A few Questions about 3" Body lifts on my 2003 FX4
 

I want to do a 3" body lift on my truck but I have a few reservations i want to clear up before i do.

1. I pull small trailers occasionally and I was wondering about my receiver hitch, is there brackets out there to make that still hug the bumper? I don't want that to be 3" lower than the rear bumper i just don't like the way that looks.

2. Same question about the steps on the side of the truck?

3. Same question about the tow hooks on the front bumper?

If anyone has any pics of their truck with similar situations please post them, or if you have some wisdom on the subject if would be much appreciated.

Also im in the market for a cheap lift anybody know where to go?

1. I pull small trailers occasionally and I was wondering about my receiver hitch, is there brackets out there to make that still hug the bumper? I don't want that to be 3" lower than the rear bumper i just don't like the way that looks.

U will need to modify ur hitch. Just cut it 2-3" then bolt it back together and weld it



2. Same question about the steps on the side of the truck?
Are the steps factory or aftermarket?
Factory steps mount to the body and will go up with the body


3. Same question about the tow hooks on the front bumper?

Will need to cut the valance on the bumper for the hooks to be functional

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...a/DSC05830.jpg


If anyone has any pics of their truck with similar situations please post them, or if you have some wisdom on the subject if would be much appreciated.

http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/a875ca1f.jpg

http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/daf9cc0d.jpg

Hitch probably looks something like this
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...t/P9160039.jpg

you will need to cut the factory mounting point off to look like this
http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/a87f5c62.jpg

Then you just overlap the part you cut off 2"-3" and bolt it back together then weld the seam.

I actually overlapped mine 2.5" and it looks good. It is not right up against the bumper but not horrible

http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/7255fb28.jpg

Or if your a welder and good welder you can skip bolting and over laping and just trim off the extra couple inches and butt weld it like this

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...t/P9170090.jpg

This is what it will look like not modified

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...4/DSC05583.jpg

I did the same thing. Cut out 3in from the sides of the hitch, moving it up and welded it all back together using dual shield.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...9/IMG_0291.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...9/IMG_0292.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...9/IMG_0307.jpg

And as STL said, if they're factory step bars, they're mounted to the body. Those will go up with the body on the install.

A few people on here have also modified their brackets for the tow hooks to keep them in the factory looking place without cutting the bumper. RedneckStone and Toreador4x4 are a few of them; might try PM'ing them.

Most aftermarket side steps attach the same way as factory. I know of one kind I had on my 03 they were frame mounted

Modified level II J-hook's so you dont have to cut the valance.... I have done 3 sets so far and working on 2 more currently



http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...1/DSC_0038.jpg

What are you guys doing to modify them so you don't cut the valance?

He won't say, that's his secret.

Why post it if you wont say how to do it.

Because he thinks it's something only he can do... Kinda like a job security thing if you will...

Honestly.... if you've got a towhook sitting in front of you and you know you need to move it up 3", what need's done is pretty obvious. lol. I figured it out after a few minutes of thinking.

You guys have all been helpful. I will definately modify the hitch. I do not want it sitting lower that looks dumb. No offense to anyone who has it that way. The hooks I can probably figure out and the steps look like they are factory so that problem is solved. Now to find a cheap body lift.

You can use a body lift that is made for the 1998-2000 rangers

fuel filler neck was only thing I had to modify

sweet do you know where the cheapest place to get one is?

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/how-s...html#post66392

for question about the tow hooks.