My 02 Build thread
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Posting Guru
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From: ALPHA ,NJ
I've never figured out how two people with the same basic truck can have such radically different experiences with the same tires. I've had the current set of BFG T/A KOs on the truck for about 30k miles. I should easily get another 20-30k out of them before I have to replace them.
I tow, I don't baby my truck, I don't even rotate the tires as often as I should.
I tow, I don't baby my truck, I don't even rotate the tires as often as I should.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Stephensville WI
I don't either, I would imagine it's probably road quality where you drive and driving habits. I got these on at 92k last February and the original 2 are sitting at over half worn with 18k on them. I run Ford recommended pressure in the front and 60 in the rear which is only 10psi low but I highly doubt that's a factor because the tires aren't wearing funny. Just fast.
My 90 mile commute on Monday and Friday feels like 90 miles of an off-road course.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2013
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From: Kent Station, WA
Found a better picture for motivation on the Harley Grille. 
Any way I can help spend others money, thats what I am here for. 
99 F250 Superduty 6.8l
Any way I can help spend others money, thats what I am here for. 99 F250 Superduty 6.8l
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From: ALPHA ,NJ
Found a better picture for motivation on the Harley Grille. Any way I can help spend others money, thats what I am here for.
99 F250 Superduty 6.8l
Any way I can help spend others money, thats what I am here for. 99 F250 Superduty 6.8l
I hauled a load of mulch today and it's really sad how much nicer the truck rides when it has 800lbs in the bed. I can't help but think its partly due to my shocks but I don't know. They have about 19k miles on them and I feel like they haven't done anything since they were put on.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Link is dead now, but it looks possible. I'll have to take another look at it.
I hauled a load of mulch today and it's really sad how much nicer the truck rides when it has 800lbs in the bed. I can't help but think its partly due to my shocks but I don't know. They have about 19k miles on them and I feel like they haven't done anything since they were put on.
I hauled a load of mulch today and it's really sad how much nicer the truck rides when it has 800lbs in the bed. I can't help but think its partly due to my shocks but I don't know. They have about 19k miles on them and I feel like they haven't done anything since they were put on.
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From: ALPHA ,NJ
I have the 5100 bilsteins. But because I listened to the offroad shop by me and not common sense I have 2-4" rear lift shocks and they're way to long IMO. They worked fine for a while but I think last year when I loaded up with mulch it bottomed them out. I was thinking the 9000s because I can get them for about 60$ each on Amazon.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
The Ranchos were nice, but if I had to buy them again, I probably wouldn't. They worked well loaded down and on large bumps and obstacles. They are big and work well at controlling a lot of weight. But for street driving, they were harsh on any settings. The off-road ones that have my attention are the Skyjacker M95. They've had some pretty good reviews on here and around the web for quality and smooth ride on many surfaces.
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From: ALPHA ,NJ
Yeah, I was debating between the ones I got and the 9000s. I don't take the truck "off-road" besides a field for parking or recovery. So for me its 95% on road driving. I dont tow, but 6-8 times a year I haul mulch or firewood or scrap.
The bilsteins work great at higher speeds but are brutal at normal speeds like 35-50. Above 50 they work great but I'm not normally going that fast.
Over the winter I had an issue with wheel hop or axle wrap in the rear. I'm prone to believe wheel hop over axle wrap because its only a 4" block and a 5.4. Which further leads me to think the rear shocks are bad. Probably because I blew them out when I loaded everything up because they're too long.
The bilsteins work great at higher speeds but are brutal at normal speeds like 35-50. Above 50 they work great but I'm not normally going that fast.
Over the winter I had an issue with wheel hop or axle wrap in the rear. I'm prone to believe wheel hop over axle wrap because its only a 4" block and a 5.4. Which further leads me to think the rear shocks are bad. Probably because I blew them out when I loaded everything up because they're too long.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Ya, the 4" block isn't helping the wheel hop/axle wrap at all.
At least shocks are easy to check. Unbolt the mount at the axle and try to compress it under the truck. The ones I just replaced offered very little resistance which explains the "bouncy" feeling I was getting in the rear.
At least shocks are easy to check. Unbolt the mount at the axle and try to compress it under the truck. The ones I just replaced offered very little resistance which explains the "bouncy" feeling I was getting in the rear.
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From: ALPHA ,NJ
Really? Even though the 350 came with the 4" block? I would've figured 4" was a safe bet.
Cargo Master
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Hmmm.... good point. The only thing I could figure is that F350 would have stiffer rear springs to resist the windup. Perhaps it is just the shocks.
I was looking at it from a physics point of view. Moving the axle away from the spring would increase the torque on the spring causing windup and hop. In a similar manner, increasing the wheel and tire size would have the same effect. Larger wheels and tires put more torque on the axle housing, which puts more torque on the springs. So larger wheels and tires + larger block in the springs would multiply the effect.
Forget shocks, go with ladder bars
I was looking at it from a physics point of view. Moving the axle away from the spring would increase the torque on the spring causing windup and hop. In a similar manner, increasing the wheel and tire size would have the same effect. Larger wheels and tires put more torque on the axle housing, which puts more torque on the springs. So larger wheels and tires + larger block in the springs would multiply the effect.
Forget shocks, go with ladder bars
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Tewksbury, MA
I was going to say I have 7" in block right now and don't have any wheel hop...probably have axle wrap but not much I never noticed a difference between2" and 7".
I agree with the ladder bars though lol I'm getting them and then that way when I put a cummins in I don't have to deal with wrapping.
I agree with the ladder bars though lol I'm getting them and then that way when I put a cummins in I don't have to deal with wrapping.
