We’ve only had our 2011 Ford Super Duty for a few months now, and it’s already been an even more pleasant experience than we managed to have with our old ’03 Super Duty. It’s not that we don’t love our big, old Super Duty. In fact, we’ve grown very fond of it and will probably find another life for it instead of putting it out to pasture. But now we’ve got a new ’11 F-250 to work on. And you know it was only a matter of time before we started in with the modifications. After all, we’re not Truck Trends. Instead we modify trucks and test them out in off-road conditions. Sure, it’s a ton of fun, but we also get valuable experience in the dirt that we can relay to the manufacturers and to readers. That’s why we just couldn’t leave well enough alone—even on our new truck. But we wanted to start lightly. Though we have some big plans for this F-250 in the future, it’s not often that we get a stock truck to start from scratch with, and we want to make our decisions carefully. A big priority was to get the truck a little higher in the air with a Daystar spacer lift. It didn’t necessarily need brand new, bigger, and more expensive tires just yet (there is still a lot of tread we haven’t burned off these stock ones), but we already put a dent in one running board and bent the other, so a little more ground clearance would be nice. We could also improve ground clearance by getting rid of the running boards, altogether. But this truck is already a tall one, so a pair of Bestop PowerBoards will give us the step to get in, and without the loss of ground clearance when the door is closed. For our first engine modification, what project vehicle would be complete without an aftermarket air intake? That’s why we had Airaid send us out their MXP Series air intake for the new 6.7L Power Stroke diesel that lays under the hood of our truck. For some first steps, we feel like we did well and took it easy, not going too crazy with a brand new truck. After all, we should probably at least put a scratch or two on the bumpers and wheels before we pull them off and get radical with this F-250. 01. It didn’t take us long to get the first modification on. The truck was at our office for about a week before an Airaid MXP Series air intake kit showed up. Since Airaid recommends their oiled filters (over the SynthaMax non-oiled filter) for the harshest off-road conditions, so we took the advice and stuck with an oiled air filter.01. It didn’t take us long to get the first modification on. The truck was at our office 02. There were holes in the plastic for adding all the necessary sensors to the air intake tube.02. There were holes in the plastic for adding all the necessary sensors to the air intak 03. The Airaid air intake fits into place without any holes drilled, nor any other necessary modifications necessary. It also cleans up the engine bay a little and gives a nicer look under the hood.03. The Airaid air intake fits into place without any holes drilled, nor any other necess 04. To improve our truck’s ground clearance, we picked up a Daystar leveling combo kit. The problem with coil spacers is that all too often the shocks are not long enough to accommodate the extra couple inches of height. That’s why Daystar includes its Scorpion shocks with the combo kit. The Scorpion shocks are a little bit longer to compensate for the extra height.04. To improve our truck’s ground clearance, we picked up a Daystar leveling combo kit. T 05. While we were stopping by to check out the undercarriage of our truck, we convinced South Bay Truck in Hawthorne, California, to pop in our Daystar spacers and shocks, since all it took was loosening the brake lines, removing the stock shocks, and using a spreader to give us the extra inch needed to pop in the coil spacers.05. While we were stopping by to check out the undercarriage of our truck, we convinced S 06. With the spacers in place and the Scorpion shocks on, we had two inches more lift and we’ve been told that’s enough to accommodate 35-inch tires. Maybe we’ll try those next month.06. With the spacers in place and the Scorpion shocks on, we had two inches more lift and 07. A benefit to leaving the stock wheels and tires on after adding the leveling kit was that we could get an honest feel of the difference the spacers and shocks made, without bigger tires being involved. The added ground clearance was only given to the front, but even that made worlds of difference when trying to get through some harsher off-road trails. The ride didn’t really change too much with the added height, but the Scorpion shocks seemed to help a little over freeway expansion gaps.07. A benefit to leaving the stock wheels and tires on after adding the leveling kit was 08. Even with a trailer loading down the back of the truck, the front end isn’t freakishly tall with the Daystar leveling kit on the front.08. Even with a trailer loading down the back of the truck, the front end isn’t freakishl 09. Speaking of towing with trailers, we’ve created a new game: Trying to hook up trailers without ever looking back, with no one giving directions. It’s possible with the reverse camera built into the tailgate of the Super Duty (which displays on the stereo’s monitor) but it is still a tad tricky getting it perfectly lined up.09. Speaking of towing with trailers, we’ve created a new game: Trying to hook up trailer 10. And this was about the time that the driver’s side running board suffered. Yes, it was definitely time to ditch the stock running boards.10. And this was about the time that the driver’s side running board suffered. Yes, it wa 11. The Bestop Powerboards were an excellent answer to needing ground clearance while still wanting a step in. Signature Performance in Costa Mesa, California, is one of Bestop’s authorized installation shops that guarantees a perfect fitment, so it was a natural to head to Signature to have our PowerBoards put on.11. The Bestop Powerboards were an excellent answer to needing ground clearance while sti 12. Signature’s head technician, Josh Thurman, first removed the stock running boards, and then added the PowerBoard’s hinges. Thurman tells us that almost all new truck PowerBoard applications require no drilling at all and the hinges bolt right into existing holes on the body.12. Signature’s head technician, Josh Thurman, first removed the stock running boards, a 13. One thing that sets Bestop’s PowerBoards apart from other retracting steps is the LED light that you can find on each hinge of the Powerboards. The added light really helps out in pitch black environments.13. One thing that sets Bestop’s PowerBoards apart from other retracting steps is the LED 14. Signature Performance added the wiring under the hood and to the electric motors that mount directly on the hinges. On a Super Duty, you only have to remove the door sill plate to access the door’s wiring harness. The retracting steps get their signal to open or close from the vehicle’s existing sensors.14. Signature Performance added the wiring under the hood and to the electric motors that 15. When retracted, the PowerBoard steps tuck in so far under the body that it’s almost impossible to see them on our Super Duty.15. When retracted, the PowerBoard steps tuck in so far under the body that it’s almost i 16. With the Powerboards on, we definitely had more ground clearance, and we still had a step to help get into the truck.16. With the Powerboards on, we definitely had more ground clearance, and we still had a Sources Bestop P.O. Box 307 Broomfield CO 80038 800-845-3567 www.bestop.com South Bay Truck And 4x4 n/a 310-219-0727 www.southbaytruckand4x4.com Daystar 841 S. 71st Avenue Phoenix AZ 85043 800-595-7659 www.daystarweb.com Airaid 2688 E Rose Garden Lane Phoenix AZ 85050 888-876-8984 www.airaid.com Signature Performance Tire and Wheel 714-850-0060 http://www.signatureperformancetirewheel.com By Jerrod Jones Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
