cruiser alloy wheels (thinking about selling these for something more aggressive). do you guys think my truck looks funny with the 6" and 35s and should i go lower or does it look ok and stay with 6"? some kits ive been recommended are the BDS, Revtek, and Rough Country, what would you guys say is best for me? appreciate any ideas or help. thanks!

 

You can improve the ride quality with better leaf springs. Icon makes the "plush ride" leaf springs for your truck in either 4" or 6" sizes. You could also install the Deaver springs, which many people consider to be the best quality available.

Icon 4" Front Leaf Springs:
Icon Vehicle Dynamics 2000-2004 FSD 4" Front Plush Ride Spring Kit - Truck Toyz Store

Icon 6" Front Leaf Springs:
Icon Vehicle Dynamics 2000-2004 FSD 6" Front Plush Ride Spring Kit - Truck Toyz Store

Icon 5" Rear Leaf Springs:
Icon Vehicle Dynamics 1999-2007 FSD Plush Ride 5" Rear Leaf Springs - Truck Toyz Store

Deaver Springs Link:
Deaver Suspension

 

since changing front and rear leaf springs is almost as much as a new lift kit, which would be the better option? also, im not too familiar with how the kits exactly work, if i want to go down to a 4-4.5", would i need to change everything or can i replace some components?

 

Hey,
Wanna sell that lift if you remove it? I drive an 04' Excursion

 

sure, i will let you know.

 

Installing a new lift kit is the better choice but more expensive. Sound's like you have a potential buyer for your current lift kit, which will offset the cost of the new lift kit.

Isn't FTE great!

 

yea this site is awesome! so what would you recommend for me, new kit or new leaf springs? if a new kit, which kit is best for what im looking for? ive done research on this site and it seems like the pro comp, icon (a little expensive), rough country, and Fabtech are recommended. i dont know too much when it comes to lift kits, so i want to make sure i do it right. btw, im running 35x12.5x20 toyo mud terrains with 20x10 cruiser alloy wheels with 4.5 backspace and -25mm offset.

im open to either 6" or 4-4.5inch lift if recommended to go with a new kit as long as my wheels/tires would clear. sometimes i think the 35s look too small with my current lift. also, i like the wide aggressive look on wheels/tires, so im also considering selling the wheels for something more aggressive, like kmc xd diesel 20x10 -43mm offset with 3.75 backspace if it would work or 20x12 mazzi hulk or something similar. appreciate the help!

 

bump for help.

 

oK thanks. Is it an all spring 6" lift?

 

I had a 2005 f-250 that I put a 6" Fabtech in it. I thought it was a very good lift, but alittle spendy tho. My 2004 f-350 has a 4" rancho and it rides nice. They all seem to ride about the same. These tow lifts are the only to I would ever put in.

 

yes, with new rancho shocks and stabilizer shock. email me at twstdm3@aol.com and we can discuss it further.

 

I just woke up and need to run to the post office... I'll make recommendations tonight.

 

thanks, ive heard various things from replacing the rancho shocks with bilstein 5100's and its not worth replacing the leaf springs to replacing the whole kit. i just need to make the right decision and spend the least amount to get what im looking for. please refer to my previous long post as well lol also, do you think the 35s look to small on the current 6"?

 

Yes, you have many options and at the end of the day you have to decide which option is best for you. Do you plan on keeping the truck for several more years or do you forsee yourself selling the truck in the near future? You have asked about dropping down to a 4" lift kit... is that because the current 6" lift kit is too high for daily use or is that because you don't like the look with the 35" tires? Personally, I prefer the look of a 4" lift kit with 35" tires. However, if you do serious off-roading, then a 6" lift kit would be better for more wheel articulation. Do you have any rubbing issues with the current setup?

From what I have researched, the Skyjacker 6" lift kit has the same basic components as the Icon 4" lift kit (less rear leaf springs) and the Icon 6" lift kit. Your current Skyjacker 6" lift kit comes with front & rear springs that have 5 leaf's per spring pack. The Icon 4" and 6" lift kits have front & rear springs that have 10 or more leaf's per spring pack. That's double the number of leaf's, which is why they ride so much better. IMO, better shocks like the Bilsteins will help but they will not compensate for lower quality leaf packs.

Top Gun Customz sells your current Skyjacker 6" lift kit for $1,568.00 plus another $88.00 for the drop pitman arm. That's a total of $1,656 not including any shocks (front or rear).

6" 99-04 Ford Super Duty 4x4 Skyjacker Lift System - Top Gun Customz

Truck Toyz Performance sells the Icon 4" lift kit for $1,204.00 after deducting the rear block and the front & rear Icon shocks. Add back $675.00 for the rear leaf springs and the total is $1,879.00.

Truck Toyz Performance sells the Icon 6" lift kit for $1,877.00 after deducting for the front & rear shocks.

2000-2004 F250/F350 SRW 4wd - Truck Toyz Store=


You can then order the Bilstein 5100 front & rear shocks from ShockWarehouse.com for approximately $300.00. However, since your just purchased new Rancho shocks, you may just want to keep those and save some money.

Bilstein - KYB - Rancho - Monroe - Edelbrock Automotive Truck Shocks and Struts - Shockwarehouse.com

Therefore, if you sell you current Skyjacker 6" lift kit for $700-$800, then you will only have to spend approximately $1,100 for either the Icon 4" or 6" lift kit. Add another $300.00 for the Bilstein 5100 shocks and you're still at $1,400.00.

Icon was having a 10% sale back in December. Call Truck Toyz Performance at 888-776-8699 to see if they will still honor the sale.

 

thank you for the detailed response. im currently trying to sell the truck but had no luck so im probably going to just keep it and address two issues i have with it which are the suspension and the paint. the reason im considering going down to a 4" is because sometimes i think it looks funny with the 35s, what do you think? im definitely not a serious off-roader, just occassional offroad and mostly street/highway. i currently have no rubbing issues. can i just replace components from my current kit to go down to a 4"? if so, what would need to be replaced?

do you think keeping the ranchos and going with new leaf springs is a better option? ive also considered trying to sell the ranchos and get the bilsteins and new leaf springs. im going to try to sell the kit, but hoping shipping wont be too much. also, are 20x10 wheels with 4.5 backspacer and -25mm offset the most aggressive i can go?