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”

The Ford F-150 is the top selling truck for a reason. It has earned its reputation in terms of power, reliability, off-road capability, hauling, and more. But what if you want just a bit more out of your truck then what you can get from the factory? There are a bunch of “truck” things you can do like off-road additions, suspension upgrades, and more, but what about performance? What about focusing on the HP over the MPG? What about if it’s literally the opposite and you want MPG over HP?

Performance upgrades are all about the driving experience both on and off-road. Being a Ford, there are plenty of options for you to consider, and that is what this article is all about. Join us for the ultimate guide in engine performance modifications to your Ford F-150 to get more power!

The Basic, Disclaimers, and other Housekeeping

What is a performance mod? While we normally talk about off-roading, we know there is plenty more to the F-150. For this, we will be focusing on products, additions, and hacks that will help improve the drivetrain in some way on your F-150: horsepower, fuel mileage, torque, shift stiffness, throttle response, and things like that.

I should point out that you should be careful about any of these mods. While most of this plug and play stuff is completely safe, changing the way your engine and transmission behave from the factory could lead to troubles down the line. I have said it before, and I’ll say it again: vehicles are made to work the best they can from the factory. Changing one aspect will make other parts have to work harder. Just be careful and know that you could void certain aspects of your warranty with certain mods. Always read what the manufacturer of performance mods say about their product so you’re on the safe side. 

You also should note that some states (mainly California) do not want you modifying your engine in any way, so make sure whatever you are interested in is legal for your state or country.

Let’s also get some baseline numbers out of the way for the F-150 so we can compare them down the line. Let’s focus on the 2020 F-150. Did you know there were SIX engine options!?  Six!? Let’s stick with the 5.0L V8. While that does leave five engines out of the mix, these are all modifications you can get on all of the engines. The power increase will be a similar percentage across all engines.

2020 Ford F-150 5.0L Specs

Horsepower: 395

Torque: 400 foot pounds

0-60: about 5.9 seconds

Miles Per Gallon: 17 City / 23 Highway

With all that out of the way, let’s get on to some mods!

F-150 ENGINE BOLT ON MODS

For this section I’ll cover the few modifications that “bolt on” to your engine to help increase performance. With modern day engines, there are not an incredible amount available for many vehicles, but the few that are can help!

Cold Air Intake

Cold air intakes are some of the most cost effective modifications that you can do to any vehicle. Engines work better with cooler air. Ever notice your F-150 has a bit more pep in its step on a nice fall day compared to the middle of summer? Cold air intakes take the place of your factory airbox and intake tube, and are designed to take in more air, and from a position that sucks in cooler air compared to air closer to your engine. These are relatively inexpensive for the amount of horsepower and torque you get. While you won’t be racing Mustangs anytime soon, it is something you will notice!

Roush Cold Air Intake

If you think about performance and Ford, one of the names that come to mind is Roush, and for good reason. Roush has been making specialty parts and full-on custom vehicles for Ford for years, but you can get just the pieces you want such as this cold air intake. This kit features a reusable filter and an enlarged intake tube and airbox to draw in more air for your engine. While the official numbers are not listed, you can expect about 10 horsepower and 15 extra foot-pounds of torque. It will run you $439.

S&B Cold Air Intake

For a 40% better airflow, reusable filter, and more power at $349, this cold air intake kit is hard to beat. In addition to all of that, the clear top on the airbox simply looks cool, which is always a plus. Reviews are high, installation times are low, and performance is instant.

Throttle Body Spacers

While debatable by some on if these actually do much, what they are designed to do is mount between your throttle body and intake manifold to increase the spin in the air to make it flow more optimally into your engine and allow better combustion. Better airflow and better combustion means better performance. While your butt dyno may not be picking up drastic differences, adding this and a cold air intake could lead to great results adding the gains together.

These are always easy to install. All you have to do is unbolt your throttle body from your intake manifold, put the spacer in, and then bolt it all back together. Do not overtighten the bolts, because you don’t want to crack anything!

Airaid PowerAid Throttle Body Spacer

The unique Helix Bore design in the spacer will also help spin the air into your engine, improving the air/fuel mixture to ensure the best performance. This will help with the mid-range torque and power in your F-150. While you won’t be racing any Mustangs with this any time soon, it will help most if added with other modifications. It will set you back $150.

SR Performance Throttle Body Spacer

If you want a more affordable option, SR Performance offers their throttle body spacer made from aluminum that has been CNC machined to its unique “Spiral Bore” design. It claims to boost your low to mid range power in your Coyote powered F-150.

TUNING

Tuning your engine means changing the computer’s parameters. While in the past tuning was all mechanical and involved screws and springs, now it’s all electronic. Tuning an engine can change idle speeds, shift points, speed limiters, and so much more.

There are two main ways: DIY and professional. Doing it yourself can be done with tuners you can purchase, and professional means taking it to a performance shop. While taking it to a shop can be more expensive, there is less chance of you messing something up doing it yourself! While doing it yourself can be fun, if you change the wrong parameter, you can create negative long term effects which could get very expensive!

DIY Tuners

SCT X4 Tuner

SCT has been in the tuning industry forever. They know how to get the most out of an engine. This tuner will allow you to change engine parameters, perform data logging, read and clear check engine lights/codes, and more! While you can normally find this tuner for around $500, this link will send you to 5 Star Tuning which will provide a custom tune to deliver the performance you are looking for for a little extra! 

Superchips Flashpaq F5 Tuner

This tuner will allow you to take care of everything you could need from checking and clearing codes, tuning all aspects of your engine and transmission, and more. You have preloaded tunes that are designed to either get you going, or to use 24/7. This will only set you back $425. That may sound like a lot, but for a tuner that can do all this? That’s not a bad price.

Professional Tuning

Professional tuning is not really something I can give links to here. There are shops all around the world that can assist with something like this. Prices can be all over the place depending on what you need done. Simple tuning can be a couple hundred, but if you want to step up to full on dyno tuning, you’ll be looking at a pretty penny.

The good thing about professional turning is that it’s done by professionals. While that may sound obvious, they know what they are doing. Their work can come with a warranty, and if you go to a certified shop, there is a chance that the tuning might not even void the factory warranty.

Do your research and ask around. You do want to make sure it’s not a random shop that got the same tuner you could have. Remember that when it comes to something like this, you get what you pay for!

OTHER F-150 BOLT ON MODS

There are other products that you can attach to your F-150 in locations beyond your engine that will increase performance. Again, while this is limited with modern drivetrains, there are a few good products out there that can help crank out some better performance! 

Pedal Commander

Electronic gas pedals can lead to lag and slower than desired acceleration. Thankfully, Pedal Commander is here to help. This simple product plugs into your gas pedal to help eliminate that nonsense. Gone are the days of a physical wire opening and closing your throttle when you press your pedal down. Now, everything is electronic.

When you press your pedal down, it tells your F-150’s computer that you’re doing so, and how hard you’re doing it. The problem is that it will still only open the throttle as fast as it’s programmed to. Pedal Commander will amplify the signal your foot provides to open the throttle faster. You can choose between different settings to dial in the amount of performance and fuel savings you want. For $350, it could be one of the best mods you do!

Exhaust

Changing the exhaust on your F-150 will not only help it breathe better, but it can make it sound better too. Like your cold air intake taking air in more efficiently, a less restrictive exhaust will help the air leave more efficiently. Why is this important? Breath in as much air as you can, then stick a straw between your lips and breathe out. It sucks, right? Your F-150 has to deal with that with a stock exhaust.

Within reason, as you still want to maintain good back pressure, a more free exhaust will help your engine perform better which will unleash more power. Keep in mind that this will also change the sound of your engine. You’re going to want to watch tons of YouTube videos to hear what you’re interested in to make sure that it is for you.

Since sound is highly subjective, and there are so many muffler and pipe combinations, I’m not going to leave any example links. You could expect to send anywhere from $250 to $1000. Most will fall around the $500 range.

OTHER F-150 PERFORMANCE HACKS

In addition to all of these physical products, there are a number of hacks you can do to increase performance in your F-150. Some of these involve you getting a little dirty, and others just involve paying attention to what you’re doing. Let’s take a look.

Windows Up, Air Off

Aerodynamics and your comfort can actually go hand in hand. To get the best fuel economy, top speed, and acceleration, the shape of the F-150 plays a big part. While mostly built for conquering mountains, the F-150’s shape will allow for improved highway performance as well. However, you can mess all that up depending on when you use your windows or air conditioning. 

Lowering your windows obviously allows air into your F-150. At high speeds (generally accepted to be above 55 miles per hour), this will create much extra drag on your F-150. Your engine will have to work harder to compensate for the extra “weight” of the air forced into your truck. This will lower your fuel economy. While it’s hard to beat the windows down sometimes, if you’re going over 55 miles per hour, it may be best to leave the windows up and turn the AC on instead.  However…

If you’re cruising around town, using your air conditioning is actually not the smartest idea. The A/C causes your ening to work harder, and while that may be fine if you're cruising along at 60 miles per hour, stop and go traffic paired with your A/C will kill your mileage. Over time, it’s potentially going to cause more wear and tear on your engine as well. If you can handle the heat, keep your windows down around town.

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, 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.

As I mentioned before, 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.

CONCLUSION

While the F-150 is amazing off-road, a little help on the road may not be a bad idea. As you can see, you can accomplish quite a bit for a few hundred dollars. Just make sure you follow all directions, and enjoy the power gain!

Image Credits

F-150 Engine - Courtesy of Auto Blog

Cold Air Intake - Courtesy of S&B Filters

Dyno Tuning - Courtesy of Ford Truck Enthusiasts

Exhaust - Courtesy of Borla

Throttle Body Spacer - Courtesy of F150 Forum User "onegoesbyu"

F-150 Driving - Courtesy of Ford Authority

MAF and TB Cleaners - Courtesy CRC on Walmart

The Ford F-150 can conquer almost anything that you throw at it, and it does it reliably and while looking good. Lighting is something that falls in both categories. Regardless if you’re overlanding across mountains, or just driving down an empty highway at night, you need lighting.

Thankfully we have come a long way from plain utilitarian appearance. We now have super bright LED technology that is smaller, lighter, and can be designed to look aggressive and chiseled like the body of an F-150.

Let’s go over some terms, history, and then what’s available for upgrade. Instead of going over every generation, I’ll break it down to a few options for 2009-2014, 2015-2017, and 2018-2020 F-150s.

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 F-150s?

I hope you didn’t forget why you’re here: F-150s! Now that you should be convinced that LED lighting is the way to go, what is actually available for your Ford F-150? Thankfully since LEDs and Fords are both so popular, the short answer is everything!

Headlights

Headlights 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.

2009 - 2014 Headlight Options

Raxiom G2

These guys have been making headlights and tail lights for Fords for years. At $315, you won’t even break the bank with these. They feature projector headlights, clear lenses, and a blacked out housing.

AlphaRex Nova Series

No stranger to LED lighting, you’ll be getting projector headlights, sequential turning signals, and daytime running lights. More expensive at $882, but you get what you pay for.

2015 - 2017 Headlight Options

Raxiom G3

You get even more with G3 over the G2, but you’re paying more for it too. At $565 you get all the same goodies as the G2, but with modern LED daytime running lights that will make your truck look brand new!

AlphaRex Nova Series

If you want to go all out with style, power, options, and badassery, AlphaRex is here. With daytime running lights, sequentials, and multiple projectors, the whole front of your truck will be transformed, for a starting price of $1300.

2018 - 2020 Headlight Options

AlphaRex Nova Series

If you haven’t figured out by now, we like AlphaRex. If you also haven’t figured out by now, things get more expensive as the model years go up. Either way, AlphaRex continues to hit the ball out of the park with these for $1435.

Raxiom LED

If you haven’t figured out by now, your writer likes Raxiom since he has them in his Mustang. These give you all the features you’d expect, and with a clear lens and black housing. All at $920.

Fog Lights

Fog lights 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!

Some of these options are not going to fit the Raptor models since they have different bumpers, but always check with the manufacturer. Keep in mind that as the years go on, the shape of the fog lights change, which in the long run allows for more real estate for more lighting options.

2009 - 2014 Fog Light Options

Morimoto XB Projector

These triple LED, super bright pods feature shatterproof lenses to protect them during your next off-road adventure. While a little pricey at $193 for what may seem like little light, you get quality

CREE LED Bulbs

If you just want to replace bulbs and don’t want to go through the process with the pods, the company F-150 LEDs offers you a solution with some very highly rated LED replacement bulbs for $99.

2015 - 2017 Fog Light Options

Rough Country Fog Light Kit

Taking full advantage of the extra room, Rough Country crams in two light pods in each side to allow for super bright light right when you need it. Prices start at $200, and you can choose the type of beam that you want. More on beam types later in the article…

BICYACO Fog Lights

If you’re on a budget, but want something highly rated, these pods come with three ultra bright LEDs per bulb on each side. You’ll be sure to see what’s in front of you, and at $56, you won’t be breaking the bank.

2018 - 2020 Fog Light Options

Axial LED Fog Lights

For a simple yet effective solution that comes in at an average price of $118, these Axial pods are a simple plug and play solution to needing more light. They have a clear lens with a black housing to help with a blacked out look.

Rough Country Fog Light Kit

For a bit more than the ones suited for 2015-2017 models, these will allow you to get two LED pods in each fog light section on your F-150. At $250, they are still a pretty good price. 

Ditch Lights

Ditch lights 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.

Since ditch lights are a tad more “universal” when it comes to the later generation F-150s, I’m going to give you some good options for 2009 to 2014, then 2015+ F-150s.

2009 - 2014 Ditch Light Options

Diode Dynamics Ditch Light Kit

For a starting price of $160, this kit will allow you to build the lighting rig that you want. Tons of pod, color, and harness options. When one size does not fit all, this is any “size” you can imagine.

CREE Spartan Hood Light System

The guys at F150 LEDs offer a 180 degree field of view with these lights. Included with the brackets and hardware are pods containing more LEDs then you could imagine to make sure there is nothing you can’t see. All of this at $240.

2015+ Ditch Light Options

Rough Country 2 Pod Kit

You knew Rough Country would make a comeback! If you want a more basic yet very effective kit, this kit comes with all the hardware and one pod for each side. You do get to choose between five different pod types.

Baja Designs A-Pillar Kit

If you’ve got a little extra cash to spend, Baja Designs will allow you to spend it. From $370 to $546, you get all the harward, a pair of pods, a lifetime warranty, and multiple patterns. 

Light Bars

Light bars 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. They 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!  It is important to note that the F-150 can get a little tricky when it comes to mounting light bars, so the example sections will be limited!

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 F150 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 Mount LED Light Bars

This can be a good spot to put some lighting! After all, Ford left a nice little spot to put something! While some of you may be stuck with having to put a front license plate there, you might want to consider putting that plate off to the side when you see how great looking and how flush fitting these LED light bars can be. If you want something a little larger, you can mount LED bars and pods across more of the front bumper, but since those are more “extreme,” I’m going to skip those.

When it comes to the recommendations on this section, I hate to disappoint, but while not something unpopular, in most cases you’ll end up finding most of these kits on eBay. While that definitely doesn’t mean they are bad, it is harder for us to recommend to you, so I may have to suggest you make sure you find the right seller if you go this route!

Upper Grille Mount LED Light Bars

The F150s have some decently sized grilles for you to add some extra goodies to. The advantage of having them here is that your off-road appearance is more subdued. If having extra lighting is important from time to time, but you don’t always want to see a light bar on your roof and need more than what a smaller lower grille light can offer, this conservative approach could be the option for you.

2009 - 2014 Upper Grille LED Light Bar Options

Rough Country 30 Inch Dual Single Row LED Grille Kit

If you want to take advantage of the space above and below the center section of your grille, this Rough Country kit will allow you to do that, or you can pick just one light if you’re lame. Choose between chrome or black light bars. Prices start at $230, and double for an extra bar.

F150 LEDs Paladin 44 Inch Single Row Behind the Grille Bar

For a slightly more subdued approach, this $339 light bar will mount behind the lower section of your upper grille. They do offer another model that is slightly cheaper that will mount on the upper half.

2015 - 2017 Upper Grille LED Light Bar Options

Replacement Grille with 20 Inch Light Bar

Okay, okay… This is cheating a bit as it replaces your whole front grille, but if you want something unique and easy to install, you can accomplish that with this piece. It will cost you just over $1000, but if you want something different, you’ll have to pay for it!

2018 - 2020 Upper Grille LED Light Bar Options

Rough Country Dual 10 Inch Kit

If you have the right grille on your F-150, this kit will fill some of the dead space you may have with two 10 inch, single row LED light bars. While the lighting may not be “night to day” bright, you get a great looks and function combination for $160.

ZROADZ Dual Slim Kit

If the option above seems a little cheesy to you, this is a more classic style, but still nice and subdued behind the grille. While expensive at $443, you do get a lifetime warranty.

Roof Mount LED Lights

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.

2009 - 2014 Roof Mount Options

Complete Stealth LED Light Bar

For about $405, you’ll get a combo spot and flood beam light bar, mounting brackets, and harness backed by a lifetime warranty.

ZROADZ Curved Double Row LED Light Bar

While it has a high cost of $950, you get everything you need to mount this to your F-150, including a 50 inch dual row combo beam light bar. Of course it will come with a lifetime warranty.

2015 - 2017 Roof Mount Options

Westin B-Force Roof Mount

With a name that has been in the off-road market for years, you can trust this 50 inch dual row light bar and bracket combo. At about $576, the price is on par with most good quality bar and bracket combos on the market.

2015 - 2020 Roof Mount Options

ZROADZ Front Roof LED Light Bar Mount Kit

This 52 inch light bar comes ready to rock and roll right out of the box (after installation of course) for 2015 to 2020 models, so I gave it it’s own little spot. It will set you back $950.

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 F-150 in the parking lot. Either way, I hope this guide has answered all of your questions regarding LED lighting for your Ford F-150. 

Image Credits:

F-150 Lighting - Courtesy of ZROADZ

Ditch Lights - Courtesy of Baja Designs

Headlights - Courtesy of AlphaRex

Fog Lights - Courtesy of Rough Country

Grille Bar - Courtesy of Rough Country

Grille Bar 2 - Courtesy of Rough Country

Roof Mount - Courtesy of ZROADZ

Your F-150 is one of the best selling and customizable trucks in the world! From the factory to aftermarket, there is almost no combination of performance mods and looks that you can’t do. A very popular style you may want to do is black your truck out! Why would you not?  After all, it’s like the man Henry Ford said himself about the Model T: you can have it in any color, as long as it’s black.

Thankfully we have come a long way from those days where if you wanted a different color anything on your ride, you pulled out a bucket of paint and a brush and went to town. Now we have factory options and a hefty aftermarket to black out your F-150 from bumper to bumper, inside and out.

Let’s cover some terms, and then get to the nitty gritty with some popular products that you can use to summon the color of the night on your Ford’s exterior. For the most part, we’ll be focusing on the exterior of F-150s from 2009 to 2020+. If there is a specific year in mind for something I am mentioning, I’ll make note of it! 

WHAT IS IT

First off, what exactly does it mean to “blackout” your truck. In short, leave no color but black. Modern trucks feature chrome and other accents and trim that stand out from a subdued finish. Glass, plastic, chrome, and steel can all be changed in various ways either permanently or temporarily depending on your budget, commitment issues, or resale plans.

HOW TO DO IT

Replacement Part

Sometimes the easiest and most effective way to black out a part is to simply replace it with a new one that is blacked out or tinted. With modern vehicles being pretty well suited to replacement parts, you can generally take most trim, panels, and parts off with simple tools that you have laying around. This will allow you to save your factory parts to either put back on for future resale, or sell to get some money back. Hey… If your wife is cool with it, old trim can make great wall art.

Covers and Overlays

If you don’t want to go about replacing parts, there are tinted or blacked out covers or vinyl that could be placed over some exterior and interior parts. This can either be achieved with tabs that snap over existing trim, fasteners that make use of factory holes and mounting locations in your truck, or things like glue and double sided tape.

Sprays, Dips, and Paints

Products such a Plasti Dip are a favorite product for blacking parts out on a budget. Products like Plasti Dip come in a spray can that apply a rubber coating to the part in question. The best part is that it is durable, but also easily removed. You can also go the more permanent route and use paint! While generally your most cost effective out (aside from vinyl), this can look like your most cost effective route if you don’t take your time and prep well. More on this later! 

Window Tint

One of the first things many people choose to do is black out their windows. It’s cheap, and it can be done at a local shop near you. If you have the skills, or need a weekend project, it is even something you can do yourself. Tint comes with some great benefits: it really dresses up your ride, it protects you from the sun and keeps the interior of your truck lower, and it blocks people from easily seeing who is driving the best F-150 in town! Make sure you follow all local and federal laws regarding the amount of tint. You don’t want your investment to lead to tickets and you having to remove it!

If you do it yourself with pre-cut tint, make sure you get the tint that’s right for your model year and trim level. Be sure you are getting all of your windows covered, or at least the ones you want. If you get rolls of tint, make sure you get enough to cover the surface area of the glass that you need!

Smoked Headlights, Taillights, and Third Brake Light

Ford has been pretty bold with their headlights and tail lights on the F-150. They are loud and proud, while other manufacturers have started to go for squinty and minimal. Unfortunately this does mean a lot of red, amber, and chrome in places you may not want them. Thankfully this is easy to change in so many ways.

Important note: when talking about blacking out your lights, it is generally referred to as them being “smoked.” Smoking your lights will give you that tinted look to compliment your style.

Interchangeable parts make swapping out things like factory headlights and tail lights simple! A complete headlight swap will run you anywhere from $300 to $1000 for the pair, and tail lights from around $250 to $500. Of course since they are smaller and less “grandiose,” a third brake light can cost $30 to $80.

If you are getting full replacement units, many manufacturers are integrating LED lighting. More common with headlights, this means you could have clear lenses, but a blacked out housing.

LED lighting means you don’t have to worry about any bulbs being too dim to shine through tinted lenses, should you have them. That almost means you’re generally okay when it comes to the law. While you may want them to look cool, lighting is supposed to be seen. Going too dark could land you with a nice ticket or two. Generally speaking, aftermarket smoked/tinked replacement units should be legal where they are being sold, but always play it safe and check first.

Keep in mind that in many cases, you’re going to get more than just blacked out lights if you go full on replacement. The “in thing” to do is have sequential LEDs, daytime running lights, and other fancy things. Shop around and find what works best for you so you don’t get more than you needed.

2009-2014 Headlight and Tail Light Replacement Options

Raxiom G2 (Headlight)

These guys have been making headlights and tail lights for Fords for years. At $315, you won’t even break the bank with these. They feature projector headlights, clear lenses, and a blacked out housing.

AlphaRex Nova Series (Headlight)

No stranger to LED lighting, you’ll be getting projector headlights, sequential turning signals, and daytime running lights. More expensive at $882, but you get what you pay for.

AKKON (Tail Light)

With a smoked lens and LED tube lighting, you’ll be sure to set yourself apart with the tail lights. They do say intended for show car and off-road use only, so install with caution.

AlphaRex Pro Series (Tail Light)

Like the front, these guys bring up the rear with superior technology and design. They have multiple housing and lens options to choose from to fit the look you’re going for.

2015-2017 Headlight and Tail Light Replacement Options

Raxiom G3 (Headlight)

You get even more with G3 over the G2, but you’re paying more for it too. At $565 you get all the same goodies as the G2, but with modern LED daytime running lights that will make your truck look brand new!

AlphaRex Nova Series (Headlight)

If you want to go all out with style, power, options, and badassery, AlphaRex is here. With daytime running lights, sequentials, and multiple projectors, the whole front of your truck will be transformed, for a starting price of $1300.

RECON Fiber Optic (Tail Light)

If you want to go with something super fancy, then for $700 you can get this unique fiber optic LED tail light pair with a black housing and smoked lens.

Alpha Rex Pro Series Smoked Red (Tail Light)

If you still want the red appearance, but with a smoked look and LED lighting, these have you covered, and not for a bad price starting at $295. These fit 2015 all the way up to 2020. 

2018-2020 Headlight and Tail Light Replacement Options

AlphaRex Nova Series (Headlight)

If you haven’t figured out by now, we like AlphaRex. If you also haven’t figured out by now, things get more expensive as the model years go up. Either way, AlphaRex continues to hit the ball out of the park with these for $1435.

Raxiom LED (Headlight)

If you haven’t figured out by now, your writer likes Raxiom since he has them in his Mustang. These give you all the features you’d expect, and with a clear lens and black housing. All at $920.

AmeriLite (Tail Light)

If you’re not looking to break the bank, these budget tail lights will only set you back $250. They come with a smoked lens, but they do have a chrome housing, so make sure they have as much black as you want before buying!

You can go for a much cheaper approach, but be aware that it may look cheaper, not last as long, and could cost you a lot in tickets if you do it the wrong way (I’ll get to that in a second.) There is film/vinyl available for around $60 that simply sticks over the plastic and spray coatings for around $20.

Film or vinyl covers can either come pre-cut to size, or you can use a large sheet of it, and form it to your lights yourself, and cut as needed.

While I generally encourage people to try something new and take a risk, I would suggest a complete swap of pre-tinted/smoked lights. A big reason is time. A good set of smoked lights will last the length of the truck. Film and spray coatings will shrink and become brittle with age. UV rays and incandescent bulbs will expedite the problem. When it gets that dry, it’s not the easiest or most fun thing to get off.

Now, the ticket thing. Headlights and taillights are designed to help you see what’s around you, and for other drivers to be able to see you. Remember that whole legal thing I talked about before? If you tint something yourself, you could run the risk of doing too much, and you could have to pay for it. If you get a kit out of the box, they are generally approved by the Department of Transportation (or your country’s equivalent) and safe for use. Of course, please check before buying.

Here are some kits for pre-cut tint for the different years. These are some average options.

2009-2014 Precut Tint Option

There is a shop on Etsy that has some high reviews when it comes to pre-cut tint. A quick search will lead you to see that that is not always the case. For around $25, Subject9Store can cover your front and rear! Choose between 20%, 35%, or transparent yellow or blue! For around the same price, you can have the same options for your tail lights as well!

Pre-cut headlight vinyl kit

Pre-cut tail light vinyl kit

2015-2020 Precut Tint Option

Same company, and great reviews.

Pre-cut tail light vinyl kit (2015-2020)

Pre-cut vinyl headlight kit (2015-2017)

Pre-cut vinyl headlight kit (2018-2020)

The last option would be a cover that goes over your headlight or tail light. You can get these for around $100, but they are not the most popular option. If you live in an area where tinting can get you in trouble, these are great if you take your truck to shows. You can pop them on or off. I would not recommend them for driving. For that reason, I’m going to leave the link searching to you!

You don’t want to overlook your third brake light. They are probably the easiest thing to swap out, and the subtle change they create is not something you want to pass up. The best part? They are inexpensive! Here are some options for you for under $100!

2009-2014 Third Brakelight ($34)

2015-2020 Third Brakelight ($89)

Exterior Badges

The F-150 has a few exterior badges that can really go against the feel you are looking for if you want to black out your truck. You’ll generally have the two “F-150” fender badges, and the one on the tailgate. You’ll also find the “FORD” blue oval on the front and back.

All of these badges can be easily blackout on by either getting full on replacement badges, overlays that sit over the existing badge, or by painting them, or using something like Plasti Dip on them. If you want to maintain the “FORD” in the center of the blue oval, you will have to look at a replacement badge or vinyl overlay that goes over it.

Since the badges you have can vary depending on the engine, trim, and other options you have, I’m not going to list any examples, but they are all easy to find online, and they all pretty much do the same thing!

If your truck is not black, and you want to have a unique touch, you can look into vinyl inserts for the “F-150” imprinted on the tailgate for some model years. While you can sometimes get them in various colors, black inserts will make that stand out more, but also help the blacked out look you’re going for!

Grilles

Ford has a few different grilles that show the world what you’re driving. Some of them are pretty flashy chrome, and if you’re reading this, that’s not your style. Thankfully, there is a huge aftermarket to help combat the flash. Like the badges, you have a few options from full on replacement, wrapping or covering them, or using PlastiDip or paint.

There are tons of grilles out there to choose from, but here are a few to get you thinking in the right direction about ditching the chrome.

2009-2014 Grille Options

Ford Raptor Style Grille

One great option would be to go for the Ford Raptor style grille. While a real one will not fit, these aftermarket ones are designed to fit your truck, and come with LED lighting as well. This one at $250 is far cheaper than a real Raptor!

OEM Black Grille

If you have the chrome grille but want the lower spec black one, that is an option. You can pick them up for around $260 new, or you can find one used. For the new one linked, you will have to transfer your emblem.

2015-2017 Grille Options

OEM Style with LED Lights

OEM tends to be more expensive, but you can always get something that looks OEM, but is aftermarket. That is just the case with this grille with $145, but it even comes with some amber LEDs across the top. You need to use your FORD oval.

Rough Country Mesh Grill

Mesh grilles are pretty popular for blacking out, and are usually inexpensive. This does come with chrome accent rivets, so it may not be truly blacked out, but for $180, it’s a good deal.

2018-2020 Grille Options

RedRock Baja Upper Replacement Grille

If you want a simple blacked out look for $206, this grill takes away all of the frills aside from some amber lights across the top. This leaves no mistaking you want a blacked out look.

Raptor Style

I have to throw this type of grille in again. It should be obvious. No chrome, and means business. This aftermarket one for $200 could be the next grille for you.

Wheels

This is where things can get a little pricey. However, it is one of the first things people see when looking at your truck. They stand out! It could be worth some investment, but let’s talk about some options.

Some of the less expensive options would be “dipping” or “wrapping.” When you “dip” your wheels, you’re referring to spraying them with something such as Plasti Dip. Matte black Plasti Dip is very popular on wheels, and there are lots of pictures and videos online of people doing it. You’ll need more than one can, but you’ll also want to have some backups for when they chip and peel over time. It’s easy to reapply!

“Wrapping” refers to covering the wheels in vinyl. While usually better looking than dipping, it’s not as easy to repair if you get curb rash or other dings. You can also get overlays for some models. They are basically form fitting “hubcaps” that will snap over your existing wheel, turning them into black wheels! Make sure you get the right ones for your wheels. Ford released quite a few different styles and sizes, and you don’t want to buy the wrong one!

Whatever you do, avoid spray paint at all costs. You will hate your wheels. It looks bad, it runs, and it will chip very fast.

While it is your most expensive option, it will be your longest lasting and best looking option: new wheels. This can get very expensive, but you can probably find some good used ones online if you look hard enough. Just make sure to inspect them. The last thing you want to do is put a bent wheel on your truck.

Bumpers

You may find that your F-150 has some pretty obvious chrome up front and on the back on the bumpers. Like the rest of the stuff in this article, you have options.

You can replace them with off-road bumpers. Off-road bumpers are generally all metal and all black. Aside from achieving the color in question, you of course can get a much meaner look too, if that is what you’re going for.

Bumpers also offer a lot of real estate for painting, dipping, and wrapping. If you are to go this route, I would suggest a professional paint job or vinyl wrapping. Since this is a large and flat surface, Plasti Dip and paint, if not applied correctly, will show major flaws, and it won’t last as long. This can get expensive, but it’s worth it if you want things to actually look good.

The most cost effective solution and one of the best would be covering them with BumperShellz. These guys offer covers that place directly over your bumper (front or rear) to “delete” the chrome. The good thing is that these are not a permanent modification, so you can save your chrome! For the front bumpers, you can choose if you want just the sides, just the middle, or the full set. Prices start at $200.

Conclusion

To sum it all up, if you want that blacked out look, you can easily achieve it with the aftermarket world, and a little bit of time and some skill. Stick around because soon I’ll be talking about how to black out the interior.

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

Images Credits

Blacked Out F-150: Courtesy of Ferrada Wheels

Window Tint: Courtesy of F150 Forums user Golfman454ss

Headlights: Courtesy of AlphaRex

Tail Lights, Third Brake Light, and Rear Tailgate Inserts: Courtesy of AlphaRex

Badges: Courtesy of Levittown Ford Parts

Raptor Style Grille: Courtesy of F150 Forums user Drago77

Wheels: Courtesy of Forgestar

BumperShellz: Courtesy of BumperShellz