I can't speak for the other year-models; but, on the 80-86 trucks, any body-lift over an inch had better think seriously about replacing the JUNK Ford steering-shaft with a Borgeson, or equivalent.
On my 85 F-350, at three-inches, there was less than half-an-inch of connection left in the telescoping part of the shaft; there was not much more at two-inches.
The guys at the shop stuck a floor-jack under one side of a body-lifted truck and the shaft un-splined itself.
I know of another case where an older model Chevy Blazer popped apart the shaft making a hard turn on a sloping parking-lot.
In either case, it is scary to imagine what could have happened, should the shaft have seperated on the highway.