New build

[Diego2]

I am new to the actual building, part of off-roading and have a build in the works however, as far as parts and places to go, I could use little help so any advice is cool.

The car is stock right now but it’s a 2003 4.0, 4x4, manual.

Currently have the tire set up and a kit on the way from BTF fabrication.

I’m looking for cheep fenders and Light bars

I added a complete build that I’m taking inspiration from as far as the light set up if anyone knows a good brand of lights.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

Welcome to TRS. Love the truck. There are a few built in here the same generation as yours. I look forward to following your build out.

 

[Diego2]

Thanks man! I appreciate the welcome.

 

[Diego2]

Build is coming together I need ideas for what to do in the rear (I don’t want a bypass)
Also as it sits the front is wider then the rear I was thinking of putting spacers. However, someone mentioned to me that putting the rear of an f-150 might give me the space I need does anyone have any experience with this.

 

[Diego2]

A better photo

 

[Uncle Gump]

I straightened up this photo so I could actually look at it. The forum is rotating pictures these days.

Nice looking stuff...

 

[JoshT]

Build is coming together I need ideas for what to do in the rear (I don’t want a bypass)
Also as it sits the front is wider then the rear I was thinking of putting spacers. However, someone mentioned to me that putting the rear of an f-150 might give me the space I need does anyone have any experience with this.

Front is designed wider than the rear stock, about an inch IIRC. So do you just want to match the factory width difference, or do you actually want to match front and rear track width?

The BTF is like +4-5" wider per side right? So 8-10" wider overall.

This year Ranger rear axle width is about 58.5". With the kit, you're looking at about 59.5+10" or 69-70" wide for the front.

I think you might be hard pressed to match that width gain with an factory axle. It looks like the F-150 axles are only 6 or so inches wider than the Ranger axle from the numbers I'm seeing.

58.5 for the 98-11 Ranger. You'd need about 5" per side spacers to match the front width, that's a lot of spacer. Even going a little narrower in the rear, it's still a lot of spacer.
The Explorer is about an inch wider at ~59.65 inches, so not much better.
The F-150 looks like it is about 65" wide. You could get away with 1-2" spacer/adapters that would also allow you to adapt down to the 5x4.5 bolt pattern. Still a lot of spacer, but much better than 4-5" per side.

Front is still going to be appreciably wider, but if I wanted to closely match front and rear width with spacers, I'd rather start from the wider F-150 axle. Be a lot better on the bearings and stuff in the axle, still not good, but better. Best would be order up a custom axle with the right width and lug pattern, but that could get pretty expensive.

Honestly this is a portion of the reason I don't want to run a long travel kit on my Ranger even if it is arguably better and more capable than a straight lift kit. Since I don't need to worry about tire clearance from jumping and high speed offroad, want to match up the rear axle width as well. I'd probably start with the F-150 axle and spacer adapters, but would eventually want to order up a custom wide axle to match without spacers. Other reason is that some places I'd take it are already a tight fit with stock width and tire size, I wouldn't want to try to fit something 8-10 inches wider (not counting tires) through there,

 

[scotts90ranger]

Nice, looks good.

For stock axles with a bit of difference which doesn't hurt to have the back narrower than front, keeps the tires in different tracks which helps sometimes... Going to a F150 axle would get you closer for sure, the only downside is 5 on 5.5 instead of 5 on 4.5 but an inch spacer to change bolt pattern should be doable