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  #1  
Old 04-04-2018, 05:16 PM
Ugxibowden Ugxibowden is offline
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Default Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

I want to lift my truck and would like to know what you guys would recommend, new to the truck life so don’t know what is good and what is not.

Thanks


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  #2  
Old 04-04-2018, 08:11 PM
Jimmyspy Jimmyspy is offline
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Default Re: Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ugxibowden View Post
I want to lift my truck and would like to know what you guys would recommend, new to the truck life so don’t know what is good and what is not.

Thanks


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Your lift options are pretty limited for the 1998 and up 4x4 Rangers. You’ve basically got 3 choices.

-adjust your torsion bars using your STOCK torsion keys (don’t waste your time or money on lift keys). You can usually get 1-2” of adjustment out of the stock suspension, depending on how worn the torsion bars are. Any more than that and you start adding excessive wear to ball joints and cv shafts. Also, the more you adjust things, the stiffer your ride will get. This “lift” is free + the cost of an alignment

-3” body lift. This usually runs $250 ish plus instal. It’s basically a bunch of plastic spacers that lift the body off of the frame

-4” super lift. This runs $2,000 ish (with the superlift front driveshaft) + instal. This is the only true suspension lift for our trucks anymore, and it’s really just a bunch of drop brackets that space the front suspension away from the frame

- Vegas Desert Fab also offers a long travel kit that increases whelk travel and gives 2-3” of lift, but that’s a lot more money and a whole nother can of worms


I personally run the superlift on my truck, but that’s mainly because I found a good deal on a used one.


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2002 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, ext. cab, 4.0L v6
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1995 Ford Ranger STX 4x4 ext. cab 4.0l v6 SOLD
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  #3  
Old 04-05-2018, 03:59 AM
Ugxibowden Ugxibowden is offline
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Default Re: Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmyspy View Post
Your lift options are pretty limited for the 1998 and up 4x4 Rangers. You’ve basically got 3 choices.

-adjust your torsion bars using your STOCK torsion keys (don’t waste your time or money on lift keys). You can usually get 1-2” of adjustment out of the stock suspension, depending on how worn the torsion bars are. Any more than that and you start adding excessive wear to ball joints and cv shafts. Also, the more you adjust things, the stiffer your ride will get. This “lift” is free + the cost of an alignment

-3” body lift. This usually runs $250 ish plus instal. It’s basically a bunch of plastic spacers that lift the body off of the frame

-4” super lift. This runs $2,000 ish (with the superlift front driveshaft) + instal. This is the only true suspension lift for our trucks anymore, and it’s really just a bunch of drop brackets that space the front suspension away from the frame

- Vegas Desert Fab also offers a long travel kit that increases whelk travel and gives 2-3” of lift, but that’s a lot more money and a whole nother can of worms


I personally run the superlift on my truck, but that’s mainly because I found a good deal on a used one.


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Thank you for the information, I might look into the 3” body lift or the 4” super lift, my edge sits higher than some stock ranger so I honestly don’t know if it has a life or not pretty sure it does not, sure it’s stock.
As when I bought it there was no history with the truck


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  #4  
Old 04-05-2018, 07:04 AM
Jimmyspy Jimmyspy is offline
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Default Re: Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ugxibowden View Post
Thank you for the information, I might look into the 3” body lift or the 4” super lift, my edge sits higher than some stock ranger so I honestly don’t know if it has a life or not pretty sure it does not, sure it’s stock.
As when I bought it there was no history with the truck


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The edge/4wd trucks sat 2.5” higher than the 2wd Coil spring trucks.


Keep your eye on Craigslist and the classifieds sections on the various ranger forums, every once in awhile used superlifts pop up.


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2002 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, ext. cab, 4.0L v6
Superlifted
33x12.5 Duratracs

1995 Ford Ranger STX 4x4 ext. cab 4.0l v6 SOLD
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  #5  
Old 04-05-2018, 07:11 AM
Ugxibowden Ugxibowden is offline
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Default Re: Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmyspy View Post
The edge/4wd trucks sat 2.5” higher than the 2wd Coil spring trucks.


Keep your eye on Craigslist and the classifieds sections on the various ranger forums, every once in awhile used superlifts pop up.


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Thanks for all the information and advise,
How hard/easy is it to do the 4” lift yourself?


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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ugxibowden View Post
Thanks for all the information and advise,
How hard/easy is it to do the 4” lift yourself?


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Also what differential/ axle does your truck have for your off-road fun


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  #6  
Old 04-05-2018, 04:07 PM
Jimmyspy Jimmyspy is offline
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Default Re: Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

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Originally Posted by Ugxibowden View Post
Thanks for all the information and advise,
How hard/easy is it to do the 4” lift yourself?


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Also what differential/ axle does your truck have for your off-road fun


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No problem! The superlift install is pretty involved, as the front suspension and axel need to be removed from the truck. But, the kits instructions are great and it’s definitely doable. I did mine in the drive way with basic hand tools over 3 or 4 days.

I’m still running the stock drivetrain. Ford 8.8 rear, d35 SLA front, 4.10 gears, open differentials.


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2002 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, ext. cab, 4.0L v6
Superlifted
33x12.5 Duratracs

1995 Ford Ranger STX 4x4 ext. cab 4.0l v6 SOLD
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  #7  
Old 04-05-2018, 04:09 PM
Ugxibowden Ugxibowden is offline
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Default Re: Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

How good is your open diff off road?


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  #8  
Old 04-05-2018, 05:47 PM
Jimmyspy Jimmyspy is offline
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Default Re: Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

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Originally Posted by Ugxibowden View Post
How good is your open diff off road?


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It’s an annoyance sometimes, but gets me where I want to go






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2002 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, ext. cab, 4.0L v6
Superlifted
33x12.5 Duratracs

1995 Ford Ranger STX 4x4 ext. cab 4.0l v6 SOLD
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  #9  
Old 04-05-2018, 05:57 PM
Ugxibowden Ugxibowden is offline
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Default Re: Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmyspy View Post
It’s an annoyance sometimes, but gets me where I want to go






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That’s a nice ranger, when I bought mine it was pretty scratched up still is haha,

only had it less than a year but it’s definitely getting left the way it is right now until I get a second vehicle to use while I do the lift, or if when I go out wheelin within the next month or so with a buddy to test it out and it does decent and the clearance is ok then I might just leave it stock hight don’t really want to leave it stock hight but the wife has a hard time getting in it as it is at the moment


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----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ugxibowden View Post
That’s a nice ranger, when I bought mine it was pretty scratched up still is haha,

only had it less than a year but it’s definitely getting left the way it is right now until I get a second vehicle to use while I do the lift, or if when I go out wheelin within the next month or so with a buddy to test it out and it does decent and the clearance is ok then I might just leave it stock hight don’t really want to leave it stock hight but the wife has a hard time getting in it as it is at the moment


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I’ll get a picture of my truck in the morning and post it here


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  #10  
Old 04-06-2018, 07:03 PM
Jimmyspy Jimmyspy is offline
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Default Re: Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ugxibowden View Post
That’s a nice ranger, when I bought mine it was pretty scratched up still is haha,

only had it less than a year but it’s definitely getting left the way it is right now until I get a second vehicle to use while I do the lift, or if when I go out wheelin within the next month or so with a buddy to test it out and it does decent and the clearance is ok then I might just leave it stock hight don’t really want to leave it stock hight but the wife has a hard time getting in it as it is at the moment


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----------





I’ll get a picture of my truck in the morning and post it here


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Thanks! It’s got plenty of scratches of its own... haha.



The single best thing I’ve done for my ranger is buy a Focus for a daily driver .



I think you’ll be surprised by how far a stock ranger will go. I wheeled mine stock for a few years before I bought the lift.


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2002 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, ext. cab, 4.0L v6
Superlifted
33x12.5 Duratracs

1995 Ford Ranger STX 4x4 ext. cab 4.0l v6 SOLD
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  #11  
Old 04-07-2018, 08:02 AM
Ugxibowden Ugxibowden is offline
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Default Re: Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

Hopefully it does do good and here’s a picture of my little ranger




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  #12  
Old 04-09-2018, 07:13 PM
Jimmyspy Jimmyspy is offline
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Default Re: Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

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Originally Posted by Ugxibowden View Post
Hopefully it does do good and here’s a picture of my little ranger




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Truck looks good!


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2002 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, ext. cab, 4.0L v6
Superlifted
33x12.5 Duratracs

1995 Ford Ranger STX 4x4 ext. cab 4.0l v6 SOLD
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  #13  
Old 04-09-2018, 07:34 PM
Ugxibowden Ugxibowden is offline
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Default Re: Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

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Originally Posted by Jimmyspy View Post
Truck looks good!


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Thanks


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  #14  
Old 04-11-2018, 01:47 PM
Undrstm8ed Undrstm8ed is offline
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Default Re: Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

I still don't understand going all out of the way for a 4" lift only to add additional obstructions of bracketry that snags on stuff further on top of leaving the torsion bars in place to begin with. If the argument is I've never snagged it on anything, then you probably aren't in a terrain that warrants a lift like that to begin with. If not, and you need that kind of a lift, stop playing around and do it right by using the 4" skyjacker kit and upgrading to coils upfront so you can remove those silly torsion bar brackets hanging 4" down under your truck - the same place they were when it wasn't "lifted" !

If the OP was considering throwing 35+ on the truck I could see doing a 4" lift but I find it unnecessary considering a 2" lift and a 2" body lift will work on 34" tires and down and you be in the same boat without spending $2k in brackets and go everywhere anyone else is on similar terrain.

I'd buy a better/refreshed set of torsion bars, keys, AAL if not a Deaver spring pack, and/or a locker for the front Diff, and go more places and the same places. unless you driving down south to the Red-neckin' Spring break mud-nationals to go swamping.

I am sure I get shunned for my unfiltered opinions but what are you going to be using the truck for is usually the first question that comes to mind for the OP.
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  #15  
Old 04-11-2018, 06:24 PM
Jimmyspy Jimmyspy is offline
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Default Re: Lift kit recommendations for a 2002 ranger edge plus 4x4 3.0

Quote:
Originally Posted by Undrstm8ed View Post
I still don't understand going all out of the way for a 4" lift only to add additional obstructions of bracketry that snags on stuff further on top of leaving the torsion bars in place to begin with. If the argument is I've never snagged it on anything, then you probably aren't in a terrain that warrants a lift like that to begin with. If not, and you need that kind of a lift, stop playing around and do it right by using the 4" skyjacker kit and upgrading to coils upfront so you can remove those silly torsion bar brackets hanging 4" down under your truck - the same place they were when it wasn't "lifted" !

If the OP was considering throwing 35+ on the truck I could see doing a 4" lift but I find it unnecessary considering a 2" lift and a 2" body lift will work on 34" tires and down and you be in the same boat without spending $2k in brackets and go everywhere anyone else is on similar terrain.

I'd buy a better/refreshed set of torsion bars, keys, AAL if not a Deaver spring pack, and/or a locker for the front Diff, and go more places and the same places. unless you driving down south to the Red-neckin' Spring break mud-nationals to go swamping.

I am sure I get shunned for my unfiltered opinions but what are you going to be using the truck for is usually the first question that comes to mind for the OP.


You do bring up a good pint with the torsion bar drop brackets. They are the biggest draw back (other than price) to the superlift kit, and really hurt the break-over clearance (although it’s still better than stock). I wouldn’t say they were a hindrance, but I definitely drug them over stuff more than I would’ve liked. That was a big reason I converted the truck to coilovers. This, in conjunction with the superlift kit, results in a really capable setup with a respectable amount of clearance, for an IFS setup.


I personally don’t recommend lift keys as they give the user the potential to push the front suspension way beyond its intended limitations, which can cause a slew of problems. Not saying all lift key buyers do this, but the majority of them do.


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2002 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, ext. cab, 4.0L v6
Superlifted
33x12.5 Duratracs

1995 Ford Ranger STX 4x4 ext. cab 4.0l v6 SOLD
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