This is a guide on the lift options for 2001+ 4x4 rangers. just thought it would be nice to have all the pics in one place. note: all pics were found through various forums , if the owner would not like their truck displayed in this thread please pm me and i will remove the pic. any way on to the options for lifts.

Here is the starting point for many of our trucks for comparison:



Option 1: T-bar crank 1-2 in (Free)
The basics: tighten the preload bolt on the Trosion bar, this causes the truck to ride higher in its suspension giving you a stiffer ride and 1-2 in of "lift"
The result:


Option 2: bigger tires 1-3 in ($300-$600)
The basics: the ranger has nice big wheel wells that can fit 33x10.5 or 32x11.5 inch tires on stock or 15x8in wheels, this is a nice cheap way to get more under axle clearance.
The result:


Option 3: 1in Body lift ($50-100)
The basics: a body lift uses blocks and longer body bolts to raise the body off the frame alowing for larger tires. this is an inexpensive way to get 32x11.5 tires to stop rubbing. this is a do it yourself lift, that uses 12 1 inch by 3 inch wide BL spacers availible on ebay also longer body bolts and new washers from the hardware store are required. no additional modifications are needed, but some interferance with the shift bezel may be encountered on manuals, this reguires slight clearancing with a dremal. more info can be found here.

The results:


Option 4: 3in PA Body lift ($200+)
The basics: a body lift uses blocks and longer body bolts to raise the body off the frame alowing for larger tires. bodylifts are cheap (200 ish) and alow 33x12.5 inch tires to be mounted with no rubbing. the problem with bodylifts is; 1. you need a shift extension for manuals and if you are lucky enough to have amanual transfercase the shifters hit the body floor and wont engage, and an extension is not made for this. 2. the bumpers are atached to the frame, leaving a 3in gap, brakets are included to fix this but they are flimsy to say the least. also tow hooks and hitches bring up a problem.
The results:


Option 5: Superlift 4in ($1600)
The basics: the superlift kit uses drop brakets to lower the suspension compnets giving you lift. this is a solid kit but has a few drawbacks; 1. Tbars remain at stock height and hang down. 2. it wears your front drive shaft, and the Superlift DS is $400 adding to the price of the kit. gives clearance for 33x12.5 inch tires.
The results:



Option 6: RCD 5.5in suspension lift ($2300)
The basics: this kit replaces the factory torsion bars with coil-over shocks, giving you clearance under the truck and clearance for 33x12.5 in tires with no rubbing but 35s will fit with slight rubbing i belive also this kit requires minor welding.
The result:


Option 7: Dixion brothers Racing LT 4x4 kit (3000+)
The basics: this is a long travel IFS kit that gives about 2.5 in of lift with 14 in of front travel (twice the stock travel) it is a desert racing (prerunner) kit that retains the 4x4 and makes for an extremly capable truck. 33x12.5 tires work the best becuse of the extreme travel.
The result:


Option 8: Solid Axel Swap 5in to 10in ( 2000+ ish)
The basics: there is no kit for a Solid Axel Swap (SAS) but it involves replacing the front IFS with solid axel and grafting in suspension (usually leaf or coil springs) and stering. fabrication skills are neccesary but the result is amazing, you basicaly build the truck to what you want. almost any tire size will fit it just depends on how it is built, 35 to 40 inch tires are the trend.
The result:


these are the main options for our rangers this is just to let you know what is avalible and each lift has its own pros and cons that if search can be answered for you. hope sombody finds this useful, and if any one has anything to add or edit or comment let me know, im no expert but was tired of 10 thousand posts on the same topic. ( as many others are ).

Oh, and to the powers that be can we make this a sticky?

This information is from MikeRider at RF.com

 

Good work Dave, I guess you have no life either ha ha. Yes it does get old repeating these same option day after day. I'll sell you a piture of my truck for 25.00 bucks to post. It's to awesome to post for free ha ha, I wish !!!! "GREAT PITURES"!!!!!!!!!!!

 

great write-up. very helpful. complete, yet short and to the point. pics are a huge help.

only better category would be "still garageable".

 

Excellent!

Is it not true that the Edge 2WD versions with the T-bars can also benefit from most of these same lifts?


CMOS

 

Yes, but 2wd's can also use 3" spindles for much more lift.

 

Can we make this a sticky, perhaps?

 

Yes we can, but it might help if I actually had the power to do so. We need monsterbaby or fordboy52, there's never a mod a round we you need one. I'm sure one of the two will pick up on this. It's really a great thing you have put together here Dave, good job !! It may save you and I some writting every week, I hope we don't get bored.

 

Yeah, if they do make it a sticky, I won't have to come on this forum for a week at a time!! LOL!!

 

Then I would miss you buddy ! Say it isn't so ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Why you gotta post all those pics of lifted Level IIs to make me jelous?

 

Believe me, it was just as hard for me.

 

If you guy's won't even take the first step by cranking your t-bars, you deserve to have short trucks ha ha. I liked the dixon brothers lifted truck, of course I would like the most expensive one. The DB kit does away with the t-bars and has coil over shocks I believe, that would be a nice setup, not just look good, but should perform verywell. I was satisfied with my t-bar crank and 32's untill I see all these nice lifted rangers, now mine looks punney. Now I have to rethink this whole deal, "THANKS DAVE".

 

Hey, no problem, Wendell! I'm lookin out for ya, bud!

 

I have a 2007 Ranger... Sport... 4x4, and I want a lift on it. Are the 97 lift kits the same? What year kits work for it?

 

Oh and thanks for all this info it helps a ton!