Hi guys! I have a 2008 F250 5.4 auto CC Lariat 4x4. I've spent some time googling and searching throughout this site and other Ford truck sites gathering info on a possible smallish lift for my truck. My 08 has the snow plow package with the upgraded front springs so the truck sits perfectly level right now. The tires I am running are Toyo Open Country ATII Extremes in size 285/75/18 on the factory aluminum wheels. The tires measure just slightly under 35" tall. I have no issues with rubbing, turning, etc. and the truck looks ok the way it sits now. I don't have any plans right now to go to a different wheel because I actually like the look of the stockers which is surprising to me. The truck sees 98% on-road driving, with very little light off-road stuff when we go on vaca up in northern NH, and is my DD. It has some cat back exhaust work and an SC3 tuner with Mike's tunes from 5 Star. I don't tow anything and use the bed for mostly runs to the local dump or to carry minimal stuff from place to place. I have the truck because I've always liked the look of them and have always been a "truck" guy. The lift is more for looks than anything else.

With that background, I was looking at small lifts. The truck needs shocks anyways so I can "convince" the wife that I might as well do a small lift since the shocks "cost so much anyways". I don't want to go bigger than a 35" tire so I was researching 4" kits. After looking at pricing, specs, and reviews from people here and on other sites, I'm narrowed in on the Zone kit in 4". I can do the install myself at home. I have the tools, know-how, all that. But I had a few questions that I couldn't really find any answers to while looking around and I was hoping someone here might be able to shed some light...

Here's the kit I was looking at : Zone Offroad 4" Suspension System 08-10 Ford F250/F350 F6/F12

And here are my questions...

Zone makes the kit with or without Radius arms. For a truck that sees almost entirely on-road driving, will the drop brackets be fine? I have the running boards on my truck so it would somewhat hide the brackets.

Mileage. When I switched from the wide 305/65s to the Toyos, I lost about 1.5 mpg. Not a huge deal since most of my driving is around town and I put only 6000-7000 miles on my truck a year. That being said, I'd hate to lose another 1-2 mpg with a lift. What should my expectations be here?

With the snow plow prep package up front, what would I be looking at as far as real life lift numbers? I see people saying they ordered a 2" leveling kit and got 4" out of it. With a Zone 4" kit replacing my snow prep springs, what would I realistically expect as far as lift goes?

I've had many trucks in my driving career, but never had one that had a lift in it. I built a Nissan "mini truck" back in my high school days and I remember how that rode with the torsion bar tuck and the dropped blocks out back. Not something I want to re-live! How is the ride in this type of smaller lift?

So, it's either go with the 4" lift or just order up some shocks in the springtime and try to be happy. If anyone has any thoughts, questions, ideas, comments, or considerations they could share with me, that would be great!

Thanks everyone!

 

I have the Zone 4" lift kit on my 2005 F250....
I can tell you that I love it no regrets at all.
I have the kit with out the Radius Arms, I used the drop bracket style one because they
didnt have the Radius Arms yet.....
I bought the kit with the Nitro shocks and for me it drives really smooth.
Im using their 4" kit with 35x1250x18" Toyo Open Country ATII Extreme.
I would call them up if you have any questions with the snow plow prep package.
Wait till you get it and see how well its made really nice looking welds on their stuff....all of which is 100% made in the USA...
Heres a link to my install...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...d-finally.html

 

Thanks for the info Gage!

Did you notice a huge mileage hit going with the 4" kit? Mileage isn't a main concern for me with doing this, but it is a concern...

 

not married, but the only comment my GF ever made about my truck, is that it is SHINEY. LOL.

 

I think I lost 1mpg or 2mpg max....I have 4:10 gearing so I think that helps.
I might go to 4:30 gearing someday.
Do you know what gearing you have?


Off subject what state are you from?

 

I have factory 3.73s all around. I live in NH.