Yea, easiest is to install a body lift for $150 new, or less for a used or eBay kit. Performance Accessories makes a good product, and it will give him 3" of lift to fit larger tires without really raising the center of gravity. The biggest prob when I did my body (having never done one before, had help with a friend who DID previously do a BL on his '98 ranger) was the radiator drop brackets. Just aligning everything up. But that was it.
If he's 2WD and wants another 3" inches, the easier way to go about it is go get new drop spindles, and probably a 1-2" rear block for the axle. Rangers are lifted 2" in the rear from the factory to make it level during loading.
EDIT: Took my former roommate and myself about 1.5 days...which is about 8 hours as well...