Factory front and rear height difference - why?

[Muffin_Man]

I’ve been considering leveling my truck but got to thinking as to why ford trucks come “unleveled” from the factory? Considering they are designed this way, is there any advantages with it slightly lower in the front? They certainly look better leveled, why didn’t ford just make them that way? Thanks

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[PJnc284]

That's not just Ford. All brands come with the rake so it levels out if you actually use it as a truck.

 

[Muffin_Man]

Got it, makes perfect sense. Thanks!

 

[Jseis]

So called “leveled“ trucks, when used as a truck (bed load) have their headlights pointed in the eyes of oncoming drivers.

 

[garsh]

So called “leveled“ trucks, when used as a truck (bed load) have their headlights pointed in the eyes of oncoming drivers.

If you have the headlights aimed correctly when unloaded, then the headlights are going to be pointed up when the truck is loaded, regardless of whether or not it has a rake.

Trucks benefit from having automatically-leveled headlights because of this.

 

[Jseis]

If you have the headlights aimed correctly when unloaded, then the headlights are going to be pointed up when the truck is loaded, regardless of whether or not it has a rake.

Trucks benefit from having automatically-leveled headlights because of this.

Not correct. The truck comes from the factory with the headlights adjusted for the rated load. Very few “leveled” trucks re-adjust headlights. Lift kits, bigger tires, etc contribute to the continued problem with nighttime drivers being blinded by such truck mods.

 

[Heliian]

any advantages

When you add a payload or tow a trailer it's more towards level. All trucks are designed this way. "leveling" trucks for aesthetics is a weird fad but it's incredibly popular. Same with wheel spacers.

 

[garsh]

Not correct. The truck comes from the factory with the headlights adjusted for the rated load.

Can you post evidence of this?

Ford's aiming procedure makes no mention of doing so with a load.

 

[RLXXI]

Dynamic headlights auto adjust on start up I thought I read in the manual, now I gotta go look again lol.

Think I found it, called adaptive lighting... I see it every morning they follow the turns I make as well, thought I was losing my mind 1st time it happened, I leave it on auto. Correct me if this isn't what's being discussed.

 

[21st Century Truck]

Dynamic headlights auto adjust on start up I thought I read in the manual, now I gotta go look again lol.

Think I found it, called adaptive lighting... I see it every morning they follow the turns I make as well, thought I was losing my mind 1st time it happened, I leave it on auto. Correct me if this isn't what's being discussed.

Yes, but... not all Lightning trims have auto-leveling (up- and down- leveling) headlamps which is probably the reference in the posts above. My XLT does not, although its LED headlamps do swivel left and right slightly on turns.

There are mounting holes for this feature on the upper control arms... the higher trims have extra linkage there to do this up- and -down- auto level function. My XLT does not have this linkage. I know this because it sure made the OEM - to - Eibach shock swaps easier for me two months ago.

 

[Jseis]

Can you post evidence of this?

Ford's aiming procedure makes no mention of doing so with a load.

The Manual states the correct aiming procedure. It appears as owners we are responsible for meeting that spec and with unbalanced or overloads.… yikes, easy to exceed load rating.

That I know of, Ford doesn’t sell
a Ford authorized leveling kit so there’s warranty risk there.

Given that it’s pretty easy to adjust lights, I’d suggest you do that to Ford spec, pretty simple.

The manual load specs & trailer hitch loading are pretty clearly laid out. One thing I plan to do is put my loaded boat trailer on the hitch, check weights at a scale, adjust boat position to keep the load weight below the rated max For the tongue based on their 10% rule of max trailer weight. Then adjust the headlights.

I drive a lot at dark, mornings and nights. Out of adjusted head lights pretty common and in rain, really difficult with blinding light.

 

[Firn]

Not correct. The truck comes from the factory with the headlights adjusted for the rated load. Very few “leveled” trucks re-adjust headlights. Lift kits, bigger tires, etc contribute to the continued problem with nighttime drivers being blinded by such truck mods.

Headlight leveling has nothing to do with rake.

No, trucks do NOT come for the rated load. My headlights are aimed, from the factory, using normal leveling UNLOADED.

lift kits dont change anything, the lights get aimed with those too.

 

[DoyouLightning]

I'm also interested in doing this to my truck once the 36k mile warranty passes by. I think it's been mentioned here but Im also curious to see if there is any noticable loss to range since the aero gets slightly affected?

 

[bc1]

You could go out and test it some night on a lonely stretch of road on dims and brights. Have the wife drop you off while she goes down and turns around so you can see what the oncoming headlights look like. Then have the wife go stand on the back bumper to simulate a fully loaded truck to see the difference (plus any other passengers who may be available to stand on the bumper).

 

[Duke_239]

You could go out and test it some night on a lonely stretch of road on dims and brights. Have the wife drop you off while she goes down and turns around so you can see what the oncoming headlights look like. Then have the wife go stand on the back bumper to simulate a fully loaded truck to see the difference (plus any other passengers who may be available to stand on the bumper).

Post pic of wife.

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