Those who don't own a truck just shake our heads like wtf. You lifted stupid pushed out wheels losing towing and still can't off road just wow the stupid is strong with truck ownwrs
Perhaps a “miss” in the practical category, but I prefer what you said plus narrower 35” tires like the 285/75r18. I like all the clearance I can get for the off roading I do, but don’t want the various penalties of a true full lift, so I go with the tallest tires possible with the smallest amount of lift/level.
I've got a 2.5" level on my 2021 xlt with LT295/70/r18, the equivalent to a 34.5x11.5" tire...and it only rubs at full lock, and just barely, could be the max payload and towing packages, but it looks and drives great
Absolutely love the leveled look. Stands out just enough without being too much. Having said that I do love the Black Widow and Apex builds but practically speaking, the leveled worked better for me.
BamaFan1020 I couldn’t agree more, the leveled truck looks so much more appealing to me aswell, I love the look of the leveling kits with some meatier tires on stock wheels
As an automotive engineer though, spending millions of dollars testing these vehicles under loads and on aerodynamics, it always surprises me how few people are curious why all the factory vehicles without exception come with a rake even if aesthetically people prefer a level look... we do that because it massively impacts the aerodynamics of the vehicle even when not under load (google why are all vehicles raked), and increases tow and cargo capacity on non-bagged vehicles.
Leveling reduces you chances of an accurate alignment, increases tire wear,strut failer,get mechanics in trouble for a come backs that out of their hands. Been working as an ASE tech for 25 yrs and happens 50 times a week, and what happens then extremely great techs get burn and quit mechanicing then your community has shops full of inexperience techs. Get a lift kit because it moves everything down you keep you factory spring rate and loose no alignment adjustments. Remember this quote if you have a leveling kit your mechanic wants you DEAD. I have run community meetings with over 500 techs and every single tech has the same thought. Your leveling kit is ruining your community's techs reputation. Think about it. Tech are not aloud to speek about this because shop owners have a stupid saying. The customer is always right. And I have a come back for that saying. If the customer was right he would an ASE cert and would be working in the stall next to me. Leveling kits should be illegal.
I completely disagree I think it's ugly trucks are supposed to have a rake. if you level it out it just makes it obvious that you're never going to use your truck for doing truck things like hauling or pulling. It looks like it's either broken or somebody messed something up.
I chose the 4.5" leveling kit....4.5" in the front and 2 inches in the rear on my 2018 F250 and I couldnt be happier with how it looks and rides, got 35s on the stock wheels for winter and 37s on 20x12s for the summer
Great video! I’ve had both a leveling kit and lift kit on my ‘11 F150 Lariat 4x4. I will say though, before buying my leveling kit 2 years ago, I was told by the shop I would be able to go to 35 inch tires with minimal scrubbing. Despite what they said, I went with 33 inch federals on 20 inch Fuels (-24 offset) just to avoid rubbing altogether, so I thought. Even with the 33’s and 2 1/2 inch leveling kit, my truck scrubbed BAD. I mean even 1/2 turn to either side was brutal. I had to do major trimming around the scrubbing locations on my fender liner and it fixed the problem mostly. Just be aware different trucks/setups will not be the same...
Just got a lariat and I do beleive the 2-1/2" leveling kit would look very good on the truck. The lift just over does it for me. Awesome vid!!! keepem coming.
Another great video. Back in the day I had a ridiculous lift kit with 39’s and loved it but now I like the level kits. They both have there place. Thanks for the videos
I leveled my ram out with zero issue's with the stock uca's but finally installed some mevotech's,proper angle now.The 150 looks great leveled out with the stock wheels.
2.5 inch front level with 2inch rear, on 35’s or 37’s with fiberwerx fenders and bedsides will make literally any truck look sick for under 3 grand and will still perform similar to stock, while allowing you to overcome any offroad obstacle other than insane rock climbing
@Omar Cazares I still use stock 20" wheels and tires. I went with just a small block kit (I think 1.25") that mounts at bottom of front shocks. Super easy to install. That leveled the truck perfectly. That's all I was going for, I never planned to get bigger tires.
I'm not really a Ford guy.... I like my yotas but I will say you presented this video very well and very professional just with that alone I subbed. I will also say that the way you explained the difference between the leveling kit and lift kit was informative considering I'm thinking about leveling my tundra. Great job buddy.
Really love the fact that y’all put BDS kits on your vehicles!! BDS is by far the best brand on the market and there’s no company that compares to the quality and warranty they have.
I have a 2" leveling kit on my 2017 F150 and 33's. No tire rub, no change in any performance or fuel mileage and with an alignment I payed a little over $300 for everything and I'm still parking in the garage. Lift your F150 and A) park outside forever or B) build a pole barn.
My humble $0.02 : I have a 2019 w/ the FX4 and Max-Tow pkg, 20" stock rims, and was able to fit 34" tires STOCK. The key is metric vs standard tires sizes. Metric tires are narrower, therefore less chance of rubbing. I've installed 275/65 R20s (stock tires were 275/55 R20) Pirelli Scorpion, All-Terrain Plus. The metric measurement translates to 34.1" by 10.8" R20. NO LEVELING KIT NEEDED. Tires clear at full lock, no rubbing. You can find a couple of RU-vid videos and posts in F150 forums on this tire size. I may level it in the future, but right now it looks fine and the tires do not poke, look nice and flush. Cheers!
Leveling kit pro’s: you can fit bigger tires, gives you even clearance front to rear, if you’re in a parking garage you don’t have to worry about exceeding the max height in most cases. Cons: you will 100% west out your ball joints faster (you’ll usually have to replace them between 70k-150k miles depending on how hard you work your truck, with the level you’ll probably be closer to that 70k). Not really a con but you will not notice a difference with how smooth the ride is. Also a matter of preference but you will notice the rear end sag when hauling a trailer. Lift kit pros: you’re lengthening your suspension so any off tossing you will notice a significant difference in responsiveness, much smoother ride and are usually adjustable so you can stiffen/soften them as needed. You’ll have more options in terms of wheel and tire sizes for off road performance. You will have significantly more clearance which is great for off tossing because you won’t have as much dragging through mud/marsh. Cons: your towing capacity will be reduced, the truck is still capable, but with a higher center of gravity you will not be as stable when towing heavier loads so be mindful of that. Your gas or fuel mileage will be affected as well, you’ll notice it more with gasoline engines as your MPG is usually not as good in the first place as a diesel. You will be limited to where you can park based on ride height. Your turn radius will most likely be reduced. And this could be seen as a con(or a pro when justifying truck parts to your wife) you will almost definitely have to get new wheel and tires and possibly a stance kit. If you read all that, understand my adderal kicked in while watching this video so I info dumped on you at 8:00am. Hope this helped
2:41 As a German this looks familiar to me... Joking aside, this were 9 minutes well spend and now I finally know what is the difference between Leveling and lifting and I can make an informed decision, which of this I want to do to my car. Thanks a lot! :-)
I currently have a 2015 F150 XLT on 305/55/20 Mickey's, and it's time for new tires. After watching this I really don't know which way to go now. Lift vs Level, bigger tires for a lift...etc.. However, I do think this was pretty good information.
I have a 3” RC lift kit on my 07 Avey LT. It does wear down your other suspension components a lot quicker, mainly bushings. I’ve thought about removing it and going back to stock.
Love the vid, noticed your truck you did what I did . Removed the lower front air dam, even in the manual from ford said if you plan on driving in snow or off-road it should be removed. Mostly it looks way better without out! I personally went with 2" Fox coilver front and rear, fairly inexpensive and rides awesome!
I did the leveling kit on my F150. stayed with the 18 inch stock chrome ford wheels and 275/70/18 cooper discoverers and tinted the windows dark, It gives it just enough attitude to look cool, without garnering unwanted attention.
I’ve just started watching his videos and I find him to be a breath of fresh air is very informative and I don’t feel like he’s trying to sell me some great videos keep up the good work
I have a 2014 F150 XLT and like it’s profile just the way it is !! I don’t do much hauling but , when I do , the back doesn’t look like it’s squatting !Thanks for the vid.
Good work explaining the differences between a leveling and a lift kit. However, it's not that straight forward, and there are a lot more details that need to be shared. 1. First question to ask: What is the reason for the lift? Looks, off-road etc? This is important, because the purpose of the question determines the type of lift and wheel/tire combo a person will need. Once you decide what your needs are then you can begin evaluation of the various types and brands of lift products. 2. Types of level/lift kits: A) A LEVELING KIT as mentioned is designed to level the front of a truck with the rear. It provides the ability to install larger tires. It does not improve on or off-road ride in any way B) A BRACKET LIFT which was highlighted here, but was not actually identified, lifts the body higher above the frame. This moves the mounting points of the suspension, essentially extending them with brackets as seen on the grey truck. It is important to understand this is a lift that provides more height than a leveling kit; typically average bracket kits are from 4"-12". Because the effect of such an extreme change in the height geometry, additional suspension components are usually need to be purchased, this increases cost. One of the biggest causes of confusion is the belief this prepares a truck properly for off-road. Bracket kit manufactures and sales people alike improperly state that the increase in body height increases ground clearance. NO the body is lifted on the frame, the frame often maintains the same exact ground clearance as stock because the frame itself is not lifted. People will refute that, but mistake the difference of a gain of an inch or two is achieved when 35 or 37 inch tires are installed, not because of the bracket lift itself. C) A SUSPENSION LIFT this is what you want if you are interested in actually taking your rig off-road. So what is the difference? The difference is that suspension lifts correctly adds ground clearance, lifting the frame and by default the body, since it's attached to the frame. But the important caveat is that a suspension lift also increases articulation of the up and down wheel travel, depending on the level of performance of the selected suspension parts. This is important more than anything else and what makes a truck or SUV able to tackle rough terrain while keeping the wheels planted for needed control. Most off-road trucks typically only increase the lift by an average of 3", because that is all you need, remember, suspension lifts also increase actual ground clearance. And the 3" of lift and added ground clearance are enough to install 35" tires and get you over most terrain. So before getting a leveling kit, bracket lift or suspension lift, you have to decide what is the purpose or ultimate need for the lift. You can do a suspension lift and never go off-roading, or you can do a bracket lift and go off-roading with much less off-road performance. You can also combine a suspension and a level or bracket lift to save money, but still get some off-road performance. But a pure suspension lift will almost always be the best route if you choose to enjoy off-roading frequently. If off-roading is what you want, do it right the first time. The performance of wheels and tires weren't mentioned but they have their own rules for on and off-road. Because most factory trucks come with 20" wheels, there is a misconception that 20" wheels with off-road rubber (for off-roading) is the way to go. Can it be done? Yes, is it recommended for frequent off-roading? No. Why? Because, off-roading usually requires the need to air-down (reduce PSI) in the your tires to gain better traction. 20" wheels with 35" tires have very little tire wall to air down safely without damaging the rim if you come down on a rock or ledge. The ideal wheel size for 35 or 37" tires for off-roading is 17 or 18, preferably 17"s. 35" tires on 17" wheels have 9" of side wall to flex versus 7.5" on a 35" tire on a 20" wheel. While 1/5" does not seem like much, when you air down the difference becomes very noticeable. Often times too much wheel and too little tire cause more problems when off-roading. There is no right or wrong choice, just a need for a little more information for a person to decide what they want. If they want a level kit and go off-roading they can, if they want a suspension lift and never go off-roading they can do that too. I think the community deserves full disclosure of what's all out there.
Wow that's very insightful I've noticed lift has been reduced to looks over performance. That never gets talked about. It usually comes to how big can I go on tires and what do I have to do to make it happen? Thanks for putting this out there everytime I search for the best lift I end up with bigger tires reasons galore. I rarely come across anything about what you need to go offroad
I went from a stock height, full size short bed to a 6" lifted Bronco on 35s to a 7-1/2" lifted F100 shortbed (428/4-spd) on 38s to a levelled f150 to a stock height GMC diesel to a ram shortbed with a 2/4 drop to a Gwagon with 7" lift with 37s on 22" wheels back to a stock ride height old Ranger. Never owned a little truck before and it's my favorite for running around town and hauling material for projects around the house like decks and sheds. 7' bed is longer than the short bed trucks, ride height is easy to load and it's small and nimble so easy to park.
Your video is super informative. I have only driven lifted trucks but decided to try leveling the newest rig. I didn't think I would like it...it's the cowgirl in me. Your video and information truly helped me make a decision. Geaux Tigers!
Hahaha he said it won’t even fit in my garage! Lmao sir please I don’t even have a garage in the first place so yes I’m watching a video of something I can’t even afford! /:
@@austinbell1044 Thanks for the insight, I'll have to remember that one. I guess you can excuse just about anything with that argument. "Jeffrey Dahmer was just putting food on the table man." lol
Definitely leveling kit to not sacrifice handling, f150s handle pretty darn well even my 2002 5.4 super crew on 20s and big tire ,I travel from Tucson to Vegas all the time it grips good on the curves on the way o get to town I still make a pull never fails very solid trucks💪
@@alextrainor2552 Yes they do, but you'll notice that all vehicles are raked, even passenger cars that have no tow rating. It has to do with underbody aerodyanmics, and leveling your truck will reduce fuel economy and highway stability.
I'd take the leveling kit... Like the look, like stock ride, and truck to me would still be more useful... Would lose low profile tires on both however, not a fan of them.
Just bought a 2019 left over with the 2.5 level and the same Nitto tires already on it. My 2016 F-150 was bone stock and I have to say the level and 35's are the best thing you can do to your F-150.
Any major differences between ur 16 and you 19? Besides any aftermarket products? I passed up on a 19 for my 15 just because I wasn't a fan of the new grilles...
@@drubrasi261 The Sync 3 system runs a lot better than the sync 2 did not sync 2 was a bad system This is just more smooth. See I like the Honeycomb style grill on mine more than the one on my 16. Though the other girl you can get on the f-150s in the 2019 look dumb.
@@drubrasi261 Also I will say this going from a 6-speed to a 10-speed transmission will take some getting used to but honestly now that I've driven the 10 speed for about 5,000 mi I really really enjoy it.
@@oocombz ahhh okay. But otherwise is interior and all the basics still the same? And yes I've heard the 10 speed transmissions need some getting used to.. is there any real benefits performance wise of a 10 speed? In the future im looking at getting into a newer f150 just can't afford it right now as I bought the one i have now and with me being 19 I dont have 50k for a new one either lol..
@@drubrasi261 Yeah they didn't do too many interior changes between the 16-19. 2020 saw a few more interior changes. The 10 speed get better fuel economy and to me tows better. Congrats on your truck man.
Hey man....I like you, bro. Just a tip. ( the ladies will notice) When you wear black shoes, your belt should match. Shoes, belts, and watches are all supposed to match. Great video, man, really helped me understand this.
I just made a post with how a level/lift will affect towing. Basically, your axle ratio will change which will lower how much you can tow significantly, especially if you throw 35's on. If you did a level with stock tire size, then the only change will be how much your rear end sags when hooked up to a trailer and gas mileage. I would definitely purchase rear airbags if you plan on towing with a leveling kit....well...I'd put airbags on period with a leveling kit, towing or not. If you use a WDH to tow with, the level will throw that off a bit without airbags to level it out. Hope this helps and good luck sir.
Absolutely informative videos, good job guys. After watching the subpar quality and lack of any real brand benefits from your clips, i made a great decision and BOUGHT A TUNDRA!
I would say the only down side of a lift kit is once you go above 6" the vehicle starts having daily practical use issues.by no means am i talking crap about performance.i just mean the truck parking,parking garages,drive thru food places,atm use.it just get harder to do daily stuff but performance is not being criticized
Levelling kits essentially lift the front end with no appreciable difference in handling. What will adjust your ride, tracking, and handling, is the larger tires that you use.
What do you mean? FX4 is just an option you can add to any 4x4 truck. It gives you locking rear diff, skid plates, hill descent control, slightly different shocks and floor liners, AT tires. That's it.
Now lets see you pull a 26' toy hauler camper with both lift kits. Tell me how that works for ya. I did the 2.0" front leveling kit from rough country and the "leveling" air bags for the rear> Pulls a big camper just fine all day long and doesn't seem to handle any different than before.
Best comment on here. I'm getting ready to do the same ,2" rc leveling with air bags in coil . I want to pull my 12' trailer with a 800lbs harley to Colorado and unhook and still be able to hit some trails in the mountains with my 05 Trailblazer
Yes , I'm still running stock tires with mine as it sits pretty close to stock height anyway except for the front. All it is is a 1 inch thick spacer that goes between the bottom front strut lower mount and the lower control arm. It pushes the front end up enought to keep that small lower plastic air dam from getting smoked on a curb as you pull up to it. There are the other ones that are just a plastic ring the goes between the TOP of the strut and its mount. I have NOT tried these . I'm concerned it would add extra play between the top of the strut mount that has a bearing in it and the frame mount. There is a LOT of potential for failure at that point I think. I could be wrong. Even this simple little modification DOES change your front end alignment ,A LOT ,SO HAVE YOUR APPOINTMENT MADE BEFORE YOU DO THE INSTALL AND DRIVE THE TRUCK AROUND UNLESS YOU LIKE BUYING TIRES.
Lowering the rear with drop shackles for leveling decreases the wheel gap and doesn't always require alignment, nor tires or wheels. Just another option ; )
idea, buy a power wagon or raptor. off road ready and engineered from factory correctly with the suspension and angles for the drive shaft and axles...
Would love to see a comparison for lifts such as stock vs 4 inch lift with 35's, stock vs 6 inch lift with 35's and then 4 inch vs 6 inch lift with 35's. To see a comparison to see what size lift id like to get in the future.
Roush and Fox 2.0 leveling kit ! I got two things a level and a stellar performance kit with a better ride ! But it's 1600 bucks and it's worth every dime
No mention there of what I think is the biggest con to getting a list. Turning radius! Tough thing to measure but I'd guess my turning circle is now 50%+ bigger. Extremely tough getting in and out of parking spots in a lot with narrow lanes.
Pretty simple. It's your truck, lift or level depends on what you want and many will actually do what is needed. If needed for looks, level is great; if that rake in the front bothers you.Also the cheapest way to go. If wanting or maybe needing larger tires a lift is the way to go. However, many do not use the lift for anything other than to make it look good to them and agreeably to others. However, in reality, they are not fun to drive; therefore, many do it because they are actually going to use it for off-roading in places like Moab UT. Others, like to make people think they really do serious off-roading; but don't. And yes, before it is stated, I lived in Moab for quite a few years had lifted and non-lifted vehicles. And for in the rocks, the lift was nice, on the highways, a level or no alteration was the best. However as noted, your truck, so do what ever you wish, but his video is ludicrous.
@@K9388-n3z I agree they should at least offer options of them leveled out i mean look at all the options they offer already for these trucks it wouldn't hurt and they'd most likely sell more because of it.
I believe manufacturer dropping front end a couple inches helps with aerodynamics saving overall gas mileage. I leveled mine and Installed a bed cover to reduce tailgate air flow drag.
It is also for carrying a load in the bed. Superduty trucks are built to be used for work Not for just driving around. When it is under load or towing the truck will handle properly. If you level the truck then use it for serious work or towing, under steer and trailer sway are magnified. Not to mention the fact that you end up looking at clouds
Rick Nelson One way to make any truck look better.... is a pretty woman in the front seat. Fashion 101 buddy. Small basic things can help your appearance. Yes watching a truck video. However, we are watching a truck video about cosmetic changes to enhance trucks looks and appearance.... #justinbeiberrocks
@@mdunhamful Facts these dudes are just hating. The only reason to hate on Justin Bieber is pure jealousy. The dude seem super nice and probably gets more pussy than any of us. Over here with big trucks and tiny dicks trying to play people
Reminds me of mall crawler wranglers...got all that high performance add ons to get good and muddy but would rather pound the pavement up and down front beach road, then park at the sonic or Walmart parking lot with the neon underglows on...but why??? Sorry, had to get that diatribe of my chest lol. But yeah, a lifted truck with massive wheels paired with low profile tires makes as much sense as a mall crawler...in my opinion
They are all over the place. 18" wheels is as big as anyone should EVER put on a lifted truck.. they look like Mexican lifted lowriders🤔 with huge wheels... might as well bring back spinners
Just so any of you are looking to lift your truck and worried about rubbing...I have a 2015 Platinum. It has a 6 inch lift with 20" dropstars and 35s(-24 offset) When I turn it still rubs. Thats just the nature of the beast.
My RAM 2500 has a 2.75" Thuren leveling kit and 37" tires. Not super tall but extremely capable. my leveling kit is not done with spacers, but with new coils and shocks.
Soon as he did it, I had a laugh cuz I know for a fact he didnt mean for it to look that way, paused the video and came straight to the comments section to see how long it was gonna take before I found the 1st comment that mentioned this.
