The Ford F-150 has remained America’s pickup truck for over 70 years. It has fantastic capability and utility paired with amazing innovations in performance and comfort over the years. The 2021 Ford F-150’s built-in features make for a nice off-road experience, but we wanted to push for something more out of it.
Our latest custom Ford F-150 has all new upgrades like a 3-inch lift along with off-road tires. Besides a few other practical accessories this truck received some exterior and interior styling mods to make it more feel more personalized. Let’s look more closely at these new additions.
| PART LIST | |
|---|---|
| 2-Inch Wheel Spacers | Rough Country 3-Inch Lift Kit |
| Spray-In Bedliner | Ford Blackout Replacement Emblems |
| Painted Calipers | Katzkin Leather Interior |
| 20″ Toyo Open Country A/T III Tires |
3″ Lift Kit
The first thing we looked into was adding a lift to raise the ground clearance of the truck. Hooking up a lift kit would also allow us more space to attach new wheels and tires. So, we selected a 3-inch lift kit from Rough Country to suit our needs for this build.
The lift we chose is compatible with the N3 and V2 shocks to keep a smooth driving experience on rougher trails. Taking this F-150 off-road in jagged terrain meant it would need a good set of shocks. These shocks are constructed with stainless steel that remains durable, corrosion resistant, and delivers superior ride quality!
Off-Road Tires
Once the lift was installed we looked into which off-road tires we wanted. Our decision was to swap the base tires for some 20″ Toyo Open Country A/T III tires. The Open Country tires offer a nice balance between fuel consumption, traction, and durability which is what we needed. Changing the tires helps to better adapt the truck for off-road environments that require extra traction, and gives this custom truck a more rugged impression.
2″ Wheel Spacers
To give this Ford F-150 more visual impact we decided to pop the wheels with 2-inch wheel spacers from Rough Country. Wheel spacers are metal discs that push the wheels further out from the body of the truck and allow for better handling. Better handling is a result of giving the truck a wider stance which creates more stability at the slight cost of turn radius. Spacers really enhance the trucks perceived size and create a commanding presence on the road.
Custom Emblems & Badges
The original Blue Ford emblems weren’t cutting it, so we fashioned some new ones. In order to improve the exterior styling on this off-road F-150 build we switched to some custom gray emblems & badges. Normally we would use complete blackout emblems to create a full-on murdered out look, but we went with something different this time using the gray accents. Distinct gray accents add more detail to the trucks appearance and form a fresh easily distinguished look. Both emblems in the front and rear as well as the fender vents got this mod.
Aside from the custom emblems this truck also features some vinyl graphics. The gray 4×4 decal along with the same colored tailgate inlay round up the last bit of detail on this build.
Custom Leather Seating
In the cab of the truck we opted to upgrade the upholstery. Katzkin premium leather seating offers some great options to fit whichever style of vehicle. The type of leather seating we chose was full black with gray stitching to match the trim.
It’s a bit of an industry secret for some, but the truth is you don’t have to drop tons of cash for a higher trim level when all you want is leather seating. The XL and XLT trim levels for the F-150 don’t get leather seating and the next trim level after XLT, the Lariat trim, is about a $7,700 difference! Where as getting custom leather heated seats from Katzkin is only a few thousand and can raise the value of your car.
If you decide on getting leather seats make sure you find a preferred Katzkin installer for a professional installation. We offer factory match, or custom leather seating from Katzkin and Alea, so you’re more than likely to find something to fit your ride at s shop like ours.
Painted Brake Calipers & Exhaust Tips
A few spots on this custom Ford F-150 were painted to aid the appeal of the truck. Right behind the wheels are a set of sneaky gloss black painted calipers. Painted calipers are a great way to improve the appearance of your ride without shelling out hundreds for upgraded calipers.
Your calipers are a part that get really hot from friction, so it’s necessary to go with a paint that can handle that. The heat, debris, road grime, and other factors should be considered, so look for paints that offer chemical and physical protection of the calipers (benefits you won’t find with a normal rattle can job). Above all else painting the calipers helps to prevent corrosion which keeps them looking good for the road ahead.
Below the tailgate the exhaust tips were also custom painted. This is a small detail, but pieces like calipers and exhaust tips are sections that can be altered quick and easy to refine the look of a truck.
Spray in Bedliner
Last but not least, every truck needs a bedliner for increased durability. Spray in bedliners, like the one on this truck, help decrease wear and tear on your bed without the negatives that come with a regular plastic bedliner.
Since spray in bedliners adhere to your truck’s paint, there’s no opportunity for moisture to get trapped under. In addition, wind and movement in the bed won’t cause distracting noise like with certain plastic mold bedliner. However, drop in bedliners are constantly being improved and can still be a great option in other aspects such as their typical longer life span.
Looking to customize your Ford F-150? We offer aftermarket accessories internationally and services across the contiguous U.S. to help you get your car exactly how you want it. Reach out if you’d like a quote for your custom vehicle build!
