VanIsleRanger
New Member
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2020
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 1
- Location
- Victoria, BC
- Vehicle Year
- 2011
- Make / Model
- Sport 4x4
- Engine Type
- 4.0 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 4WD
- Total Lift
- 0"
- Tire Size
- 30"
Hey everyone, this is my first post on this Forum after just getting an account set up last night, so bear with me if I am rambling, and sorry for all the questions. I am wondering about what are some good options for lifting my 2011 Ranger Sport 4x4. I want to lift it not only so I can get 33" tires on her, but also so I have a little bit better suspension and more ground clearance for the trails. I was looking at add-a-leaf kits, full leaf pack replacements, extended shackles, shocks for the rear, torsion bar cranks, new torsion keys and new shocks for the front, but after much reading on TRS and other websites there is still alot I don't understand and want to know, which is why I am making this post. It seems I have a few basic options for what I am after, and I wanted to go through them to make sure I understand correctly, and also to ask related questions. Here are my options as I understand them, and my questions regarding each option:
Add-a-leaf Kits: I am aware that adding a leaf to your leaf pack will increase ride height a bit. However, I am not entirely sure how it works. Firstly, what is the difference between a long-leaf add-a-leaf and a short-leaf? Does one raise the ride height more than the other? Is one better in some way than the other? Secondly, is there any way to determine how much height an add-a-leaf kit will add to your truck before installing it? Or is it the kind of thing you have to install then take measurements afterwards and see what you're working with?
New Leaf Packs: I have also considered getting entirely new leaf packs for the rear. I have seen a few leaf packs designed specifically for lifted trucks to go off-roading, but I am wondering if these are necessary for moderate trail driving, as that is the most I will be doing besides daily driving. I am also wondering how much lift a new leaf pack would give me, and if there is some way to tell how much before buying? I have seen leaf packs for sale that specifically mention they will fit the truck, but they don't say how much lift they will give the truck. Is there some sort of number I should be looking for that indicates this? Or a measurement I should be aware of that indicates it?
Extended Shackles: I have also looked at getting extended shackles for some extra lift in the rear. Basically my only question about shackles is, are they considered a suspension lift or a body lift? And are they recommended overall?
Rear Shocks: I know that the stock shocks that are currently on my truck are made for the stock ride height, and if I lift the rear I will need new shocks that are made for that ride height. I am a bit confused about finding the right shock for my ride height. Firstly, will I need to install the extended shackles/add-a-leaf/new leaf packs in the rear in order to determine ground clearance and find shocks that fit? Or is there a way to calculate what size shocks I will need before doing any modifications to the rear suspension? I have seen shocks online listed as being made for "lifted trucks and SUVs" but I am not sure how much lift they are made for or how any of that works. Any information about finding the right rear shocks for my lift would be much appreciated.
Torsion Bar Crank: As for lifting the front, I know that a torsion bar crank is a good option for beginners, which is exactly what I am. Firstly, I am wondering if there is any way to check if my torsion bars have already been cranked, and if so, by how much. I have measured the ground clearance from the pavement at the center of my wheel to the inside of the wheel well, and on the front of the truck I am currently getting 32.75" on the drivers side, and 33" on the passengers side. Do these heights indicate that there has been a torsion bar lift done by one of the previous owners? The truck came with slightly bigger than stock tires (30") so I am wondering if the previous owner did a t-bar crank to make room in the front for those tires. Secondly, if my torsion bar has not been cranked, how do you crank both sides evenly? I have read that you just count the rotations as you are adjusting the bolts, but I want to be sure that is the best way as it seems to leave plenty of room for error. Thirdly, how much lift can I get out of a t-bar crank and will my alignment/steering or anything else need to be adjusted after I crank them?
New Torsion Keys: I have seen aftermarket torsion keys for Rangers online, and I am wondering if they are worth getting over just a stock torsion bar crank. Do aftermarket torsion keys provide more lift than stock cranked torsion bars? Do they require you to crank them to lift the truck like the stock ones do? And as for amount of lift, I see that many aftermarket torsion keys advertise the lift amount in the product description. However, is this listed lift amount accounting for the key being cranked? I'm not entirely sure how that works so any info would be awesome.
Front Shocks: As for replacing the front shocks once I either crank my torsion bars or buy new torsion keys, I have the same question as I did regarding rear shocks. How do I know what length shocks to get? Do I have to lift the truck first, then measure it out to determine what shocks I need? Or is there a way of determining which shocks will work before I do any modifications?
I know that was an insane amount of questions, but I am a total newbie and after about a month of trying to teach myself everything I can about my truck and my options, these questions still remained. I figured this would be the best place to ask them as I have heard many good things about this forum from satisfied Ranger owners. Thanks in advance for the help.
Add-a-leaf Kits: I am aware that adding a leaf to your leaf pack will increase ride height a bit. However, I am not entirely sure how it works. Firstly, what is the difference between a long-leaf add-a-leaf and a short-leaf? Does one raise the ride height more than the other? Is one better in some way than the other? Secondly, is there any way to determine how much height an add-a-leaf kit will add to your truck before installing it? Or is it the kind of thing you have to install then take measurements afterwards and see what you're working with?
New Leaf Packs: I have also considered getting entirely new leaf packs for the rear. I have seen a few leaf packs designed specifically for lifted trucks to go off-roading, but I am wondering if these are necessary for moderate trail driving, as that is the most I will be doing besides daily driving. I am also wondering how much lift a new leaf pack would give me, and if there is some way to tell how much before buying? I have seen leaf packs for sale that specifically mention they will fit the truck, but they don't say how much lift they will give the truck. Is there some sort of number I should be looking for that indicates this? Or a measurement I should be aware of that indicates it?
Extended Shackles: I have also looked at getting extended shackles for some extra lift in the rear. Basically my only question about shackles is, are they considered a suspension lift or a body lift? And are they recommended overall?
Rear Shocks: I know that the stock shocks that are currently on my truck are made for the stock ride height, and if I lift the rear I will need new shocks that are made for that ride height. I am a bit confused about finding the right shock for my ride height. Firstly, will I need to install the extended shackles/add-a-leaf/new leaf packs in the rear in order to determine ground clearance and find shocks that fit? Or is there a way to calculate what size shocks I will need before doing any modifications to the rear suspension? I have seen shocks online listed as being made for "lifted trucks and SUVs" but I am not sure how much lift they are made for or how any of that works. Any information about finding the right rear shocks for my lift would be much appreciated.
Torsion Bar Crank: As for lifting the front, I know that a torsion bar crank is a good option for beginners, which is exactly what I am. Firstly, I am wondering if there is any way to check if my torsion bars have already been cranked, and if so, by how much. I have measured the ground clearance from the pavement at the center of my wheel to the inside of the wheel well, and on the front of the truck I am currently getting 32.75" on the drivers side, and 33" on the passengers side. Do these heights indicate that there has been a torsion bar lift done by one of the previous owners? The truck came with slightly bigger than stock tires (30") so I am wondering if the previous owner did a t-bar crank to make room in the front for those tires. Secondly, if my torsion bar has not been cranked, how do you crank both sides evenly? I have read that you just count the rotations as you are adjusting the bolts, but I want to be sure that is the best way as it seems to leave plenty of room for error. Thirdly, how much lift can I get out of a t-bar crank and will my alignment/steering or anything else need to be adjusted after I crank them?
New Torsion Keys: I have seen aftermarket torsion keys for Rangers online, and I am wondering if they are worth getting over just a stock torsion bar crank. Do aftermarket torsion keys provide more lift than stock cranked torsion bars? Do they require you to crank them to lift the truck like the stock ones do? And as for amount of lift, I see that many aftermarket torsion keys advertise the lift amount in the product description. However, is this listed lift amount accounting for the key being cranked? I'm not entirely sure how that works so any info would be awesome.
Front Shocks: As for replacing the front shocks once I either crank my torsion bars or buy new torsion keys, I have the same question as I did regarding rear shocks. How do I know what length shocks to get? Do I have to lift the truck first, then measure it out to determine what shocks I need? Or is there a way of determining which shocks will work before I do any modifications?
I know that was an insane amount of questions, but I am a total newbie and after about a month of trying to teach myself everything I can about my truck and my options, these questions still remained. I figured this would be the best place to ask them as I have heard many good things about this forum from satisfied Ranger owners. Thanks in advance for the help.