I am looking to lift my truck. It is a 1995 f 150 XL, 6 cyl automatic. It has everything stock on it, and currently runs on 235/75/r15 (although the factory says i can put up to 265s on it). It gets about 16 mpg average currently. I would like to bulk it up a little bit, and put some better all terrain tires on it, seeing as the ones that came on it are almost passenger car-ish. My use of the truck is a DD, and i would like to keep my hauling and towing ability. I also want to be able to ride through some mud trails, not mud bogs, but just trails that i can spin some mud around (i cant do any of that with the current tires on it).

I am just wondering what my best bet is to do to this, and get what i want, without sacrificing gas mileage. I am considering possibly a 2 inch lift of some sort, and putting 32 all terrains on it. Please share your thoughts and suggestions!

 

I could write two pages on this but I'll keep it simple. Sounds like your biggest thing is to get a more agressive tire. Thats fine. But know anytime you get a larger diameter tire your fuel efficiency and towing capabilities will decrease. Going to a 32" tire will not be a big deal and you will probably barely notice it in the gas pedal. You might lose 1mpg on average. Going to 33's you start to really notice the "power loss" and mpg loss. You can help this by changing the gears in your axles but that is $1k+ and likely not worth it if only going to 32's or 33's.
As for the lift I would not put a lift on if your only going to 32's. You would not have any issues running a 32" tire on stock suspension. You might want to put a slightly larger coil spring on the front which would give 1- 1.5" of lift. That would allow you to run 33's without any other mods. It's also considerably cheaper than a full lift kit. You could find springs for around $150 and likely do it yourself. Changing the springs is easy with basic hand tools. If you do this you do need to have your alignment done as your camber will be way off. Try to find a good offroad shop to do this as they will understand your TTB front end more than a regular shop.
So in the end I would decide on the 32's or 33's and stick with your current suspension or the upgraded front coils if going to 33's.

 

Ok, so im thinking stick with 32's. Now i have heard of putting f 250 coil springs in the front, and an add a leaf in the back. What would be your thoughts on this process?

 

i have a 96 with 2.5 in spacers in front and 32" tires if you look at my truck in my pics you can see what it will look like

 

Ok, would you mind posting a side pic? all i can find on your profile is the front picture. Also, how did the spacers affect your ride and gas mileage? thanks

 

i will take a side pic tomorrow and post it. the ride it didnt change enough to notice and the mileage. is hard to tell because i pull a trailer 50% to 75% of the time

 

stock 235/75-15 tires


2" front coil spacers and 2.5" rear blocks, 33-12.5r15 tires will be on in the next month or so

 

So midnight, when you put the spacers in, how bout you? Did you notice any difference in the ride or gas mileage? Also, how simple is this? Did you just put on the spacefaring and thats it?

 

Spacers are just spacers. They will not change the ride or the mileage. You could argue the higher stance in the front might slightly change mileage due to increased wind resistance but it would be almolst nothing. You could furthur argue that your now higher center of gravity will cause slightly more body roll, but again it's virtually nothing. The spring rate does not change with spacers so it will ride the same.
As for F250 coils, F250 4x4's do not have coils they have leaves in front. Not sure about using the 2wd version coils as I'm not sure what their spring rate is nor how long they are. It's not worth the hassle. Just get some new springs for your application.

 

No difference in ride or mileage, But I do need an allignment after the front spacers. I hope to have the 33's mid march (income tax)

 

heres a side pic of mine

 

midnite i really like the look after the lift, yours looks like my 92

 

Thanks deljac, everytime I go to the JY I keep an eye out for a stang hood scoop, I like the way yours looks.

 

thanx, i have yet to see another one like it on one of our trucks

 

32x 11.5x 15 Mickey Thompson MTZs on my '95 with stock suspension. I'm "thinking" of putting on the MOOG CC844 F-250 coils up front just to level it out abit but undecided just yet. From research those should raise the frontend up about 1.5". These tires fit just fine though on stock suspension.