4" or 6" lift?

[evans16]

Hey guys,

Looking to lift my 86 Ranger. It has a 5.0L in it and is extended cab.
I want to lift it, but not to sure how high I want to go. It will be a DD and see lots of highway with the occasional off road adventures.

I am just looking for some opinions here.

I beleive I am running 3.73 right now, but have not climbed under the truck to clerify that yet. If I have to, I will gear it to suit tires and lift.

Do I run 4" with possible body lift with 33" tires? or
Do I run 6" with possible body lift with 35" tires?

Just some opinions and what guys are running out there!

Choice of lifts: Modified Tuff country or Skyjacker

Thanks

 

[frankserrano]

normally, i'd say go big or go home, man.

but personally, i'm looking for a 3" or 4" lift for my truck as well. that way, you don't spend as much money for the lift itself, gas mileage is going to be better than a 6" lift, you can still clear a good sized tire, and you've got the lifted "look" that a lot of guys strive for.

whatever is going to fit your style and usage is what i would tell you to do, but that's just my two cents.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

With the 5.0L in the extended cab I would go with a 6" skyjacker kit. It will squish down to about 4.5" with the weight of the 5.0 over it.

 

[evans16]

you think it would be about right with 4" lift but 6" coils?

 

[BeaterMan]

thats a no brainer for me.... 6'' all the way!!!

 

[evans16]

I figure with lots of highway driving I will go with a 4" lift with 6" coils for the extra weight of the 5.0L.

If I had a 3" BL will I fit 35"s? or would 33's be better? I havent seen a ranger around my parts done up at all, I am just debating 33" or 35" tires. Thoughts?

I would rather go 4" due to the budget. But if I have to I will have to suck it up for a bit and save for 6".

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I'm running 6" skyjacker coils in my 91 ext cab 4.0L and it is right at about 4.5" of lift.

Go with the 6" kit and make sure you get the skyjacker fa600 drop pitman arm.

 

[4x4junkie]

Do you have the later D35 & 8.8" axles in your '86? Because it won't be long for the stock D28 and 7.5 with 35" tires (even 33s is really pushing it on the D28 with having a V8 over it).

And yes, go with the 6" Skyjacker and set it up as a 4" lift (both kits are the same, just the springs are different). +1 on the #FA600 drop pitman arm (you may be able to substitute it for the arm that comes in the kit when you buy it, which is too short to fully correct the steering (don't ask me why it's too short though ).

 

[evans16]

hey guys,

I have a 91 Ranger that I am swapping both diffs out of. I have also decided to go with the 6" lift.

But if your saying a 4" is the same as 6", other than the coils, could I not just buy a 4" and put 6" coils in?

I am looking at tuff country kit, I can get the whole thing for $400ish shipped to my door. Add the SJ 6" coils and extreme pitman arm, thats another $300ish. So i would be looking around $700.

Now the cheapest SJ kit I can find is off ebay, new however. This would run me $750 plus $150 shipping. Also the pitman arm is still $150ish. So right there I am over $1000 and the only difference really is the axle drop brackets?

What does everyone think of each set up?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

That is exactly all the difference between the 2 kits, Skyjackers brackets are the tits and IMHO would pay the extra money to have them.

If you are planning on abusing this thing you do not want to be worried about wrecking a drop bracket.

 

[bonedoc]

To me Tuff country rhymns with Rough Country...and both of them the brackets suck!!! I put a 4" Rough Country in my BII, figured no biggie right....WRONG!! Huge difference now my truck is waiting on its 5.5 inch James Duff kit and stone crusher steering system. The brackets are the heart of these kits...alot of people switch out coils and try different stuff but the plate bracket style of those two companies is not designed for real strength. There are plenty of threads on here of people like me who went the cheap route and regret not spending the extra money for the better kit, definately getting what you pay for.

 

[evans16]

Thanks for the heads up, I guess I will have to get my camera working and start a build thread now. It wont be over night build, thats for sure. I also thought if I am switching both differentials I should rebuild them to. This is going to be a pricey build! lol. Thanks for all the imput guys!! really appreciate it!