I'm getting a ranger in about a week. I dont know if i want i-beams or A-arms. I need help...what do you think is better?

 

um......A-arms?
i dunno i have and ibeamer and its pretty easy to lift, but what are your plans?

 

i wanna prerunner it...i wanna get alot of travel with less labor and less money

 

Ibeams. They come with 97s and down I think. You could pick one up cheap and build it a lot easier than a a-arm ranger.

 

i beam = crazy drop

 

very true

 

then def. i-beams

 

It's apples to oranges, you can't compare them because it's mostly preference. Anyone that tells you ibeams better be able to prove why, and anyone that tells you a arms better be able to tell you why, and I gaurantee you, with the exception of high end systems, it will be based solely on bias. I'll try to post some more info up tonight or tomorrow, but don't make a decision off of what people tell you to get, do your research, and choose what you think is best for you, you're driving style, and preferences.

In short though:

I-beams = Tons of sloppy travel (barring high end systems).
A-arms = Controlled, clean travel (barring high end systems).

 

why would you not go high end if you are really wanting a good prerunner?

 

because high end trucks can go into the $100,000

and yes, i am talking about I beam rangers


If you want a prerunner, i'd look into getting something used with the suspension you want already on it.

check www.race-dezert.com and www.dezertrangers.com

 

i have an i beam ranger and i have mad travel

 

High end kits, like Alon said, are very expensive. I just got done putting over 5500 into my front end which is a good one, but compared to 'high end' systems it's nothing.

Don, you have a skyjacker lift, basically stock travel numbers, just because it's an i-beam suspension doesn't mean you get mad travel, it has to do with what you do to the truck to acheive that.

I-beams CAN be cheaper, and a-arms CAN be cheaper, it's a matter of opinion and preference. Research the product, don't just buy it because it might be cheaper. You can easily spend over 10k on each set up, and still be wanting more. One isn't necessarily cheaper just because certain kits are. You get what you pay for, and for quality you will have to pay.

 

that makes sense

 

i know to get some serious travel out of I beams you have to get bent and turned I beams and run Coilovers..............other than that just like stated before, it is a matter of opinion and with the money that you are going to put into it to have good travel and still be able to function, it is 6-1 half dozen another.........if you are going to beat it in the desert, then i would buy an older I beam ranger for the following reasons...

1. they are cheaper because they are older
2. there EVERYWERE!!!!
3. you can pick up a good one for around $2000-$4000 with decent miles...

 

if you wanted you could get really crazy and get a 2wd TIB ranger and use the longer equal length beams off a 2wd F150 and get slightly wider track width and longer beams which will give better angles when lifted, the only thing with that is making sure to mount them properly and setting up a good steering system for them.

 

that a good idea, i think i might even try that