I know already, I know I got the “wrong” truck….. But I actually like this one and for what I paid, I cant be too upset…. BUT—- it IS a rear wheel drive Gasser!!! 2019 6.2 FlexFuel! So it gets terrible gas mileage when pulling the RV, so its all telling me I made a poor choice!

To add insult to injury - I really want a lift installed - nothing crazy - 3-4inches is all… but it’s impossible! Well, at least it is when factoring in that i would like to keep the steering and suspension as close to spec as possible.

so, here is my question to the forum - Is it really impossible to lift the truck and keep the angles at spec? Obviously i can add a spring block and some adjustable caster nuts, but it’ll still be off, and i am hearing it feels bad for the ride and the steering? Is that true? How bad is bad?

I like to consider myself as a “find a solution” kinda guy - and from what i can see, fabricating and adding axle pivot mount drop brackets is a potential solution (along with the standard radius arm drop brackets, stabiliser drop brackets and possibly a modified pitman arm, springs (extended or spacers) and new shocks -plus some other smaller items i am sure) - yet I don’t see a commercially available solution - why is that? Is there an issue with that idea?

I am hoping to learn as much as possible and check all avenues before I give in and trade the truck…. (I don’t want to after all the work i put into it!)….

If I missed a post with all this information, feel free to point me to it - i tried searching a few keywords but can only find stuff on older classics and nothing of this generation truck.

thanks in advance

 

why? Not much demand for a lift kit for a 2wd truck....


Dave

 

Why don’t you just take it to “Extensive” ?

 

Just a thought, lift and bigger tires are probably going to have a negative impact on fuel mileage. You mentioned that as a reason you made a poor choice. Seems like modifying this might add to that poor choice. Honestly, my advice would be to sell it and get what you want. Life is way to short. Good luck

 

Been asked over the years and no one has ever posted back with any results.

 

You say that you get terrible gas mileage when towing the RV. How heavy is it? How tall is it? TT or Fiver? How fast are you towing?

What size tires are you currently running? What size tires would you like to run with this lift?
Running a taller tire will numerically reduce your gear ratio, making the truck work harder while towing and making the mileage even more terrible, so also factor in the cost of revealing it along with the lift and tires…………(making a different truck look like a better deal?)

 

As mentioned, you can't find a commercially available solution because it's a 2WD truck, and there's next to no demand for a lifted 2WD truck.

HOWEVER...

If you truly want to keep the suspension geometry the same, and you're just going for a 'look,' you MAY (and I say this having not looked into if it's a possibility or not with these year trucks) be able to find a body lift that will allow you to run the bigger tires you want, without altering any of the geometry of the suspension. If such a kit exists but doesn't have new brackets for the bumpers/steps, you'll need to find a solution for those items as well.

Again, I have no clue if such a kit even exists, so it may be another rabbit hole you'll go down to find it doesn't exist.

 

@DPelletier Thanks Dave, demand is important, i agree - but i know there are kits available for older 2WD 250’s with a very similar axle/suspension set up… what makes the newer generation any different?

 

@2004Limited what or where is “extensive”?

 

extensive is a super expensive custom shop in texas, https://www.ekstensive.com/

real world the guys have anwsered the question, 2x4 no demand to justify making anything . just like those of us who had v10's almost zero aftermarket engine products

 

its a 9500lb give with 1100lb on the tongue - TT, its 11’2” tall, pulling at 60-65mph (with no problem at all!). Currently on stock 18’s with 275/65R18.

I am looking for an aesthetic improvement - i am looking to put 20” rims with 35x12.5’s with a small stance increase.

Trading in for another truck is an option, and I’ve already looked, but the prices are crazy! Same year truck with a diesel and 4x4 is another 20-25k on top of what i paid for this one, i am not sure i want to pull the trigger on that one before looking at all the alternatives.

 

You really don’t need a diesel for that TT, I towed our old 41’ 3 slide 12’ 2” tall monster TT that scaled at 12/13 K lbs (1680 lbs tongue) depending on water and toys for 80K miles with our old ‘05 Excursion with the 2 Valve V-10 and 4R100 four speed auto. I lifted it 4” and swapped true 35”s under it (up from the 31.6” stockers) and installed 4.88 gears in place of the stock 3.73s to get to an effective 4.39 ratio, the V-10s loves the 4.30 thru 4.56 ratio range. The gassers can make very good tow rigs for those weights IF PROPERLY GEARED. I was getting 8/9.5 MPG towing that giant TT at 60/65 MPH Canada to Florida from the Atlantic out to Wy and West TX, and still got 14.5 MPG at 65 MPH unloaded. If you do work out a lift and bigger tires just expect to also regear the rear axle to keep it towing well.

 

Just be happy with what you have. I put 285/65/18 on my 2wd and it improved the look quite a bit on the stock wheels.

I am about to sell my 4x4 diesel King Ranch if you want to look.

 

I installed 37x12.5x20 on my stock suspension that's rather tall and stiff due to the snow plow/camper pkg and the 11,400lb GVWR. I used OEM wheels with 1/4"spacers on the hubs.
I'm towing an 11klbs+ 12'-5" tall RV at 55 to 70mph. In more than 10k miles of towing this RV I've averaged 11.7mpg with the 6.7L diesel. Tongue load is about 1,300+ lbs so I'm using a 14k Sway-a-Way weight distribution hitch. I now have air bags on the rear to level out. Air Lift 7500XL.

Towing heavy with a gasser gets thirsty and that's why I buy diesels. Good luck fabricating a lift.

 

Save your money and invest. Get the right truck down the road.