Wheelin an F150?

[frumpy]

I'm unfortunately getting rid of my jeep because its starting to become to big of a project for me. I keep finding more and more problems the previous owner didn't tell me and butchered repairs/mods.

In the next year or two I plan on getting a new vehicle and have started tossing around the idea of wheeling my 2000 F150 XLT when that happens. I am thinking of doing a leveling kit and 2"-3" body lift to stuff some of the 34" LBS in there, front hitch for the winch, trim up the wheel wells (if needed) and front bumper and see how it does.

If I like it, I'll keep wheeling it. If the only issue is the IFS I may look into a SAS way down the road. But for now it would be something to keep me wheeling. Primary purpose would be day trips and some 2-3 day wheeling/camping trips. Here's how I see it

the pros:
9.75 rear axle
V8
AC
automatic
lots of room for trimming
decent after market support
good for camping or multi day runs
it has a frame
already has recovery points front and rear

cons:
IFS
big, long, and low compared to what I'm used to wheeling
IFS
limited seating
IFS

 

[chet]

are you planning fairly hardcore wheelin with the LTB's? 34's may be a touch big. they are farily tough rigs and with a locker in the back you would be surprised where it will go.

 

[FreeManDan]

Healthy amount of aftermarket stuff there be for F-150, including bigger fenders like fiberwerx, long travel products, on the cheap lift products, ect.

 

[chasespeed]

Toss a leveling kit.. some 33s, a locker, good shocks, and you will be good to go... as much I as I DONT like those trucks, they are pretty good trucks.

Dont worry about the IFS, unless you are trying to rockcrawl, or mud race it....

Depending on the kind of wheeling/camping you are doing, will decide a lot of things.

OH, and forget the body lift... LAST RESORT. I will cut body panels before I do with a body lift.

Chase

 

[frumpy]

I had the 33x13.5 LTBs on my Jeep and really like how they performed. The MTZs on the 150 right now measure out to about 32" so I figured 34s would give me enough height without putting a lot of stress on the axles and without having to re-gear. I don't plan on running hardcore stuff but I'd like to be able to keep up on the tougher trails around here.

I'd like to skip the body lift but its hard to find after market stuff at a decent price around here. Maybe the solution is to ditch the box and look for some of the pre-runner fiberglass fenders. I guess I am just scared of the IFS since I have always ran solid axles. Time will tell.

I am also going to measure the width of the axles on my ZJ right now. Might be worth holding onto them since its probably going to end up getting scrapped. They are the dana 30/44a with 4.56 gears. Probably a way too much gear for 34s though. Too bad my bead lock rims wont fit onto the truck (even if I got the wheel adapters mine are 15" rims and 3.5" backspacing.

 

[Echodawg]

I had a 2000 and was more than happy with it. I was running a 4" suspension lift with 33"s. Sure, it is not as nimble as a Jeep but for me it got me everywhere I wanted to go. The only reason I sold it was I needed more room for the family. I'm watching this thread if you do decide to go forward with it.

:victory:

 

[frumpy]

I plan on starting with just a few minor things, but first things first. The project ZJ has to go. I'm having trouble even getting $3000 for it even though the wheels are $2200 with under 500km (jeep has 6" bds lift, tube rockers, 4.56 gears, etc) so defiantly worth it for someone that has the time to fix up all the little things. Only things I will be doing until I get a new daily driver will be doing the lower portions in bed liner, adding a front receiver for the winch and maybe a dual battery set up and other little things.

 

[Metcalf]

I vote for the low approach. Get some glass for the thing if you want to run bigger tires. You could stuff 35s under there with just some fenders and bedsides if you where careful. Do you need 35s...most likely not...but that will give you the most increase in clearance with the least increase in CoG. Plus it will drive VERY close to stock. The front IFS stuff will all be operating at factory angles which is always a good thing!

 

[frumpy]

I vote for the low approach. Get some glass for the thing if you want to run bigger tires. You could stuff 35s under there with just some fenders and bedsides if you where careful. Do you need 35s...most likely not...but that will give you the most increase in clearance with the least increase in CoG. Plus it will drive VERY close to stock. The front IFS stuff will all be operating at factory angles which is always a good thing!

Not a bad idea, and considering the price for a full proper suspension lift its quite a good idea. (I like the low COG vehicles. My YJ was 33s and no lift) Now to start pricing and researching fender kits.

Any suggestions on glass kits for a decent price?

 

[Paleotool]

I am poor but have had my F-150 in many spots I would have never considered 20 years ago. Much of it forced as it was my work truck and I have worked over much of the west and the great plains. I have a '95 standard cab long-bed with a steel-frame home-built topper. Almost everything is stock and I'm the only owner. I have pulled out 3500s, toyotas, and jeeps with this. I am a pretty conservative driver which probably helps. I have considered upgrading to a F-350 since the day I bought this but I never needed it bad enough.

My driving attitude changed after working with Mexican laborers on a military base near the border and following them in their 2WD trucks as they went places I was apprehensive about (two to three hours past the end of the two track through mountain and desert. They were just plain good drivers and have probably spent a lot of time on crappy roads. Last year I nearly got rid of the old truck whe it needed some repairs but my 12 year old talked me out of it as it is becoming a classic now. I put a few bucks in it and it is running fine. I live in rural New Mexico where driving can be long and tough and my work has put me in some odd places. I really like having a big area to carry gear, tools, and camping equipment for any situation and I can still sleep comfortably for weeks on end.

I guess this long-winded response is intended to say that, yes the F-150 will work fine for most camping, and general off-road use with good tires and a good driver. I just changed my locking hubs last week for the first time after 285,000 hard miles. I think these are built to last, unlike so many cars today.

I am interested in you performance evaluation and will follow this thread.

 

[frumpy]

Good info but the pre 97s were a whole different game. I have seen a few of them built. The only 97-03s I have seen are either SAS mud trucks or desert racers, and I have seen very few.

For now it will be leveling kit, front receiver for the winch, and some line-x on the lower body. Later I will do a pre-runner bumper and glass fenders to fit 34-35s but thats a while off

 

[Paleotool]

Pre 97 is good. I bent my class 3 step bumper and was able to find that virtually any old F series will work. I was ordering one when I found a neighbor who said I could strip one off his 70s F250. Had to drill a new mount hole on the frame as they didn't quite match up. Otherwise, got a great solid bumper free and easy. Also, I have found many 67-96 parts are interchangeable. Its like the old model T idea.

 

[frumpy]

Not saying they are bad, they are actually probably a better platform to build off of than the 97-03 generation.

 

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

Metcalf has it right. I drive a 1/2-ton with the solid axle, and some of my pals with IFS talk about the "swap". I envy their smooth ride. It's always a trade-off with after market mods. And :iagree: about tire size. Just moving up to 33s from 31s changed the Ram's steering profile, some of that having to do with different wheels and backspacing.

Decide what the majority of your usage will be and then build to that...the rest you'll just have to either muscle or finesse through. Don't forget pics!

 

[frumpy]

Another point I didn't mention is this will not be daily driven but will be driven to the trails.