im picking my truck up on friday. but as im reading about some of the problems with the air ride i saw that it raises 3" when in 4wd. i was looking for a budget lift kit and thought threr has got to be a way to trick the computer in to lifting it those 3" by reconfiguring the height sensors

 

I would do a body lift, its cheap and this way your driveline stays inline and you can put on some nice sized round mudders.

 

i would think the driveline wouldnt be an issue if its set up like that from the factory.

 

Once you start adding suspension height, you increase the angle of the drive shafts. As for the airride creating that condition, I do not know of the airride picking up your truck by 3". Your asking the airbags to support the vehicle in an unstable state. Your not tricking the computer, just making an alignment adjustment on a sensor that trips the airpump. Your airbags are then asked to hold a position they were not designed for and may created a fault/safety condition.
If you do the body lift, you get that lift plus whatever the airride increases when in 4 wheel. I would ad 1" spacers on the wheels if you plan to go up to lower the roll center of gravity.
Just my view, I've 4 wheeled for years and seen many improperly done lifts (Jeeps especially) go wrong in certain conditions.

 

i know all about driveline angles and center of gravity, im using the ezpedition to tow a 92 wrangler of d44's 36's dual cases, etc.

lets back up a sec. when i put it in 4wd low doese it raise up 3"? if it does the drive line should not be an issue because ford would set the truck up to break its self. ( i hope)

as far as the bags being unstable. aslong as you dont over inflate them past what the manufacture recomends they should be fine. but im sure for long periods of time it may cause additional ware. but the best state for a air bag to be in is uninflated, pluss adding the low pressure in your lines every little bit helps. ive seen bags that inflate 12".

i understand using a body lift. but in many opinions they are horrible, look horrible and very unsafe. my jeep has a 2" bl only because of the 2" motor mount lift and drive drain lift. my bl is 2" steel welded to the frame to replace the factory mounts. if you have ever seen a body lifted truck hit a wall on the high way you would se why they are frowned apon.

but now in hind sight if you use the air to lift it and a bag blows with 35's stuffed under there your in a world of hurtin.

also read you can add spacers to the bags and shocks?

 

I think the point is that if you want to raise the truck 3" via 4low, you are compromising the safety ( stability ) at higher speeds.