lifting a truck

[Mudman]

A quality 4 inch lift with some 35/36inch tires and your golden.  Truck will look good and perform well without too many other issues.  A winch is priceless.  Superlift and skyjacker have been good to me.  Rough country and Les schwab not so much.  Springs in front and add a block or spring for rear will work.  If you still cant get where your going get some lockers in the diffs.  Smossy easy way is to do a Bushwacker fender flare cutout for bigger tires. 4 Wheel Parts will hook you up with details on lifts.  But its an explorer after all.  Duratracs would do you good on that, just go a size or to bigger than stock.

[bowhunterwa87]

I have a 6" with 35s under my 95 chevy and have had zero problems with it. Rough country lift. Had it installed last year

[Mudman]

I have a 6" with 35s under my 95 chevy and have had zero problems with it. Rough country lift. Had it installed last year

I bent leaf springs in my toyota.  New rough country lift.  Rear was so bad axle spun and destroyed everything.  Bent all 4.  Not sure what happened.  I went to trail gear and chevy spring.  Of course a Big block Olds was in it.

[WA hunter14]

I would join a forum for your specific truck there are tons of forums out there you could find one for your year of truck and guys with the same truck....pick their brains they can tell you a lot more as far as specific parts and kits than the yahoos on hunting forums....I would recommend 35s at the biggest and enough lift to fit them.use the money you would save on bigger lift and tires, buy a winch, a tow strap and maybe put lockers in the front. That will get you anywhere you have business going. I know it's hard to decide but there is a fine line between an off-road truck and a hunting truck.my dad always said 4x4 is enough to get you out when you're not really stuck but enough to get you really stuck..if that makes any sense?

yea it does make sense i know that part all to well thats why ive also been looking into lockers 

[Spuddieselwwu]

Here's a 6in pro-comp suspension lift w/ 35's on my silvy.

[whacker1]

can someone tell me what specific parts are needed witha 3 or 4 inch lift, there are alot of kits out there and they dont all have the same stuff.

I goofed earlier when I posted the link to SuperLift's system.  I mistakenly posted the lift for the F150.

it will depend on if you have a factory hi-boy or low-boy.

Skyjacker and Rough Country are the only two companies I found that still advertise 78 F250 suspension lift kits.  The Skyjacker will give you a parts list if you want to piece meal it together.
http://skyjacker.com/page.php?PageID=397

http://www.roughcountry.com/suspension-lift-kits/ford-suspension-lift-kits.html?vehicle_drive=3&vehicle_model=282&vehicle_year=49

With a Factory Hi-boy you should not need lift to fit 35 inch tires.  i believe if you want to go bigger than 35's then you will need to put 4 inch lift and you should be able to roll 37's or 38's depending on width and rim off-set.  I don't recall if the 40's will fit under it or not.

[WA hunter14]

thank you perfect

[swanny]

What year, make, and model? How do you use the truck now? Camper, trailering?

Ill bite, we're wondering the same question.
2005 Ford Explorer, Daily Driver, next to no towing, Hunting/Trapping/Fishing Rig.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=2005+ford+explorer+lift+kit

[whacker1]

What year, make, and model? How do you use the truck now? Camper, trailering?

Ill bite, we're wondering the same question.
2005 Ford Explorer, Daily Driver, next to no towing, Hunting/Trapping/Fishing Rig.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=2005+ford+explorer+lift+kit

30.5 x 9.6 is the tallest tire you can get under it stock.  ours is 245/70x17.  Cooper AT3

the problem with 20 inch rims, is that there are lots of options in low profile/highway tires, but not many options in all terrain until you get into truck size tires at 32 - 34 inch tall tires.  you would likely need 6 inches of lift to clear 34 inch tires on an explorer and that would be a stretch and probably a waste of money.  That year explorer is already plagued with automatic transmission problems, wheel bearings and high gear ratios.  Going from 28 inch stock tire to 34 would be a huge shift in gear ratio, and would suck the life out of that transmission.

I think you would be better served to pick up a used set of 17 or 18 inch rims and put a 30 inch tire on it that gets you what you need.  You will pick up an inch of clearance and then you can use the 20's for a summer set.  Put your suspension and tire money towards your next vehicle.  You will have $4000-5000 into a lift on an explorer that you use for a daily driver and will cut your fuel economy by at least 30%.

[Westside88]

I'd stay away from body lifts. These trucks are pretty basic to lift. I had 33's on a 76 with just add a lift springs. (Just an extra leaf slipped in) everyone has opinions but body lifts cause other issues like needing to extend wiring , hoses etc. they don't look god same either.  IMHO 35's are about the biggest for a usable truck of that style, but everyone has their own preference.

so your saying i can lift my truck with just leaf springs?

You can gain an inch or two with a Rancho add a leaf. I was running Buckshots that were about 33".  Width factors into it too. Check with Les Schwab if you're thinking of that route

[huntnphool]

how to decide how big of lift?

Wouldnt that depend on what you need to lift it for in the first place, or are you simply doing it for appearance?

[WA hunter14]

I'd stay away from body lifts. These trucks are pretty basic to lift. I had 33's on a 76 with just add a lift springs. (Just an extra leaf slipped in) everyone has opinions but body lifts cause other issues like needing to extend wiring , hoses etc. they don't look god same either.  IMHO 35's are about the biggest for a usable truck of that style, but everyone has their own preference.

so your saying i can lift my truck with just leaf springs?

You can gain an inch or two with a Rancho add a leaf. I was running Buckshots that were about 33".  Width factors into it too. Check with Les Schwab if you're thinking of that route

i do hall some fire wood probably half a dozen cords a year would that flatten out add a leafs?

[jeepasaurusrex]

Leaves are made from spring steel. They will flatten out some with a load on them, but they will spring back after the weight is removed.  Just about any truck can benefit from a set of air bags on the rear suspension. Not only will they improve stability, they also decrease squat. I opted not to install them on my truck (F-350 Dually) as it take A LOT of weight just to get the suspension to squat a little. It rides better with about 500# in the bed.

[Alchase]

I think 3" of lift would clear 35" tires fine, will give it a bit of a stuffed look, but I kind of like that.

The reason why you typically go with a suspension lift over body is several, but the main reasons are, you are lifting your truck for better off road performance right? Well one of the benefits of a lift is to get your frame and running gear (running gear achieved by bigger tires) off the ground for better clearance. Only a suspension lift does this. Second reason would be a body lift looks terrible

Put a 3" suspension lift on and 35" tires and drive it. You won't need to re-gear anything.

Regards,
H&F

I will add to this, if you ever see what happens to a body lift when it falls off the blocks, you will never think of a body only lift, LOL

[jeepasaurusrex]

Or the body mount works its way through the body mount.  Ever seen a vehicle that has been in an accident with a body lift installed? Not pretty.