I have one 98 Explorer I use for most of my normal driving. I have a second 98 Explorer that I want to set up a little better for use in the sand on the beach, but definitely want to keep it street legal as it is a long drive to the beach. I don't want anything radical or super expensive, but I would like to get a little more frame ground clearance and bigger tires and rims on it. I still want to be able to drive it into my garage that has a door about 80 inches high. I was thinking 2-3 inches lift at most and some taller, wider tires.

On one end of the spectrum, I have read something about just a torsion bar adjustment lift on the front and adding a leaf in the rear. And on the other end there are several 'serious’ lift kits on the market.

I am not trying to make a major statement with this truck and really want to keep the lift fairly modest...just high enough to gain bigger tire clearance and a little more ground clearance without emptying my bank account or completely sacrificing good highway handling and ride comfort or having to worry about u-joint stress problems or anything else of that nature. I would however, like it to look nice and little a more beefy when I am done.

Would love to hear from all of you who really enjoy off-roading and making a good truck look and perform even better. Looking forward to your advice, ideas, do's, don'ts', experience, and knowledge of brands, parts, tires, shocks, rims, etc.

I am working with a 1998 Explorer 4x4 currently with 15 inch factory rims and factory suspension. I don't mind spending some money to do this and don’t want it to be a cheap shot, but would prefer to keep the cost as low as possible.

I am all ears.

Thanks in advance.

JD