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While the Ford Ranger may be a great little truck, if you need maximum storage solutions and organization, you might need to look into some bed racks. Regardless if you are doing some overlanding, or a weekend camping trip, bed racks make a world of difference in your Ranger. Bed racks are a popular mod to Rangers that are railed systems that bolt into the bed of your truck in minutes. They allow you to mount your gear to the sides and top of the unit keeping what you need organized and within reach. 

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

What Do You Need Them For?

Need is a subjective word that, for lack of better words, depends on your needs. What gear do you need to carry?  Do you need a rooftop tent? Is it something you want on your daily driver? These are all things to take into consideration when you start looking at bed racks. If you do some serious camping, overlanding, or just like to be prepared, a bed rack can become your new best friend.

How are they installed?

Installing a bed rack on a Ford Ranger is actually very easy! Once you get it into place on top of the bed, you simply clamp it down onto the lip of the bed, and you’re done! There is no cutting or drilling required with most modern day “plug-and-play” kits.

How do they work?

Bed racks give you another layer of storage above your bed. In most cases, these racks will have flat rails that stretch across the top of the rack to give you anchor points to tie down your gear, or mount things like rooftop tents.

If you have a bed rack that is taller to match the height of your cab’s roofline, it is common to find rails or mounting points on the side that allow for more locations to keep your gear. The sides are common to store fuel cans, water cans, tools like shovels and axes, and other slim items that won’t extend the overall width of your Ranger by too much.

What heights do they come in?

There are three main heights that you can find for your Ford Ranger: flush, roof height, and mid height. Flush height would rest right across the top of your bed. While this limits the amount of storage that you can have under the rack as you will just be limited to the cubic footage of the bed itself, this means you can mount taller things on the rack. Even if it’s just a spare tire, you now don’t have to worry about the overall height of your truck being extended. It also gives your truck a much more subtle appearance.

Bed racks that extend to the height of your cab’s roof give you maximum storage capacity in your bed and under the rack. If you have side rails as well, you have even more storage capacity at your disposal. Keep in mind that you’ll definitely be changing that overall appearance of your Ranger. It will have that overlanding/bugout look.

Of course there are racks that meet in the middle as well that we will call mid height. These can also have side rails depending on the height, but of course, you will not be able to haul as much. Just keep in mind your needs, and purchase accordingly.

POPULAR OPTIONS

Now that you know the basics about bed racks, let’s take a look at some popular options. These are what we have found are popular on the forums, Facebook groups, and with our own customers. This is by no means a complete list. Find what works for your needs and your budget.

RCI Off Road 12” HD Bed Rack

One of the most popular bed racks on almost any truck would be this one from RCI. While this is a universal rack, it has not stopped anyone from making use of it on their Ranger to great success. This rack stands at 12 inches, and includes two top braces perfect for rooftop tents and other gear. One of the key features are the side rails that make your mounting capabilities almost limitless. You can hold up to 750 pounds of a static load. The rack installs quickly and looks great! You can get this rack for just over $1000.

Cali Raised Overland Bed Rack

Cali Raised has been in the off-road industry for a while now. While known for their LED lighting solutions, they are no stranger to many of your other off-roading and overlanding needs. Unlike many other racks that come in one height, this kit allows you to order 7, 10, or 17.5 inches in height. It is only 55 pounds and comes with two top rails and side walls for mounting. In the event you want to get yourself a rooftop tent as well, you can get a Smittybilt tent with this kit! No guessing and researching fitment needed. Prices start at $930, but can be optioned up to just over $2300.

Prinsu Cab Height Bed Rack

Prinsu has been mentioned in a lot of our articles before, and for good reason: they know what they are doing. Their cab height rack is no exception. In addition to being highly capable, it is one of the most aggressive looking designs. So, if you are looking for that off-road look, here’s what you need. Beyond that, you get plenty of mounting locations on the top and sides, and you can choose between bare metal or a black powder coat. Prices start at just over $1035.

Yakima Medium Profile Bed Rack

If you want to keep things as “factory” as possible, this kit from Yakima can be found directly on the Ford Accessories website. While not Ford exactly, for it to be in the shop, it is something they trust. This rack is a bit different. The front and back supports are not connected, so you can place these any distance you want for greater flexibility. However, this also means no side rails. This keeps things more basic, but flexible. One down side is the cost: $1100. While that does not seem like a lot of rail for the money, that is a price you can expect for something “almost OEM.”

Front Runner Slimline II Bed Rack

Front Runner Outfitters offers something different. With most of these racks offering storage on the sides, Front Runner focuses more on the top of the rack. The lightweight aluminum design gives you maximum surface area to give you the best base for a rooftop tent, or to tie down anything you need anywhere on the rack! While more pricey with a base price of $1225, they do offer the surface area of a second bed. It’s a more streamlined design over having side storage.

TO SUM IT UP

Hauling your gear is something you need to take special attention to. A weekend warrior will have different needs compared to an Overlanding pro. Do you need all of the side storage mounting surface area possible, or do you need the most streamline top storage? Now that you have some idea on what’s out there, the next step is getting a bed rack for your Ford Ranger! Get out there, haul your stuff, and have fun. 

Image Credits

 

RCI Rack - Courtesy of Stage 3 Motorsports

Cali Raised Rack - Courtesy of Cali Raised

Prinsu Rack - Courtesy of Prinsu

Yakima Rack - Courtesy of Ford Parts

Front Runner Rack - Courtesy of Front Runner

Ford hit the ball out of the park with the Ranger. It checks just about all of the boxes from looks to performance. Ford sat back and saw what worked on all the midsize trucks, and more importantly, what people were asking for. Then they stepped in and said, “Here is a damn good truck.”

However, like any production vehicle, it has to be cost effective to make, and that means leaving off some key features that “truck” owners and vehicle customizers love such as lighting. Thankfully with the popularity of the Ranger, there is an ever growing aftermarket that can help with all of your lighting needs.

Before we get into all the goodies you can get into lighting for your Ford Ranger, let’s talk a bit about what you are most likely going to be upgrading to: LEDs.

What are LED Lights & How Are They Different Than Halogen?

Let’s first get some basics out of the way. What exactly makes these two types of lights different, what are the benefits, and so on… First off, a “light-emitting diode” (or LED) is a semiconductor in an enclosure that emits light when electricity passes through it. Sounds fancy, but in most basic terms, power passes through a small chip or electronic material, and it lights up when it does.

Sounds great, but what’s the difference? Basically we are talking about analog and digital forms of light, so to speak. A halogen is an updated version of the classic incandescent bulb first designed in 1879. While halogen bulbs are using much higher grade material compared to their historic counterparts, the operation is the same: electricity heats up a filament that interacts with the gas in the bulb, and you have light.

In the case of a halogen, we’re talking about a heated tungsten filament interacting with halogen gas. This will make a much brighter light compared to the bulb in your grandpa’s attic, but all analog mediums have a shelf light. The filaments can degrade over time, they can physically break, and the heat emitted can cause premature failure if the glass of the bulb was contaminated by something such as oily fingers during installation. This will have them fail before LEDs will. Since we’re talking about one type of metal and one type of gas interacting, you’re going to get one color and brightness of light.

While the invention of the LED is a bit dated too coming into light in 1962, when we think of it in terms of a “digital” device, we can definitely imagine how much it has improved since then! An LED light is going to give you an instant on/off light stream, better control of the color, and different brightness levels that halogens simply cannot do.

One easy way to imagine this is to think about buying a phone. Every phone these days is going to do the same thing. Some just do them better, and that usually depends on the cost. LED lights are the same: they all light up, but the amount of technology in them will allow them to be different.

Here’s a quick chart to explain some differences:

What Kind of LED Lights Are Available For Ford Rangers?

I hope you didn’t forget why you’re here: Rangers! Now that you should be convinced that LED lighting is the way to go, what is actually available for your Ford Ranger? Thankfully since LEDs and Fords are both so popular, the short answer is everything! Let’s take a look at some categories, and a couple popular choices for each. 

Headlights

These are easy to get in either replacement bulbs, and entire housing assemblies. Bulbs are easy plug and play replacements that simply take the place of your factory bulb. Replacing the entire housing with a completely built aftermarket headlight assembly will be more costly, but are still pretty straightforward to install, and don't require any modification.

A complete assembly will generally give you a complete style overhaul with new features (such as sequential turn signals) over a standalone bulb. They also generally come blacked out in some way (housing or lens) which will give a very popular smoked/tinted look. Of course, high end models generally come with different style or color options so you’re not stuck with one option.

AlphaRex LUXX-Series LED Projector Headlights

These guys make some incredible headlights for all types of vehicles, and the level of expertise does not change when it comes to the Rangers. These lights come with Black or Alpha-Black housings that either match your truck give that smoked look respectively.

The sequential turn signal also activates when you lock and unlock your truck giving you a custom light show each and every time you hit that lock or unlock button. These also come with white daytime running lights for a bit of extra class. All of this is for $860.

GTR Lighting Carbide LED Headlights

If you want something that won’t break the bank but still has style and function, GTR Lighting has this pair. Complete with daytime running lights and sequential turn signals, these high output lights will make sure you are seen and that you can see.

The daytime running lights are a unique “C” shape that take up maximum real estate for superb visibility especially when offset by the gloss and matte black housing. With an MSRP of $600, you’re getting a lot of headlight for not a lot of money.

Tail Lights

These are pretty limited to get anything “name brand” for the Ranger. It’s a sad reality, but it’s just not as popular. You can find some stuff on eBay, which not everything on there is bad, but longevity becomes the main issue.

One thing that you can do would be to tint them or “smoke” them yourself. The two easiest ways would be with vinyl or a spray tint. Vinyl would be your best looking option, but over time it can become brittle and shrink. A spray is cheap and easy to do, but also easy to mess up and make LOOK cheap, which is not what you want.

RVINYL Rtint Precut Tail Light Tint

You can go ahead and get a sheet of tint and cut and form it to your tail lights yourself, or for $40, you can get something precut for your Ranger. This takes the stress away from measuring, cutting, and forming. However, you don’t want to mess up! Thankfully installing vinyl to any part of a vehicle is generally pretty easy, as long as you take your time.

Fog lights

These are generally get overlooked, but are easy and inexpensive to replace. In most cases, to get the best performance from your fog lights, you’ll want to replace the whole factory pod with an aftermarket LED one. While it sounds like a daunting task, it’s easy!

These are normally all plug and play, making use of your factory hardware. In the event they don’t directly fit into the factory cutout, brackets are generally supplied. Of course you can take a different route and just replace the bulb with an LED bulb, but like the headlights, that’s not ideal if you want the best.

Cali Raised LED Fog Light Pods

The guys over at Cali Raised are pros when it comes to LED lighting for superior off-road performance and night time illumination. Their fog light pods are no exception. These are made in the USA, and are a direct replacement of your factory pods. They have all the needed hardware, and you can choose between white or amber LEDs. This kit will run you $175.

Rigid Off-Road Ford Performance Fog Lights

If you want something a little more “Ford,” these fog light pods by Rigid Off-Road are sold directly on the Ford store as an accessory for your 2019-2022 Ford Ranger. The kit is plug and play and reversible with no cutting or splicing required. It integrates with your factory fog light switch. Like most things “from the factory,” you are going to pay a bit of a premium: $530.

Ditch lights

These are not something you get from the factory, so these would have to be aftermarket. These lights mount behind your hood on either side, and when installed properly, cast extra lighting off to the sides of where your headlight’s field of view stops. These are great when you’re off on the trails or off-roading at night as they will generally light up the sides of the road you can’t normally see. They will keep you safe in the dark, and don’t require any permanent modification.

There are many cases where you can get a kit that offers brackets and LED light pods, but it’s not uncommon to have to buy both separately. Since the main concern with mounting something on any vehicle is the actual mounting part, you might have better luck finding brackets that fit, and then getting the light pods you want.

Cali Raised Low Profile Ditch Light Bracket Kit

Back at it again is Cali Raised LED with their bracket kit. This mounts directly to your hood and allows for the articulation of the pods in any direction. These are the lowest profile mounts on the market which will help keep your lights safe and your visibility high. The kit will run you $160, but you have the option of four different types of pods.

Diode Dynamics Stage Series Backlit Ditch Light

The brackets are made from thick stainless steel for prolonged durability and corrosion protection. They are easy to install, and they guys over at Diode Dynamics give you plenty of lighting options. Not only can you choose between just the brackets, white, or amber LED pods, but each color pod gives you four different styles! This variation in style also comes with variation in price with the highest priced kit coming in at $440.

Light Bars

These are for the ultimate in off-road looks and low lighting performance, you can’t go wrong with an LED light bar. These generally mount either on your roof, in, on, or behind your front grille, or the same for your lower grille/bumper. The bumper one is the most popular for the Ranger due to it being out of the way, subtle, and easy to install without major modification. Light bars are simply a robust row (or two) of bright LEDs designed to make sure you see everything in front of you. There are different types, so let’s get into them!

What are Light Bars Used For?

In short, light bars are used for extra illumination. While high-beams can offer better light in darkness, light bars allow for a more customizable line of sight in the dark from the different size and mounting abilities. Light bars are mainly for off-road use and most are generally not allowed to be used on public roads. So keep that in mind when you think about getting one.

What Are The Different Light Bar Sizes?

Single Row: For the most part, a single row light bar is going to have a single row of LED lights that produce a more focused beam of light. Think in terms of a spotlight. Generally this is best if you want to light up a longer distance.

Double Row: A double row light bar is best for more of a floodlight, containing two rows of bright LED lights. If you want to light up a large area, a double could be better. This is just a basic principle, but things could change depending on which LEDs you use, the length of the row, placement, and so on.

 

What Are The Different Types of Light Bar Beams?

While the size portion above talked about what types of beams the number of rows generally produces, there are specific beams of light that you can look for: spot, flood, and combo. What you should get depends on where you plan on using them, and what you plan on using them for.

Spot Beam: Spot beams focus a narrow beam of light in a specific area. These are best for distance and a specific line of sight. If you are faced with long open roads without much vegetation, this could be an option for you. On a road like that, you could be going at faster speeds then you would be if you were in the woods. You will want a beam of light that can see obstacles in the road far before you reach them.

Flood Beam: Flood beams spread out light over a wider and taller surface area, but not as far as a spot beam. Something like this would be better in thicker vegetation where you need to see more around you, and light can’t travel that far of a distance in that type of an environment anyway (with all the trees). If you use the lights on your truck to light up a work site or something along those lines, this could be a better option too.

Combo Beam: What if you need both? Enter the combo light. This has the narrow throw of the spot beam, with a wide spread of a flood beam. This is generally accomplished with two light sources in the same fixture. Keep in mind that some combos may not shoot as far as a standalone spot fixture, but they are very versatile. Can you switch between modes on combo lights? Some bars allow that function, and that could make them the best between all three worlds.

What Are The Different Light Bar Colors?

While there are technically many colors of LEDs you can get, there are laws about what color lighting you are allowed to use on public roads. The safest two options would be white or amber. Basically it comes down to preference. Amber lights have the same patterns as white lights, but are not as bright due to the filtered light. Some LED bars and bulbs offer both options. Shop around and find what’s best for you! Keep in mind your federal and state laws before you get too carried away with other colors.

Standard Light Bar Mounting Options

The three main ways to mount LED light bars on your Ford Ranger are on the lower grill/bumper, the main grille, or on the roof. While money and creativity can make almost any mounting location a reality, let’s take a look at the three main ways.

Lower Grill/Bumper Mounts: This is definitely the most popular spot to have the light bars for a Ranger. As mentioned, the area is out of the way and makes the inclusion of a light bar pretty subtle. While you can of course see it, it fits the lines of the truck and looks factory. Generally there is not much detrimental modification that you’ll have to do, so installation is pretty straightforward.

If you live in an area where you must have a front license plate, thankfully they sit high enough on the bumper to not interfere with a potential lightbar. There are a couple out there that make use of mounting to the lower grille, but then arch up and the light bar goes across the center of the bumper. That definitely will cause issues with a front plate, so buy accordingly.

Cali Raised 22” Hidden LED Bumper Light Bar Kit

You knew I was going to mention these guys again! This kit is easy to install with minimal modification. You can choose either just the brackets or a 22” spot or combo beam. If you choose to add the light bar, your kit will of course come with all of the wiring you need. The total kit will run you $434 (that is the brackets and light bar.)

Rough Country 20” LED Light Bar

If you’re looking for something a little more cost effective but still quality, Rough Country offers this kit. The kit comes with the brackets and wiring that you need, and of course with a 20 inch light bar. It is only a single row, but you can choose between their black-series or chrome-series to match the look you’re going for. The kit costs $200.

Upper Grille Mounts: If you choose to go for the upper grill mounts, you’re going to get more into that “off-road” look. The mid level placement can command better lighting options for those dark trails, but you might start to see more modification required to get these to fit depending on the kit. Since the upper grille is larger, this means that you can usually fit a larger light bar as well, which is great for you off-roaders.

Options are a bit more on the limited side with this method since you do have to be after a certain look to want this across the front of your truck.

Single 30 Inch Light Bar

This 30 inch light bar will sit across the upper portion of your upper grille. It makes use of the factory openings in your grille, so there is no cutting or modifications required making mounting a breeze. You can choose between an amber or white LED light bar, but unfortunately a harness is NOT included. It will run you $358, and then you have to get a harness.

RTR Light Bar Grille with LED Lights

This one is a bit different. Yes, this has a light bar, but you are going to be replacing the whole upper grille. Not only will you have an integrally mounted 18 inch LED light bar, but you’ll get a massive style change as well. It’s a straightforward install with no cutting required. You’ll get everything in the box you need from hardware, wiring, and even cable ties!

Roof Mounts: Roof mounts offer good function and style. If you want that off-roading look as well as serious illumination power, roof mounts are the way to go. While you may not be able to see directly in front of your front tires with the bar on the roof, you get a good line of sight, depending on the beam (spot, flood, or combo) that you choose. Keep in mind that in many cases, drilling may be required to mount these.

If you decide to end up getting a roof rack or may want to get one down the road, keep in mind that many roof racks can come with or allow the pairing of an LED light bar as well! Like ditch lights, you’ll find it common to have to buy the mounts and light bars separately. This is also where you can usually get away with mounting your biggest light bar due to the amount of real estate available!

Here’s the bad news… Since this is the least popular way to mount a light bar on a Ranger, and the Ranger has only been around again since 2019, there are no real mainstream options for light bars. This is where you are going to get into custom territory. You’ll generally have to buy a universal light bar, and mount it yourself (or take it to a shop). As time goes on, there may be more kits out there, but sadly, most people are going just for the grille mounts.

To Sum It All Up…

LED lighting is generally the way to go. They last longer, they are brighter, they are more versatile, and they just look so much better. With LED technology being so inexpensive now, the sky is the limit! Light up the night sky, or simply be the best looking Ford Ranger in the parking lot. Either way, I hope this guide has answered all of your questions regarding LED lighting for your Ford Ranger.

 

Image Credits:

AlphaRex LUXX - Courtesy of AlphaRex

GTR Lighting - Courtesy of GTR Lighting

Cali Raised Fog Lights - Courtesy of Roof Top Overland

Rigid Fog Lights - Courtesy of Ford Store

Cali Raised Ditch Lights - Courtesy of Cali Raised

Diode Dynamics Ditch Lights - Courtesy of Diode Dynamics

Cali Raised Light Bar - Courtesy of Cali Raised

Rough Country Light Bar - Courtesy of Rough Country

30 Inch Light Bar - Courtesy of American Trucks

RTR Light Bar Grille - Courtesy of RTR Vehicle

Roof Light Bar - Courtesy of Driving Line

Every vehicle on the road requires maintenance, and that is no different for the most popular truck in the world: the Ford F-150. If you want your truck to run well, deliver the best performance, and last long, you have to take care of it.

While many aspects of repairs on modern vehicles are best left to the professionals, many maintenance tasks are things you can do at home. As long as you have the right tools, the right knowledge, and a little bit of time, you can get the most out of your Ford F-150. So, let’s get into it!

Reference Vehicle

To keep things a little on the newer side, when referencing a vehicle, I am going to reference a 2020 Ford F-150 with the 5.0L V8. I will clarify when it’s not.

Fluid Inspection and Top-Offs

Your F-150 has lots of fluids that you will need to inspect from time to time. Being low (or in some cases too full) could lead to some very expensive problems down the line. On top of that, fluid doesn’t just vanish. If you’re losing some type of fluid, you want to realize that sooner than later to find out what you need to do to stop it.

Each fluid reservoir in your engine bay has a MAX and MIN fill line. You want to make sure that your fluid is between that. Oil, is of course measured and inspected by your dipstick.

Oil, power steering fluid (not applicable to newer F-150s), brake fluid, and coolant are all products that you can buy of the shelf at your local auto parts store, big box store, or even Amazon. If you are low on any type of fluid, check your manual to see what type of that particular fluid that you need, buy it, and fill it up.

After doing so, check that reservoir again from time to time to see if it leaks again, and how fast it is if it does. Make note, and get your truck to a mechanic.

There are other greases and fluids that you will find in your manual, but these are the most important ones, and the ones that are user serviceable.

Oil Changes

While we're talking about fluids, let’s talk about the most important thing you can do to prolong the life of any vehicle: oil changes. Oil is the life and blood of any engine. If it gets too old or too low, your engine will suffer and cost you thousands in repairs. 

Conventional oil should be changed every 3,000 miles, or at least once every year if you drive less than 3,000 miles. Synthetic oil can get closer to 10,000 miles. Why is this important? Oil brakes down over time. The more it is used, oil will get dirty, break down, and lose the ability to lubricate your engine properly. Letting it sit over time will cause it to naturally break down, and will lead to similar results.

Here is a good video on how to change your oil. While this person has some helpful shop tools, you only need basic tools to get this done:

Ford did make some creative engineering choices, so try not to make a mess! If you don’t want to do it yourself, a dealership is a great, yet expensive option. There are plenty of local shops that offer coupons to get your business. Bottom line: CHANGE YOUR OIL when you’re supposed to and with what you're supposed to.

Tire Pressure and Alignment

While this may not seem like something overly important, the pressure and alignment of your tires can make a world of difference in your truck’s performance.

Ford suggests filling your tires up to 35 to 40 psi on both the front and rear tires. Keep in mind that these are for factory brand and size tires during normal driving. If you put different sized tires on, there is a chance that you may need a different pressure. Off-roading may require you to air down your tires for better traction, but we’ll save that talk for another post!

Thankfully, modern vehicles will monitor tire pressure for you, and warn you when things get too low. Head off to a gas station that has an air pump, and fill them up when they get low! If one particular tire keeps getting low, you may want to check it for leaks, or perhaps a damaged wheel.

Alignment refers to the angles that your wheels and tires are in relation to your truck and each other. While there is a ton that we can go into about this, there are a couple things you can look our for to see if your alignment is off.

The first would be driveability. Do you notice your truck pulling in a random direction? Does it shake when you drive? Things like this could be an alignment or tire balance issue. You can also check for uneven wear on the tire tread. Do you notice the outsides or insides being worn out faster compared to the rest of the tire? That’s generally a poor alignment. While that’s not something you should really attempt to fix yourself, it is a good thing to be able to know how to spot.

Filter Inspection and Replacement

There are two main filters located on the F-150 that you need to worry about: the main air intake filter, and the cabin air filter. The main air intake filter is responsible for filtering the air that goes into your engine, and the cabin air filter (think of the filter for the air conditioning unit in your home) is responsible for filtering the air that enters your truck’s HVAC system. Both should be replaced regularly to maintain top and safe performance.

This is something that mechanics love to charge a good amount for because it’s pure profit for them. The filters are cheap and very easy to get to and do yourself. Both filters (if you get budget ones) will be about $10 each.

Fun fact... If you want to go all out with your air filter, you can replace it with a cold air intake which is not only easy to do, but gives you more power!  You can read all about that in our F-150 performance mod guide.

A good rule of thumb for replacing your intake air filter should be every 10,000 miles or so. You may want to do this more if you drive in dusty areas. Failure to do so will lead to your engine having to work harder. We have all had to wear masks recently, right? Try breathing through that mask if you cover the front with leaves. Not fun!

Your cabin air filter can go a bit longer to about 20,000 miles. This once again though will depend on how frequently you use your HVAC system and the conditions you drive in. Yours truly forgot about this in his 2005 Mustang and replaced it for the first time couple years ago. Needless to say, it was black.

Here is a video about how to replace the air filter: 

The cabin filter is a bit trickier to get to, but still easy.  Here is a video on that: 

Spark Plugs

This is going a bit beyond your every day maintenance, but Ford makes this very easy to do on the modern F-150 engines. Spark plugs deliver the spark your engine needs to ignite the fuel being sprayed into your engine. Over time, your plugs begin to get fouled (dirty), and don’t deliver a strong spark. You may notice this in terms of misfires or a rough idle.

Spark plugs should be changed every 30,000 miles or so, depending on what type you have. With a few basic tools (ratchet, sockets, spark plug socket, and screwdriver/pick tool), you can tackle this. If you don’t have these tools, get them! You will use them far more than you think.

With Ford’s “coil on plug” design in both the EcoBoost V6 and the V8, everything you need is on the top of the engine. After unplugging and removing the coils, unscrew the old spark plugs and screw the new ones in. No taking off wheels and lifting the vehicle needed here, like on some makes and models. 

Here is a quick video on replacing the spark plugs on a V8 F-150: 

Here is a video on replacing the spark plugs on an EcoBoost F-150: 

Cleaning your Throttle Body and MAF Sensor

Your mass airflow sensor (MAF) is a bit of circuitry that reads the air that’s coming into your engine. It will read a number of parameters and tell your engine how to run accordingly… What RPM, the amount of fuel, amount of air, and so on. When this gets dirty over time, it can start causing false readings. You’ll start to lose power and probably some MPGs as well.

Thankfully this is super easy to clean. For a few bucks at your local auto parts store, you can pick up a can of MAF sensor cleaner. Then just disconnect your battery (to be on the safe side), unplug your MAF, unscrew two screws holding it in, then pull it out and spray it down! Once it’s dry, reverse the process, and your truck will come alive once again.

Your throttle body is responsible for letting air into the engine. If it gets dirty, it may slow down how fast it opens and closes, or it may have trouble opening and closing completely. Your truck may start to sputter, and maybe even stall. This is also easy to clean!

Go back to that auto parts store and pick up a can of throttle body cleaner (not carb cleaner). Take off the intake tube, spray the cleaner onto a cotton cloth (like an old t-shirt), and wipe the inside down! Make sure you open the valve and get behind it. Be careful and gentle, and don’t let the valve slam closed.

If you do these two things, especially if it’s been a while or never since the last time, you’ll be amazed at the results. Close to $10 will get you the two cans (that will last you years), and it will take you 30 minutes to do both things. A shop will charge you close to $100 for this service.

Fuel System Cleaner

Regardless if your truck is new or old, a good fuel system cleaner added regularly can aid in keeping things running better for longer. What this is is a little bottle that you can get for around $5-$7 that you pour into your gas tank. It will clean your fuel injectors (which can get expensive) and things like the valves in your engine. Some suggest doing this every time you get an oil change as a good and even interval.

Make sure you read the label on the bottle you plan to get. Some are for higher mileage engines and stuff like that. Find the one you think would work best for you, and dump it in when it tells you to, which is normally right before you get gas.

While you won’t notice any amazing gains in performance, you won’t be losing any in the future either! Again, this is something shops love to charge for since it’s pure profit. Save the money, and do it yourself!

Washing Your Truck!

Okay, okay... Washing your truck?  Really?  Yes... Really. Roads are dirty. The great outdoors are dirty! While some dirt may be harmless, other dirt can be a disaster. Salt and other corrosive contaminants that you may encounter in your journeys can be a death sentence to your paint and the metal of your truck.

These contaminants (salt being the most common from either ice prevention or being near oceans) eat away at paint and metal over time. If you ever encounter these conditions, it is best to wash your truck as soon as you can. This includes the bottom side of your truck! While this is not the easiest thing to do, if you plan on keeping your truck for a while, you want to keep it clean so you don’t start getting rust. Rust is death.

Conclusion

There is a lot that you can do to keep your truck running longer, performing better, and to keep more money in your pocket. If you have greater mechanical skills, there is plenty more than you can do on your own, but if you’re just a novice with a couple of tools, you will be able to do everything I talked about.

Just keep up with it. Ford’s are very strong, but they need to be taken care of like any vehicle. Take care of it, and it will take care of you!

Having the best selling truck means that on the inside you’ll be graced with plenty of tech, comfort, quality, and style. While you can get different options from the factory, most of the interiors are going to be pretty similar. If you’re spending hours and hours in your truck, you want it to be yours. Thankfully there is a massive aftermarket for the F-150, and people have done plenty of custom mods as well.

For this guide, I’m going to be focusing more on the newer F-150s around 2018 and newer. This guide is going to help you out with some ways to truly make the interior of your truck yours. While this is not a complete guide by any means, hopefully this will help give you some ideas about what is out there. Let’s get started!

Storage Trays and Organizers

The F-150 has plenty of compartments to store almost anything, but in many cases, these areas are just holes, cutouts, and boxes. While that’s fine if you just like to throw things in places, or if you have bigger things you need to store, what about for your organization of smaller things? Thankfully there are plenty of storage trays and organizers.

Starting from the top and working our way down, there are a few different tray options for the storage well in the center of your dash. For about $16, this dashboard organizer comes with different color accents on the anti-slip mat.

While there may be a small tray to put some stuff in for the center console, if you really need extra organization and would like to leave the bottom section of the center console its own thing, a full center console organizer will help drastically. There is a $23 center console organizer on Amazon that offers four unique sections. They each have a non-slip mat that can be taken out and cleaned if you need to.

The last bit would be the upper glove box. It’s a strange shape, but a great addition to have. What would make it even better would be a divider of some sort. Well, that’s a thing! Amazon comes through again with this $20 upper glove box organizer. Some complain that it makes the compartments a little too small, but just make sure it’s what you’re looking for. 

All together, for about $59, you can get the most out of the storage compartments on your F-150.

Under Seat Storage

Did you think we were done with storage? Nope! The F-150 allows for much more storage capabilities. One of the many would be under seat storage. There is a pretty big gap between the rear seats and floor. While that space is welcomed if you frequently raise your rear seats to make use of the extra floor space, if you don’t, you might want to look into taking advantage of the storage space.

There are a few options out there, and one like the Rough Country under seat storage is a good option to maintain a factory look, but get more than the factory offered. It’s easy to install and requires no cutting or drilling. Access your gear simply by lifting the rear seats, and when you’re done, just put the seat back down. 

Seat Covers

While certain trim levels can give you some really nice seats, your lower trim or basic work trucks are going to have more basic cloth seats. While they are still durable and look decent, seat covers offer two major things: style and protection.

Seat covers will work wonders in protecting your factory seats, which will up your resale value and extend the life of them. Stains are much better on a cover instead of the factory seats. When it comes to style, there are so many options that will change the material, color, stitching, and feel.

If you are looking for some quick protection for a weekend trip to the beach or a camping excursion, you might just want to cover your seats quickly and be able to take the covers off quickly. Something like a seat cloth is perfect for that. It doesn’t offer much in terms of style, but it’s for great quick protection. There are also similar ones designed for your back seats so your furry friends don’t destroy your upholstery either. Seat covers for your dogs come in all shapes and sizes depending on your needs.

If you are looking for a complete style overhaul with different material, color, patterns, stitching, and so on, there are tons of options out there.  However, this is where things start to get a bit more expensive since not only does the material cost more, but you start to lose the “universal” fit, and covers start to be made specifically for your F-150 model. Katzkin seat covers are a great option to give you that factory look in a style you can’t actually get from the factory.

Floor Mats

Floor Mats can be used for both utility and style. Depending on how you use your Ford F-150, you might need something more durable, but if you use your truck for daily street use, you might want something more luxurious. There are multiple price points for each style as well, so it’s easy to find something in your budget and style.

If you use your truck as a truck you need something with a bit more durability. Rubber floor mats will offer the most protection of your floor at the trade off of a luxurious feel. Regardless if you take your truck to the work site, weekend camping trip, or just have pets or kids, rubber floor mats will not wear down anywhere nearly as fast as carpet based mats, and they are easy to clean. Simply take them out and spray them down with a hose. Husky floor mats are just one option, and they will run about $150 for a full set, like other brands.

Door Sill Protectors

Something a little different that offers both style and protection are custom door sill protectors. Getting in and out of your truck can lead to your shoes rubbing against your door sills, and while paint is very robust, constant rubbing can lead to the paint wearing down, and that can be expensive to fix.

Door sill protectors will take a beating for your paint by being placed right over the door sill. Tufskinz Ford F-150 door sill protectors range from $20 to $150 depending on the multitude of options you can select. You can do basic, raw carbon fiber, logos, front doors, and rear doors. They come with a two year warranty, and are easy to install. It’s one of the first things someone will notice when they open your door.

Emblem Blackout and Chrome Delete

Some of us don't like the bling and flash of chrome. While it can be stylish, some of us view it as “old school.” Let’s face is: blacked out is one of the new modern looks, and if done right, your F-150 can definitely benefit from an interior blackout.

You can get something like these F-150 interior knob covers for $34 that cover the chrome with different colors of you choice, which should be black of course. There are also a number of pre-cut vinyl overlays that you can purchase as well that get placed over the trim in your truck, such as this trim overlay kit on Etsy. Make sure you read the reviews to make sure they are good cuts!

Since not everything can be accomplished with a pre-made product, you might have to get creative with some aspects. Things like the steering wheel logo can be blacked out using something like black vinyl that you cut out by hand, or Plasti Dip.  With Plasti Dip, you can spray a few light coats on when what you want, and you can always peel it off later if you get bored with it.

Audio Upgrades

Base audio systems in vehicles have drastically increased over the years, and the Ford F-150 offers some premium audio options. However, if you have the “work truck” model, you may want a little extra from the sound system. Thankfully there are not only tons of options that you can find online, but there are plenty of local audio shops around that can help you get the most out of your budget.

Sound systems can get pretty pricey depending on if you upgrade the speakers, amp, or combination of both, but there are usually systems out there to fit your budget, or at least within reason.

A good place to start for speaker upgrades for an F-150 would be on forums and sites like Crutchfield. Sites like this will allow you to implement the specific truck you have, and it will tell you what speakers fit, how many, head units, and more. Forums will have plenty of reviews and suggestions from people just like you.

Speaker installation is generally easy and plug and play after taking off some panels. Amps and head units can get a bit more complicated depending on the brand and how vehicle specific it is. If you are uncomfortable installing something like this, it never hurts to go to an audio shop. Crossing some wires can lead to blown fuses, and no one wants that. 

Phone Mount

While I don’t suggest ever using your phone while driving, sometimes you may not want to use the built in Android Auto or CarPlay and you just want to use your phone. While you can get a cheap gas station mount, they don’t last, and they might just look awkward on your sleek interior.

The Scoshe ProClip Mount for the Ford F-150 and Raptor matches the sleek angles of your cabin. It clips to the seams of the dashboard and rests near the driver. You choose head option you want to be able to mount your phone to the base. Prices range from $75 to $120, but you get what you pay for.

Tint

Alright… This is sort of exterior and interior, but tint can make a world of difference in your F-150. Tint serves two major purposes: security and temperature reduction. Tint will help wandering eyes stop seeing who is driving the hottest looking truck in town. You don’t have to be a superstar or up to no good to need this. You could simply be sitting in the parking lot waiting to pick up your child from school. The point is, you don’t need people looking at you.

The second most important feature is temperature reduction. Regardless if it’s hot outside or not, the sun beating down on your truck all day will spike the interior temperature of your F-150. Tint will help control the amount of sun getting in your truck, which will keep the temperatures down.

You do want to keep in mind that tint at night will decrease visibility, and different states (in the US) have different laws regarding how dark tint can be. Make sure you take all of this into consideration before you install your tint.

Tint can be done yourself if you have the time and skills. There are precut kits where the pieces line up with each window, sheets of tint of that you can cut yourself and place over each piece of glass, and you can of course take your truck to a tint shop to get it done professionally.  Good looks, and good function. What could be better?

Ambient Lighting

While the modern Ford F-150 has some great interior lighting, if you want more illumination or some personalized color, you might want to look into some aftermarket solutions. The company F150LEDs offers an LED ambient lighting kit for $180 that will transform the interior of your Ford F-150 from dull to flashy!

This particular kit has a seven zone system that includes lighting for the driver and passenger footwells, driver and passenger front under dash lighting, the left and right rear passengers, and light for the massive center console! There are plenty of color combinations, and auto on/off feature, and no splicing required.

Of course you can always go on eBay and buy the parts to create your own if you know what you’re doing. It is absolutely something people will notice right away when they get in your truck.

To sum it all up, your Ford F-150 should be made to be the truck you want. When you get in your cabin, you want your truck to say, “this is mine.” Hopefully this guide will get you started in the right direction to start customizing the interior of your ride. With the vast aftermarket for the F-150, the only limit is your budget and imagination, so get to it!

* Please note that some of these links are Amazon affiliate links and we make a small commission if you purchase the product.

Image Credits

Dashboard Organizer - Courtesy of SENSHINE Amazon Store

Center Console Organizer - Courtesy of Ecarzo Amazon Store

Upper Glove Box Organizer - Courtesy of SKTU Amazon Store

Seat Cover for Dogs - Courtesy of F150 Online

Katzkin Seat Covers - Courtesy of Katzkins

Husky Floor Mats - Courtesy of the Husky Liners Amazon Store

Under Seat Storage - Courtesy of Rough Country

Trim Overlay – Courtesy of MyCarMyWay Store on Etsy

Phone Mount – Courtesy of Scose

Tinted Windows – Courtesy of Reddit User Avocalado

Ambient Lighting – Courtesy of F150LEDs

With the Ford F-150 being the highest selling truck in the galaxy, you are bound to see quite a few of them on the road. If you are focused on looks, customization is key to making any vehicle yours, and the easiest way to do that with any vehicle is with wheels.

Along with that customization, you may have a specific terrain you drive on frequently. For that, tires will make a world of difference on the pavement, in the rain or snow, or in the great outdoors.

How do you know which wheels and tires are for you? While there are practically limitless combinations, I’m going to give you a few choices to get you started based on what’s popular on the market right now. Let’s get started with the ultimate F-150 wheel and tire guide!

Stock F-150 Wheel Sizes

Ford has come out with different sized wheels over the years, but from 2004 and on, you’re going to find a stock wheel size of 17x7.5. When it comes to tires, different size tires can fit on stock wheels, but it’s best to check your manual to see what size you should have. I’ll get into why that’s important in a second.

It is important to note that different trim level F-150s can come with different sized wheels, but the base will be the 17s. As mentioned, you always want to check your manual.

F-150 Lug Patterns and Offset

Your lug pattern is important to know when considering wheels. There are a couple of different ones. Again, it is always best to check your manual. To make things a little less messy, here is a chart! I will cover what offset means in more detail later in this article.

Lug Torque

This is the amount of torque the lug nuts are supposed to have on them to keep the wheels nice and secure!  Too tight can lead to damage or you never getting them off, and too little could lead to you losing a lug nut or maybe even a whole wheel! Your manual will tell you that 150 foot pounds is the right number.

PROBLEMS WITH BIGGER TIRES

Let’s face it: bigger tires on a truck just look better. Ford does leave us some room to put bigger tires on our F-150s, but just how big is too big? Beyond just having the tires rub and not fit, there are a number of other problems you could face with bigger tires.

Speedometer Calibration

The speed and mileage of your vehicle is calculated by the number of rotations your tire makes. All of this is based upon factory specs. If you intend on going larger, your speedometer and odometer will no longer be accurate.

Let’s have an example: your 2018 F-150 has stock tires that are 265/70R17, but you put the platinum wheels and tires on, upgrading you to 275/55R20s instead. Your speedometer will read 50 MPH, but you’re actually going 50.48 MPH.

While that may not seem like such a big issue, that will add up over time if you drive your truck quite a bit. If your tires are larger and thicker, the change is even more drastic. Let’s not forget that some police officers may be looking for just that little bit over! You can solve all this by getting your F-150 reprogrammed for the new tire size.

Power Loss

A more noticeable issue with larger tires is a loss of power. When you increase the diameter of your wheel, you effectively decrease your rear axle ratio. This will cause a reduction of torque upon acceleration.

How Big Can You Go?

While bigger may be better, unfortunately the sky is not the limit in this case. Everything on our F-150s is made to fit well from the factory. Eventually you will have to lift, change wheels, or trim away parts of your truck to get things fitting. 

Crash bars play a big part of how big of a tire you can have in the F-150 as well. For Ford to get a better safety rating, Ford placed “crash bars” in some of the trim levels (mainly the crew cabs). These sit behind the front bumper, and in front of the front tires. Unfortunately these cause issues with bigger tires, as they cause rubbing. They can be removed, but they need to be cut. Keep in mind that doing so will reduce how safe your F-150 will be in a crash.

Legal Note: If your wheels and tires are wide enough to where they extend beyond the body of your truck, you may have to buy fender flares to cover the excess protrusion. Some states in the US require wheels to be covered. Check with your state laws to be on the safe side.

If you lift your truck, you can get away with bigger tires, but here is a chart that shows you the biggest tires you can have on your F-150 without modifying your suspension or crash bars.

POPULAR F-150 TIRE OPTIONS

There are an insane amount of options to choose from when it comes to wheels and tires. Tires are a bit more “need focused.” Choosing a tire comes down to some factors such as cost, use, and availability. Let’s go over some popular options that F-150 users like.

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

If you find yourself driving in all types of conditions, if you have all of the seasons, and if you want a tire that can tackle it all, the Defender series by Michelin is a great all around tire. The guys on the F-150 forums love them. They are quiet and long lasting. They are not designed for off-roading, so don’t expect to be crawling up a mountain with these. You can pick them up for about $170 each.

BFGoodrich KO2

The K02 is a staple when it comes to truck tires, and for good reason. These are an all-around good tire that can handle almost anything, and they are long lasting. They are extremely popular options for not just the F150, but for so many trucks. The tread is more on the aggressive side, so they won’t be silent on the highway, but can allow you to tackle plenty of environments and conditions. You can find them for around $200 per tire.

Pirelli Scorpion ATR

If you are doing mostly highway driving, these tires would be a good choice. They are designed to give superior traction on pavement while providing a very quiet ride. Reports are that they are good in the rain as well, but not the best for off-roading, which is normal for a highway tire. These are around $250 each.

Nitto Grappler Series

This isn’t one tire exactly, but the family of Nitto Grappler tires is very popular with the off-roading community. They have multiple different tread patterns designed to meet any terrain you can think of. They are around $200 per tire, but they give great results.

There are tons of options. It all depends on budget and taste. If you can lift your truck, you have more options. If you can get new wheels, you have more options. As long as you keep in mind the speedometer and odometer changes, as well as potential rubbing issues if you go too big, then you'll be fine.

Wheel Offset

This has been mentioned a couple times, and it has probably come up in your research. So, what is it?  Wheel offset is the distance from the wheel hub mounting surface to the centerline of the wheel. There are three types, and they are measured in millimeters.

1. Zero Offset: The mounting surface is even with the centerline of the wheel

2. Positive Offset: The mounting surface is located in the front half of the wheel closer to the wheel face.

3. Negative Offset: The mounting surface is located in the back half of the wheel closer to the back lip flange.

POPULAR F-150 WHEEL OPTIONS

Now, let’s talk about wheel options! This is definitely going to come down to personal taste. What looks good to you, might look terrible to the next person. However, here are some popular options that many F-150 owners like.

Raptor Wheels

There’s little argument that the Raptor is one of the best looking F-150s you can get. There are plenty of things you can do to your F-150 to make it look like a Raptor, or to just give your basic F-150 a little extra style. Wheels are one of those things. There are different wheels depending on the generation, but a set of four will run you about $2,000.

Fuel Warrior

Fuel makes quite a few different styles of wheels, and plenty of them look good on the F-150. If you’re looking for something sleek yet aggressive, the Warrior could be the perfect wheel for you. The 20 inch wheels feature a unique mesh-like spoke design with a black finish and milled windows. They are about $430 each. 

ICON Compression

When it comes to wheels, bronze wheels offer a modern and sporty look. ICON offers their “Compression” wheels in bronze with a modern flair. They are aggressive and mean business and offer a unique style to your F-150. At $330 each, they are not super expensive either, at least compared to the other on this list.

Pro Comp Bandido Wheels

If you want a more inexpensive wheel, but don’t want to sacrifice quality of style, Pro Comp is a good solution. These 17 inch wheels give you a more classic look from back when “trucks were trucks,” but with a modern touch. They will only set you back about $190 per wheel. While not dirt cheap, that is still much less compared to the rest on this list.

In closing, there are a ton of options out there for you and your truck. Now that you have the knowledge, get out there and find what works for you and your budget!

Image Credits:

Wheel & Tire Setup - Courtesy of F-150 Forum Kmann328

Raptor Wheels - Courtesy of Blue Oval Industries

Fuel Warrior Wheels - Courtesy of Wheels ASAP

ICON Compression Wheels - Courtesy of Stage3Motorsports

Pro Comp Bandido Wheels - Courtesy of F150 Forums user “ktexas04”