compleckz
08-06-2007, 07:36 PM
****Please do not post lift questions here, this post is for lift reviews only. Thank you.****
from the old forums:
I would like to compile a review list of all the lift manufacturers. If you would like to send input then either E-mail me or PM me your experiences. I would ask that it be reviewed IF YOU installed the list not a shop. We want first hand experience here.
I thank Arctic601 for getting the ball rolling with these ones.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rough Country (83-97 TTB)
Rough country is a cheap/basic lift; you get what you pay for, including brackets that are sometimes improperly drilled from the factory. Many people consider rough country because they are cheap and come with most big items you need to get rolling (shocks and a pitman arm). Rough country lifts have been known to have problems in two areas. One is the drop brackets sometimes don’t line up and you will need to drill them out yourself and also cut the brackets to get them to fit, sometimes cutting down so much your wondering if its going to hold up. The other controversy is the drop plate; this bracket is sometimes known to puncture a hole in your front diff (other lifts avoid this). On the better side, I have never heard many (if any at all) horror stories of the lift itself breaking while being used, but again, you get what you pay for.
The Good
· Cheap $$
· Comes with shocks and a pitman arm in most cases
· Seems to be durable in mild wheeling situations (if you can get it on)
The Bad
· Cheap (quality)
· Brackets do not “line up” to factory drilled holes, expect to have to drill (doesn’t bolt up like it should)
· Drop plate can puncture a hole in your front differential
· Not a good “hardcore” wheeling lift
· Does not really improve your suspension system
www.roughcountry.com (http://www.roughcountry.com/ford_83-97_midsize.htm)
Tuff Country ('83-'97 TTB)
The Tuff Country kits are a better alternative to some others in the budget lift category. They provide all new replacement axle brackets that won't cause damage to the differential housing.
Good
· Cheap $$$
· Comes with shocks and pitman arm
· Fully replaces the stock axle brackets
· Bolt holes generally line up better than some
· Offers a kit with extended radius arms
Bad
· Not a good kit for hard offroad use (brackets are not the strongest)
www.tuffcountry.com (http://www.tuffcountry.com/suspension-kit/ford-ranger-1983-97-explorer-1991-94-lift-kits.html)
Skyjacker (83-97 TTB)
Skyjacker could be considered one of the “leading” suspension lift providers. The products they make always receive positive feedback and good recognition from consumers. The lifts tend to cost a bit more (especially once you factor in shocks and a pitman arm) but in the end are well worth the money. The brackets are good quality and bolt up just like there suppose to. There is no middle drop bracket like in most other low budget lifts. The extended drop bracket is completely replaced by a new bracket that could save your front differential in the long run. Skyjacker offers a few options for lift (kits, systems and class 1 and 2 lifts). The class 1 is a basic lift; the class 2 will give you a pitman arm as well as extended radius arms. See the link below to see how to make this one of the best lifts around. Thanks to 4x4 Junkie for preparing this article.
The Good
· Bolts on like it should
· Quality build
· Class 2 will improve your suspension from factory (ext rad arms)
· Will keep you wheeling for years to come (especially the class 2)
The Bad
· Expensive to some, doesn’t seem worth it at first (it will in the long run though)
· Not perfect, but close (Making the Skyjacker a true performance and nearly flawless lift CLICK HERE (http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Mar04/offroad.htm))
www.skyjacker.com
James Duff
James Duff has been a manufacturer of lifts for many years, but not just any lifts, specifically ranger, bronco II and classic (early) broncos. This dedication to a small amount of vehicles and long time commitment has led to an excellent product. James Duff offers different class setups like Skyjacker does. Starting out with a basic 3” lift you can choose to add things like dual shocks, extended radius arms, and new rear leaf springs. Duff also offers a 5.5" kit as well. Duff is truly the only company to challenge skyjacker with a strong solid lift.
Good
· Strong build
· Competitor of skyjacker
· Will greatly improve your suspension
· A long lasting lift
Bad
· Expensive (you get what you pay for though, especially in this market)
www.jamesduff.com (http://www.jamesduff.com/broncoII/broncoII.html)
Super lift (83-97 TTB)
Superlift TTB kits have been known to have problems with weak brackets and their extended radius arms cracking (and breaking) where they attach at the axle. They did revise the kit a few years back to include a full-replacement drop bracket that no longer threatens to damage the differential housing, but the problems with other weaknesses still persist.
Good
· Inexpensive
· Offers multiple rear lift options (blocks/add-a-leafs/new springs)
Bad
· Stiff coil springs
· Weak
Super lift (98+ IFS)
Super lift is one of the few manufacturers to offer a lift for 98+ rangers. The suspension on the 98+ rangers changed to IFS and therefore the lifts are not as “durable”. Super lift has both a good and bad reputation, more so bad than good though. If you really want to lift your truck (for off-road use, or even a lot of general driving), think about going to the RCD lift or an 83-97 ranger.
Good
· One of the few lifts for 98+ rangers
· Less expensive than some others
Bad
· Does not improve your suspension performance
· Lowers the torsion bar crossmember (steals some ground clearance)
www.superlift.com
ProComp (83-97 TIB)
Fairly simple to install and overall a very straight forward set-up. The instructions at times were a little vague however. The quality seems to be very good although during the install there were a few bolt holes that didnt quite line up and had to be "convinced." I have really given mine a beating and it has held up well. It came with everything I needed and it was definitely a one stop shop. Downside, it doesnt come with extended radius arms but it also is offered as a 2WD lift so most arent going to be used by hardcore offroaders as it is. Mine also came with blocks but I think you might be able to get lifted spring packs for added price.
The Good
-Comes with everything you need- including shocks, drop pitman arm, and extended brakelines
-Seems to be reasonable strong (enough for the average offroader at least)
-Fairly Cheap
The Bad
-Not all holes line up
-Instructions can be vague
-No extended radius arms
-Comes with rear blocks
www.explorerprocomp.com
Fabritech SAS (solid axle swap) (83-97 TTB)
This kit fully replaces the stock TTB suspension with a solid axle from an early Ford Bronco. Don't expect it to come cheap, or easy for that matter. The idea is to gain more articulation, strength, and a simpler suspension setup amongst a few other things.
Many have reported the Fabritech kit is not very well engineered. If you have some fabrication skill (and a welder), you may do better making/acquiring the brackets and other items needed to install the axle on your own. Additionally, the early Bronco D44 axle does not offer a strength advantage over the stock Dana 35 TTB axle (smaller u-joints, and uses a low-pinion gear design), however it IS considerably stronger than the Dana 28 TTB axle.
http://www.setstr8.com/straightaxle.htm
RCD (Race Car Dynamics) (98+ SLA)
The Good
-Replaces front torsion bars with coil-over shocks for better clearance and travel
-Taller than Superlift, 5.5"
The Bad
-Very pricey
-Still not as much travel as a TTB or SAS
-More work to install
-Big tires and/or locker will grenade the halfshafts and CV's
www.racecardynamics.com (http://www.racecardynamics.com/products/suspensions/ford/ford4wdranger/ford4wdrangerfull.htm)
Dixon Brothers Racing (98+ SLA)
The Good
-The mac daddy late-model setup
-Used on desert racers
-Replaces front torsion bars with coil-over shocks for better clearance and travel
-Taller than Superlift, 5.5"
-Stronger and longer control arms, halfshafts, CV's, and steering
-Better travel
The Bad
-Incredibly expensive
-Requires flares or fiberglass front fenders to cover tires
-Very involved installation
-Rear shock cage, if used, renders bed mostly useless
-Still not as much travel as SAS
Dixon Brothers Racing (http://www.dixonbrosracing.com/content/blogsection/2/6/)
Bottom Line
If you want a lift with some quirks, don’t mind having to drill and cut the brackets and risk putting a hole in your front diff, I highly recommend going with Rough Country or Trail master, and if you want a low quality lift that seems to bolt on fine, consider super lift. Now, for those of you who are really interested in wheeling and want a well built lift that will withstand abuse, bolt on like it should, and perform well, go with Skyjacker or James Duff. I know, it’s expensive and you’re probably on a budget (how many people aren’t?). Well if you’re on such a tight budget that you cant wait to collect another 200-300 dollars, don’t bother lifting your truck quite yet. Buying a lift is the cheap MAIN component. You will still need to buy wheels, tires, gears (if you went big enough at least, and if you haven’t yet, you will) and before you know it, you’ve spent 5 grand on your lift. So whats 200-300 dollars?
from the old forums:
I would like to compile a review list of all the lift manufacturers. If you would like to send input then either E-mail me or PM me your experiences. I would ask that it be reviewed IF YOU installed the list not a shop. We want first hand experience here.
I thank Arctic601 for getting the ball rolling with these ones.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rough Country (83-97 TTB)
Rough country is a cheap/basic lift; you get what you pay for, including brackets that are sometimes improperly drilled from the factory. Many people consider rough country because they are cheap and come with most big items you need to get rolling (shocks and a pitman arm). Rough country lifts have been known to have problems in two areas. One is the drop brackets sometimes don’t line up and you will need to drill them out yourself and also cut the brackets to get them to fit, sometimes cutting down so much your wondering if its going to hold up. The other controversy is the drop plate; this bracket is sometimes known to puncture a hole in your front diff (other lifts avoid this). On the better side, I have never heard many (if any at all) horror stories of the lift itself breaking while being used, but again, you get what you pay for.
The Good
· Cheap $$
· Comes with shocks and a pitman arm in most cases
· Seems to be durable in mild wheeling situations (if you can get it on)
The Bad
· Cheap (quality)
· Brackets do not “line up” to factory drilled holes, expect to have to drill (doesn’t bolt up like it should)
· Drop plate can puncture a hole in your front differential
· Not a good “hardcore” wheeling lift
· Does not really improve your suspension system
www.roughcountry.com (http://www.roughcountry.com/ford_83-97_midsize.htm)
Tuff Country ('83-'97 TTB)
The Tuff Country kits are a better alternative to some others in the budget lift category. They provide all new replacement axle brackets that won't cause damage to the differential housing.
Good
· Cheap $$$
· Comes with shocks and pitman arm
· Fully replaces the stock axle brackets
· Bolt holes generally line up better than some
· Offers a kit with extended radius arms
Bad
· Not a good kit for hard offroad use (brackets are not the strongest)
www.tuffcountry.com (http://www.tuffcountry.com/suspension-kit/ford-ranger-1983-97-explorer-1991-94-lift-kits.html)
Skyjacker (83-97 TTB)
Skyjacker could be considered one of the “leading” suspension lift providers. The products they make always receive positive feedback and good recognition from consumers. The lifts tend to cost a bit more (especially once you factor in shocks and a pitman arm) but in the end are well worth the money. The brackets are good quality and bolt up just like there suppose to. There is no middle drop bracket like in most other low budget lifts. The extended drop bracket is completely replaced by a new bracket that could save your front differential in the long run. Skyjacker offers a few options for lift (kits, systems and class 1 and 2 lifts). The class 1 is a basic lift; the class 2 will give you a pitman arm as well as extended radius arms. See the link below to see how to make this one of the best lifts around. Thanks to 4x4 Junkie for preparing this article.
The Good
· Bolts on like it should
· Quality build
· Class 2 will improve your suspension from factory (ext rad arms)
· Will keep you wheeling for years to come (especially the class 2)
The Bad
· Expensive to some, doesn’t seem worth it at first (it will in the long run though)
· Not perfect, but close (Making the Skyjacker a true performance and nearly flawless lift CLICK HERE (http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Mar04/offroad.htm))
www.skyjacker.com
James Duff
James Duff has been a manufacturer of lifts for many years, but not just any lifts, specifically ranger, bronco II and classic (early) broncos. This dedication to a small amount of vehicles and long time commitment has led to an excellent product. James Duff offers different class setups like Skyjacker does. Starting out with a basic 3” lift you can choose to add things like dual shocks, extended radius arms, and new rear leaf springs. Duff also offers a 5.5" kit as well. Duff is truly the only company to challenge skyjacker with a strong solid lift.
Good
· Strong build
· Competitor of skyjacker
· Will greatly improve your suspension
· A long lasting lift
Bad
· Expensive (you get what you pay for though, especially in this market)
www.jamesduff.com (http://www.jamesduff.com/broncoII/broncoII.html)
Super lift (83-97 TTB)
Superlift TTB kits have been known to have problems with weak brackets and their extended radius arms cracking (and breaking) where they attach at the axle. They did revise the kit a few years back to include a full-replacement drop bracket that no longer threatens to damage the differential housing, but the problems with other weaknesses still persist.
Good
· Inexpensive
· Offers multiple rear lift options (blocks/add-a-leafs/new springs)
Bad
· Stiff coil springs
· Weak
Super lift (98+ IFS)
Super lift is one of the few manufacturers to offer a lift for 98+ rangers. The suspension on the 98+ rangers changed to IFS and therefore the lifts are not as “durable”. Super lift has both a good and bad reputation, more so bad than good though. If you really want to lift your truck (for off-road use, or even a lot of general driving), think about going to the RCD lift or an 83-97 ranger.
Good
· One of the few lifts for 98+ rangers
· Less expensive than some others
Bad
· Does not improve your suspension performance
· Lowers the torsion bar crossmember (steals some ground clearance)
www.superlift.com
ProComp (83-97 TIB)
Fairly simple to install and overall a very straight forward set-up. The instructions at times were a little vague however. The quality seems to be very good although during the install there were a few bolt holes that didnt quite line up and had to be "convinced." I have really given mine a beating and it has held up well. It came with everything I needed and it was definitely a one stop shop. Downside, it doesnt come with extended radius arms but it also is offered as a 2WD lift so most arent going to be used by hardcore offroaders as it is. Mine also came with blocks but I think you might be able to get lifted spring packs for added price.
The Good
-Comes with everything you need- including shocks, drop pitman arm, and extended brakelines
-Seems to be reasonable strong (enough for the average offroader at least)
-Fairly Cheap
The Bad
-Not all holes line up
-Instructions can be vague
-No extended radius arms
-Comes with rear blocks
www.explorerprocomp.com
Fabritech SAS (solid axle swap) (83-97 TTB)
This kit fully replaces the stock TTB suspension with a solid axle from an early Ford Bronco. Don't expect it to come cheap, or easy for that matter. The idea is to gain more articulation, strength, and a simpler suspension setup amongst a few other things.
Many have reported the Fabritech kit is not very well engineered. If you have some fabrication skill (and a welder), you may do better making/acquiring the brackets and other items needed to install the axle on your own. Additionally, the early Bronco D44 axle does not offer a strength advantage over the stock Dana 35 TTB axle (smaller u-joints, and uses a low-pinion gear design), however it IS considerably stronger than the Dana 28 TTB axle.
http://www.setstr8.com/straightaxle.htm
RCD (Race Car Dynamics) (98+ SLA)
The Good
-Replaces front torsion bars with coil-over shocks for better clearance and travel
-Taller than Superlift, 5.5"
The Bad
-Very pricey
-Still not as much travel as a TTB or SAS
-More work to install
-Big tires and/or locker will grenade the halfshafts and CV's
www.racecardynamics.com (http://www.racecardynamics.com/products/suspensions/ford/ford4wdranger/ford4wdrangerfull.htm)
Dixon Brothers Racing (98+ SLA)
The Good
-The mac daddy late-model setup
-Used on desert racers
-Replaces front torsion bars with coil-over shocks for better clearance and travel
-Taller than Superlift, 5.5"
-Stronger and longer control arms, halfshafts, CV's, and steering
-Better travel
The Bad
-Incredibly expensive
-Requires flares or fiberglass front fenders to cover tires
-Very involved installation
-Rear shock cage, if used, renders bed mostly useless
-Still not as much travel as SAS
Dixon Brothers Racing (http://www.dixonbrosracing.com/content/blogsection/2/6/)
Bottom Line
If you want a lift with some quirks, don’t mind having to drill and cut the brackets and risk putting a hole in your front diff, I highly recommend going with Rough Country or Trail master, and if you want a low quality lift that seems to bolt on fine, consider super lift. Now, for those of you who are really interested in wheeling and want a well built lift that will withstand abuse, bolt on like it should, and perform well, go with Skyjacker or James Duff. I know, it’s expensive and you’re probably on a budget (how many people aren’t?). Well if you’re on such a tight budget that you cant wait to collect another 200-300 dollars, don’t bother lifting your truck quite yet. Buying a lift is the cheap MAIN component. You will still need to buy wheels, tires, gears (if you went big enough at least, and if you haven’t yet, you will) and before you know it, you’ve spent 5 grand on your lift. So whats 200-300 dollars?