ok, i might be getting a 2001 2wd reg cab truck as a daily driver so i can start bodydropping my truck, however...stock sucks and i'll probably end up lifting it, so what i'm wondering is it best to go with the lift spindle/add-a-leaf 3"/1.5"(i think) lift or to go with a 3" bodylift, i want to tuck 32" tires if i can, i've heard i'll only be able to fit 31" tires tho, anybody done this setup before

i'm mainly going to use the truck to drive around town and take camping/shooting, so the most off road i'll usually see is a dirt trail, also will the spindle system handle better then the body lift?

thanks

i would much prefer a spindle lift over a body lift.

lift spindle with some 30" tall and skinny mud tires. Don't go with a 3" coil and control arm because you'll lose alot of down travel. You can kiss going over speedbumps at 40 good bye with the coil and control lift.
sam

hmmm i dont know why i'd need to go over a speedbump at 40mph

Actually i just bought the 3" spindles and the add-a-leaf today for my 99 ranger. I'm told the most i clear is 31's (havnt bought the tires yet). When i get it installed next week i'll know what i can clear and will let you know. I will however give you a heads up on that you should buy the tires before installing the lift. From what i've been told the maximum backspacing you can have 3.75 so the stock rims wont fit after the spindles are installed. Best of luck with whatever you get. And i'll post pics after i get mine done. RICK

yeah lmk when you get it all installed and the tires on, i'm just curious as to what it'll look like

If I could afford a lift and not tires, I'd buy the lift and install it and get the tires when I could. Who cares if it looks a little bit goofy? You still have that much more clearance offroad. Function over fashion :read:

body lift doesnt give any more clearance. just raises the cab so you can see the frame. add a leaf and the spindles work functionally.


but if you get the spindles and add a leaf you cant use your stock tires just to drive around? they wont fit or what? i got 16" stock rims with the michelon ATs measuring 29" overall so why couldnt you use the stocks if you could then clear 31" doesnt make sense to me.

Chris

Originally posted by iodine
body lift doesnt give any more clearance. just raises the cab so you can see the frame. add a leaf and the spindles work functionally.


That's a bundle of misinformation. Why get add-a-leafs? My stock springs are twice as flexy and induce way less axle wrap than Add-a-leafs. Bodylifts increase tire clearance, increase approach angles, and increase descent angles. How is this not functional??


but if you get the spindles and add a leaf you cant use your stock tires just to drive around? they wont fit or what? i got 16" stock rims with the michelon ATs measuring 29" overall so why couldnt you use the stocks if you could then clear 31" doesnt make sense to me.

Chris

That confused me too. I don't think a spindle will affect the wheel/backspacing you can use.

Originally posted by DownSouthTAS

That confused me too. I don't think a spindle will affect the wheel/backspacing you can use.

As far as I know, the only thing affected is turning radius with just spindles.
And yosimity, I think you're a little misinformed about uppers and coils. Fabtech uppers increase stock travel by 2", which doesn't sound like much untill you realize stock front travel is only 4". Stock sucks worse for droop than uppers/coils.

I bought a Ranger because I believe them to be the toughest small truck out there. When I wrote going over speed bumps at 40 I simply meant that I feel confident in the truck and its capabilities to absorb the impact. As I was discussing with Ranger Rover in another post, I don't feel confident in the suspension I purchased but that's not to say with everyone. Personally, I think Ford did a good job with the ride quality and durability of the stock suspension.
sam

i have 3 inch body lift with 31's if you buy 3 inch lift get a leveling kit for the front suspension and you will be able to fit 32's easily.

Unfortunately there is no leveling kit for a newer Ranger.

Americanian, Id use blocks on the rear because our leaves are stiff enough as it is and AALs make them alot stiffer. Id go with spindles and blocks for the rear. 1" blocks would be pretty level with the 3" spindle and you can fit 31"s with a little trimming of the front valence.

oh yeah i forgot you guys dont have I beams. that must be expensive to lift or lower for that matter.

Yeah it can be...

i have a 94 with a 2" coil lift up front and i can run 32x11.50x15s just had to cut a little out of the bottom of the fender wells. added 2.5 degree camber adjustments and i still have positive camber. :cussing: oh well. what im saying is that i have a little lift, and i can fit big ol tires under it. and i think it looks good.
mike.

How much lift can you safely get from cranking the torsion bars?

I got 2" (with more room to go) on my truck. They've been up for about a year, no alignment or anything. I've been through a set of balljoints, but I tore a boot in Tellico or Uwharrie, so I don't think it was the T-Bar crank (change in angles) to blame. I don't know if it changed the ride quality or not, because the road around my house is rougher than Trail 1 in Tellico.

I just put a 3" performace body lift on this past weekend,comes with everything,and easy to do,also w/a 2001 ranger u don't have to get a leveling kit(they dont make one) all u do measure ur distance from front tire to fender,then jack up truck about 3 inches off ground,climb underneath and tighten the torsion bars,u can get about 2 1/2 inches of lift there,be warned,invest in a lifetime alignment,looks awsome but will chew up tires if u don't get it aligned,

Originally posted by doubleb
be warned,invest in a lifetime alignment,looks awsome but will chew up tires if u don't get it aligned,

I've put 15k miles on my BFG M/Ts after lifting with no alignment, and my tires aren't chewed up. Rotate every 3k miles and forget it.

I would just put the 3 body on it and call it a day esp if its a street truck be a hell of a lot cheeper and a lot less work