Best lift for an 01 Edge

[mdn14]

In less than a month I'll be inheriting my brother's 2001 Ford Ranger Edge (He's leaving the country). It's 2wd and has the 3.0 with a manual transmission!!!! Anyways, what's the best way that I can lift my future truck to fit either 32 or 33 inch tires? I was lookin at the Fabtech 3" lift spindles with the 2" add a leaf for the rear, but that seems a little too cheap. But idk. I don't want to spend a lot of money either.

I'm not going to be doing any uber hard wheeling but I still want to be able go where I want to go. Any suggestions as to how I should go about lifting my soon to be truck to fit 33" tires?

(Also, I assume that the manual transmission should be fine with whatever gears are on the ranger to spin 33" tires and not lose too much power or speed. Yes?)

 

[93 Ohio Ranger]

3.0 and manual with 33s id run 4.56 gears but thats me, i ran 32s on a 3.0 manual with 3.55s daily and wheeling for months.

Id put a 3 inch body lift, it will clear 33s and its cheap. Ive never been a fan of fabtech.

 

[mdn14]

Well I have this preconceived "hate" towards body lifts because they don't seem to benefit the truck at all. And I have the tow hooks up front and I'd like to keep them at their stock spot. If Fabtech isn't any good then there is also some company called Doetsch. But I've never heard of them.

Hm, that means I'll need an 8.8 axle as well. Boy this sorta stuff gets expensive quickly haha.

 

[mdn14]

Here's the Doetsch spindles. Idk how they compare, or if I'll need different backspaced wheels. I know with fabtech I'd need at least 3.75" backspacing on my wheels. Anyone know about these Doetsch spindles?
http://www.offroadwarehouse.com/products/sfID1/4/sfID2/960/sfID3/963/productID/40558

 

[93 Ohio Ranger]

I forget the back spacing needed on doetsch spindles. Ive seen plenty of people run them here and on ranger forums with no troubles. Personally me if you just want the lift and tires for looks than a body lift is fine.

 

[mp3deviant721]

Those will work fine. Just don't go dune jumping with them.

 

[mdn14]

I don't live near any dunes so I think I'll be ok haha.

 

[mdn14]

Does anyone have pictures of the doetsch spindle lift with 31 or 32" tires? I believer my ranger has 4.10 gears and those should be ok to turn 31's right? I'm such a noob haha

 

[treycrittenden]

http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113791 Thats a pic of my truck with springtech 3" spindles and blocks in the rear with 33" tires. the spindles were bought from ebay. only problem i'm having is getting a front end alignment which i've ordered a 2.25 camber bolt kit to hopefully help the alignment shop to get it aligned. i have a 4.0 v6 automatic and it pulls these wheels and tires very well..

 

[prerunnerwannabe]

4:10 will work just great with 31" tires. And you don't need a lift to run 31s.
Here is a handy link. http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85725

 

[mdn14]

Hmmm. Maybe I'll just crank my t-bars a little and save on the lift and what not. Solid idea. I was thinking 31x10.50 15R Goodyear Duratrac tires.

 

[prerunnerwannabe]

Go for it

 

[mdn14]

I still need some 4.10 gears though. Bleh. I'm thinking about swapping the pumpkin from my current ranger and down gearing it for better gas mileage. But then it wont have any guts. Haha.