New Project

[BrianWalsh]

Hi All,

I joined this form about a week ago looking for information about what upgrades were available for Rangers and now I can’t stop reading!!!! This place is a wet dream for ranger owners.

I’m looking for posts from members who have had experiences or know something more about the following options/products other then the marketing description provided by the company.

Truck:
I have a stock 08 Ranger 4x4 Sport. The truck is a daily driver and will run minor trails on the weekends (mud holes, small river crossings and minor rock crawling) nothing to crazy.

Plan:

Body lift: Truxxx 3" Front Torsion Keys & Pro Comp Rear Add-A-Leaf Lift Kit

Tiers: 33x12.5x15 or 33x10.5x15 probably in an MT. I’ve read here that this size could fit. Some say you will need to do some trimming some say you don’t. I’m question is will this tire have room to move around in the fender when rock crawling or should I back down a size? I’m not looking to modify the fenders….well not yet anyway.

Rims:
Currently the truck sits on 16’s but I am going to drop down to a 15” should I go with a 15x7 or 15x8?

Axel:
Front: Independent SLA. I would love to replace this but it’s not in the cards right now.

Rear: I’m assuming it’s an 8.8-inch 28-spline rear axle with 3.73 or 4.10 gears. I’ll confirm later when I get a chance. If I’m going with 33’s I guess I should replace the stock gears with 4.88 gears. If I go with a smaller tier like a 32 or 31 should I still go with a 4.88?

Lockers:
I’m going with the selectable locker option because as I said earlier this is a daily driver and the girlfriend drives the truck sometime. I know there is an automatic locker available but I’m not a big fan.

Can anyone suggest some companies that make selectable lockers?
Are selectable lockers available for Independent SLA?

Skid plates: What are the Ford factory plates like?


Bumper:
I still have not made my mind up on this yet. I really like the pre-runner bumper because of the approach angle it can give you. What do you guys think?



Thanks,

Brian

 

[LittleBigFoot]

My truck used to be a 2000, which is basicly the same lay out as the 08's.

1.) Avoid torsion keys and add a leaves. You have a good 2" you can still lift your front by cranking the torsion bars. No need to buy a kit.

Add a leaves are expensive and stiffen up leaf packs. You can pick up a set of extended shackles for 50 bucks. These allow the rear to articulate more which really helps with the stiff ass IFS.

2.) You can fit 33x12.5s stock with minor rubbing under articulation
You can run 33x12.5s with a torsion bar crank with room to articulate
You can run 33x12.5s with a torsion bar crank and a body lift
You can run 35x12.5s with a torsion bar crank, and body lift

A body lift will run ya 160 some odd dollars from TRS Fab and OR. They keep a low COG, give room for big meat, and it's about the most you can do for cheap on the IFS rigs.

3.) I'm runnin a 15x10" rim. The bigger tires get hard to find for a 15" rim. But of corse, to run tires much bigger then 35s you'd wanna upgrade axles which will end up with a different wheel bolt pattern. So run what you can find for cheap. Rangers share the same lug pattern as a lot of jeeps. I ran my 35s on the IFS with aftermarket XJ wheels with factory offset and backspacing.

4.) The IFS sucks. Not a lot you can do about it with out a lift kit or SAS. My SAS ended up much cheaper then a kit. As far as the diff: Weld it. You can always unlock it on the streets, the front diffs have a shit for resale value, might as well.

5.) The rear is a 28 spline 8.8" If it's a sports package i'd assume you have 4.10s.
If you have a 3.0, I'd suggest 5.13s for the diffs. The 3.0 has jack for torque. Might as well go balls to the wall for the gears instead of gear to high and realize you'd like to go deeper.

6.) Aussie lockers are damn good for the dollar. Around 250 for an 8.8" Avoid shelling out if you plan on going bigger one day. You can always weld the spider gears but that messes with tire lift.

7.) The factory ford skid plates are pretty good. I just had a gas tank one, front ifs one, and, the T case skid. I've drug them over a lot and they held up.

Bumper) Build one. You can get a tube bender for 200, a knotcher for 50, find a welder, and fabricate. I think I have maybe 50 bucks into my stinger and it's commin out quite well.

Good luck man.

 

[exbass94]

4.) The IFS sucks. Not a lot you can do about it with out a lift kit or SAS. My SAS ended up much cheaper then a kit. As far as the diff: Weld it. You can always unlock it on the streets, the front diffs have a shit for resale value, might as well.

Not sure if you're talking about doing a SAS and then welding the diff on that, or if you're talking about welding the IFS diff. Just to clarify for the OP, the IFS setup does not have lockable hubs. The "hubs" are always engaged, even in 2wd, so welding the IFS front diff is not a good idea.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

You can swap in a set of manual lock outs for pretty cheap. Forgot to mention that.

 

[BrianWalsh]

LittleGigFoot thanks for the info. Good to see the injuries are not keeping you away from the forms man.

1) Why no love for the torsion keys?

2) I see a 3" Performance Accessories body lift from TRS Fab so I'll probably pick that up.

3) I'll run the 33's on 15x8's I can't see myself running anything bigger

4) I agree with you IFS does suck but it’s out of my hands for the time being.
So I'll drop the idea of trying to add a locker to the front seeing that it will not work...Thanks for the info exbass94!!!

5) Truck has a 4.0 in it but I do like your idea where would I find a 5.13’s for a 28 spline 8.8"?

6) I am fearful of an automatic locker engaging in the middle of a turn with someone other then myself driving. But I do like the price compared to an OX locker. I checked for an Aussie locker but could not find one for am 28 spline 8.8 only a 31 spline 8.8.

 

[BrianWalsh]

Just got some sad news from Aussie Locker they don't make a locker for a 28 spline 8.8 rear axel. Guess I need to get my hands on a 31 spline 8.8 rear axel.

> Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:37:57 -0400
> From: sales@aussielocker.com
> To: xxx@domain.com
> Subject: Re: General Inquiry
>
> No we do not. We are looking at the market now and may start a new
> product development program, but that has not been decided yet.
>
> We appreciate your interest in the Aussie Locker.