Ok, so I wanna start saving and planning to lift my truck. I have done a ton of a research, which has been helpful, but I would like to hear it first hand from you guys. I got a 2000 Ranger XLT 4x4 and the suspension is totally stock. I am running a set of 265/75R Discoverer Cooper A/Ts, which I am liking. I am looking at lifting the truck 3-3.5 inches and I do NOT want to go with a body lift; however, I want to try and keep my budget under $700. I could crank the tbar, but I really don't want to kill the ride of the truck. Also the tbars won't give me much of a lift. What ideas and thoughts do you guys have on lifting it without breaking the bank? Any links would be awesome too! Thank you guys in advance.

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2000 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, 4.0 auto, 143k, Behind Grill LEDs, Tailgate Bar, Reverse, dome, cargo LEDs, Escape Emblems, SI/SO MBRP Exhaust, Delta Tool Box, TYC headlights, Platinum Plus Fogs, 06+ Tails and Chrome Mirrors, Window Tint, Pioneer Stereo, 4 Infinity Speakers, Painted ext. plastic black, 16x8 ProComp 1069s, Discoverer Cooper ATR 265s, tbar crank and shackles. 1 1/2 in. lift.
Build thread!http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...ld-thread.html

You basically ruled out every available lift kit made for your truck....

Bodylift = Out
TBar Crank = Out
Superlift = Out (Due to budget)
SAS = Out (Due to budget)

There are no 'ideas & thoughts' when it comes to lifting a 1998 & newer 4x4 - it is what it is. lol

Basically speaking, you have the following options:

1. 1"-2" Torsion Bar Crank = Cost is only an alignment.
2. 2" Leveling Kit = Waste of money, same as a torsion bar crank - see option #1 above.
3. 3" Body Lift = +/- $200 + Install
4. 4" Superlift = +/- $2,000 + Install
5. Custom SAS = "Let your imagination take control of your wallet"

Pick your poison.

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Curent 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 owner - Build Thread for her: Logan's 2003 Mach 1

Former 2003 Ford Ranger owner - Build Thread for her: Project Budget Buster

Ok, do have any experience as to how bad the TBar crank affects the ride? If I were to do just do a suspension lift, what brand would you recommend?

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2000 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, 4.0 auto, 143k, Behind Grill LEDs, Tailgate Bar, Reverse, dome, cargo LEDs, Escape Emblems, SI/SO MBRP Exhaust, Delta Tool Box, TYC headlights, Platinum Plus Fogs, 06+ Tails and Chrome Mirrors, Window Tint, Pioneer Stereo, 4 Infinity Speakers, Painted ext. plastic black, 16x8 ProComp 1069s, Discoverer Cooper ATR 265s, tbar crank and shackles. 1 1/2 in. lift.
Build thread!http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...ld-thread.html

Higher you go - the stiffer it is.

How much you can handle is up to the person & is essentially an opinion/tolerance type deal.

There is only one 'true' suspension lift made for your truck.

It's the 4" Superlift (+/- $2,000 + Install).

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Curent 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 owner - Build Thread for her: Logan's 2003 Mach 1

Former 2003 Ford Ranger owner - Build Thread for her: Project Budget Buster

My t bars are fully cranked. Rides nice as the larger tires absorb the bumps too. I then got 2" chevy drop shackles from autozone for $25.99 and new bolts for $4. The prerunner fiberglass fenders gave me the clearance for the 33s to travel.


Sits like this

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2004 FX4 level 2 (sold)
2006 350z 6spd, agency power twin turbo, stillen exhaust, tien coilovers, aem gauges, kenwood dvd head unit. 550hp

^ Someone likes to post that picture lately.... lol

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Curent 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 owner - Build Thread for her: Logan's 2003 Mach 1

Former 2003 Ford Ranger owner - Build Thread for her: Project Budget Buster

I thought I had seen that pic before, lol. It look nice, have you had any problems with the drops shackles? How is it that you used Chevy drop shackles to raise your rear end? That sounds like it should not work.

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2000 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, 4.0 auto, 143k, Behind Grill LEDs, Tailgate Bar, Reverse, dome, cargo LEDs, Escape Emblems, SI/SO MBRP Exhaust, Delta Tool Box, TYC headlights, Platinum Plus Fogs, 06+ Tails and Chrome Mirrors, Window Tint, Pioneer Stereo, 4 Infinity Speakers, Painted ext. plastic black, 16x8 ProComp 1069s, Discoverer Cooper ATR 265s, tbar crank and shackles. 1 1/2 in. lift.
Build thread!http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...ld-thread.html

Getting the old bolts off was fun, but otherwise no problems. I'm putting deaver leaves on in the future with a long travel front.

Shackle view

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2004 FX4 level 2 (sold)
2006 350z 6spd, agency power twin turbo, stillen exhaust, tien coilovers, aem gauges, kenwood dvd head unit. 550hp

Sounds like it's a standard Belltech 6400 shackle.

The reason it lowers a Chevy & raises a Ford is the direction they mount relative to the spring.

Chevy = From the mount, the shackle goes 'upward' then connects to the spring. Meaning a longer shackle would lower the vehicle.

Ranger = From the mount, the shackle goes 'downward' then connects to the spring. Meaning a longer shackle would raise the vehicle.

Chevy type example:


Ranger example:

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Curent 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 owner - Build Thread for her: Logan's 2003 Mach 1

Former 2003 Ford Ranger owner - Build Thread for her: Project Budget Buster

Ah I see, would it be better to go for a TBar crank and see how I like it or would it be better to go with this?
http://www.socalsupertrucks.com/read...x#.UxekZKnTncc

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2000 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, 4.0 auto, 143k, Behind Grill LEDs, Tailgate Bar, Reverse, dome, cargo LEDs, Escape Emblems, SI/SO MBRP Exhaust, Delta Tool Box, TYC headlights, Platinum Plus Fogs, 06+ Tails and Chrome Mirrors, Window Tint, Pioneer Stereo, 4 Infinity Speakers, Painted ext. plastic black, 16x8 ProComp 1069s, Discoverer Cooper ATR 265s, tbar crank and shackles. 1 1/2 in. lift.
Build thread!http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...ld-thread.html

Torsion key lifts are created by the devil. Waste of money.

Just crank your stock bars for free, and get rear shackles, AAL or whatever you want.

The aftermarket keys re-index where the torsion bar mounts within the key itself. Which is the same as cranking the bars using the original keys (think rotation). All the aftermarket torsion keys do (besides drain your bank account) is let you crank the torsion bars PAST the stock maximum - which is bad news.

That's the bad part about aftermarket keys (besides costing money for nothing) - they allow you to crank the bars even further that stock which would just magnify the potential wear problems

Summary:
Stock keys w/ bars cranked 1.5" = Potential for stiffer suspension & minor increase in front end component wear.
Aftermarket keys w/ bars at standard location = Stock keys w/ bars cranked 1.5" + Lighter Wallet = Same potential for stiffer suspension & minor increase in front end component wear.
Aftermarket keys w/ bars moderately cranked = Major increase of front end component wear.
Aftermarket keys w/ bars max cranked = Imminent truck death & destruction.

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Curent 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 owner - Build Thread for her: Logan's 2003 Mach 1

Former 2003 Ford Ranger owner - Build Thread for her: Project Budget Buster

Well, I definitely don't wanna waste money or kill my truck so I will probably crank the TBars and get the Chevy lowering shackles.

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2000 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, 4.0 auto, 143k, Behind Grill LEDs, Tailgate Bar, Reverse, dome, cargo LEDs, Escape Emblems, SI/SO MBRP Exhaust, Delta Tool Box, TYC headlights, Platinum Plus Fogs, 06+ Tails and Chrome Mirrors, Window Tint, Pioneer Stereo, 4 Infinity Speakers, Painted ext. plastic black, 16x8 ProComp 1069s, Discoverer Cooper ATR 265s, tbar crank and shackles. 1 1/2 in. lift.
Build thread!http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...ld-thread.html

These are the 6400 Bell tech Shackles. Would they work?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000CIKAPA/ref=pd_aw_sbs_auto_2

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2000 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, 4.0 auto, 143k, Behind Grill LEDs, Tailgate Bar, Reverse, dome, cargo LEDs, Escape Emblems, SI/SO MBRP Exhaust, Delta Tool Box, TYC headlights, Platinum Plus Fogs, 06+ Tails and Chrome Mirrors, Window Tint, Pioneer Stereo, 4 Infinity Speakers, Painted ext. plastic black, 16x8 ProComp 1069s, Discoverer Cooper ATR 265s, tbar crank and shackles. 1 1/2 in. lift.
Build thread!http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...ld-thread.html

Yes.....

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Curent 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 owner - Build Thread for her: Logan's 2003 Mach 1

Former 2003 Ford Ranger owner - Build Thread for her: Project Budget Buster

Look in the suspension section of your local parts store. Should be cheaper and easy to deal with issues and you can open the box and see them before you buy

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2004 FX4 level 2 (sold)
2006 350z 6spd, agency power twin turbo, stillen exhaust, tien coilovers, aem gauges, kenwood dvd head unit. 550hp