I've seen this question asked before, I think, but not quite specifically for my model of Ford, so I hope someone has an answer for me. I reread back through 2 or 3 pages of this forum and couldn't find my answer.

I went to a local 4x4 shop and was talking to them about putting a 4-6" lift on my 2003 F150 Supercrew 5.4L. I wanted to run 35" BFG Mud Terrains. The guy talked to me for a while and we came up with the idea that I could get my torsion bars cranked up, add-a-leaf in the back, and be able to run 315/75/16's on it. Now, that is all good with me, it's cheap to have them do the work. It ends up being about $200 to get it all done, and that includes an allignment after I drive it around a couple days.

So I guess I have two questions... is there any harm caused from cranking the torsion bars? Like over the life of the truck, will it cause them to weaken prematurely?

Secondly, does anyone have any pictures of their truck with a similar setup? I'd like to know what it looks like, because if 35" tires look goofily huge on a truck with only a 2 inch "lift" then I'd rather go with the 6" lift I was originally going to get.

2" lift = $200 + $650 (rims) + $800 (tires) = $1650.00
6" lift = $850 (rims) + $800 (tires) + $2200 (full suspension lift kit) + $500 (shop time for install) = about $4500.00 once it's all said and done.

You can see why I'd rather put the 2" lift on if it will work and look decent. Let me know what you think, please.

 

Don't crank the bars! You will be going through ball joints and tires like there is no tommorow! Spend the money and get a real lift kit. $2200 seems a bit steep for a suspension lift unless your getting lifted leafs and dual shocks. Shop around for your parts, and you could save quite a bit of money on all your parts. That install quote sounds good to me.

 

I actually have checked around a lot for a better price. The thing you have to remember is that up here in Alaska, I pay about $500 to get a lift kit shipped up here. Shipping kills, it's almost worth it for me to not do any mods until the summer when I get some time off, then drive down to the lower 48 and buy all the different parts I want and drive back to Alaska. I'd save thousands, literally.

 

Cranking on your torsion bars is something that you will regret. The ride is severely harsh, and as stated, you'll go through steering components and tires very fast.

$4500 for a complete system installed with tires and wheels is actually a very good price. Some shops down here in So Cal charge upwards of $7K for the same deal.

It would cost about $5K in my shop, assuming cheap wheels.

 

The wheels I'm looking at are Eagles, 16x10 and they are the 186 model with the super finish. They are on sale for $635 which is a pretty good price, I think.

 

I raised my front only by cranking my torsion bars ~1.5" and have never had any problems whatsoever. This is not to say the other guys are wrong, but my experience is 60,000 miles since raising them and I am still running the same tires I put on right before adjustment!

Ride was about the same, and it looks like I will get another 10k miles out of the BFG AT KOs before I am done.

2000 F-150 4x4, Super Cab, 5.4, Auto., Edelbrock IAS shocks, light duty work truck/daily driver

BP

 

Well thanks for the opinion, it is good to know. I decided to go with the lift kit though, because I really want the 6" of lift as compared to 1.5" - 2" of ghetto lift. I'm getting it this Thursday, I'll start a gallery and post pictures when I can.