Before you Buy: The Top 5 2015-2020 F150 Parts of 2020!

Posted by Jason Locke on 9/19/2020 to Top Mods

There are an absolute ton of aftermarket parts and accessories available for the 2015-2020 F150s, so much in fact, that it can be pretty tough to navigate the huge amount of options out there. While we here at Stage 3 can give you expert advice based on real-world experience with a large chunk of the performance parts we have on the site, we though it would be prudent to take a look at our top five selling parts for 2020 to see what other customers found wanting on their trucks to give you some more guidance on what you should grab for your very own 2015-2020 F150 build. Take a look below at what many other F150 owners decided they needed for their truck.

Number 5: 2015-2020 F150 4WD Bilstein 5100 Rear Shock

One of the biggest weaknesses when it comes to the 2015-2020 F150s is their rear-end handling and stability. A straight axle with leaf springs is never exactly going to carve corners, but add in the light weight of an aluminum bed and the basic stock hydraulic shocks and you end up with a ton of bounce and jounce when going over bumps in the pavement, much less when you head off the beaten path on forest roads to your favorite camping or fishing spot. That's why it's not a huge surprise to see the Bilstein 5100 Rear Shock for 2015-2020 F150s on the list at number five. The 5100 features a gas-charged monotube design with finely-tuned valving that gives your F150 vastly improved handling and keeps your truck's bed and rear end under much better control than the stock shocks. The Bilstein 5100s can even handle an additional inch of ride height so that you can throw on a slightly larger rear block or other rear lift parts to help you carry heavy loads. The shocks install right into place of the stock rear shocks in minutes, making them an easy, hassle-free, and cost-effective upgrade for nearly any truck. While they aren't quite as performance-oriented as a true 2.0 or a 2.5 shock, they ride great on the street and can handle light to medium off-road applications as long as you keep you speeds down.

Number 4: 2015-2020 F150 Firestone Ride-Rite Air Spring Kit:

Personally, I was a little surprised by this one, though in retrospect, I probably shouldn't have been considering how well nearly all of the 2015-2020 F150 engine options can tow and haul. The Firestone Ride-Rite Air Spring Kit for 2015-2020 F150s comes in at number four. The 3.5L EcoBoost, 2.7L EcoBoost, 3.0L Powerstroke, and 5.0L V8s all make for excellent towing platforms, however, one thing you'll run into long before you hit your truck's GVWR or GCWR is rear sag. As you load down the hitch, the weight on the rear compresses the leaf springs, which is normal, but if you're using a front leveling kit, you could end up with a nose-high stance that can hurt your stability when towing or hauling. The Firestone Ride-Rite Air Spring Kit features a pair of vulcanized rubber air bellows, brackets, and air lines that install with included hardware. The air springs install between your truck's leaf springs and frame, and when they inflate, they help prop up your F150's rear end when it's loaded down. Since the Ride-Rite Springs install between the leaf springs and frame, they have almost no conflict with aftermarket rear blocks or add-a-leafs so that you can really stack on the towing-oriented or rear lift modifications. The Ride-Rites also tend to work right out of the box with most complete 4" lift kits or 6" lift kits, where most other air spring systems do not.

Number 3: 2015-2020 F150 Diode Dynamics SMD24 LED License Plate Bulbs

While the 2015-2020 F150s have an impressive-looking suite of lighting (especially the trucks that came with upgraded OEM LED lighting), one area that nearly all of these trucks are a bit lacking are with the license plate bulbs. The stock bulbs give off a sickly yellow glow that not only cramps your truck's style, but also aren't that impressive when it comes to output, and when one goes out, your chances of getting a fix-it ticket for license plate illumination skyrockets. It's not really a surprise then, that Diode Dynamics' SMD24 LED License Plate Bulbs are our number 3 most popular part for the 2015-2020 F150s. The SMD24s offer an increase in lighting output at a pure white 6000K color temperature that adds a great look to the back end of your F150 build. The SMD24s are a nice aesthetic upgrade that's budget-friendly and extremely easy to install as direct replacements for the factory bulbs.

Number 2: 2013-2020 F150 EcoBoost Billet Vent to Atmosphere (VTA) Mod Plug

One of the most popular modifications made to the 2015-2020 F150 3.5L and 2.7L EcoBoosts is one that doesn't cost any cash at all: the VTA mod. The Vent-to-Atmosphere (VTA) mod involves unhooking the stock eBOV from its recirculation tube to get a true VTA "blow off" sound. However, if you're planning to do the VTA mod, you're going to need something to block off the recirculation tube so that you don't have any debris entering the intake tract. The 2013-2020 F150 VTA Mod Plug is a high-quality billet aluminum plug that blocks off the recirculation tube and does not require any permanent modifications to your F150. The plug is extremely easy to install and its installation is completely reversible, so you can always go right back to stock if you ever get tired of your truck's VTA mod.

Number 1: 2015-2020 F150 4WD Bilstein 5100 Adjustable Leveling Shock Kit

While we already saw the Bilstein 5100 rear shock on this list, most F150 owners want both a handling improvement and some front-end leveling at the same time. The 2015-2020 F150 4WD Complete Bilstein 5100 Front & Rear Shock Kit does just that. This package includes a pair of Bilstein 5100 Front Strut Assemblies that have perch settings that can add up to 2.10" of front leveling to your F150 while improving front handling and stability, as well as 5100 rear shocks that greatly improve rear end handling. The Complete Bilstein 5100 front and rear shock kit provides a cost-effective suspension overhaul that reduces body roll, prevents rear-end jounce, and provides some extra front lift for fitting on bigger tires. There's plenty to like about the Bilstein 5100 Package and not a ton of downsides. The only major issue with this kit is the install of the front struts, which require the use of a spring compressor to disassemble the factory struts and transfer of the stock spring, mounts, and other hardware. The combination of a great price, leveling, and handling performance makes this kit a great choice for nearly any F150 that isn't getting too crazy off-road.

If there's a theme to this list, it's "bang-for-your-buck practicality". Just about everything here makes a big practical difference in handling, towing, or aesthetics without breaking the bank at any point along the way. Adding all five of these mods to your truck (unless you have a 5.0L or 3.0L Powerstroke in the case of the VTA Mod) will make your truck feel like a whole new vehicle and make it a pleasure to own all over again. Do you have any of these mods on your truck? What's next year and the release of the 2021 F150 going to change? Let us know in the comments below!

Stage 3's Top 5 F150 Parts of 2020: