05 F150 capable off road?
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 103
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From: Greenwich Ohio
05 F150 capable off road?
Hey guys, long story short...
I've had several ******/Jeeps in my day that I've always used my truck to trailer to trails, etc. I am now Jeepless and want to know what it would take to make my '05 STX 4x4 a capable off road machine.
My concern is the front suspension/axle. Do I need to swap in a solid front axle? I'd really like your guys' real-world opinions.
Tires, wheels, lift, lockers and winch would be next up. Thanks for your thoughts on this!
I've had several ******/Jeeps in my day that I've always used my truck to trailer to trails, etc. I am now Jeepless and want to know what it would take to make my '05 STX 4x4 a capable off road machine.
My concern is the front suspension/axle. Do I need to swap in a solid front axle? I'd really like your guys' real-world opinions.
Tires, wheels, lift, lockers and winch would be next up. Thanks for your thoughts on this!
just another Rockwell looser
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,042
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa, FL
my suggestions....
PLAN#1
78' hp d60
longfeilds if you got the $$$
i have no exp. with the aussie locker, but ive heard great reviews....so put that in the front
cut out flares
minimal lift as possible
14" fox air shocks
3 or 4link w/ panhard front
high steer
do a doubler setup with w/e tcase you have....
sterling 10.25 rear, chromos, spool
inboarded chevy 63's
traction bar setup simlar to fishy's
44" boggers
PLAN#2
2.5ton rockwells, ouverson 2" chromos
ouverson locker
full hydro
weld rear
king coilvers
triangulated 4 link f/r
evo heims
57" r2's
557ci, knarly c6, scs drop case
etc etc etc....
both would be badass machines....
PLAN#1
78' hp d60
longfeilds if you got the $$$
i have no exp. with the aussie locker, but ive heard great reviews....so put that in the front
cut out flares
minimal lift as possible
14" fox air shocks
3 or 4link w/ panhard front
high steer
do a doubler setup with w/e tcase you have....
sterling 10.25 rear, chromos, spool
inboarded chevy 63's
traction bar setup simlar to fishy's
44" boggers
PLAN#2
2.5ton rockwells, ouverson 2" chromos
ouverson locker
full hydro
weld rear
king coilvers
triangulated 4 link f/r
evo heims
57" r2's
557ci, knarly c6, scs drop case
etc etc etc....
both would be badass machines....
Last edited by quadzjr; Feb 4, 2008 at 02:00 PM.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 103
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From: Greenwich Ohio
Thanks for the response. Are 44's the goal when it comes to tires size? Anything smaller would i be disappointed? My goal with the Jeeps was always to get 35's under them. If 44's are the target, I now have a place to start.
just another Rockwell looser
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,042
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa, FL
Originally Posted by ddavie
Thanks for the response. Are 44's the goal when it comes to tires size? Anything smaller would i be disappointed? My goal with the Jeeps was always to get 35's under them. If 44's are the target, I now have a place to start.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 103
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From: Greenwich Ohio
Yes, dd as well. 35's on a short wheelbase jeep give plenty of clearance to handle the difficult trails. I don't need to run extreme trails by any means. I figure the longer wheel base of my truck will give me issues if I run just 35's.
I've done enough research to know that any money I put into the IFS to make it somewhat trail-worthy would be better spent on a solid front axle. Also, i want to keep the stock engine, trans, and tcase.
As to how much i want to spend...it will be a more of an on going project. I like the truck and I like to go wheeling. I need it as a dd for a couple more years anyway, so it would have to be a 'best of both worlds' build up for now. I just want to spend the money in the right places...know what i mean??
I've done enough research to know that any money I put into the IFS to make it somewhat trail-worthy would be better spent on a solid front axle. Also, i want to keep the stock engine, trans, and tcase.
As to how much i want to spend...it will be a more of an on going project. I like the truck and I like to go wheeling. I need it as a dd for a couple more years anyway, so it would have to be a 'best of both worlds' build up for now. I just want to spend the money in the right places...know what i mean??
just another Rockwell looser
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,042
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa, FL
Originally Posted by ddavie
Yes, dd as well. 35's on a short wheelbase jeep give plenty of clearance to handle the difficult trails. I don't need to run extreme trails by any means. I figure the longer wheel base of my truck will give me issues if I run just 35's.
I've done enough research to know that any money I put into the IFS to make it somewhat trail-worthy would be better spent on a solid front axle. Also, i want to keep the stock engine, trans, and tcase.
As to how much i want to spend...it will be a more of an on going project. I like the truck and I like to go wheeling. I need it as a dd for a couple more years anyway, so it would have to be a 'best of both worlds' build up for now. I just want to spend the money in the right places...know what i mean??
I've done enough research to know that any money I put into the IFS to make it somewhat trail-worthy would be better spent on a solid front axle. Also, i want to keep the stock engine, trans, and tcase.
As to how much i want to spend...it will be a more of an on going project. I like the truck and I like to go wheeling. I need it as a dd for a couple more years anyway, so it would have to be a 'best of both worlds' build up for now. I just want to spend the money in the right places...know what i mean??
78' hp d60
longfeilds if you got the $$$
i have no exp. with the aussie locker, but ive heard great reviews....so put that in the front
minimal lift as possible
14" fox coilovers
4link w/ panhard front
custom swaybar (look at curries for ex.)
high steer
sterling 10.25 rear, chromos, detroit locker
inboarded chevy 63's
traction bar setup simlar to fishy's
40" m/t of your choice
17" stazworks double beadlocks
PERFECT dd'able/knarly off-road truck
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: In a hole
Originally Posted by quadzjr
ok.....then go with
78' hp d60
longfeilds if you got the $$$
i have no exp. with the aussie locker, but ive heard great reviews....so put that in the front
minimal lift as possible
14" fox coilovers
4link w/ panhard front
custom swaybar (look at curries for ex.)
high steer
sterling 10.25 rear, chromos, detroit locker
inboarded chevy 63's
traction bar setup simlar to fishy's
40" m/t of your choice
17" stazworks double beadlocks
PERFECT dd'able/knarly off-road truck
78' hp d60
longfeilds if you got the $$$
i have no exp. with the aussie locker, but ive heard great reviews....so put that in the front
minimal lift as possible
14" fox coilovers
4link w/ panhard front
custom swaybar (look at curries for ex.)
high steer
sterling 10.25 rear, chromos, detroit locker
inboarded chevy 63's
traction bar setup simlar to fishy's
40" m/t of your choice
17" stazworks double beadlocks
PERFECT dd'able/knarly off-road truck
i'd go with plan #2
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
I'd mod it a little and put some 36ish tires and wheel it like that until you get the money to buy everything else.
Since you have the leveling kit, put some cut out flares and run 35-37s and keep the stock axles until they break. The rear is a 9.75 which only has a .5" smaller ring gear than the sterling, so it should hold up to some abuse.
I wouldn't waste money on regearing unless you plan on keeping the axles and not upgrading(then go with some 4.88s or something similar), but it would be a dog with 37s and 3.55 gears(and I'm guessing its got a 4.6).
Since you have the leveling kit, put some cut out flares and run 35-37s and keep the stock axles until they break. The rear is a 9.75 which only has a .5" smaller ring gear than the sterling, so it should hold up to some abuse.
I wouldn't waste money on regearing unless you plan on keeping the axles and not upgrading(then go with some 4.88s or something similar), but it would be a dog with 37s and 3.55 gears(and I'm guessing its got a 4.6).
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 103
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From: Greenwich Ohio
4.6 alright. Nothing wrong with it, I had the 5.4 in my 02 and I have yet to see the difference. Not a bad idea to start with tires and wheels and go from there. I'd just be worried about the IFS.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
I know a couple people running 35s with no problems(most of the tires measure about 34.3" in some companys anyway), and I have some true 34" super swampers on a 04 F150 and didn't have any problems.
The 5.4 in your 02 only had stock 260 hp and somewhere around 330 ft lbs(don't quote me), and the new ones have 300 hp and 365 ft lbs, so the 02 5.4 had more power than the 4.6, and the new 5.4 has a good bit more power than the same ol' 4.6.
Should still work though, but it'll be a dog accelerating with stock gears and 35s+.
The 5.4 in your 02 only had stock 260 hp and somewhere around 330 ft lbs(don't quote me), and the new ones have 300 hp and 365 ft lbs, so the 02 5.4 had more power than the 4.6, and the new 5.4 has a good bit more power than the same ol' 4.6.
Should still work though, but it'll be a dog accelerating with stock gears and 35s+.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,277
Likes: 0
From: St George, SC I-95
I think the bottom line is how much do you have to spend. Both of quads #1 and #2 builds are straight up best ways to do things but you are looking at 10g's+ for #1 and 20g's+ for #2. For me on a DD Id keep tires in the 35-36 range with 4.10 gears and some minor mods to engine tranny and brakes. SSRs would be good tires to get reasonable on and off road manners and miles. I dont know how much different the '97-03 F150 axle is from the '05 but I know plenty of people with 315s on their trucks. Stripping hubs is the most common thing Ive seen.
If youve got the budget you want a tire bigger than 36s and you plan to wheel hard dont waste your time with anything else than a D60 from a 78-79 F250. Leaf springs would be cheapest but coilovers and a 4link would be best.
If youve got the budget you want a tire bigger than 36s and you plan to wheel hard dont waste your time with anything else than a D60 from a 78-79 F250. Leaf springs would be cheapest but coilovers and a 4link would be best.
just another Rockwell looser
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,042
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa, FL
Originally Posted by MBBFord
I know a couple people running 35s with no problems(most of the tires measure about 34.3" in some companys anyway), and I have some true 34" super swampers on a 04 F150 and didn't have any problems.
The 5.4 in your 02 only had stock 260 hp and somewhere around 330 ft lbs(don't quote me), and the new ones have 300 hp and 365 ft lbs, so the 02 5.4 had more power than the 4.6, and the new 5.4 has a good bit more power than the same ol' 4.6.
Should still work though, but it'll be a dog accelerating with stock gears and 35s+.
The 5.4 in your 02 only had stock 260 hp and somewhere around 330 ft lbs(don't quote me), and the new ones have 300 hp and 365 ft lbs, so the 02 5.4 had more power than the 4.6, and the new 5.4 has a good bit more power than the same ol' 4.6.
Should still work though, but it'll be a dog accelerating with stock gears and 35s+.