Project "Danger Ranger"

[Scott B.]

Well depending on what kind of driving you do with your truck, you really only have a few options;
1. Add preloadable air shocks ( will add a little pay load capacity when you need it, and will not lose any flex.
2. Get stiffer leaf springs, like those offered by Deaver (unloaded ride will suffer greatly)
3. install helper air bags ( loses some flex but is almost infinitely adjustable)

All of which would work well, but if you do a lot of off camber flexed driving, air bags may not be the best choice.
If I were to increase my pay load a lot, I would probably go with a little stiffer leaf, and add air shocks .
My dad had a 1980 parisienne brome that used-to tow a 21 foot house trailer, and that's all that was done to it, air shocks in back.

Not intending to be a jerk or start an internet war, but...

The ride quality comment in number 2 is absolutely not true. I have a set of custom made Deaver's on the rear of my '93, and they ride/handle great. Best of all, they flex great when off-road.

To get the proper springs, you will need to determine the weight of your truck, the amount of lift wanted (and in my case, a snail wrap for the V8 torque, and inverted spring hangers). Deaver will build the springs to your truck/specifications.

As to the other points, if you plan to off-road your truck, neither solution is really compatible with maximum flex.

 

[RangerXLT]

Maximum flex isn't the big issue. It's mostly just weight and ride height when I'm weighed down. I feel like I'm thread jacking this though. Sorry I'm not intending to do so.

 

[livetoride21]

When you say air shocks do you mean like Bilstiens vs ranchos? I know Bilstiens are charged.

These were the style shocks I was talking about. http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=61795&cc=1438308 you can pump them up so they are preloaded and will help stiffen things up quite a bit.

Not intending to be a jerk or start an internet war, but...

The ride quality comment in number 2 is absolutely not true. I have a set of custom made Deaver's on the rear of my '93, and they ride/handle great. Best of all, they flex great when off-road.

To get the proper springs, you will need to determine the weight of your truck, the amount of lift wanted (and in my case, a snail wrap for the V8 torque, and inverted spring hangers). Deaver will build the springs to your truck/specifications.

As to the other points, if you plan to off-road your truck, neither solution is really compatible with maximum flex.

I can understand where you're coming from Scott B, some leaves even if they are rated higher can ride great, but in my experience, it is VERY hard to get a set of leaves that will ride well both loaded and unloaded, I.E. they are either too stiff and hop when unloaded, or they will sag and bounce around when loaded. If you know that your truck will be around the same weight all the time, it is very easy to get a good feeling set of springs, but in my case, it is a daily driver and will vary from loaded to unloaded quite a bit.
But that is just my experience.

 

[RangerXLT]

My helper springs suck! I wonder if the air shocks would be a good for for me. Idk if my factory springs are just too worn or not. I will have to look into the air shocks more. Thanks for the info.

 

[livetoride21]

My helper springs suck! I wonder if the air shocks would be a good for for me. Idk if my factory springs are just too worn or not. I will have to look into the air shocks more. Thanks for the info.

Well depending on how many miles, and how hard a life your truck has lived, new springs are always a good idea.
But if your truck is a daily driver like mine, the fill-able air shocks seem to be the best of both worlds, but I'll let others chime in on whether you can manage to have good loaded and unloaded manners with just an upgraded spring pack, in my experience you have-to choose what you want, loaded, or unloaded.
In my case, my springs are a little bit sagged, but nothing excessive, they don't bounce and behave well on the roads. I just want a little more clearance for tires, so the shackles were the way to go as I liked my present ride.
Anyways, always cool to hear other peoples experience in Ranger based vehicles!

 

[RangerXLT]

Well I definitely think I'm gonna give them a try. It is my daily driver but when it gets loaded up it sags. Searching for a part number now.

 

[livetoride21]

Well I definitely think I'm gonna give them a try. It is my daily driver but when it gets loaded up it sags. Searching for a part number now.

I think you should be satisfied. Like I said, my dad had some on a parisienne before I was born, and they worked really well for that purpose. Just air em up when you need to be loaded, and air down when you're loaded normally. The technology and materials have also advanced a lot in the past 20 years lol

 

[RedF]

I really don't think those air shocks are the solution to your problems. Air shocks will only band-aid the existing problem, and overstress your shock mounts (that were never designed to carry that load). You will lose compression travel with them as they add compression resistance and hence will also add substantial load to your shock mounts, especially when articulating. This is just a guess, but the valving in those shocks is probably not appropriate for a 4x4.

Your leaf springs are insufficient for you application or just plain worn out. The air shocks might work, but they're far from ideal in my opinion.

 

[Scott B.]

Well I definitely think I'm gonna give them a try. It is my daily driver but when it gets loaded up it sags. Searching for a part number now.

I agree with RedF - I think you should try some replacement leaf springs.

The springs on my '06 started sagging (especially with the boat trailer on the truck.) I replaced them with 5-leaf springs from Michigan Truck Spring. (I believe LMC carries a similar spring.) The springs are stock, heavy duty. They ride fine loaded or empty, and flex fairly well off-road.

 

[livetoride21]

I agree with RedF - I think you should try some replacement leaf springs.

The springs on my '06 started sagging (especially with the boat trailer on the truck.) I replaced them with 5-leaf springs from Michigan Truck Spring. (I believe LMC carries a similar spring.) The springs are stock, heavy duty. They ride fine loaded or empty, and flex fairly well off-road.

Interesting. I guess they must have a fairly progressive rate spring pack? How much do they sag loaded?

 

[Scott B.]

Interesting. I guess they must have a fairly progressive rate spring pack? How much do they sag loaded?

1 - 1 1/2" Unloaded, the rear end sits up a little over level, so the load just levels it out.

 

[livetoride21]

1 - 1 1/2" Unloaded, the rear end sits up a little over level, so the load just levels it out.

That's with about how much load?

 

[calicamper]

I had a 89 xlt 2.9L mitsubishi V6 Ranger st cab short bed loved that truck. Sold it at 230,000 for a 91 POS Toyota 3L v6 4runner. Soon replaced by a new 2001 Legacy Gt Limited. We towed our racing sailboat up and down the west coast for yrs camping having a blast. The old Ranger would have been great but not as much fun to drive. LoL Pretty sure my next vehicle will be a mid sized 4dr 4x4 pickup. Im really liking the flat bed FWC! Right now our primary camping rig is a Subaru OB towing a Life Time tent trailer. Downer being no boat beyond the small 13ft sailboat we some times rack on the trailer.

Rangers were great trucks. Sad Ford will never bring it back unless the F150 sales tank in epic fasion.

 

[livetoride21]

I had a 89 xlt 2.9L mitsubishi V6 Ranger st cab short bed loved that truck. Sold it at 230,000 for a 91 POS Toyota 3L v6 4runner. Soon replaced by a new 2001 Legacy Gt Limited. We towed our racing sailboat up and down the west coast for yrs camping having a blast. The old Ranger would have been great but not as much fun to drive. LoL Pretty sure my next vehicle will be a mid sized 4dr 4x4 pickup. Im really liking the flat bed FWC! Right now our primary camping rig is a Subaru OB towing a Life Time tent trailer. Downer being no boat beyond the small 13ft sailboat we some times rack on the trailer.

Rangers were great trucks. Sad Ford will never bring it back unless the F150 sales tank in epic fasion.

Thanks for the reply! I've always loved rangers, and I'm glad to finally be building up one. It's a real shame that they discontinued it in north america, hopefully the nissan midsize diesel will sell well and give them the idea to bring the diesel global ranger over here.
I'm hopeing some day to cram wither a 4bt or a 1.8tdi into a ranger.

 

[livetoride21]

Well, small update, but unfortunately not much to show. I've been steadily gathering parts, received my CB radio antenna, 7" HID driving lamps (2x), lift shackles, and most importantly my expedition portal sticker
I'm hopeing to be able to start doing some work on the truck in the next couple weeks as the weather warms up, going to tackle front upper ball joints, tie rod ends, diff seal, change all fluids, rear lift shackles, and torsion twist in one big batch. Then the CB will go in as well as my driving lamps in their temporary position before making my bumper.
Other than that, I've just been driving the truck, platform makes a great table while ice fishing, and it's so nice having a truck out on the ice to hide from the wind.
I had one issue just this week, one of my front wheel bearings bit the dust. I've never seen a wheel bearing go from good, to destroyed so fast. It seemingly came out of nowhere, and was absolutely destroyed.
Anyways just wanted to let everyone know I'm still here, and still can't wait to get working on her in the spring!