is it stupid? any ideas on what i should do?

[built2bashranger]

ok first off when you put on a body you really dont relize that it is even on there (till you put the bigger tires on) except for the gap under the tail gate

when i put my 3" bl on i didnt really see it then i did a 2 inch susp. then 31" tire then you start to see a diff

if i were you id go for it you wont be sorry

and be prepared if you start off roading youll have fun. just remember dont get cocky and you truck shuld stay nice. if you do get cocky it will cost you nothing but $$$$$ and look like my truck

later
marcus

 

[JohnnyU]

Let me phrase it differently....

I went through the phase when I thought my parents didn't know anything. I knew everything, they knew nothing and I was sure of it. I've since realized that even though we have equivalent degrees (Mechanical Engineering v. Electrical Engineering), my father has 27 years more life experience than I do. He's one of, if not the most intelligent people that I know.

Looking back on all of the things that we disagreed about while I was growing up, I can actually say that as much as I knew he was wrong, he was always right.


Perhaps this isn't the case here; a body lift doesn't raise your CG more than maybe 1" from where it is now (larger tires will have a greater effect). However, I have seen countless 'modified' vehicles that rolled, wrecked, or otherwise are no longer driving because of irresponsible teenage drivers. I don't condone lifting and wheeling a daily-driven vehicle. Did I do it? Sure, but the drivability suffered. Maybe he's just trying to look out for what's best for you.

 

[Hahnsb2]

I know what you're saying Johnny, most time's dad's right, no matter how much we wish he wasn't. Really, my rig sits 4 1/2" taller than stock with my BL and 31" street tires, and without swaybars, it's very manageable on the street and I can take corners much faster than anyone riding with me is comfortable with, it really doesn't feel all that much different than stock, a ranger obiously handles better than a B2 of the same height. However I don't condone lifting and bigger tires if the vehicle is 100% street use, mine pulles double duty therefore I've had to sacrifice fuel milage and a small abount of driveability with the locker out back, can't have you cake and eat it too.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Perhaps this isn't the case here; a body lift doesn't raise your CG more than maybe 1" from where it is now (larger tires will have a greater effect). However, I have seen countless 'modified' vehicles that rolled, wrecked, or otherwise are no longer driving because of irresponsible teenage drivers. I don't condone lifting and wheeling a daily-driven vehicle. Did I do it? Sure, but the drivability suffered. Maybe he's just trying to look out for what's best for you.

I have seen many stock vehicles die needlessly too in the hands of an unexperiance driver. Many while they were doing stupid beyound stupid stunts.

I have a 3" BL on my Ranger and I really like it, I don't think it effected the handling that much... but even with swaybars I would never say it was all that great to start with. I still have the swaybars on it, to date I have never really needed any more flex.

It took me 3 years of dropping hints for one before I talked my parents into it (and they were nervous about it too) I actually ended up getting it for Christmas in 2005.

Here is mine with 235/75-15 tires, at a glance it would appear to be stock height, but it does tower over a comparable stock truck:

 

[AgPete139]

Your father will be surprised after you already do it. My folks were the same way. Show him it's not big of a body lift, and the drivability is the same.

 

[JohnnyU]

Hahn and 85,

Don't try to defend your body lift. I put one on my Chevy several years ago with the same justification. That's not what I'm saying either.

What I think you (OP) should do is sit down with your father and talk about it. Discuss what you want to do, and how you plan to accomplish it. Tell him why you want to do it, and have a good reason, if its nothing other than to gain the experience of putting a body lift on your truck, then that shows that you are taking an interest in something, and want to learn something from doing so. See what he has to say, what his reasons are. Don't just hear him, listen to what he has to say. He may have a few points that you haven't considered, or he may be misinformed about what you are wanting to do. Don't assume that he is stupid because he doesn't agree with you, he's probably just looking at the situation differently. The more peoples' shoes you can place yourself in to look at a potential situation, the better grasp of that situation you will get.

Life is all about interaction between people. Learn how to do it well, and get them to see your side of the argument, and you've mastered it. Getting upset, emotional and angry seldom solves anything. Sorry to get philosophical or preachy, but when I see a post like this I can't help but think many young people just don't completely understand the situation.

In the end, if you own the truck, it is your money (as long as you don't owe him anything....). Since it is your truck and your money, I see nothing stopping you from doing what you want with it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I didn't say it handled the same, and I also said it never handled that great in the first place... I had it on two wheels before shortly after I got the truck, quite possibly the scariest 1/4 second of my life. I guess I didn't really lean out to check, but it came up really steep and I think I felt at least one touch the ground again when I straightend it back out... plain and simple took a corner too fast with a stock truck even with the sway bars intact.

That was at age 16, I didn't get the lift until I was 21.5, so I had a little more than 5 more years and many more miles under my belt at that point and was much more familiar with the ins and outs of my truck.

 

[Loanranger]

The funny thing about all this is that Rangers come stock much shorter than alot of 4wds out there. With a 3 inch lift and 31's the ranger should sit right about where a Toyota Tacoma does stock.


And what are you guys talking about? A lifted ranger handles just like a ferrari....

 

[Blackdog455]

my truck was an 89 and i had a 3" body lift and 33x12.5s... i beat that shit out of it and it didnt rub... heres a pic or two

i only rolled cause my truck weighed nothing after the shortened frame and flatbed

need more give me a hollar

so what was your gas mileage? or better yet what engine did you have in it?

 

[built2bashranger]

my truck was an 89 and i had a 3" body lift and 33x12.5s... i beat that shit out of it and it didnt rub... heres a pic or two

i only rolled cause my truck weighed nothing after the shortened frame and flatbed

need more give me a hollar

off topic but do you got pics of the flat bed?? want to redo mine and need ideas
pm them to me so we dont get this thread to far of topic
thank
marcus
ps sorry for the interuption