4X2 to 4X4 Swap
 

My friend has 2001 F 150 XLT. It is a 4X2 now and he wants to know what it would take money/time/material wise to make it 4x4. Any thoughts?

Re: 4X2 to 4X4 Swap
 

I hope he has quite a bit of all the above.

From my experience, the F150 is alot like the Ranger suspension wise, so everything will probably be the same as far as if you were swapping 4x4 into a coil spring Ranger. It's not really worth it on a truck that new. He's better off selling that truck and buying a 4x4.

Swapping 4x4 in is a lot easier on the older trucks.

Re: 4X2 to 4X4 Swap
 

Time for an SAS it looks like.

I have not heard so someone doing one on a new F150, I am sure it has been done. The older F150s up to 96' I think wear the easiest to swap 4x4 for 4x2.

Like Fordzilla said it would probably be easier to buy a 4x4 then try and swap.

Depending on what his plans for a 4x4 are, he could probably find a late 80s early 90s F150 pretty cheap.

Re: 4X2 to 4X4 Swap
 

Yea, I was telling him to just sell and buy a 4X4 as well, but he insisted on me posting this up here so he could get all his options. He doesn't want anything super offroad, but just a good winter driver.

Re: 4X2 to 4X4 Swap
 

4x2 can be a good winter driver.

2wd in the winter makes you a better driver. With weight in the box, right between the wheel wells and good winter tires/snow tires/all terrian tires, your friend should be able to drive his truck safely.

Good tires are probably the best thing her could do for his truck.

My Excursion is 4x2 and I am not afraid to drive it anywhere in the snow.
I run General Grabber AT2s. The best tire I have ever run in the snow. But everyone has their own opinion with tires.

Re: 4X2 to 4X4 Swap
 

Slow and steady wins the race everytime. I never put weight in the truck either. Dont drive like an ass in the winter and ull be fine.

Re: 4X2 to 4X4 Swap
 

Well it's not me i'm worried about lol. It's my buddy. I'm slowly talking him into selling his truck now and finding a nice used 4x4 f150. I think he should be fine because he's had the truck for a while. He was just curious as to what it would take and how much it would cost. So if anyone has a round about idea that would be great.

Re: 4X2 to 4X4 Swap
 

Probably close to 2 grand or more. Its getting the 4x4 tranny, transfer case, the whole front end redone basically.

Then it comes to time too. How much he thinks his time is worth.

Re: 4X2 to 4X4 Swap
 

tell him to sell it and buy a 4x4. that kind of swap just isnt worth the time and money that would be involved. the front frame section is completely different from 2wd to 4wd in that gen F-150 because the 2wd is coil sprung and the 4wd is torsion bar. there would be alot of fame and cross member modifications and fabrication. just not worth it IMO. if he really has a boner for his truck an entire frame swap would actually be easier and probably cheaper.

Re: 4X2 to 4X4 Swap
 

Thanks for all the great information.

Re: 4X2 to 4X4 Swap
 

+1 --it will be easier but it doesnt mean it will be easy.

Re: 4X2 to 4X4 Swap
 

Even the cheapest shop will want over $4,000.00. Is two extra drive wheels THAT important? SELL IT. When you do mods of this kind on a truck unintended to be 4x4, and you add and fix and do, you WILL end up with new issues. Even the SMALLEST part alignment issue will make you run through trannys faster than each snow season could get here.

BUY NEW ONE!!

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PS: With end of year rebates, especially on Fords, he can get a BRAND NEW one, for the SAME cost of a several year old one.

Re: 4X2 to 4X4 Swap
 

Yea, i've been trying to explain this to him for some time now as I work at a dealership lol. I actually just got him a job here lol. So i'm going with the common consensus that I and everyone else has. SELL IT and buy a new/newer 4x4. Thanks guys.