• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

POLL What is the last suspension lift / leveling kit brand you purchased?

What is the last suspension lift / leveling kit brand you purchased (new or used)?

  • Autofab

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Daystar

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Dixon Brothers

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • James Duff

    Votes: 9 25.7%
  • Fabtech

    Votes: 1 2.9%
  • ProComp

    Votes: 2 5.7%
  • Rancho

    Votes: 2 5.7%
  • ReadyLift

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Rough Country

    Votes: 10 28.6%
  • Skyjacker

    Votes: 7 20.0%
  • Solo Motorsports

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Superlift

    Votes: 3 8.6%
  • Truxxx

    Votes: 1 2.9%
  • Tuff Country

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    35

BlackBII

Ranger Custom
Article Contributor
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
Truck of Month
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
7,935
Reaction score
1,060
Location
UT
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
5
Tire Size
33
Couldn't vote twice of course, but I am running Superlift 4" brackets with Skyjacker 6" coils, custom radius arms and K-Link steering. 4" Skyjacker leaves in the back with Belltech shackles
 


Awesom-O

Well-Known Member
Truck of Month
Joined
Mar 20, 2023
Messages
192
Reaction score
346
Location
BC Canada
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
I used Skyjacker on my BII with their radius arms and top end shocks
IMG_6071.jpeg
IMG_8412.jpeg
IMG_4983.jpeg
IMG_4982.jpeg
.
I went with a full custom setup on my Ranger. Both are 4 “.
With the Ranger I used Rough Country rear springs and Bilstein shocks. Stock brackets were retained because I had the beams cut and turned. Custom radius arms, brake cable brackets etc. the clearance with the cut and turned beams is nice.
 

Kirby N.

Well-Known Member
Truck of Month
Joined
Jul 6, 2008
Messages
335
Reaction score
115
Location
Monument, CO
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
I used a rough country 2” on my kids bronco and it was a solid piece of garbage. It was the cheapest out there and it was definitely a case of getting what you pay for. I couldn’t get it to align with the parts it came with and the shocks were too short. I believe the coils were more like 4”, but they were the part numbers that it was supposed to have. I ended up swapping the lowering brackets for 4” brackets and that remedied the alignment problems, but the shocks were still too short. When it was all said and done I replaced both ttb drop brackets, radius arm brackets and the shocks. The rear lift was blocks and I ended up replacing those because of vibrations and poor performance and went to a shackle flip.

So I used the coils. I found my own extended brake lines oem stuff from other trucks. Sold or trashed the rear lift, front pivots and all the shocks. Rough country did nothing to help. In summary, I will never buy another rough country product.

I installed a 4.5” Duff lift on a friends Ranger then on my explorer when his Ranger was totalled. Quality parts. Well thought out at that was like the year 2000- they have added a lot of cool stuff to their line up since.
 

Curious Hound

Formerly EricBphoto
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
17,009
Reaction score
19,891
Age
60
Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.
My Ranger has a 6" Skyjacker lift with their extended radius arms, transmission crossmember, rear leafs and their shocks and lowering brackets all around. I have replaced the skyjacker front coils since then and installed new springs buckets from Bronco Graveyard. I used the suprlift super runner steering setup. Though I like the general design, I have found that the steering setup is not robust enough for me. I'm in the process of redesigning that to be stronger and have parts that are easier to replace. I feel like skyjacker was a good choice. The front coils seem soft in my opinion and it would be better if they supplied the 6" drop pitman arm with the 6" kit. Otherwise, I haven't destroyed that kit and it's still working for me. Definitely something I recommend.

For a few years, I had a 97 F150 with a Belltech lowering/leveling kits. I felt like that was a good quality kit and pretty easy to install. Lowering the front IFS with lowering spindles seemed like a good approach to me. I don't know what they offer for Rangers. But I would easily recommend Belltech for quality.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Wallows in rivers
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
33,879
Reaction score
21,601
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
The front coils seem soft in my opinion and it would be better if they supplied the 6" drop pitman arm with the 6" kit. Otherwise, I haven't destroyed that kit and it's still working for me. Definitely something I recommend.
Following both you and TRS2 I have been impressed with how well the Skyjacker kits handle at speed too.
 

snoranger

Professional money waster
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
RBV's on Boost
ASE Certified Tech
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Nov 25, 2007
Messages
13,523
Reaction score
15,040
Location
Jackson, NJ. And Manahawkin too.
Vehicle Year
'79,'94,'02,'23
Make / Model
All Fords
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!
I ran the Skyjacker 6” lift w/ full 6” leaf springs*, extended radius arms, and Superrunner steering on my 89 STX. It was probably one of the best available back in the day.





*the standard Skyjacker kit had 4” leaves and used the factory block to get 6 inches of lift. You could opt for the 8” kit springs (they were a true 6” lift) and eliminate the lift block… but that did away with the bump stops.
 

JohnnyO

Moderator Emeritus
TRS Event Staff
Supporting Member
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Jan 6, 2002
Messages
6,570
Reaction score
3,336
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Vehicle Year
2020
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
1.5"
Tire Size
265/70-17
My credo
"220, 221, whatever it takes."

Rick W

Lil Big Rig
Supporting Member
Truck of Month
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
May 15, 2020
Messages
3,395
Reaction score
6,056
Age
69
Location
Atlanta
Vehicle Year
1997 1987
Make / Model
Ranger XLT x2
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0 & 2.9
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
97 stock, 3” on 87
Total Drop
N/A
Tire Size
235/75-15
My credo
Never put off ‘til tomorrow what you can put off indefinitely
Missing Linc came with 2-1/2 or 3” lift.

The pieces are black, but I don’t know if that’s the original color.

As they’re made out of metal.

Is that enough info?
I’ve been reading all this with great jealousy. I’m proud of my 4WD, but I don’t understand most of what you’re talking about, but…

Ok, most of you know I hear a different drummer. But like everybody, I want to be one of the cool kids with my little four-wheel-drive. I don’t know much about the upgrades, but I know the Missing Linc has the stance and the performance I like. But I don’t know what to say….

Then it dawned on me, there’s also the Road Ranger. It’s not 4WD, but I get great compliments and performance out of it. So I went in the shed of miracles and tried to remember the suspension upgrades I made.

I remember, for the front end, I used a box of parts that was labeled springs and shims. I went back to that box, and I realized it was for the dishwasher door. I couldn’t remember anything else I did to the front end.

I went back to the axle I added. The box was marked rear end mods. I won’t share what I found in there, but it had a reference to the walker and wheelchair stored in the rafters.

There were also the big red and yellow spring over shock Honda crossover coils that I had originally, that destroyed the performance of the second axle and the truck. So I’m not going to write about that since it’s covered in the Road Ranger build thread. Frustrated. Want to be one of the guys….

Then I went online, and I searched “big coils.” That took me to Hollywood tonight. There was a story about the gay hairdresser who did Nicole Kidman’s hair for the award show. It showed how he used 3 inch in diameter curlers to get her hair to curve, but not be curly. Then he used a zip tie to make a ponytail, literally. Then he added hair extensions on the back, clipped the front, and combed it all back. It’s like a blond silk waterfall across her beautiful face! This was all inspired by her over one shoulder, glittery gown that draped across her perfect body.

I said “Eureka!” Now the guys will understand my inspiration and appreciate what I was inspired to create!! The way you win awards is by doing something unique!

In your face mud dogs!

Snowmageddon in Atlanta in the morning, “in style!” Pictures to follow!
 

97RangerXLT

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
7,100
Reaction score
4,742
Location
Anderson, IN
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2"
Tire Size
31"
Still OEM for me. Would love to put a 6 inch lift but no money for that part of the build. Considering a new style Ranger in a few years, and that might be the best route and effort to throw a lift at it.

Always heard great things on Sky Jack lifts though

AJ
 

sgtsandman

Aircraft Fuel Tank Diver
TRS Forum Moderator
U.S. Military - Active
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Ham Radio Operator
GMRS Radio License
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Mar 11, 2017
Messages
14,236
Reaction score
15,397
Location
Aliquippa, PA
Vehicle Year
2011/2019
Make / Model
Ranger XLT/FX4
Engine Size
4.0 SOHC/2.3 Ecoboost
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Pre-2008 lift/Stock
Tire Size
31X10.5R15/265/65R17
I suppose you could technically call it a lift.

The 2011 got Ford factory torsion bar keys and lift blocks made for a 2007 4X4 Ranger. Plus it got #1 torsion bars and 1,750# leaf springs that probably lifted it a tad more.
 

Sinister813

New Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Dec 21, 2024
Messages
2
Reaction score
2
Age
33
Location
Florida
Vehicle Year
88
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
4"
Tire Size
29"
88 2.9 xlt. I did a 4" rough country simply for the price. However, I also had to change leafs and coil spring buckets because of rust. I currently have 2005 f-250 leaf springs that bolted right in with barely any issues. Surprisingly, the f-250 leafs gave me an additional 2" lift in the rear.
IMG_20241221_123815.jpg
1734802734939.jpg
1734802687446.jpg
IMG_20241221_123913.jpg
 

SenorNoob

Well-Known Member
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
Oct 24, 2012
Messages
3,442
Reaction score
1,456
Location
Middle Tennessee
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
1.5" Front + 4" Rear
Tire Size
245-70-R16
That's weird. All the F-250 springs I can find are 3" wide. Rangers are 2.5"
 

Sinister813

New Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Dec 21, 2024
Messages
2
Reaction score
2
Age
33
Location
Florida
Vehicle Year
88
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
4"
Tire Size
29"
That's weird. All the F-250 springs I can find are 3" wide. Rangers are 2.5"
I had to replace the stock shackle mounts and spread them 1/4" on the front. But it was still super easy. Surprisingly, I didn't have to change the plate for the u-bolts.
17366582060178713294567716174661.jpg
173665794184061759976712448364.jpg
1736657997810178156103420608503.jpg
17366580181005588630300512586729.jpg
17366580583376179873133249297085.jpg
 

Bill4

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2021
Messages
54
Reaction score
34
Age
30
Location
Lansing michigan
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
Solid Axle Swap 4x4
Total Lift
5
Tire Size
35x12.50r15
My credo
Use what you got.. not what you want
I did a skyjacker kit on my 93 don't remember hight 5 or 6 inch. It was in there for a couple weeks and I took it out and did a solid axle swap. Couldn't get the ttb in alignment. I don't know why if it was my truck or the kit. I eventually just had enough messing with it. I Will say that normally I really like skyjacker stuff. The best part about the whole disaster was it pushed us into buying an alignment machine after multiple shops couldn't get it in alignment. First alignment on the new machine was my dana 44.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Members online

Today's birthdays

TRS Events

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Latest posts

Truck of The Year


Kirby N.
2024 Truck of The Year!

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Vagabond Video

TRS Merchandise

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Sponsors


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Sponsored Ad

Top