Yes, yes, and yes....this truck is my weekend truck. Regular work truck is a ‘92 F-150. The Raptor is for camping, bombing down logging roads, and my dream trip (Baja).
My plan right now is maintenance first, brakes, stock shock rebuild, and the small upgrades like the Saudi cooler I just installed.
Was thinking to do the rear first, starting with a kit like the RST-16 or SVC adjustable kit. Then upgrade the rear springs, followed by front UCA’s, then a shock upgrade.
I figure it’ll take me about two years to get all this done. If there’s a problem with my plan, I’d like to know it. Thanks for the help!
I would honestly skip the rear rack ( like the rst 16) for the time being. If the rear shocks need upgrading, grab some take off gen2 rear shocks on the cheap and focus what you have to spend right now. I can't comment on who or what I am referring to, but next year some new, rad, super functional options are going to come on the market. You might want to wait till next year to make a rear suspension decision.
I would also skip the shock rebuild on the front. If you need the rebuild because of leaking, okay, but if the shocks are workable for now, save the coin and put it towards the actual shock upgrade.
I'd maybe do a gusset kit on the stock knuckles, do the leaf springs and do the upper arms.
The rst-16 is realistically a pair of upper shock mounts. RPG does offer a bump stop kit, but its a different product. I prefer the SVC option. I've had both of them.
For you, I like the SVC option more. Here's why: You're going to start modifying the truck to go on your dream trip. You'll probably have leaf springs, upper arms, upgraded shocks and bump stops before you go.
Then you'll go on the trip. You'll fall in love with it. Your next step for modifications will most likely be doing a bed rack with longer shocks, just like most people. ( for a bunch of reasons).
Once you change the shock mounts and shocks, with the svc option, you'll be able to raise it to the "high setting" when heading on trips like going to Baja. It'll get you an extra inch of up travel ( raptors can use every little bit of help on the rear suspension that they can get because leaf springs can rarely keep up with upgraded front suspensions).
You're not really able to get that out of the RPG kit. Yes, you can adjust between off-road and tow, and you can change out the bump cans, etc. With the svc kit, you don't have to do any of that. you remove 3 bolts, slide the bump can mount up or down, then put the bolts back in.
I also like the idea of leaving the bump frames in the middle position for things like logging roads around home, as you really probably don't want to or need to give the truck the extra travel, because it isn't worth the extra wear and tear on the springs and shocks. BUT, when heading to baja, or some other desert run, you can set them in the highest position and get your extra up-travel back for when you need/want it.
I also would not hesitate to seriously look at icon. Coilover and shock kit really works well. On the Exo runs, all of the exo staff trucks that are gen1 or gen2 are running icon setups. They run the show on the trips and they're keeping up with all of the attendees linked, $300K prerunners.
Plus, not for nothing, Tom Wayes is one of Icon's Ultra4 Drivers. He rolls to Baja in an icon-equipped gen1. After seeing what he can do in it, in person. Yeah. shit works.
