Tier 2 of our budget is wrapped up so it's time to jump head first into tier 3 of this build which will run $7500. For this round we wanted to build our F150 with the outdoors enthusiast in mind while also stepping up the truck's off road capability. We've kept some mods from the previous tiers of the build, but with that we've added new Bilstein suspension, Icon wheels, BFG KM3 tires as well as a very clever tonneau and bed rack system. Head down below to get all the details!
The first major change in this tier of the build is removing the Rancho suspension and swapping in Bilstein B8 coilovers. These coilovers feature a large-diameter shock body and specially-designed coilover spring that both work together to give the F150 a huge improvement in handling and off-road performance. The height is also adjustable which allows you to get the perfect stance for your build. We chose to set ours at their max 2" setting to give us the best clearance for our 33" tires. 15-18 F150 Bilstein B8 6112 Front Coilovers
We got our F150's rear end dialed in with Bilstein 5160 Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks. These shocks feature a remote reservoir that provides more oil and vastly improved heat dissipation in tough off road conditions. The design of these Bilsteins also allows slightly more travel than the stock shocks. High-strength construction and finely-tuned valving gives our F150 excellent reliability and a great ride on both the street and off of it. Unfortunately, this specific shock was discontinued. Luckily, we have plenty of options for F150 Rear Shocks for your build.
We liked the Fuel wheels featured in the last tier of the build, but they weren't necessarily everyone's favorite so we changed up the look and tossed on Icon's 17" Compression wheels with new 33" mud-terrains. We chose a bronze finish for our wheel to help it stand out and add some variety to the truck's color scheme. Icon's wheels also sport a 6mm offset that kept a rugged stance for our F150 without sitting way outside the fenders. 04-18 F150 ICON Compression 17x8.5" Wheel (Bronze)
There's a lot of buzz surrounding BFG KM3's right now and we figured this tier of our budget build would be the perfect time to test them out! We picked up a set of 33x12.50R17 KM3's and wrapped them around our Icon wheels which made for a combo that looked amazing and had the off road performance to back it up. The BFG KM3 features a revised tread pattern that provides improved traction on both mud and rocks as well as a new sidewall compound that is built from the ground up to prevent punctures and damage. No matter what terrain we hit, the KM3's were ready for the challenge. However, we no longer carry these exact tires, but we have plenty of perfect 33-inch off-roading tires.
To truly make our F150 suitable for outdoorsy types there had to be a smart way to store and haul gear for whatever adventure you had planned. That's where this Pace Edwards Jackrabbit tonneau comes in. This tonneau uses a durable and weather resistant retractable design that gives us a safe place to store cargo in the bed while also utilizing their Explorer Rails to add a Rhino Rack on top! This gave us the ability to add on a Ski/Snowboard Carrier and a Hybrid Bike Carrier that sit above the bed and don't take up precious storage space below. The Jackrabbit can also be locked and is built from aluminum which means that it can't simply be opened or cut by someone looking to help themselves to our gear. We sadly do not have this specific tonneau cover in stock anymore, but we have plenty of similar Tonneau Covers options.
With the intent to take this F150 off road frequently we knew being able to air down and air up our tires would be crucial. We decided to run ARB's compressor system since we knew it'd be durable and with it's 100psi rating it could easily inflate our 33" tires. The compressor comes with universal bracket mounts and a complete wiring loom to make the installation hassle free and allow us to mount it the way we wanted. All we needed to add to the setup was an ARB Tire Inflation Kit. ARB High-Output On-Board Air Compressor
One of the top go-to engine mods for almost any vehicle is a cold air intake, so we picked up an S&B intake system with an oiled filter for our 2018 F150 to start waking things up under the hood. This system allows for better throttle response and higher air flow so our 2018 F150's V8 can breathe a little easier when we get on the gas. Additionally, S&B's oiled filter can be cleaned and re-oiled so we don't have to buy replacements as it gets dirty over time. 2018 F150 5.0L S&B Cold Air Intake Kit
The tried and true 5.0L V8 paired with the new 10 speed transmission in our 2018 F150 is a powerful combination and it can be made even stronger with a little help from Bully Dog and our friends at 5 Star Tuning. With 5 Star's custom tunes we're able to bulk up our F150 with up to 55HP and 45 lb-ft. of torque. On top of that, the Bully Dog BDX tuner allows us to not only tune the truck, but also run live gauges, check DTC's and datalog engine info. 15-18 F150 5.0L Bully Dog 5 Star BDX Tuner w/ Custom Tunes
Weak light output can make driving at night frustrating and even unsafe, so we cranked up our F150's light output with a pair of CrystaLux LED fog light bulbs. The CrystaLux LEDs are capable of producing up to 12,000 raw lumens at a 6500K color temperature for a sharp white light. These LED bulbs are direct replacements for the factory bulbs and they reuse the stock fog light housings for a simple, hassle-free light upgrade. We no longer stock these specific LED fog light bulbs, but we have plenty of other options for F150 Fog Light Upgrades.
The stock taillight bulbs in our F150 work fine, but they're certainly boring and a bit underwhelming for a truck built in 2018. To modernize the look of our truck's rear end and pull some better light output we decided to install a set of Putco's Plasma LED taillight bulbs. These bulbs simply plug in place of the factory units and create a bright red light that's much sportier looking than factory. Because these bulbs can also act as turn signals you will need to install a resistor kit to prevent hyperlinking. Like the fog light bulbs, we no longer have these taillight bulbs in stock, but we have other taillight bulbs options for you to choose from.
A quick and easy upgrade we wanted to make sure we tossed in for this round was a set of Diode Dynamics LED license plate lights. These small SMD2 LED's provide a bright white light in place of the dull halogen bulbs that tend to have a dated yellow hue. They install quickly and painlessly with a few basic hand tools and are one of the most affordable parts we've picked up so far. 11-18 F150 Diode Dynamics LED License Plate Lights
Just because we're working within a tight budget doesn't mean we have to skip out on the details. In typical Stage 3 fashion we made sure our 2018 F150 was outfitted with a new Raptor style amber grille light kit, which has basically become a right of passage for our builds at this point. This LED light kit is a great way to give your build some of that Raptor-inspired flair without the Raptor-inspired price tag. As an added bonus, this light kit is a simple, hassle free install that you can do at home! 2018 F150 Custom Auto Works Raptor Style LED Amber Grille Light Kit
With the fog lights handled we needed to tackle the problem of our dim halogen headlights. Sticking with the theme of LED lighting we chose to install Diode Dynamics SL1 LED low beam bulbs to match the bright white color of the fog lights we installed and increase output and safety. These Diode Dynamics bulbs are an excellent way to improve the truck's lighting without committing to the price of an entirely new set of housings or a more expensive HID conversion. 15-18 F150 Diode Dynamics SL1 Low Beam LED Conversion Kit
We picked up our F150 brand new, straight off the lot which means it's very clean inside and we'd very much like for it to stay that way. We threw down some WeatherTech floor mats in the front and back of the cab for the ultimate carpet protection. These mats are form fitted to the truck's floor pan so that they tuck into all the grooves and catch every bit of mud, sand, and spilled coffee that will inevitably make it's way in to our cab. We no longer carry these WeatherTech floor liners, but we have plenty of similar Front & Rear Floor Mats in stock.
BedRug's Impact BedMat is designed to provide the ultimate in bed protection for our F150. The top layer of the liner is constructed from an ultra-thick TPO composite that is both slip and skid resistant so that cargo stays in place for the long haul. The 3/4" padded under-layer provides dent and impact resistance while offering cushion to prevent damaging your cargo. 15-18 F150 5.5ft Bed BedRug Impact BedMat
If you know Stage 3 Motorsports, you know we like to get the most out of our builds. We use our project trucks for both work and play, which leads to all sorts of equipment, tools, and parts laying around the cab unattended. For that reason, Husky Liners' Underseat Gear Box is one of our favorite upgrades. This extremely durable storage compartment tucks neatly under your rear seats without sacrificing any leg room at all. It's also ridiculously easy to install, so that's always a bonus.2015-2018 F150 & Raptor SuperCab Husky Liner Underseat Gear Box
Sometimes you just need a little something to separate your truck from the rest. For our 2018 F150 Budget Build, these Black Platinum Stainless Steel Tailgate Letters by Putco were just that something. These easy, affordable, and high-quality stainless steel tailgate letters make the bold "F150" lettering on our build's tailgate really pop, and they make a surprising amount of difference in how our Budget Build looks from the rear. 2018 F150 Putco Black Platinum Stainless Steel Tailgate Letters
Anything that makes life a little easier for truck owners on a budget is a good thing, which is why we couldn't wait to install DeeZee's Tailgate Assist on our 2018 Budget Build. For the price of dinner, this easy-to-install kit makes opening your tailgate a whole lot easier and safer by allowing your tailgate to smoothly and slowly lower when the handle is pulled. The kit reuses your truck's stock cables and comes with hardware and instructions to ensure an easy, painless install. 2015-2018 F150 DeeZee Tailgate Assist