hey guys had a few questions on lifting my 2005 ford excursion diesel. I was looking to go between a 4 and a 6 inch lift. I have been looking at the rancho 4 inch system with rear add a leafs from www.4wheelonline.com and was wandering if anyone has used this lift and if so can post me some pics. I have also looked at the 5 inch super lift and the skyjacker all spring 6 inch lift and icon 5 inch system. But I am confused by how the icon system says new 4 inch springs front and 5 inch rear springs also superlifts says 5 inch front and 4 inch rear why arent they even for the front and rear? Because the rancho system says 4 inch front and 4 inch rear. I just want it to look level and plus I am going to be hauling a camper eventually and was wandering if I can use air bags in the rear with none stock springs? also if anybody has some pics they can show me of either of the lifts mentioned above would be great I was planning on using 35" tires with 18" wheels. Also one other question if I went with a 6 inch lift would I have to extend the driveshaft. thanks

 

I have a 2000 with the V10 in mine. I did a lot of asking b4 I decided to go with BDS. My main concern was being able to tow my 30' travel trailer well. Most of the lifts were sprung for ride, which is why the Ex pulled so bad in the first place. Ford sprung the Ex's to ride well not act like a truck. Everyone I talked to said the BDS kits had the stiffest springs. I have the 6" kit on my Ex and love it. I went with Bilstein 5100 series shocks instead of the ones that came in the kit (the place I bought from allowed me to delete them from the kit). When I drop my trailer on the hitch without the load bars the truck only drops about 3/4 of an inch, which was great because I put an extra inch block in the rear. I think the truck rides and pulls great. I did not have to extend my driveshafts. If I understand this whole thing correctly, you are going to have to do some things to make this tow well if you choose a kit with softer springs. I called Icon and they could not tell me how well this rruck would tow with their kit, other than to say that if you lifted it it would compromise the Ex's towing ability. With the BDS kit, I think my Ex tows considerably better than it did stock.

 

Check this thread out - it may answer most of your questions.....

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-question.html

 

thanks animal70x7 is there anyway you can post some pics? what size tires are you running? and you said you aren't getting any driveshaft vibration? also where did you get your lift from because those shocks that come with it don't sound that good so I would also like to substitute them?

 

There is one picture in my albums. I haven't figured out how to post them within a post. I'm running 34X14.5X16 MT Baja Belteds. I got my shock from 4X4 Parts, but would not recommend them, it was a FIASCO! I bought the lift from a local guy; Truck and Van Specialties. Here is there website: www.truckandvan.com. Call and ask for Dakota, he's the guy with all the answers. I had a friend do the install, but Truck and Van are more than capable. NO driveline vibration at all. The

 

Maybe this will answer your Icon question, The stock lift block is removed in the rear and the reverse arch on the front is not used so the all spring kit will lift and will be even. Some day I'll post my before and after pics. When I know how.

 

hey animal I am going to substiute my shocks as well for the bilsteins but I can't find the bilstien for the rear they have one's for the front which is 3-6" of lift but all I am finding for the rear is 2-3" of lift. Which one's did you put on the rear or part#?

 

I have the 6" BDS lift for Excursions, with the stock block and a 1" block (I like it to be a little high in the rear) in the rear. They ride fantastic. If you are using 6" springs in the rear, you have to use a Super Duty spec shock. I had to pound the mounting bracket out of my old ones and put them into the holes on the new ones in the rear. Call Bilstein and tell them exactly what your lift is and they will set you up. These are the ones I used in the rear: F4-BE5-6250-T8 and these in the front: F4-BE5-6245-H5

 

hey animal did you have to extend your brake lines with the 6" bds lift

 

no, no brake line, or drive shaft extensions.

 

Keep in mind that my 2004 is a diesel 4x4 and therefore heavier in the front than a gas X. I had a 2" lift on mine and 35" tires and I got real tired of the front end rubbing on hard turns, hard braking or "bumpy" roads. To that end, I went to a 6" life and have been happy since (other than it will not go through the local car wash any longer). Hope this helps.

 

if I went with the 6" bds do you think I could fit 37x13.50 r17 also would I have to change my gears with that big of a tire?

 

You can get the 37s to fit with some sawzall work. They will rub pretty good with a 6" lift. You will probably want to re-gear if you drive on mountains/hills. I live in the flat lands of Oklahoma and I do not have too many problems with it but I drove it through the hills of Arkansas and it was pretty hard on the transmission and the EGTs. I will be re-gearing when I go to 40" tires for sure