Bodylift and Valance removal

[danger_ranger05]

Im going to be putting a body lift on my 05 ranger this summer so I can run
33s nicely. I want to keep my tow hooks and was wondering what the truck would look like without the valance. Does it look messy? what are the pros and cons on removing the valance? I don't use the fog lights so thats not an issue.

Also, instead of removing the valance, once the body lift is on is there any where I could just weld the tow hooks on so they are functional?

Any pics of a front view of a truck without the valance would be helpful too...

 

[Toms01PSD]

Some people just cut the valance so that the tow hooks will work in the stock location.

 

[danger_ranger05]

sounds like a good idea...if the cut doesn't look good ill just take the thing off

 

[JohnnyO]

Seen many late-models without valences, IMHO they look like shit.
Notches don't look that good either.
I'd leave the tow hooks off and put a winch and/or tubular bumper from Dixon Bros or Miller's Fabrication.

 

[apmurphy]

i did the body lift on my 04 (same bumper). once lifted the valance fits perfectly over the hooks, rendering them useless and invisible. i ended up cutting mine off because they were rusted on and i couldnt move them but if you could flip them they might fit through the stock hole or just get some cheap hooks from summit or jegs and bolt them on the frame rail above the other ones. i dont think i have any pics with the valence off but there are a ton of pics if you just google image "ford ranger prerunner." they all might have a tube bumper but it shows you the ugly underside of the front end lol

 

[Scotty J.]

Actually, it looks alot like mine did. I'm assuming of course that after the lift you're going to see the same things that I did.

First, the lift will raise your bumper making it useless for anything other than cosmetics. When that happens, the frame ends that the bumper attached to is now exposed if you remove the valance.

You could use the same solution I did, trim the valance attachments off your bumper and have it powder coated, then remove the valance and connect a winch or brush guard of some sort to the front and add a Skid plate. That would round things out and not leave any of the stock stuff exposed. However, once you go this route, there is no going back. Click my build thread in my sig to see how I did it.

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

boom!

3" BL, 35's w/o valence....

1" BL, 32's w/o valence....

Max'd bars, 33's w/o valence...

BUT...IMO...lose the hooks, run the valence, add a front hitch!!

 

[danger_ranger05]

Thanks for the pics Fx4, Thats a sharp lookin ride!