I treat my Ranger well and it's like new, keeping it forever, but like to treat her to a few upgrades like a suspension lift, just a few inchs would be great. Don't seem to find any good options. Any ideas where I should look?
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Body lift, or Superlift. Superlift is the only currently produced suspension lift and it's a measly 3" kit for $2k. Body lift is 3" of body off the frame lift for $200. RCD made a 5.5" kit, but discontinued it a while ago. You could find one used though if you looked. Summitracing.com sells em both, along with suspensionconnection.com and most auto parts stores. And welcome btw
3" Summit Racing body lift : $160 : http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-7888300/ 3" PA(Performance Accessories) body lift : $270 : http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PRA-70033/ 4" Superlift suspension lift: $1777 : http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SLF-K357/ Stay away from anything that says "leveling kit". You can do what that "kit" does for free. Search "Torsion bar crank" on the forum. 3" rear lift, yes. 4" front lift. Even though it only drops the control arms 3.5", the other .5" is made up by extra torsion bar cranking.
If your torsion bars aren't cranked, it'll be a total of 3" because it levels out the truck. That's how I view it.
You're truck would look good doing a torsion twist, rule of thumb is not to exceed 2" of lift from it though or you're putting too much angle on the cv's. Torsion twist along with a 2 or 3" body lift would make your truck stand out and probably provide you with what you're wanting. Fpr a 2" b/l you would have to use the 2" lift made for the earlier Ranger and wouldn't require a steering extension but would have to get bumper brackets made to get your bumpers raised. Just an idea...
Torsion Twist or Torsion Crank all depends on wear of the bars themselves. You can max the adjustment bolts out and only get 1/2" lift from it due to wear.
crank it Just crank the bars and buy a spring hanger kit for the rear. they are like 20 bucks wont change your rear ride which is a major issue with daily drives when you get spring kits they tend to ride hard. the brakets range from 1 in to 4 in... As for the bars wearing and not adjusting up i have never had one that i could not get up to 3 in out of just did a dodge dakota with over 250xxx miles on it and we twist 3.5 out if it. just my opion though never claim to see it all. but like i said if you are looking for a little lift this would be the cheapest way and stay far far away from body lifts if you plan to hall anything i have seen nothing but issues from them on the smaller trucks. they the body blocks tend to push up thru the bed floors. if you do decide on a body old trick that we used on the full size was hockey pucks. they are bigger in width than the body lift kits sold support better just make sure to drill straight and the same thru the stack and tighten them good
I have to disagree with this. I have seen Body lifts last for a long time and have never hurt the body at all. The body spacers are a nylon material and are tough. If you install Hockey pucks, the material they are made from WILL deteriorate over time and weather conditions. The hockey pucks also tend to move more with body roll. I have had a body lift on my truck for over 3 years and no problems what so ever. I have even seen people remove their sway bars with a body lift, they get a little bit more body roll, but it is still fine. Body lifts have come a long way and they make them very strong and durable, so I do recommend them.
have you ever seen what a hockey puck looks like after its been outside for like 3 years straight? the weather crack like a mofo! so yeah id agree with clinton BL are better then hockey pucks
after 10 years on my chevy i sold it with the same hockey pucks under it. and i took it every where i had 2 stacked. the issue most had was they drilled it and slapped them in you have to seal the new how up. i used tarp sealer inside the new holes and when i put them in i put it in the layer and on the top and bottom. and even with them when i showed the guy as with most BL trucks you could see metal twist at the body mounts. i have yet to find one that does not show this after years of running. yes most will say you will have wear from a SL but the difference is that is wear that is fixable and does not peremantly affect the truck. now this is just my exp from installing 100+ lift kits. As far as how far BL have come i dont see that they have come tht far at all different material same old issues. my professional advise stays the same SL you can get enough out of the crank method to up your tire size some and if you are looking for anything over a 33 to go play you need more work anyways so do it right.
Again I disagree with this method, but it is advice, and you will do it at your own risk. Carrkool, if you have pictures of the style body lift you did, please post them for the members to see.