Need for suspension mods

[Blu Bug]

I recently purchased a used 2013 and it is mostly bone stock. A friend stopped by with his Raptor which has what I assume is close to 1,000 lbs of bolt on accessories and gear counting bumpers, jack, sidewall racks, extra spare, tire cages, lights etc. He told me that he changed to Deaver springs and had his shocks revalved. Since the payload for our trucks is just over a thousand lbs my question is didn't the new springs and shock work just bring his truck back to where mine is stock? My plan is to play in the desert, not race the Baja so I'm not sure I need to bolt on all the things to weight the truck down.

 

[CoronaRaptor]

The deaver springs help a lot with wheel hop in the desert and you will have to bring recovery gear with you, but saying all of that, the Raptor stock is a beast offroad in the desert, you will be fine.

 

[Blu Bug]

It appears the PO’s used the truck as a road warrior more than anything else. One of them installed what appears to be CalTrac traction bars and an Axle Exchange driveshaft. I’m wondering how helpful the bars will be with desert wheel hop. They hang low but they are close to the running boards which is an area I will be cautious with anyway.

 

[Jakenbake]

Bars might be fine. Running a drop shackle?

 

[Blu Bug]

Bars might be fine. Running a drop shackle?

That's the way it came. I didn't know there were options.

 

[Jakenbake]

Measure the center to center on you leaf springs shackle. If it is 4 1/2” then it is stock length. Stock length shackles and those bars will likely not limit travel. Similar to SVC’s traction bars don’t play well with drop shackles.

Can always droop it out and see what it looks like and if any binding occurs.