Please Help!

[Npala]

Ok, So I know this probably has been posted many times before but... I have a 2001 Ranger Supercab 4x4 4.0. I wanted to get into the offroad scheme. I'm not familiar at all with lifts and things that I would need to complete the project. I do all my own work but I don't know anything about axles/gears, etc. that needs changed when doing a lift. I'm getting the 3 inch body lift kit from performance accessories with the bumper relocation brackets. Is there anything that I would need besides what's in the kit? I know the filler neck extension and that sort but as far as drive train or anything? Also what is the biggest tire I should put on my ranger with stock axles? I'm also getting a 6 inch suspension lift. I know people say you have to upgrade a lot when doing lifts but as far as that I don't know what to do.
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Long Text, Read here to get to the point:

What is necessary for a 3 inch body lift?
What is necessary for a 3 inch body lift and 6 inch suspension lift?
Axle's I should use and gears?
Tips?
Use for DD and want the aggressive look and want to be able to go off road for the day and not have problems.

Again thanks for the help and I know it probably has been posted before but I suck at using the search function...

 

[straycat]

Post this on the Off Road section. Look for 4x4 suspension lifts. There is a lot of info there for you to browse, Bro.

Good luck.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

My advice?

Keep the Ranger for a daily driver and buy an older Ranger/Bronco II/Explorer to build up and beat off road - they are far easier and cheaper to lift and build than something from 1998 and newer.


But in answer to your questions....

A body lift usually only requires changing things like the location of the shifter cable, the ebrake cable and filler neck along with the bumpers. All it does is raise the body in relation to the frame (and all of the suspension and drivetrain stuff is mounted to the frame).

A suspension lift for an 01 Ranger will require welding and such due to the suspension design. And a lift of 6" to the suspension would likely require changing the driveshaft lengths. Of course, to utilize a 6" suspension and 3" body lift, you will also want to upgrade your axles.... which would likely require a fabricated front suspension - not something you buy off the shelf.

Your stock rear axle is an 8.8" rear, it will handle up to maybe 38" tall tires without any real issues.

Your front axle is an independent front suspension Dana-35. Your max tire size is about 35" and I'd take that with a grain of salt - probably anything over 33's is likely to start chewing up hub bearing assemblies and possibly the CV axle shafts.

A 9" total lift will likely put you in the need for 36-38" tires with a little fender tweaking to make it look right. It will also likely attract a lot of attention from the local law.


A surprisingly capable Bronco II could be likely put together for under $2,000 total investment if you shop around and do the work yourself. I have around $1,650 into my choptop as it sits right now, although I'm about to bite the bullet and put a good rollcage in it along with a few other goodies which will likely boost my total investment to around $2,400. As it sits right now I have a locked 7.5" rear in it, a Dana 35 TTB front, 35" tires, 5" suspension lift, 2" body lift and 4.10 gears in the axles. I did have a locked Dana 28 front in it with 33" tires for awhile, the truck was quite capable in that form except after I managed to grenade a front axle shaft I decided it was time to upgrade.

I also ran for awhile when I was off at college a bone stock Bronco II with 30" mud tires. One day playing around with a buddy (lifted Jeep on 34" tires), he went through a mud pit and gave me a ring on the CB after he got through saying that I might not want to try it..... he was a little surprised when I said "Ok." and went right through the pit behind him, lol. Good tires and a little skill will get a BII to go through a lot.

 

[mud junky]

im gona have to agree with all the above. years back i had a 2000 ranger with the "off road" package (not fx4. atleast did not say fx4 on it). i did a 2" tortion bar cranck to the front end, add a leafs to the rear, and 265/75R16 tires (32x11.50R16). i wheeled alot with it and trashed my wheel bearing hub assembly twice within one year. i could have gotten a decent b2 for what thoughs 2 front end rebuilds cost me. i ended up selling that ranger to get a small commuter car to get me back and forth to work, and an 88 bronco2 for wheeling. best move i ever made. b2's can be made verry capable for verry short $$$. that bronco 2 has served me verry well for many years, wheeling trips, and mud truck comps. and i now have a 2003 ranger FX4, that i will be doing a body lift in this weekend, a small tortion bar cranck and 33's or 35's (depending on how well 35s fit) but i will not be wheeling it. (why would i when i have the B2?). my ranger has 4.10 gears wich i expect will do well with ether tire size. but its not ideal for 35's. if i had any less than 4.10s and was running 35's i would regear to 4.56. hope this helps.

 

[Ryannn]

I didnt read one of those long replys they gave you, but they all know what theyre talking about! Good luck!

 

[Capt Jay]

I'm wheeling a '93 Explorer. With the 302, 3"body and 6" suspension lift, I spent $400.00. Granted the engine was from a bone yard and the lift was used. I couldn't be happier and it couldn't have been easier. I like having 4 seats and room to store stuff that's not bouncing around in the bed. I used to wheel a gen 1 and gen 2 Ranger and I am very pleased to not be doing that any more. If you do decide to use your '01 there is a lot of info available on this site (I can't give any specifics, it's too new for my experience). Good luck and enjoy the project.

 

[Npala]

Wow, thanks guys, that really does help a lot and makes me rethink things. I guess its not really worth all the money i would have to put into it to take it off road, the few times a month I would be. I'm running 265/75/16s right now with no lift. It runs pretty good for what I use it on but I think I will still get a 3 inch body lift and go with 33's just for something beefy to at least make me feel like a man, haha. Anyways, thanks guys, you are great!

What's the best to offroad? B2?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

A Bronco II makes for a great trail truck, but the most common upgrades to it are the D-35 front axle, 8.8" rear axle, and 4.0L engine. Anyone that really gets into it will nudge the wheelbase out a couple inches too.....

So IMHO, a first generation Explorer Sport would be the ideal platform to start with - you get a slightly longer wheelbase, a 4.0L engine, a D-35 front and an 8.8" rear all in stock form.

But a short bed regular cab Ranger, a Bronco II, and either a 2 or 4 door Explorer will all do well on the trails. Bronco IIs are dirt cheap to build, same as older Rangers. Explorers can be built up pretty good, but some lift parts are not as plentiful and sometimes to get what you want requires a little fab work, but hey, that's half the fun.

I love my choptop for wheeling though, the BII has the same wheelbase as a Jeep Wrangler but the body is about a foot longer overall which gives you a little more room to pack camping gear than a Jeep.

 

[Npala]

Ok sounds good. Thanks!

 

[mud junky]

correct me if im wrong, but the 93-97 4.0l rangers also came with the D35 ttb, and the 8.8" rear end just like the first gen exploers did. so i would have to say if your ability to swap axles is limmited, and your willing to spend a few extera $$$ to get the ranger in the first place. wouldent that also be ideal? again correct me if im wrong. then you also get back into the parts being a dime a dozen, just like the B2.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

correct me if im wrong, but the 93-97 4.0l rangers also came with the D35 ttb, and the 8.8" rear end just like the first gen exploers did. so i would have to say if your ability to swap axles is limmited, and your willing to spend a few extera $$$ to get the ranger in the first place. wouldent that also be ideal? again correct me if im wrong. then you also get back into the parts being a dime a dozen, just like the B2.

Only thing is, you get a longer overall vehicle. On a tight "Jeep" trail, you may have to do some backing up at points or the bed might "find" some tree or rock. A BII or 2-door (sport) Explorer is a little shorter.

But it also depends some on what you do with it. If you run tight trails or do rock crawling, you'll want something short on the wheelbase. If you just play in the mud, anything is fine.


And actually any 4.0L powered Ranger should have the D-35 and 8.8 axles. Most 1990 Bronco IIs with the 2.9L got the D-35 front with a 7.5 rear and actually a 4.0L swap in them is not all that difficult, but 1990 BIIs are a little hard to find.

 

[mud junky]

ya. the big part of that post was the D35 up front. i do have great faith in the 7.5". not saying it is as good as the 8.8. just saying i trust it alot.

 

[Npala]

Lol, I have a lot to think about then. I just want to be able to go over and through most of the stuff around here.. Don't want to spend a whole hell of a lot either. I might try a 2 door explorer first gen. They seem to be pretty damn cheap. Doesn't have to be pretty.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

One thing with a 2-door Explorer or Bronco II is that if you put a tow bar on the front, you should be able to tow it legally behind your Ranger. Of course, the Ranger will not stop quickly loaded down like that, but I've dragged my BIIs hundreds of miles behind my Ranger with no issue. That way you can drag your off-road toy to trails miles away from home and not have to worry about how you're going to get to work the next day when you say... break an axle in half deep in the woods - all you have to do is get it dragged out to your truck and tow it home.