HI Zeus
Well-known member
- First Name
- Craig
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2025
- Threads
- 10
- Messages
- 64
- Reaction score
- 48
- Location
- New Mexico / Hawaii
- Vehicles
- 2023 Lightning XLT, 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid, 2003 F350, 1989-93 BMW Paris Dakars
- Occupation
- SO retired!
- Thread starter
- #1
Click bait? Guilty
No, I didn’t do any major driveline changes. In fact, most of what I did is very similar to what others here have done (and I thank all of you for sharing that information!!). Specific shout outs to: @digitaldad, @Quibbs , @F150ROD, @swtaylor89, @Oafy44, @dr1983, all you guys gave me the information and confidence to go forward with this project!!
I did a few things a differently than what I have seen from others so far, and have an overall unique total package that I thought others might be interested to see.
I do feel like after making the various changes that I have essentially accomplished an "AWD to 4x4 conversion". My Lightning now looks like a modern four-wheel-drive truck, rides like a truck (not a 70’s Caddy), and is much more capable of taking on off-road situations. As others have noted it looks a bit like a Ford Predator now. (It would be GREAT if Ford came out with a package similar to this for those of us who want a 4x4 Electric truck.)
I’m sharing this with you all because I VERY much appreciated picking bits of info from other posts to this forum to guide me, and figured I’d try to give back to the community.
Now for the disclaimer:
The information that I am sharing is for “entertainment purposes only” (barrowed that from various You-Tubers). I am not recommending that ANYONE modify ANYTHING on ANY VEHICLE… EVER without first consulting the vehicle manufacturer, the parts manufacturer, your lawyer, their lawyers, and anyone who might someday object to the modifications. As we are all aware, ANY modifications to a vehicle will probably result in injury, dismemberment, death, or God forbid, public humiliation.
OK, so here is what I did:
Front lift – factory springs, 1.5” KSP spacer puck, and Eibach PRO-TRUCK Sport Shocks set at their highest setting for about 3.5”-4" of combined lift overall.
Rear lift - factory springs and Eibach PRO-TRUCK Sport Shocks set at their 2nd setting for about .3” of lift.
Tires - BFGOODRICH Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 LT295/65R20/E, (35.1 x 11.61)
Wheels/spacers – OEM wheels with 1” Bora spacers (This tire/wheel/spacer combination barely rubbed the front spoiler, so I took off about ¼” of the tip of it. The other rub is was a slight amount on the front crash bars.
Curt front hitch for winch mount
– 1st modification, redrilled the mounting holes 22mm lower and then removing the excess metal above that so it could move the entire thing up 22mm, gaining that much ground clearance.
- 2nd modification, welded a 2nd 2” receiver tube on top of the original one so that the winch would sit up about 2.5” higher. (Total additional height of receiver tube for the winch is about 3.25” higher than the original Curt setup.)
- 3rd modification, welded a 3”x 3/8” steel strap from the two tow hooks to the newly installed 2” receiver tube to provide more strength (for straight pull or pulls at an angle).
Winch – Badlands 12,000# (it does not seem to interfere with the front sensors at all)
Prior to adding the weight of the front hitch and winch, the back end was slightly lower than the front, so I was prepared to bump the spring setting on the shocks rear shocks up one more setting (the maximum per Eibach). Now, with the extra weight it seems about level. I also will be putting a full sized deep cycle battery up front to run the winch, so I’m confident that it will be leveled-out then, if its not now, so I am not likely to adjust the rear further.
No, I didn’t do any major driveline changes. In fact, most of what I did is very similar to what others here have done (and I thank all of you for sharing that information!!). Specific shout outs to: @digitaldad, @Quibbs , @F150ROD, @swtaylor89, @Oafy44, @dr1983, all you guys gave me the information and confidence to go forward with this project!!
I did a few things a differently than what I have seen from others so far, and have an overall unique total package that I thought others might be interested to see.
I do feel like after making the various changes that I have essentially accomplished an "AWD to 4x4 conversion". My Lightning now looks like a modern four-wheel-drive truck, rides like a truck (not a 70’s Caddy), and is much more capable of taking on off-road situations. As others have noted it looks a bit like a Ford Predator now. (It would be GREAT if Ford came out with a package similar to this for those of us who want a 4x4 Electric truck.)
I’m sharing this with you all because I VERY much appreciated picking bits of info from other posts to this forum to guide me, and figured I’d try to give back to the community.
Now for the disclaimer:
The information that I am sharing is for “entertainment purposes only” (barrowed that from various You-Tubers). I am not recommending that ANYONE modify ANYTHING on ANY VEHICLE… EVER without first consulting the vehicle manufacturer, the parts manufacturer, your lawyer, their lawyers, and anyone who might someday object to the modifications. As we are all aware, ANY modifications to a vehicle will probably result in injury, dismemberment, death, or God forbid, public humiliation.
OK, so here is what I did:
Front lift – factory springs, 1.5” KSP spacer puck, and Eibach PRO-TRUCK Sport Shocks set at their highest setting for about 3.5”-4" of combined lift overall.
Rear lift - factory springs and Eibach PRO-TRUCK Sport Shocks set at their 2nd setting for about .3” of lift.
Tires - BFGOODRICH Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 LT295/65R20/E, (35.1 x 11.61)
Wheels/spacers – OEM wheels with 1” Bora spacers (This tire/wheel/spacer combination barely rubbed the front spoiler, so I took off about ¼” of the tip of it. The other rub is was a slight amount on the front crash bars.
Curt front hitch for winch mount
– 1st modification, redrilled the mounting holes 22mm lower and then removing the excess metal above that so it could move the entire thing up 22mm, gaining that much ground clearance.
- 2nd modification, welded a 2nd 2” receiver tube on top of the original one so that the winch would sit up about 2.5” higher. (Total additional height of receiver tube for the winch is about 3.25” higher than the original Curt setup.)
- 3rd modification, welded a 3”x 3/8” steel strap from the two tow hooks to the newly installed 2” receiver tube to provide more strength (for straight pull or pulls at an angle).
Winch – Badlands 12,000# (it does not seem to interfere with the front sensors at all)
Prior to adding the weight of the front hitch and winch, the back end was slightly lower than the front, so I was prepared to bump the spring setting on the shocks rear shocks up one more setting (the maximum per Eibach). Now, with the extra weight it seems about level. I also will be putting a full sized deep cycle battery up front to run the winch, so I’m confident that it will be leveled-out then, if its not now, so I am not likely to adjust the rear further.
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