97 2wd single cab build questions

[anothermbdusted]

So I bought a 1997 ford ranger 2wd single cab 4cyl manual p/u today and have been reading alot on here and other forums and have seen alot of trucks that look great. I still have some questions and hope it belongs in this part of the forum.
I like the look of a short course style truck.http://www.prerunnermaniac.com/Prerunners/Prerunner-Features/Short-Course-Style-Prerunners.php

1. I need to be able to use the trucks bed as much as I can. but would like to have some long travel so i can play in the desert on the dirt roads and some areas where it gets pretty rutted from the mud during the winter here. i like speed lol
2 front suspension id like it to be wider for more stability while driving.and have some smooth travel while going across the desert at 40-50mph if i want.
3. would like to get 33" tires to fit and have the look of the short course truck but be functional also.
4. wont do any mountain climbing thats what my jeep is for.
5. i have to drive to work daily and play on the weekends occasionally, dont mind spending some money if thats what it takes but i know i dont need a full blown out caged build as i will very rarely ever jump it and if i do then maybe 3 feet high at like 40-60mph max at least thats what i did in my titan when i owned it..

sorry so long but full of questions lol
rear im thinking flipped shackles and deavers and for the front. im not sure yet. camburg comes to mind, figure if i can get away with fiberglass front and rear ends and the lift for 5k id be happy. tires and rims not included in that price... please post links if possible, thank you very much for any responses..

 

[low~n~blue]

Thats the style my next truck will be! Just level the truck and do fenders and you will have an awesome looking truck, that as long as you don't plan an making a dirt alliance video, will work perfect! Kool article.

 

[doyouquaxu]

check out threat motorsports. dave is on here but i havent seen him post in awhile. but he has a website too. his quality is top notch and you don't have to pay camburg's high prices.

extended beams in the front with either coils and a separate shock or a coilover
deavers in the rear with shocks under the bed or low profile hoops then re-plate the bed closed

 

[RKRANGER]

for the front you could do a simple lift with either bent stock beams or drop brackets, extended radius arms and some rebuildable shocks it should work good enough for what you plan on using it. i have this setup on my truck with coilovers and it handles pretty decent not as strong as fabricated beams but its held up great.

 

[Cody Ray]

Can't believe a cantilever setup wasn't suggested!

 

[06RangerXLT]

Cantilever is nice but thats mid travel not long travel.

extended beams, 2.5 14" coilovers, 3 tube bypasses, our back id run some deaver f31's, 16" 2.5 resi's. Cantilever setup from dixon bros is nice, mac has it on his.

I run mcneil glass and love it, but mcqueen is one of the best for quality. (if you need contact info LMK)

If you plan on doing anything over 30mph, i suggest you cage this truck. You dont have to jump to roll it over and crush yourself.

Hope ya got big pockets and good fab skills! keep us updated.


Check this out:
http://www.camburg.com/store/susp-s...-97-ranger/ford-ranger-89-97-lt-coilover-kit/

 

[Hillbilly Cadillac]

I also have these same questions because I just bought the same truck but I an not looking for some thing as crazy like 2g at most with tires and wheels

 

[anothermbdusted]

So i purchased front coil spacers (2") for the truck for the front end to tide me over til winter time. going to install sometime this week but i have the option to get my fiberglass fenders this next week so now I'm wondering what size i should get. keep in mind would like to run 31-33s without rubbing and also enough to cover later on with my winter lifting plan. i can run spacers under the front end if needed to widen the track..

RKRanger, sounds like you and i have the same ideas in mind lol not racing it or anything but something easy and effective is all thats needed.

 

[doyouquaxu]

Cantilever is nice but thats mid travel not long travel.

false. cantilever has worked on race trucks, even linked ones. it depends on how it is set up. by re-working the rear shock mount on mine, i could keep cantilever with a giant 64 kit (19" of travel roughly).

extended beams, 2.5 14" coilovers, 3 tube bypasses, our back id run some deaver f31's, 16" 2.5 resi's. Cantilever setup from dixon bros is nice, mac has it on his.

12" coilovers, beamed trucks handle better with a single c/o in the front.

and i have the btf cantilever kit.

I run mcneil glass and love it, but mcqueen is one of the best for quality. (if you need contact info LMK)

http://www.mpdfiberglass.com/index.php

If you plan on doing anything over 30mph, i suggest you cage this truck. You dont have to jump to roll it over and crush yourself.

if you know how to drive, you don't need a cage. it makes the truck safer, but so does knowing your truck's limits as well as your skill behind the wheel.

 

[anothermbdusted]

I sure do wish I still lived in Cali instead of Utah lol. everything i want done to my truck is down there and all they have up here is raise them high 4x4 trucks it seems. everything here has to be ordered from nevada cali or arizona....so I was going to pick up fenders but was qouted a crazy price for them compared to the factories website.. i mean it says $300 and the guy wants $450 for them then another $150 to ship so i'll have to wait until i take my yearly trip to cali and drop my truck off for like a week at a shop to have them install the stuff i want...

I do wish to cage the truck down the road a bit once i get things rolling but to be honest with you i have driven more miles then alot of normal people will in a life time all ready being a truck driver by trade for the last 20 years and never had a accident ever on road or off road. but doesnt mean it wont ever happen thats for sure..

so since i have some time to save money up and decided where im going to go to get it done correctly i think im going to keep looking around and start working on my interior a bit and looking in the junk yard weekly for a nice 8.8 rear end.maybe see about taking a class on welding at the local school.. got to start somewhere right?

cant wait for the new year though as ill get a late present lol dang now 2013 come on and hurry the heck up i want my truck to play with lol

 

[kevinhamblin]

Im wanting to do the same thing, i have a 1996 2wd 5speed 2.3 and i want the prerunner stance. I don't plan on jumping or anything but i do do some off roading, can i buy wider i beams for the stance and use stock springs with aftermarket shock?? I plan on getting the leveling kit too, if anyone knows where i can get wider i beams or a place that can cut mine and widen them let me know, thanks guys