Stevo’s 2022 F350 build

[Stevo]

Take this for what it’s worth, just my experience and thoughts so far. Full Carli 5.5 pintop kit , progressive rear leaf pack, long travel airbags, upper and lower steering stabilizers, Torsion Sway bar, and Radius Arms

1st- She’s Big , probably should have gone with the 3-1/2 in and 37’s , for more functionality using it as a truck, loads of dirt rock ,wood, etc, (it do that from time to time and the jury is out on if the height is tough getting in and out. But with that said the long travel airbags only work on the 5.5 lift and I didn’t want the ready lift style spring mounted bag. We will probably end up with an inherited travel trailer in the next 2yrs and I’m gonna try and flip it into a 5th wheel or a larger 3axle tow behind. That being said, I absolutely love the look/stance.

Ride- I can’t say it’s a night and day difference and the ride home from the installer I was having a little remorse. When I got home I checked my air pressure in the tires and bags and made a few adjustments which seem to be an improvement. Installer has the tires running at 65psi and 10psi in the bags.

I dropped the bags to 5, and lowered the tires to 55, and it is much smoother than the 13 mile freeway ride home.
my previous truck was an 2011 f350 leveled on 35’s with billstein 5100’s. Going to the 2022 the ride quality was much smoother and I think I may have gotten spoiled with a factory ride with the basic radials on 18’s.

Yesterday I bounced around town with it and I’m starting to see the benefits. dropped the kids off at school and hit the speed bumps at 25- ( the big kind with a cross walk in the middle of them) and it ate up the bump like nothing. I mean yes i knew I was going over a speed bump but In our SUV we have to slow to 5-10 so you don’t get bounced.

Components-

The components are beefy and seem to be an big improvement in quality, I sold my OEM radius arms yesterday and there is a noticeable difference between a bent and seam welded arm , and a box welded arm. I was surprised at the amount of surface rust was on my front end components from ford only 3k miles on the truck, I did some spray paint touch ups with matte black as all those components are out in the open to see now.

Wheels- Fuel Rebel 8 gunmetal - love the looks of the gun metal will be nice tie in with our boat as truck is white with black and gun metal accents, same as the boat. The wheels will probably give me some headache when it comes to cleaning, there are multiple surfaces and tight spots, but worth the squeeze. I was initially concerned about the 1mm offset not giving me the poke I like, but I’m not bothered by the look

Tires- Nitto ridge grapplers 38-13.5-20, glad i went with 38’s and that I was able to find them, they fill the fender gaps nicely and are super beefy.

so not exactly a huge ringing endorsement on ride quality improvement at this moment, but I’ll revisit this more after putting additional miles and terrain on it.

 

 

 

Edited May 16, 2022 by Stevo

[UWSkier]

loading a 5er on a 5.5" lift might be tight crossing undulating terrain (backcountry highways with narrow crown hillcrests), but the build looks pretty sick!

[Stevo]

34 minutes ago, UWSkier said:

loading a 5er on a 5.5" lift might be tight crossing undulating terrain (backcountry highways with narrow crown hillcrests), but the build looks pretty sick!

Noted,

And a good reminder  to print out a new p-touch label of the new height of the truck and put it on the inside of the windshield so when the wife drives it she knows what parking garages to enter.

[hethj7]

Looks great!

[Jbcain]

Carli makes a great product.

 

As for the air bag dilemma (as long as the bags have an internal jounce), look up One Up Offroad airbag bypass T kit. It'll allow full deflation of the bags. Also, lower your tire pressure unless towing, you don't need full capacity.  

[Stevo]

28 minutes ago, Jbcain said:

Carli makes a great product.

 

As for the air bag dilemma (as long as the bags have an internal jounce), look up One Up Offroad airbag bypass T kit. It'll allow full deflation of the bags. Also, lower your tire pressure unless towing, you don't need full capacity.  

I’m starting my onboard compressor / tank mounting build here currently and I’m incorporating the Firestone fill/drain switched solenoid with gage so i can fill on demand and monitor the levels from inside the cab.

it’s gonna be tight but I’m pretty sure I can get the compressor gage/switch and the airbag switch in the upper glove box location 

[Jbcain]

1 minute ago, Stevo said:

I’m starting my onboard compressor / tank mounting build here currently and I’m incorporating the Firestone fill/drain switched solenoid with gage so i can fill on demand and monitor the levels from inside the cab.

it’s gonna be tight but I’m pretty sure I can get the compressor gage/switch and the airbag switch in the upper glove box location 

If the firestone is anything like the others, it will not allow less than 5psi.

[Sixer]

Truck looks awesome @Stevo...........I'm waiting to see pics of it towing the new 25 LSV! (or did I miss those pics?)

[Stevo]

Flush mounted Grill light bars are the rough country slim line LED kit, (2 packs of 2) 

https://www.roughcountry.com/10in-slim-led-light-bars-70410c.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwgr6TBhAGEiwA3aVuIYuGxp6qqOibJ6ThcmOqzkhnb1etK5kR1XR0cij5bFPEw40LTy-y2RoC4WoQAvD_BwE#280=535&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpcs&utm_campaign=16710950085|135016692917&utm_content=590177301291&utm_term=|pla-293946777986|m||70410ABL

I fabricated / welded up some brackets for them to fit in this location. Made them out of some 304 stainless flat bar. Painted them black and mounted them to the grill so that they sit flush and are kind of hidden.

Wired to upfitter #1 I’ve only flipped them on a few times in the neighborhood at night and they are super bright, but I can’t wait to see how well they do in the backcountry

 

Edited May 2, 2022 by Stevo

[Slayer]

@Stevo the truck looks great!  Love the stance, and I'm sure she's real big.  Great wheel choice, too.

 

Since I know my truck is supposed to be built this month, I'm starting to look at accessories.  I've been considering some lights like what you've installed here.  I'm interested to hear what you say in the backcountry.  I'm also interested in what you have to say about Carli once you have some miles on it.  

 

 

[Stevo]

Almost done with the onboard air tank mount,

I ordered some .250 plate from OshCut on Wednesday and it delivered today, bent and ready for fabrication. 
 

im using some 2x4 steel tubing that I welded a face and weldnut onto the backside so I can bolt the bracket to them. The 2x4 tube slides perfectly in the frame crossmembers and are secured in place with a self tapping stainless screw.

 

 

Edited May 9, 2022 by Stevo

[Stevo]

Welded some gussets , Primed and painted, gonna add a few more coats tomorrow and get it installed

 

Edited May 9, 2022 by Stevo

[Stevo]

Finally buttoned up the compressor and tank project 

Wired compressor to upfitter #6, with gage and the inflate/deflate airbag switch to in the upper glove box.

air Horn is wired with a relay integrated to the factory horn and upfitter #2. Basically when upfitter 2 is off , it’s the OEM horn , but flip that switch and is a hefty “BONK BONK” 

Air chuck quick connect to the rear bumper (cover not pictured)

[Stevo]

[UWSkier]

Have you had a chance yet to test the light bars on a black country road? 

[Stevo]

No, we haven’t been up to Tahoe yet, few more weeks of school for the kids.

best I can do is a screen grab from the initial install day

[BlindSquirrel]

Cool spot for your compressor gauge. I might have to move mine that I mounted in the bed of my truck. 

[Stevo]

Finally got the Torsion sway bar installed last week and I’ve put about 150 miles on it. I have to say there is a noticeable improvement difference in the handling of the truck with this addition. the cab roll side to side from speed bumps, driveway, parking lot terrain is mellowed significantly.