Ford F150 GVM Upgrade, Lift Kit & Touring Build
Ford F150 with GVM Upgrade, Lift Kit and More
The modern Ford F-150 has quickly become one of the most popular US truck platforms in Australia.
With impressive towing capacity, refined comfort, huge aftermarket potential, and serious touring capability, the F150 is becoming the go-to choice for drivers wanting a full-size truck that can comfortably handle work, towing, off-road adventures, and long-distance touring.
But for owners wanting to unlock the full potential of the platform, factory just isn’t enough.
That’s where CTO Industries comes in.
This incredible red F150 came through the workshop for a complete touring and performance transformation — featuring a certified GVM upgrade, premium suspension setup, aggressive wheel and tyre package, touring accessories, recovery gear, roof rack systems, lighting upgrades, and more.
The end result is a seriously capable truck that looks tough, drives properly, carries more weight legally, and is built for real-world touring across Australia.
A Properly Built Touring F150
There’s a big difference between simply bolting accessories onto a truck and building a properly engineered touring setup.
Every component on this build was selected to improve:
- Touring capability
- Off-road performance
- Load carrying
- Recovery readiness
- Practicality
- Long-distance comfort
- Reliability
The goal wasn’t just to make the truck look aggressive.
The goal was to create an F150 capable of carrying touring gear, accessories, rooftop equipment, recovery gear, and towing loads — while still driving properly on-road.
That’s exactly why this build includes one of CTO Industries’ highly sought-after GVM upgrade packages.
Certified 3920kg GVM Upgrade
One of the standout features of this build is the upgraded Gross Vehicle Mass package.
The truck received CTO Industries’ 3920kg GVM upgrade package, dramatically increasing the legal payload capacity of the vehicle.
For many F150 owners, payload becomes the limiting factor long before towing capacity does.
Once you add:
- Bull bars
- Winches
- Roof racks
- Draw systems
- Fridges
- Camping gear
- Canopies
- Passengers
- Towball weight
…the factory payload disappears quickly.
That’s why a properly engineered GVM upgrade is one of the most valuable modifications you can make to a touring truck.
This package pushes the F150 well above the one-tonne payload mark, making it far more practical for:
- Caravan towing
- Touring builds
- Trade setups
- Long-distance travel
- Off-grid camping
Most importantly, it helps owners remain legal and compliant when carrying heavier loads.
Premium FOX Suspension with Remote Reservoirs
Supporting the upgraded GVM package is a premium suspension setup featuring FOX Performance Elite 2.5 Remote Reservoir shocks.
FOX suspension systems are widely regarded as some of the best suspension options available for touring and off-road vehicles.
The remote reservoir setup offers several key advantages:
- Improved heat dissipation
- Better damping control
- Enhanced off-road comfort
- Reduced suspension fade
- Improved handling under load
For a large truck like the F150, quality suspension makes a massive difference.
Not only does it improve ride quality, but it also helps maintain vehicle control when towing or carrying additional weight.
Whether the truck is loaded for touring or driving rough corrugated tracks, the FOX setup provides significantly improved comfort and stability.
Aggressive Front-End Protection
At the front of the build sits a seriously aggressive Offroad Creative Bull Bar setup.
The bar completely transforms the appearance of the truck while adding genuine off-road protection and functionality.
The setup includes:
- Integrated recovery points
- Heavy-duty bash protection
- Integrated lighting
- Winch compatibility
- Improved approach angle
The addition of a 5mm bash plate underneath provides critical protection for important underbody components when driving off-road.
For touring vehicles, underbody protection is essential.
Australia’s touring tracks are harsh, and one bad impact can end a trip very quickly.
This setup gives the F150 significantly better protection for remote touring conditions.
15,000lb Carbon Winches Winch
Mounted inside the bull bar is a massive 15,000lb winch from Carbon Winches.
With the size and weight of modern US trucks, proper recovery gear is critical.
A high-capacity winch provides:
- Self-recovery capability
- Safer remote touring
- Recovery support for other vehicles
- Added confidence off-road
For serious touring setups, a winch is often considered essential equipment rather than an optional accessory.
Premium Lighting Upgrades
Lighting is another major feature of this build.
The bull bar includes integrated STEDI Lights as standard, delivering improved visibility for night driving and touring.
In addition, the build features a pair of Lightforce Beast Driving Lights fitted with orange covers.
High-performance driving lights are essential for:
- Rural driving
- Touring
- Animal spotting
- Night-time visibility
- Remote travel safety
The orange covers also help reduce glare and improve visibility in dusty or foggy conditions.
Combined with the STEDI integration, the lighting setup on this truck is built for serious long-distance touring.
Method Wheels and Yokohama Tyres
A build like this needs the right wheel and tyre package.
This F150 runs:
- Method Race Wheels MR305
- Yokohama Geolandar All-Terrain Tyres
This combination delivers:
- Improved off-road traction
- Stronger stance
- Better durability
- Enhanced touring capability
- Aggressive appearance
The Method 305 wheel has become one of the most popular choices for premium US truck builds thanks to its strength and clean styling.
Matched with Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tyres, the truck gains improved traction both on-road and off-road without sacrificing comfort.
Bushwacker Flares for an Aggressive Finish
To complete the stance of the vehicle, the truck features colour-coded Bushwacker Fender Flares.
These help:
- Complement the wider wheel setup
- Improve overall styling
- Protect the body from debris
- Create a more aggressive appearance
Colour coding the flares helps the truck maintain a premium factory-style finish while still looking tough.
Retaining Factory 360 Camera Functionality
One clever feature highlighted during the walkthrough is the mirror relocation system.
The setup relocates the factory camera system so the vehicle retains full 360-degree camera functionality.
This is an important detail because many aftermarket accessory installations can interfere with factory driver assistance systems.
CTO Industries ensures the truck still retains:
- Factory camera functionality
- OEM integration
- Driver assistance usability
- Clean electronic operation
Maintaining factory functionality is critical in modern premium vehicles.
Touring-Ready Roof Rack Setup
On top of the truck sits another premium addition from Higher Ground Offroad.
The roof rack system dramatically expands storage and touring capability.
Roof racks are essential for many touring builds because they allow mounting of:
- Recovery boards
- Camping gear
- Swags
- Solar panels
- Starlink systems
- Lighting
- Awning systems
This particular setup includes a dedicated Starlink mount, making the vehicle ideal for remote travel while maintaining internet connectivity.
Reliable internet access has become increasingly important for:
- Remote workers
- Travellers
- Content creators
- Emergency communication
- Navigation and weather updates
The Starlink integration helps modernise the touring experience significantly.
Killa Tub Rack Setup
The build also includes a tub rack setup designed to maximise practicality and storage flexibility.
Combined with the roof rack system, the rear tub configuration allows for mounting:
- Camping equipment
- Recovery gear
- Storage solutions
- Additional accessories
This modular approach gives the owner flexibility to adapt the truck for different touring setups and travel styles.
Bush Company Awning for Touring Comfort
Mounted to the side of the vehicle is a premium awning setup.
Awnings have become one of the most useful additions to touring vehicles because they provide:
- Shade
- Weather protection
- Faster campsite setup
- Improved comfort while travelling
Whether stopping for lunch, camping overnight, or working remotely, a quality awning dramatically improves usability.
Built for Australian Touring Conditions
Australia is one of the harshest environments in the world for vehicles.
Heat, dust, corrugations, long distances, and heavy loads expose weaknesses in poorly designed setups very quickly.
That’s why professionally engineered builds matter.
This F150 wasn’t built purely for social media photos.
It was built to function properly in real-world conditions.
Every component was selected to improve durability, usability, and long-term reliability.
Why GVM Upgrades Matter for US Trucks
Many people purchase US trucks because of their impressive towing figures.
But towing capacity alone isn’t the full story.
Payload capacity is often the real limiting factor.
When you start adding:
- Bull bars
- Winches
- Passengers
- Fuel
- Canopies
- Roof racks
- Drawers
- Touring gear
- Caravan towball weight
…it’s surprisingly easy to exceed factory vehicle limits.
That’s why engineered GVM upgrades are becoming one of the most important modifications for serious touring builds.
The benefits include:
- Increased legal carrying capacity
- Improved suspension performance
- Better vehicle stability
- Safer towing characteristics
- Improved load management
For many F150 owners, it’s one of the smartest investments they can make.
The Importance of Properly Matched Components
One thing that separates professional builds from average builds is component matching.
Every part on this truck complements the others.
The upgraded suspension supports the added weight.
The wheel and tyre package works with the lift setup.
The bull bar integrates correctly with the lighting and recovery systems.
The roof rack system works with the touring accessories.
This level of integration is critical for creating a vehicle that performs properly long-term.
Here’s the original walkthrough Reel from the build:
Build Your Dream F150 with CTO Industries
If you’re looking to build a properly engineered touring F150, CTO Industries specialises in premium US truck upgrades designed for real-world use.
From:
- GVM upgrades
- Suspension systems
- Bull bars
- Lighting
- Touring accessories
- Roof racks
- Recovery gear
- Electrical systems
…through to complete touring builds, CTO Industries can help transform your truck into a capable long-distance touring rig.
Whether you want improved payload, better off-road capability, or a fully integrated adventure setup, this F150 build shows exactly what’s possible when the right parts are installed properly.