Photo by Truck Hardware / CC
Let’s be real, lifted trucks look better. Who wouldn’t want to be perched on top of the crowd? When I’m at a stoplight, I don’t want to look over to my right and have to make eye contact with the person who’s upset their coffee has 3 sugars instead of 5. So, if you want a lifted truck, we totally understand.
The ideal lift kit is affordable, well made and easy to install. If you’ve decided you’d like to lift the level of your F150, then we have many good options for you to choose from. Like nearly all trucks, the F150 has a slight decrease in the angle from back to front right out of the gate. If you want to run larger tires, more ground clearance, or you simply like the look of a “level” vehicle, then it’s a great reason to install one of these kits.
Installing a lift kit does not impact your payload capacity, your truck can haul just as much without your suspension bottoming.
Let’s take a look at the 4 best lift kits for F150:
YITAMOTOR F150 Leveling Lift Kit 2.5"
This YITAMOTOR 2.5″ leveling kit is compatible with F-150s from 2004-2018. It will not fit the 2004 Heritage. If you’re looking to put bigger tires on your truck for cheap, and want your front raised a bit, this is a very affordable value option. It’s a solid aluminum construction that has been hardened to endure the wear and tear of dealing with compression. Using this kit means your truck will not need extensive work, it’s a bolt on piece that doesn’t alter any of your previous suspension. The instructions to install this kit are sparse, if you are not mechanically inclined make sure to watch youtube videos before making the purchase. Like the one we’ve linked below. You can always hire a local auto shop for the install.
Warranty information: These parts are covered for two years.
Supreme Suspensions F150 Leveling Kit 3.5"
This Supreme Suspensions leveling kit fits F-150s from 2004-2008. It has three options at 2″, 2.5″, and a 3.5″ lift. These are aircraft grade billet strut spacers and like our previous example, they do not impact your factory shocks. Supreme is a very responsive company that leaves customers with a smile on their face. This kit comes with thorough instructions and a responsive technical support team if something isn’t clear.
We decided to showcase the 3.5″ lift, but the higher you go the more stress is placed on the ball joints of your vehicle. among other things. The “recommended” amount of lift for a spacer is somewhere in the 2″ range.
American Automotive 3" Front 2" Rear Leveling Kit
This American Automotive leveling kit fits 2WD F-150s from 1997-2003. Finally, something for the older folks on the block. This kit includes a 3″ front spacer lift and a 2″ rear block lift. The front shock spacers are made of steel. There aren’t a lot of options for trucks before the 2004 model change, so thankfully American Automotive took the opportunity to put out a great product. This will take some time to install and requires a bit of work, but we love that it’s a full kit so you don’t have to piece out something else to make your truck entirely level. This is our choice for the best leveling kit for F150s for earlier models.
MotoFab Lifts Leveling kit 2.5" Front and 1.5" Rear
This Motofab Leveling kit fits 4WD F150s from 2009-2018. This well made kit has everything you need to level out your truck without getting too extreme. Your ball joints will be fine and so will your suspension, plus with this lift you’ll get enough clearance to be able to upgrade your tires and not chance the way your car rides.
This is our favorite kit for a couple reasons. First, it’s made in the USA and that has become a rarity. Secondly, and even more important is that it comes with a Lifetime Warranty. If any piece of this kit turns out to be defective or breaks on you, send it back and they’ve got you covered for life.
As a note, the instructions leave a lot to be desired which is definitely an important hiccup to an otherwise great offering. Installation takes some borderline professional knowledge, consider farming it out to a local shop.
Buying the Best Lift Kit for your F150
We’ve gone over four great options to level out your truck, with 2 being front spacers and the other 2 being a complete leveling kit. Some important things to remember about buying a leveling kit is that firstly it’s not a 1:1 ratio.
What does that mean? Well, if you buy a 2.5″ kit, it may not raise your truck exactly 2.5″. You also have to keep in mind that while a leveling kit won’t alter your stock suspension, keeping it in the 2″ range is a recommended option. The higher you go, the more stress you put on your ball joints and surrounding areas. In essence you are stretching your shocks, and the surrounding parts may wear a bit faster as well. But, people have been using leveling kits reliably for a while now and as long as they’re properly installed you can expect a nice upgrade.