2023 F-150 RCSB with ~3" Lift and Skinny 35" Tires

[PHILTHY'S FORD]

Most guys with the RCSB are slammin' them and going forced induction- i might go S/C some day but In the interest of going offroading I lifted mine. I took a different approach than most here, going with the skinniest 35's i could find and with a modest lift. I couldn't really get an idea off the forum what a lift like this would look like let alone combined with an odd tire/wheel combo on a truck body that's equally uncommon. Hopefully some of my like minded RCSB brothers can get some ideas from this.

Bilstein 6112's up front. On the tallest setting you're supposed to get 2.5" of lift on a crew cab 3.5EB. I have a two door 5.0 so im guessing i got more than that. Did i measure before and after? absolutely not. I have ZERO rubbing at full lock and don't absolutely need new UCA but will do them in the future anyway.

Bilstein 5160's in the rear. I originally took my rear blocks out to level the truck (pre lift) but realized I looked a bit squatted in the back (YUCK) so i added the blocks back and am about 1.5" higher in the rear.

Wheels are Method MR703's 17x8.5 with a +18 offset. I don't like half or even a quarter of my tire out of the well so a positive offset suited my taste. I do have a little poke, but not enough to murder my wheel bearings or fling rocks everywhere.

Tires are Kenda Klever's 35x10.5x17. Yeah they're skinny. I love skinny tires though. Less of a hit on my MPG, steering isn't heavier, airing down will give me actually more contact patch and honestly I think they look better than 12.5's in this height. At stock FRONT height with the new wheels and tires, they didn't rub. Technically they aren't Mud terrian but what Kenda calls ROUGH TERRAIN. They also aren't technically triple peak snow rated, from what i've read these size are but other sizes aren't and in the interest of being consistent they decided not to label individual sizes to avoid confusion.

install was straight forward. Got spring mounts and spring isolators from the dealer with my ford points. Had em mounted since my harbor freight spring compressor gave up the ghost half way through. The shop that mounted put the mounts on recommended getting some LCA eccentric bolts for a good alignment. I did some research and found they weren't yanking my chain. If you're in the PNW and near Portland (YUCK) check out Adventure Outfitters in Hillsboro. Nice guys and none of that BROverlander elitism.

Stock FX4 wheels/tires/suspension front, rear blocks removed.

5160's in the rear, stock front. New wheels and tires didn't rub at all.

Full new suspension, rear blocks BACK IN. Decided to delete the active air damn and do a little plastic chin valence shave.

Hopefully this is helpful to the guys on the fence or simply unsure about fitment on a RCSB!

F!@#$%& NICE!

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[coyote325]

Love rcsb

 

[bwwF150]

Super sharp. Looks like some of the 70s F1xx that show up on BAT. ?.

 

[DeuceRooster]

Looks great

 

[TheRealDCA]

There are dozens of us!

OP’s truck looks awesome and is the same route I’m planning to go: 34-35” tall, 10-11” wide. Probably won’t lift quite as high just because having the blocks out in the rear makes loading the dirt bikes easier, but we’ll see.

The big decision for me is do I keep the steelies or switch to new alloys? I’ll either go bronze/gold with a black sidewall or black with raised white letters.

Thanks for making this thread OP!

 

[Iroquois Cage]

There are dozens of us!

OP’s truck looks awesome and is the same route I’m planning to go: 34-35” tall, 10-11” wide. Probably won’t lift quite as high just because having the blocks out in the rear makes loading the dirt bikes easier, but we’ll see.

The big decision for me is do I keep the steelies or switch to new alloys? I’ll either go bronze/gold with a black sidewall or black with raised white letters.

Thanks for making this thread OP!

Happy to help another appreciator of the RCSB

 

[krist]

You have impeccable taste.

 

[Iroquois Cage]

You have impeccable taste.

 

[White95]

So.. It’s been awhile since you’ve made these upgrades. How about a long term update? Ride.. Driving characteristics.. etc..

I’m one of those other types who’s now considering yet another altitude adjustment for my truck.

 

[v8440]

I'm the weirdo that's thinking of retaining the poverty star wheels and stock ride height while adding a blower or turbos down the line. Many people start out with what they call a sleeper and end up not really having quite as much of a sleeper effect after they've lowered the truck and changed wheels. I want that thing to look stone stock and sound as close to it as possible.

 

[Iroquois Cage]

So.. It’s been awhile since you’ve made these upgrades. How about a long term update? Ride.. Driving characteristics.. etc..

I’m one of those other types who’s now considering yet another altitude adjustment for my truck.

Long term- Everything has been stellar. Bilstein was an awesome choice. Suspension-wise the only thing ive changed is added Icon's Tremor knuckle and their Delta Joint Pro UCA. I couldn't find anything about whether or not the knuckle would fit a non-ICON coilover. Even ICON told me they didnt know. All they told me was that it was a clone of the Termor knuckle and fitment compatibility is limited to what they've tested...which is their own kits. So I went for it and it turned out great. I originally did it to get better CV angles for when i go 37's but didn't notice much of a change with my current 35's. Currently i have 255/85r17 Baja Bosses from Mickey Thompson, as the Kendas were just too slippery in the rain up here in Portland. Considering regearing at 4.56 and doing a raptor front torsen while im at it- before or immediately going 37's.

edit: I also have zero clearance issues with my wheel and tire combo. 17x8.5”et 25. 255/85R17’s which are close to a 35x10”.

 

[Iroquois Cage]

I'm the weirdo that's thinking of retaining the poverty star wheels and stock ride height while adding a blower or turbos down the line. Many people start out with what they call a sleeper and end up not really having quite as much of a sleeper effect after they've lowered the truck and changed wheels. I want that thing to look stone stock and sound as close to it as possible.

I never claimed it would be a sleeper. I too would like to supercharge my truck. Normal people see these trucks and think manual labor/gardener/fleet beater. They see and hear a loud regular cab without a tailgate and they think "poverty stricken". Car people like us know that guy probably runs low 10's and is out hunting Mopars.

 

[HammaMan]

I'm the weirdo that's thinking of retaining the poverty star wheels and stock ride height while adding a blower or turbos down the line. Many people start out with what they call a sleeper and end up not really having quite as much of a sleeper effect after they've lowered the truck and changed wheels. I want that thing to look stone stock and sound as close to it as possible.

Meh, if you're gonna do it, do it.

Sleeper implies that ya might try and make some $ off an unlucky fool. People are fully aware of what a 4WD RCSB truck. It should be a crime to leave it looking like a stock XL while dropping $20k+ into the motor.

 

[astro_fusion]

Did the Icon knuckle bring your ride height up? Might snag a set of these and their wording is a bit vague.

 

[Iroquois Cage]

Did the Icon knuckle bring your ride height up? Might snag a set of these and their wording is a bit vague.

I think it’s intentionally vague. I gained about .5” with my Bilstein 6112’s on the highest setting. Steering feels significantly more solid when driving aggressively.

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