Fred Williams
Brand Manager, Petersen’s 4Wheel & Off Road
We recently installed a 4-inch Skyjacker suspension on a brand-new '10 Ford F-150 in a garage with handtools just to prove it was possible. If you're an off-roader, hopefully you know how to spin a wrench, because you may end up needing to in the backwoods. But what if you just bought a new truck and want to fit taller tires. Do you need a shop to do all the work? Not necessarily.
The swap took two experienced off-roaders two long days, plus a few specialty tools were employed and the truck required an alignment afterward. It wasn't a complete home job, but pretty darn close. While most new truck buyers would probably drop off their ride at the local 4xShop and pay for these upgrades (and we're not saying you shouldn't, as most shops are run by experienced professionals who can get the job done right), it's just good to know that it's still possible to do the work at home.
PhotosView SlideshowHome Wrenching: is it worth it?
Considering all the tools required for this suspension install and the fact that most new truck owners simply hire someone else to do the work, we doubt most of you will follow what we did. However, with any vehicle it's good to know what's going on underneath, and just because your truck has IFS you shouldn't be scared to sling some wrenches at it. Take your time and follow the Skyjacker instructions, and you'll be back in the dirt in a matter of days. You may not want to do it, but you could.
