I need some opinions plz...

[Tbarnes93]

I currently have a 94 ranger 4x4 4.0. This is my first 4x4 truck and i have recently took up to mudding and im a novice to say the least I have been 3 or 4 times but i enjoy it to say the nonetheless. I want to use my truck to go mudding and buy something else for a daily driver. I have been researching what i could do to improve the experience and i have decided i need a 4" lift (rough country) and 32-33 mud tires. Is it worth shelling out all the money and work to use my current truck or would it be smarter to sell my current truck and get a late 70s early 80's truck already lifted? any opinions will be greatly appreciated. thanks for reading.

 

[RonD]

IMO, it would depended on the current condition of the '94 Ranger, is the body in good condition and does it run well.
If you can sell it, about how much would you get vs buying an older truck more suited to "mudding".

No one plans on doing body damage, lol, but it does happen.

 

[97RangerXLT]

if you like mudding/ wheeling and what not, you are going to sink money into your rig to make it better no matter what kind of truck you use... some are abit better out of the box than others, but if your Ranger is running good, I would just sink the money into upgrades for it. At least you know the issues that you have currently in the Ranger, you might not be as lucky to get good running and lifted rig off the bat.

Someone else did the mods and lift for a truck, chances are they beat on it, and you don't know what you are getting into with it.

If you stay with your current ranger, you don't have todo all of the mods at once. get used to wheeling with the stock Ranger and then gradually add the mods in as you can affiord them. get the lift, then the tires/ wheels, then gear it. think about lockers when you gear it as well.

And remember, if you are dedicating this to a toy/ wheeling rig, you will be also sinking money into a new daily driver...that will add to your expenses as well.

AJ

 

[JoshT]

Can't tell you what to do for a DD or different mudding truck. If you decide to use the ranger don't bother with the suspension lift get a body lift instead. You need the tire clearance for mud but flex doesn't matter as much, and a body lift will give you the clearance you need. Playing hard in the mud you will start breaking things and will soon be lookin to make some axle upgrades, which may not work with the lift kit you choose. The body lift is cheaper, and it will still fit when you inevitably do a solid axle swap.

 

[Tbarnes93]

whats the difference between a body lift and a suspension lift kit? All my friends that go mudding get suspension lift kits.

 

[RonD]

Suspension lift raises frame and body, so engine and trans are also raised.

Body lift raises the body away from the frame, so engine and trans stay the same height, when you look in the engine compartment the engine will be sitting 3 to 4 inches lower depending on how much it was lifted.

The ground clearance is, for the most part, the same since the axles will be the low spots unless you go with independent suspension on all 4 wheels.

Although if you are going to get wet having the engine and trans a few inches higher doesn't hurt

Either gives you more tire clearance and a higher seat

Also no matter what, remove the stock belt driven engine fan and get an electric rad fan that you can turn off.
In water or mud the belt driven fan will coat your engine compartment with water/mud

 

[FritzTKatt]

1: Don't waste your money on a rough country lift. I wasn't displeased with the quality of the parts, it's all good stuff, but it's just not where you want to be lifting a ranger.

2: First thing you need to do regardless, is get a class 3 or better hitch in the back, and one in the front (tow hooks will suffice for a short time). Custom bumpers may come later.

3: Snorkel (stubby or full length, doesn't matter)

4: E-fan.

5: Warn 37780 hubs, Chrmo shafts, and a C-clip eliminator.

6: Lockrite.

Invest in a quality 20-30' recovery strap (at least 20k lb rated), 3 3/4"dia shackles (10k rated, or better), maybe a shorter strap, and some extra 5/8" hitch pins (I like the tractor style ones with the giant handle and hairclip pin). Don't be that idiot that doesn't have anything to be recovered with. I also keep 10' of 3/8" grade 43 chain just in case.

You'll be able to DD it no problem, and it's at least basically capable.

 

[KnockKnock]

if you like mudding/ wheeling and what not, you are going to sink money into your rig to make it better no matter what kind of truck you use... some are abit better out of the box than others, but if your Ranger is running good, I would just sink the money into upgrades for it. At least you know the issues that you have currently in the Ranger, you might not be as lucky to get good running and lifted rig off the bat.

Someone else did the mods and lift for a truck, chances are they beat on it, and you don't know what you are getting into with it.

If you stay with your current ranger, you don't have todo all of the mods at once. get used to wheeling with the stock Ranger and then gradually add the mods in as you can affiord them. get the lift, then the tires/ wheels, then gear it. think about lockers when you gear it as well.

And remember, if you are dedicating this to a toy/ wheeling rig, you will be also sinking money into a new daily driver...that will add to your expenses as well.

AJ

When buying used, I try to buy as close to stock as possible because you just can't trust the workmanship of a stranger (aka: the previous owner). With your current truck you already know exactly what you're working with. If you do it right you won't necessarily need a different ride as a DD either - just depends on whether you're trying to build a "mud-duck" or a "swamp-donkey".