A 5-link rear end with a cantilever shock setup and a 2.5" coil-over — about 19 inches of working wheel travel, a progressive rate that stiffens as it approaches bottom out, and every part of it still under the bed. Designed, fabricated and welded in house in Mesa, Arizona.
The Short Answer
The Foutz Motorsports Long Travel 5-Link Rear Suspension Conversion Kit replaces the leaf-spring rear end on a Gen 2 Ford Raptor or a 2015+ Ford F-150 with the 5'5" bed with a Gen 3-configuration 5-link running a cantilever shock setup, and delivers about 19 inches of working rear wheel travel. A stock Gen 2 Raptor has roughly 14 inches of rear wheel travel, so this is about five more inches of quality travel. The cantilever drives a standard off-the-shelf 2.5" coil-over shock in place of the factory spring, and because the linkage is progressive, the suspension gets stiffer the closer it comes to bottom out — soft over small stuff, firm where it matters. Ride height is fully adjustable at the coil-over and spring rates are fully customizable, so the truck can be tuned rather than just installed. The upper and lower trailing arms and the Panhard bar are race-quality fabricated parts in 4130 chromoly on FK uniballs and rod ends, with the Panhard relocated for optimum wheel travel — no rubber bushings, which is what makes the truck feel predictable and kills wheel hop. Critically, the kit keeps the stock fuel tank, keeps the stock spare tire location, and puts every part under the bed, so your bed space stays completely open and the truck still looks close to stock. It is a weld-in kit requiring substantial fabrication by a qualified installer, and on an F-150 it requires a Raptor-width rear axle, and fits the 5'5" bed only. The same kit is made for the Gen 1 Raptor, Gen 2 Raptor, 2015+ F-150 and Gen 3 Raptor.
This guide covers the Long Travel 5-Link Rear Suspension Conversion Kit for the Gen 2 Raptor and the 2015+ F-150 with the 5'5" bed — what a cantilever actually does, how it differs from a straight 5-link conversion and from a thru-the-bed bed cage, what is in the kit, and how to set up the shocks. Every component is fabricated in house in Mesa, Arizona by the shop that has been building and racing Ford off-road trucks since 1998.
What a Cantilever Actually Does
On a conventional setup the shock is attached between the axle and the frame, and it moves in more or less direct proportion to the wheel. Travel at the wheel is limited by how much stroke you can physically fit in that space.
A cantilever puts a pivoting rocker between the axle and the shock. The axle pushes one end of the rocker, and the rocker drives the coil-over mounted somewhere more convenient — in this case, up under the bed. That does two things at once, and the second one is the part people underrate.
1. It Buys Travel the Space Would Not Otherwise Allow
The linkage multiplies wheel movement against shock stroke, so a standard off-the-shelf 2.5" coil-over can deliver about 19 inches of working wheel travel — roughly five inches more than a stock Gen 2 Raptor's 14 — without hanging a huge shock out where there is no room for one.
2. It Is Progressive, and That Is the Real Advantage
This is the part that separates a cantilever from everything else. The mechanical movement of the linkage gets progressively stiffer as the suspension gets closer to bottom out. The rate is not fixed — it rises through the stroke.
In practice that means the rear end stays soft and compliant through the first part of its travel, where you want it soaking up chop and washboard, and gets firmer and firmer as it runs out of room, where you want resistance instead of a hard stop. You get a plush ride and bottom-out control from the same setup, which is exactly the compromise a linear spring forces you to choose between.
3. It Puts the Shock Somewhere Useful
Because the rocker relocates the shock, the coil-over lives under the bed instead of through it. That is the whole reason this kit can add five inches of travel and still leave your bed completely usable — more on that below, because for a lot of people it is the deciding factor.
Six Things the Cantilever Kit Gives You
1. About 19 Inches of Working Travel
Up from roughly 14 inches on a stock Gen 2 Raptor. Not peak numbers on paper — working travel you can actually use.
2. A Progressive Rate
The linkage stiffens as it approaches bottom out. Compliant early in the stroke, firm late. One setup that does both jobs.
3. Adjustable Ride Height
The main shock is a coil-over with adjustable ride height, so you set the rear where you want it rather than living with what the spring gives you.
4. Customizable Spring Rates
Spring rates are fully customizable. Carrying weight, running a bumper, chasing a particular feel — it is a tuning decision, not a rebuild.
5. Race Bearings, No Rubber
4130 chromoly arms on FK uniballs and rod ends, with 17-4 stainless spacers and grade 8 hardware. Losing the rubber bushings makes the truck predictable and limits the flex that turns into wheel hop.
6. The Bed Stays Yours
Stock fuel tank, stock spare tire location, every part under the bed. The truck still looks close to stock from the outside.
Everything Stays Under the Bed
This is the point most people care about most, so it is worth being plain about it. There is nothing in your bed. No cage, no shock towers coming up through the floor, no hoops to load around.
The kit keeps the stock fuel tank with no modification, which also keeps the cost down, and it keeps the stock spare tire location — the spare goes back exactly where the factory put it. A bed cover still works. Loading the bed still works. From outside the truck, very little looks different.
That is the trade that defines this kit against the other long travel route. A thru-the-bed coil-over with a bed cage gets you a bigger shock, and it costs you part of your bed. The cantilever gets you the travel and the progressive rate while leaving the bed alone.
Cantilever, 5-Link Conversion, or Bed Cage?
Foutz builds three different answers to "make my rear suspension better," and they are not competing so much as stacked. Here is the honest way to pick.
| What you care about | Long travel cantilever | 5-link conversion, stock location | 5-link + thru-bed bed cage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rear wheel travel | ~19" | Gen 3 stock-location travel | More than stock location |
| Spring rate through the stroke | Progressive — stiffens toward bottom out | Coil spring rate | Coil-over rate |
| Bed space | Fully open — all under the bed | Fully open | Cage takes part of the bed |
| Spare tire location | Stock location kept | Stock location kept | Carried in the cage |
| Fuel tank | Stock, unmodified | Stock, unmodified | Stock |
| Ride height adjustment | Adjustable at the coil-over | Set by spring choice | Adjustable at the coil-over |
| Arms and Panhard bar | Fabricated 4130, uniballs and rod ends | Stock Gen 3 take-offs or billet | Stock Gen 3 or billet |
| Bushings | None — race bearings | Rubber, if running stock links | Depends on links chosen |
| Runs cheap take-off parts | No — fabricated parts | Yes — Gen 3 take-offs | Yes, for the links |
| Installation | Substantial fabrication and welding | Cutting and welding | Cutting and welding |
And the thru-the-bed bed cage is the third road: a bigger shock coming up through the bed floor, with the cage doubling as tire, jack and fuel jug storage. It is the right call when you want the shock and you are happy to reorganize the bed around it. If the bed has to stay a bed, the cantilever is your answer.
Everything in the Cantilever Kit
The kit replaces the leaf-spring setup with a Gen 3-configuration rear suspension, in race-quality fabricated parts throughout.
One option worth knowing about: you can run our billet aluminum rear links with this kit instead of the fabricated arms if that is the look you are after. The one part that is not optional is the bar — the long travel adjustable Panhard bar that comes in this kit has to stay, because the long travel geometry depends on it.
Fabricated Lower Trailing Arms
Two adjustable fabricated FMI lower arms with 1.5" front uniballs and 1.25" rod ends at the axle, with urethane wobble stoppers.
Fabricated Upper Trailing Arms
Two adjustable fabricated FMI upper arms with 1" front uniballs and 1" rod ends at the axle.
Long Travel Panhard Bar and Mount
One fabricated, length-adjustable Panhard bar with a 1" uniball at the frame and a 1" rod end at the axle, plus a fabricated Panhard mount set up for the long travel geometry. The bar is relocated for optimum wheel travel rather than left where the factory put it.
Two Cantilever Assemblies
The rockers themselves — what multiplies the travel and gives the setup its progressive rate.
Two Rear Shock Mount Boxes
Where the coil-overs mount up under the bed.
Frame and Axle Mounting
Two fabricated frame mount plate kits for the upper and lower arms, and a rear axle plate kit with every mount that has to be welded to the axle housing.
Hardware and Spacers
One kit with all the hardware and spacers needed for the install — 17-4 stainless steel spacers and grade 8 hardware.
Only the Good Parts
FK uniballs. FK rod ends. 17-4 stainless steel spacers. Urethane wobble stoppers. Grade 8 hardware. 4130 chromoly on every moving part.
Rubber bushings are what make a stock rear end feel vague, and flex is what turns into wheel hop. Race-quality bearings are the fix, and they are the reason this setup feels predictable when you lean on it.
How to Set Up the Shocks
The kit runs two shocks per side by design, and the second one is where you get to make choices. You can start conservative and upgrade on your own schedule without touching the fabrication.
The Main Shock: a 2.5" Coil-Over
The cantilever drives a standard off-the-shelf 2.5" coil-over shock, in place of the factory spring. Ride height is adjustable at the shock, and spring rates are yours to choose. A conventional 12" coil-over is the compatible size, and the kit is sold with a no-shock option if you would rather source the coil-over yourself.
The Second Shock: Four Ways to Go
On a Gen 2 Raptor or F-150 conversion you can:
Keep the Stock Shock
Run the stock Fox Raptor shock, or the stock live valve shock if your truck has one, and keep the factory electronic control system working as it does now.
Fox 3" Stock Replacement
Step up to the upgraded Fox 3" stock replacement shock for more oil and more control, in the same position.
Fox 3" Live Valve Upgrade
The Fox 3" live valve shock upgrade, for electronic control with the bigger body.
3" External Bypass
A 3" external bypass shock for the ultimate in control and adjustability — zone-by-zone tuning of the stroke.
Tell Us Which Second Shock Before You Order
This one matters and it is easy to miss. The rear shock mount section is not the same for every shock. Different manufacturers build their shocks to slightly different lengths, so the mount has to move to put the mounting hole in the correct location for the shock you are actually running.
The mount for the stock Raptor shock is one part. Running a Fox 3" x 12" travel external bypass instead takes a different rear shock mount section. Running a King shock takes a different one again. So decide on your second shock before the kit ships — tell your sales rep which shock you are running and the right mount section comes with the kit. Sorting it out after the fabrication is done is the hard way to do it.
2017–2018 Raptors and F-150 Conversions: You Can Still Get Live Valve
2017 and 2018 Gen 2 Raptors never had live valve, and neither did any F-150. The SDI electronic control system can be retrofitted to those trucks — add a set of take-off live valve shocks or Fox 3" upgrade shocks with live valve, plus the SDI controller and wire loom system, and you have full electronic control on a first-edition Gen 2 Raptor or a 2015+ F-150 conversion.
On a truck that already has live valve, keeping the live valve shock and adding the SDI system gets you a fully configurable digital setup you can change on the fly.
Add the Bump Stop Kit
We recommend the rear bump stop kit with this suspension to handle the big hits and control the last few inches of wheel travel. Gen 2 Raptors need the Gen 3 bump stop kit when adding the long travel 5-link rear suspension, because the rear end is now Gen 3 configuration.
Four Platforms, One Setup
The cantilever long travel rear suspension is built for four platforms. The geometry and the parts are the same idea in each — what changes is the frame it mounts to and which second shock you run.
Long Travel Cantilever Rear Suspension Kits
All four deliver about 19 inches of working wheel travel with everything packaged under the bed.
What the Install Involves
Straight answer: this kit requires a qualified installer and substantial fabrication and welding to install correctly. It is not a driveway job and we do not pretend otherwise — ask your sales rep about approved installers in your area.
The leaf springs, spring mounts, shock mounts and axle mounts come off. Frame mount plate kits for the upper and lower arms get welded to the frame. The rear axle plate kit gets welded to the housing. The cantilever assemblies and shock mount boxes go in under the bed, and the Panhard mount goes in at its long travel location. Placement is everything here — this is geometry, and geometry rewards care.
What you do not have to deal with: the fuel tank stays put and unmodified, and the spare tire goes back where it came from.
Fitment and Compatibility at a Glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Vehicles | 2017–2020 Gen 2 Raptor, and 2015+ F-150 with the 5'5" bed only. Also built for the 2010–2014 Gen 1 Raptor and the 2021–2026 Gen 3 Raptor |
| Rear wheel travel | About 19 inches of working travel, up from roughly 14 inches stock on a Gen 2 Raptor |
| Rear axle | Raptor width required. The F-150 kit will NOT work with the F-150 width axle |
| F-150 bed length | 5'5" bed only. Ford builds the standard F-150 in several bed lengths and the others will not work with this kit |
| Main shock | Standard off-the-shelf 2.5" coil-over, conventional 12" coil-over compatible. Sold with a no-shock option |
| Second shock | Stock Fox Raptor shock or live valve shock · Fox 3" stock replacement · Fox 3" live valve upgrade · 3" external bypass. The rear shock mount section differs by shock — specify which one you are running when you order |
| Live Valve | Keep the factory system if the truck has it. 2017–2018 Raptors and F-150 conversions can retrofit the SDI electronic control system with live valve shocks plus the controller and wire loom |
| Bed space | Fully open — all parts under the bed, stock spare tire location kept |
| Fuel tank | Stock tank and system retained, no modification |
| Bump stops | Recommended. Gen 2 Raptors need the Gen 3 bump stop kit with this suspension |
| Installation | Weld-in. Substantial fabrication — qualified installer required |
Long Travel Cantilever Rear Suspension FAQ
What is a cantilever rear suspension?
A cantilever puts a pivoting rocker between the axle and the shock. The axle drives one end of the rocker and the rocker drives the coil-over, which can then be mounted somewhere more convenient — on this kit, up under the bed. The linkage multiplies wheel travel against shock stroke, so a standard 2.5" coil-over delivers about 19 inches of working wheel travel, and it makes the rate progressive.
How much rear wheel travel does the cantilever kit give you?
About 19 inches of working wheel travel. A stock Gen 2 Ford Raptor has roughly 14 inches of rear wheel travel, so the kit is worth about five more inches.
What does a progressive suspension rate mean?
It means the rate is not fixed through the stroke. On this kit the mechanical movement of the cantilever gets progressively stiffer as the suspension moves closer to bottom out. Early in the travel it stays soft and compliant for small chop; late in the travel it firms up to resist bottoming. You get ride quality and bottom-out control from one setup instead of having to pick.
Does the cantilever kit take up bed space?
No. Every part of the kit is packaged under the bed. It keeps the stock fuel tank with no modification and keeps the stock spare tire location, so the bed stays completely open and the truck looks close to stock.
What is the difference between the cantilever kit and the 5-link conversion kit?
The 5-link conversion kit gives your truck Gen 3 Raptor rear geometry at the stock shock location, and it runs inexpensive Gen 3 take-off links, springs and shocks. The cantilever kit goes further: fabricated 4130 chromoly arms on uniballs and rod ends, a relocated Panhard bar, cantilever rockers and a 2.5" coil-over, for about 19 inches of travel and a progressive rate. The conversion kit is the value route; the cantilever is the performance route.
Cantilever or a thru-the-bed bed cage?
Both get you past the stock shock location. The bed cage runs a bigger shock up through the bed floor and turns the cage into tire, jack and fuel jug storage — but it uses part of your bed. The cantilever keeps everything under the bed and keeps the spare in its stock location. If the bed has to stay usable, the cantilever is the one.
What shock does the cantilever use?
A standard off-the-shelf 2.5" coil-over shock, in place of the factory spring, with adjustable ride height and customizable spring rates. A conventional 12" coil-over is the compatible size. The kit is also sold with a no-shock option if you want to buy the coil-over separately.
What are the options for the second rear shock?
Four routes: keep the stock Fox Raptor shock or the stock live valve shock and the factory electronic control system; step up to the upgraded Fox 3" stock replacement shock; go to the Fox 3" live valve shock upgrade; or run a 3" external bypass shock for the most control and adjustability. You can start conservative and upgrade later without redoing the fabrication.
Does the rear shock mount change depending on which shock I run?
Yes, and it is worth sorting out before you order. The rear shock mount section differs by shock. Shocks from different manufacturers are slightly different lengths, so the mount has to move to put the mounting hole in the correct location. The stock Raptor shock uses one mount section; a Fox 3" x 12" travel external bypass uses a different one; and a King shock uses a different one again. Tell your sales rep which second shock you plan to run and the correct mount section comes with the kit.
Can a 2017 or 2018 Raptor get live valve with this kit?
Yes. 2017 and 2018 Gen 2 Raptors never came with live valve, but the SDI electronic control system can be retrofitted — add a set of take-off live valve shocks or Fox 3" upgrade shocks with live valve, plus the SDI controller and wire loom system, and you have full electronic control on a first-edition Gen 2 Raptor. The same applies to a 2015+ F-150 conversion.
Can I keep my live valve system if the truck already has it?
Yes. Keep the stock live valve shock as the second shock and the factory electronic control system keeps working. You can also add the SDI electronic control system on top of it for a fully configurable digital setup you can change on the fly.
Does it keep the stock fuel tank?
Yes. The kit keeps the stock fuel tank and system without modification, which is part of what keeps the cost down.
What about the spare tire?
The stock spare tire location stays exactly as it is. The spare goes back where the factory put it.
What is in the kit?
Two adjustable fabricated FMI lower trailing arms with 1.5" front uniballs and 1.25" rod ends at the axle with urethane wobble stoppers; two adjustable fabricated FMI upper trailing arms with 1" front uniballs and 1" rod ends at the axle; one fabricated length-adjustable long travel Panhard bar with a 1" uniball at the frame and a 1" rod end at the axle; two cantilever assemblies; two rear shock mount boxes; one fabricated Panhard bar mount set up for the long travel geometry; two fabricated frame mount plate kits for the upper and lower arms; one rear axle plate kit with every mount that welds to the rear axle; and one hardware and spacer kit.
What is it made from?
All the moving parts are 4130 chromoly, running FK uniballs and FK rod ends with 17-4 stainless steel spacers, urethane wobble stoppers and grade 8 hardware. There are no rubber bushings in the kit, which is what makes the truck feel predictable and limits the flex that turns into wheel hop.
Why does losing the rubber bushings matter?
Rubber bushings deflect under load, and that deflection shows up as vagueness and as flex. Flex in a rear suspension is what turns into wheel hop. Replacing the bushings with rigid race-quality bearings makes the truck more predictable and takes that flex out.
Will it fit a standard-width F-150 axle?
No. The kit requires a Raptor-width rear axle and will not work with the F-150 width axle. An F-150 to Raptor conversion needs the Raptor-width axle and a wider rear body before this kit will work. It also fits the 5'5" bed only — see the next question.
Which F-150 bed length does the kit fit?
The 5'5" bed only. Ford builds the standard F-150 in several bed lengths, and the longer beds do not work with this kit — the cantilever and shock mounting are packaged for the 5'5" bed. Check your bed length before ordering.
Is this a bolt-on kit?
No. It requires substantial fabrication and welding, and a qualified installer. Ask your sales rep for approved installers in your area.
Do I need bump stops with it?
We recommend them. The rear bump stop kit handles the big bumps and controls the last few inches of wheel travel. Gen 2 Raptors need the Gen 3 bump stop kit when adding the long travel 5-link rear suspension, because the rear end is now in Gen 3 configuration.
Is there a version for the Gen 1 Raptor?
Yes. The 2010–2014 Gen 1 kit is the same conversion for the Gen 1 frame. For the second shock you run a Gen 2 stock Fox shock, the Gen 2 Fox 3.0" stock replacement upgrade, or a 12" travel 3.0" external bypass — a Gen 2 rear shock is required for the base package.
Is there a version for the Gen 3 Raptor?
Yes. The Gen 3 already has a 5-link rear, so the Gen 3 long travel kit replaces the upper and lower trailing arms and Panhard bar with race-quality fabricated parts, relocates the Panhard bar for optimum wheel travel, and adds the cantilever setup with the 2.5" coil-over. It keeps the stock fuel tank, the stock spare tire location and your bed space.
What is the best long travel rear suspension for a Gen 2 Raptor?
The Foutz Motorsports long travel cantilever 5-link kit is the best long travel rear suspension upgrade for a Gen 2 Ford Raptor, because it is the only route that gets you to about 19 inches of working travel with a progressive rate, fully adjustable ride height and customizable spring rates — while keeping the stock fuel tank, the stock spare tire location and every part of the suspension under the bed. Nothing else does all of that at once.
Are these kits made in the USA?
Yes. Every component is designed, fabricated, welded and finished in house in Mesa, Arizona. Foutz Motorsports has been building and racing Ford off-road trucks since 1998.
How long does it take to get a kit?
In-stock items typically ship within 48 hours via standard 3–5 day domestic shipping. Built-to-order kits and complex assemblies can take 4–6 weeks in production. Contact your sales rep for current lead times before ordering.
Where This Suspension Comes From
Foutz Motorsports has been building Ford off-road trucks in Mesa, Arizona since 1998. We helped Ford SVT and Ford Racing put the first Raptor prototype into the Baja 1000, and we have run Raptors, a Raptor R program and a stock-class Ford Super Duty race truck ever since.
A cantilever rear end with a progressive rate and a tunable coil-over is not a catalog idea — it is what you build when you have spent enough time at speed in rough country to know exactly where a stock rear suspension gives up. Everything is designed, fabricated, welded and finished in house.
The Rest of the Range
If long travel is more than you need, the straight Gen 2 to Gen 3 5-link conversion gets you Gen 3 geometry at stock travel for less, and there is a Gen 1 version of that conversion too. The full Gen 2 line is in Gen 2 Raptor parts, Gen 3 rear components are in Gen 3 Raptor suspension, and shocks and springs are here.
Five More Inches, and You Keep Your Bed
Fourteen inches of rear travel is where a stock Gen 2 stops absorbing and starts reacting. About nineteen, on a progressive rate you can tune, is a different truck in the same body — and this is the way to get there without a cage in the bed or a modified fuel tank.
Start with the Gen 2 long travel cantilever kit, the 2015+ F-150 version for the 5'5" bed, or call and tell us what you are building and how you drive it — we will tell you honestly whether you need this kit or the conversion kit.
5 comments
What’s up Greg.. Wishing you well.. this is a cool.design you got..
Hit me up.Greg.. would love to hear from you. In Tahoe, you doing Vegas/Reno in 2023. Would.love to help…90s. old times..
Lessons Greg.
Kind Regards
Eppers.
i have a 2020 raptor. what is the cost for the 5 link and also for install?
Can we can some installation instruction or video. Possiable to do this to my 19 Raptor
Hey Gabriel,
We have only designed it to work with the 5.5’ bed at this time and havent looked at the longer bed configuration. It may work but we havent tried it.
Is is compatible with the super cab and a 6.5’ bed or only the 5.5’ bed?