There are two kinds of 2015-2020 F-150 owner. One wants to drop it, black it out, and make it fast on the street. The other wants to level it, put real tires under it, and take it where the pavement ends. Both are right. The trick is picking your path before you start buying parts.
Quick answer: Decide street or trail first. Suspension and wheels are the fork in the road, and getting them wrong is the expensive mistake. The breathing and lighting mods work either way.
Pick your path first
Your 13th-gen aluminum-body F-150 can go two very different directions. The parts that define each are the suspension and the wheel-and-tire package. Start there, because they set the stance, the ride, and what every other choice has to work around.
The street build
- Lowering kit for the dropped stance and sharper on-road manners.
- Street wheels and tires sized for pavement, not trails.
- Catback exhaust for the voice, plus an intake for response.
- Blacked-out trim and lighting for the look.
This is the sleeper-truck path: quieter ride, sharper looks, fast feel.
The off-road build
- Leveling kit or lift to clear bigger rubber.
- All-terrain or mud tires on the right wheels.
- Off-road lighting for the trail.
- Skid protection and recovery points for the rough stuff.
This is the go-anywhere path: clearance, traction, and durability first.
Mods that make sense either way
Some upgrades work no matter which path you pick: a quality cold air intake, a catback exhaust for sound, and better lighting. A tuner can wake up either build, with one caveat below.
Fitment notes and gotchas
- The 2015-2020 truck is the aluminum-body generation. Confirm parts list your exact year.
- Engine matters: the 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost behave differently than the 5.0L V8. Match parts to your engine.
- Cab and bed length affect some suspension and accessory fitment. Know your configuration.
One emissions note
Tuners and some exhaust setups touch emissions equipment and state rules. Check your local emissions laws before you tune, and look for CARB details if your state requires them.
Know your path? Start with everything for your 2015-2020 F-150, then dial in the suspension that sets your stance.
