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['91 ranger xlt]

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[4x4junkie]

Camburg has some very nice kits, however unless you are looking to improve your truck's high-speed/jumping ability (or possibly deep mud or snow-running), I'm not sure their kit's higher cost would be worth it (plus the modded beam housings can have a few drawbacks of their own when used just for casual trail running).

What exactly is your intended use for your truck? (forest (mining/power line) roads? Sand dunes? mud? huge rocks? Just trying to get to that remote camping spot?) This would help in suggesting what your best option is.

 

[4x4junkie]

My suggestion then would be to choose between the Camburg kit, or the Skyjacker kit (w/extended arms). Each has virtues that will matter depending whether you favor going fast and general romping around, or driving down that steep rocky backroad trying to get to your favorite get-away spot (both kits can increase your front travel by many inches).

Some things to keep in mind when choosing:
The modified beams of the Camburg kit provide one significant advantage, and a significant disadvantage.
The advantage is greater clearance under the axle, reducing the likelihood of striking an object (embedded rock in the road, etc.) when you launch and/or come down off that landing. The greater clearance obviously will be advantageous in deep mud or snow too. Camburg's beams typically come reinforced in key spots as well.
The disadvantage is greater jacking moment (and track width change w/suspension cycling) created by the axle's pivot points being higher up in the chassis. This creates more instability if you are on an off-camber hill or rock climb, or if you're on an extreme side-angle. Another (more minor) issue is the axle U-joints (most notably the center one) will always have some angle on them, making for a bit of vibration when driving in a straight line while in 4x4.

The Skyjacker kit has an advantage of fewer custom parts (retains more of your OEM parts), increasing the likelihood a replacement part can be found at a wrecking yard should you have an issue (could be advantageous in a real SHTF situation... getting a custom part mailed out from Camburg might not be practical under such a circumstance). Of course if it's a bracket you strike, then you may just as well be in the same situation (though a bracket may be easier to straighten out or repair than, say, an axle beam).
The Skyjacker kit is not as fine-tuned 'out of the box' as Camburg's kits typically are, however you can still turn it into something formidable with some decent shocks and a good set of bumpstops if you find you need them. Reinforcing your stock beams similar to how Camburg does theirs is not at all difficult either.

A drop pitman arm w/stock linkage is the simplest/cheapest steering option with either kit. Camburg requires a standard 2" drop arm (skyjacker pt#FA400, etc.), where the Skyjacker kit typically needs a 4" drop arm such as their #FA600 arm. Note that this is not the arm they include in their kit.
Other available options are a K-link (a.k.a. 'Superrunner') setup or a crossover (a.k.a. 'swingset') setup. The K-link has a much higher potential for durability (good for a trail crawler, bug-out vehicle, etc.), where a crossover setup provides unmatched handling (best on a prerunner).

Another kit you might also consider is the James Duff 3" w/extended arms. Much like the Skyjacker kit, it retains your stock beam geometry, but uses rod-ended radius arms similar to Camburg, and comes set up for dual shocks.


In any case, a SAS shouldn't be needed unless you want to go beyond 36" tires. Your stock HP D35 axle is already 90-95% of what a D44 is (maybe excepting for the brakes)... Slap on a pair of Jeep hubs and Spicer 760X u-joints and it should take pretty much whatever you want to throw at it.


Anyway, those are all things to think about. Hopefully that helps.

 

[4x4junkie]

K-link setup on mine:


Extended RAs provide many benefits at 3" lift... Their benefits are much more limited at stock height or with only a leveling (or spacer) lift. The JD 3" kit w/ext RAs should be good for something between 10-12" travel I would think, and maybe 17" or more if you tweak it a little (I was pulling a bit over 20" on mine based off a Rancho 2.5" kit, though I've since limited it to around 16").

 

[4x4junkie]

Stock travel is about 6-7"

What engine and gear ratio do you have currently? (this will determine whether your truck could handle 31s or not w/o regearing)

 

[4x4junkie]

31s should be no problem on that.