1989 Ford Ranger XLT 4 x 4 V6 LWB with High Rider suspension?

[tlthehun]

I bought my Ranger about 20 years ago from a friend who "special ordered it" when it was new.

I recall something about "factory lift" which seems right as it does seem to sit higher than other stock Rangers and the Bilsteins that I bought early on were damn close to be being topped out in the front at static ride height. One or another shock catalog does or did state "except for High Rider".

Are these the special radius arm brackets?

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[turbo91xlt]

VERY VERY VERY COOL!!

Just to clarify this is an XLT and not an STX correct?!

Those are the factory "Sport Rider" brackets!

This is very exciting and makes your truck a unicorn!

Previously known as the High Rider package and only came on regular cab STXs in '87-'88. Probably due to having excessive inventory they were trying to use up for '89 Ford decided to make the suspension standard across all STXs regular and extended cab and called it the Sport Rider package.

What is really neat is if you read into the '89 dealer brochure you will find that although the Sport Rider package was standard on all STXs, it was also optional across all 4wd v6 Rangers that year too!

This wasn't a very popular option. In fact out of the 100s of '89 Rangers I've come across over the years, yours is the ONLY non-STX Ranger I have ever seen to have a factory installed Sport Rider package!

I'd highly recommend getting a Marti Report done for your truck. It should list the package on it and hopefully finally give the Ranger community a production number for the amount of Sport Rider equipped trucks made that year!