Why is the f-150 raked

[DT400]

Does anyone have a definitive answer to why the F-150 is raked?
Doesn't seem logical to rake a 1/2 ton to sit level when fully loaded when the truck typically won't be loaded to capacity 99.999% of the time for most users.
I have heard some people mentioned they have lost mpg leveling the truck. So maybe it's done for aerodynamics.

Darrell

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[Ajzride]

I am guessing that it is 90% aerodynamics and fuel efficiency related. I Made a few road trips on I10 before and after a 2.5" lift and my milage dropped almost 2 mpg with no other changes on the exact same roads with negligible differences in speed or weather.

 

[BigBluegen14]

Aerodynamics is definitely a major player in the reason. As for the payload, while you're completely correct about 99% not ever maxing out that, Ford is also going to make the truck safely able to carry those big numbers for their commercials.

 

[Missmy3/4ton]

It's rake is so extreme because Ford continues to use leaf spring and folks (like people who wonder why trucks have rake) want a smooth car-like ride. If you go push on your tailgate the first few inches of the spring rate are just for ride dampening. If your F-150 rode like a 'truck' we could easily remove a decent amount of the rake. Which is why it needs the lift blocks when loaded down....

You also aren't taking into account something like 25% of F150 sales are fleet sales. So people who actually DO use their truck as a truck is at LEAST 50/50. My guess is that grocery getters are actually the minority of all F150 buyers.

 

[Oxford_Powerboost]

I personally tow very little, and when I do it’s not heavy. However I know that means I really bought the wrong vehicle for a daily, I don’t need a truck. I want one though. I’m fine with it being designed in a way that it can be used as the tool it’s intended to be. I’m not using it that way, so I’m happy to fix the rake myself with a level kit. Just my 2 cents

 

[CarbonizedRCSB]

It's raked because it's a pickup truck, why it's so extreme is what I would ask...

 

[PB2021]

Rarely tow but like the stance overall.

 

[EatDirtFartDust]

I personally like the raked look and don’t think leveling kits are worth the money or trouble.
We rebuilt a front differential which was damaged because of excessive load on the side axle bearings, caused by the leveling blocks above the springs.
Customer had to pay for the $2,800 repair and had us remove the level kit so it doesn’t do it again.

 

[b4hand]

I personally like the raked look and don’t think leveling kits are worth the money or trouble.
We rebuilt a front differential which was damaged because of excessive load on the side axle bearings, caused by the leveling blocks above the springs.
Customer had to pay for the $2,800 repair and had us remove the level kit so it doesn’t do it again.

Is there a way to avoid this without removing the level kit?

 

[EatDirtFartDust]

Is there a way to avoid this without removing the level kit?

Probably. It could have been the quality of the leveling kit.
Mainly, when installing, you want to make sure there isn’t a lot of pressure pushing the halfshafts into the side of the axle.
If Ford offers a leveling kit, I would go with it. I wouldn’t trust an aftermarket kit.

 

[RedTXV]

I personally like the raked look and don’t think leveling kits are worth the money or trouble.
We rebuilt a front differential which was damaged because of excessive load on the side axle bearings, caused by the leveling blocks above the springs.
Customer had to pay for the $2,800 repair and had us remove the level kit so it doesn’t do it again.

I too like a little rake. Some of the leveling kits make the truck look, off to me. Too much gap in the front and the wheel then appears undersized. JMO.

 

[IconicXLTsport]

It's rake is so extreme because Ford continues to use leaf spring and folks (like people who wonder why trucks have rake) want a smooth car-like ride. If you go push on your tailgate the first few inches of the spring rate are just for ride dampening. If your F-150 rode like a 'truck' we could easily remove a decent amount of the rake. Which is why it needs the lift blocks when loaded down....

You also aren't taking into account something like 25% of F150 sales are fleet sales. So people who actually DO use their truck as a truck is at LEAST 50/50. My guess is that grocery getters are actually the minority of all F150 buyers.

this is pretty much it. There is rake to keep a moderate rear spring rate so it is comfortable when unladen. If there was no deflection when loaded the truck would ride like it had boards for springs.

also keeping the front as low as possible is better for aero, as was also mentioned.

and on a personal note, people do load their trucks more often than they think, most just don’t take the time to figure out how much weight they are hauling. If I was asked when I bought my truck if I was gonna put 1600 lbs in the bed I would have said never. However it was only a matter of weeks when I needed to buy soil for landscaping around my house and payload was maxed. I measured the wheel well height from the ground and the rear was only 1” lower than the front. From a distance the truck looked pretty level but payload was maxed out. I loaded the soil as far forward as possible

 

[CarbonizedRCSB]

I think they look perfect with just drop shackles in the rear, the flip kits aren't worth the headache IMO.

 

[DT400]

It's rake is so extreme because Ford continues to use leaf spring and folks (like people who wonder why trucks have rake) want a smooth car-like ride. If you go push on your tailgate the first few inches of the spring rate are just for ride dampening. If your F-150 rode like a 'truck' we could easily remove a decent amount of the rake. Which is why it needs the lift blocks when loaded down....

You also aren't taking into account something like 25% of F150 sales are fleet sales. So people who actually DO use their truck as a truck is at LEAST 50/50. My guess is that grocery getters are actually the minority of all F150 buyers.

I disagree with the fact that they're leafs being the issue.
Simple fix, use a set of overloads like my '95 F-150 XLT came with. Doesn't have an extreme rake when unladen and carrys a load well. Progressive spring packs will work too.
A standard package could sit more level and a heavy payload of max tow could have a different rake.

Darrell

 

[IconicXLTsport]

I disagree with the fact that they're leafs being the issue.
Simple fix, use a set of overloads like my '95 F-150 XLT came with. Doesn't have an extreme rake when unladen and carrys a load well. Progressive spring packs will work too.
A standard package could sit more level and a heavy payload of max tow could have a different rake.

Darrell

These spring packs are progressive rates. The difference between leaf and coil is that the coil can smoothly increase in rate and feel better as a result. The leaf springs very quickly rise in spring rate as the initial compliance is taken up with an inch or two of suspension travel. The rapid increase in spring rate is the uncomfortable part of leaf spring ride quality. Coils are also much lighter than leaf springs and feel better as a result.

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