Ok so just got off the phone with 4wheelonline. They are selling the kit(rancho) for $1500, then you get the $500 mail in rebate if you get the RS9000 shocks.. So really you are getting the kit for $1000 if you want to look at it like that.. WOW is all i can say.. WOW

 

How much extra are the RS9000 shocks though?

 

well the RS9000XL shocks are around 3-400 more then the normal shocks.

so you get a $500 debit card if you get the rs9000xl shocks, and a $400 debit card if you get the RS5000 shocks.. So you save like 400 bucks by getting the cheaper shocks, but you loose the $100 on the debit card, which you still come out on top..

so it ends up being

Lift kit is $1500
shocks(RS5000) $240 = $1740- 400= 1440 for the whole kit. Not bad. Still under the original price

ok, that may not be 100% correct on the shocks just because they dont have an option to buy the rs5000 shocks for the front so i just took the cost of the rear ones and multiplied it by 4.

 

if i get the kit, then i can use the 400 or 500 bucks to get coilovers or control arms.. HMMMM.. lol and dam this makes me mad that i may have to pay full price for the kit.. really bothers me to loose out on this deal.

 

Superlift is the one that I want. I wouldn't say that either lift is better than the other, they are just different.

The Rancho kit uses a small CV spacer and widens the front track width a bit. The reason they do this is because a taller knuckle (with any lift) causes issues with tire clearance. By pushing the tire out a bit, you can use stock wheels with that kit. For aftermarket wheels, most people use 5.5-6" backspacing with that kit. That is fine for the front, but it causes the rear tires to be VERY close to the rear shocks and brake lines. Back west where you have to use snow chains sometimes on the passes, you wouldn't have clearance. You could run 4.5" backspacing but the front will stick out even more and be more prone to rubbing the fender when you're turning.

The superlift kit doesn't widen the front end. Because of that you need 4.5" backspacing (which I want anyway for rear tire clearance), but the front/rear track are more closely matched.

Rancho uses a 5" block, Superlift uses a 2.5" add a leaf. The block would be a smoother ride, but I would worry about axle wrap. I wouldn't mind an add a leaf since I carry more weight in back anyway.

Rancho has a smaller, more minimal skid plate in the front differential, Superlift uses a bigger high clearance skidplate that spans the entire width.

Rancho uses new shocks all around, Superlift uses a spacer up front and several different rear shock choices. I could care less about new front shocks because I plan to run coilovers in the future.

 

hmmmmm thank you for the comparison Brain, as usual you pull through! Dam, makes me rethink my two choices, so now its the rancho vs the superlift.. I had the SL kit on the Ranger, and it was amazing. worked great and never broke. Never had any experience with rancho.

The tire clearance does sway me towards the superlift and i can always get new shocks all around

 

I should also add (if you didn't realize this by now) that I tend to over analyze everything. lol
I'm sure you would be happy with any of the kits out there.

Also, I have read somewhere that a person was under the impression that the 6" superlift uses the same drop brackets as the 4.5" but with different spacers?
If that were true I wouldn't want the 6" lift from them. lol. So if you really lean toward the superlift 6" I would call the manufacturer to make sure.

 

I like this kit right hear. Whatdoes the FIT stand for though?

And wow SL also has a 6" lift.. hmmm. lol i think ill prob. stick with the 4.5" though

 

I have noticed this lol.. This comes in handy most of the time lol

 

FIT is just a dumb acronym. Frame Integrated Technology.
I'm trying to call and ask about the subframes btw

 

wow the superlift kit with the resevior bilsteins is 300 bucks cheaper than the rancho. that made up my mind right there, i have always wanted bilsteins lol

 

Where are you looking at prices for the superlift?
The superlift guy just told me that the 4.5" and 6" kit use the same subframe. lame.
The 6" kit uses new shocks instead of the 4.5" spacers. Basically it just the same as adding a 1.5" spacer to another kit.

 

wow ok, so def. not going with the 6" kit.

4wheelparts.com has it for 1800 and some change with the resevior bilsteins. Just got off the phone with the guy he said he would hook me up pretty good since im military, said hes prior. So we shall see how much of a 'hookup' he will give me hhahaha.

Just found out some new info on my tdy coming up , so i may see about getting financed, get the stuff and play with it before i leave, then pay if off the first month im gone

 

looks like you have to do some cutting and welding for the diff. hmmmm

 

hey brian, you think my stock wheels will work with the Superlift kit?

 

I would say no, based on their website.
If you were desperate you could run 1" spacers up front. But with the cost of quality spacers (which still suck to use), you're better off buying new wheels and selling your old wheels/tires to help pay the difference.

 

thanks brian!

 

Anything I can do to help you spend your money! lol

Here are a couple of pictures of an F150 with the 4.5" superlift and 35s to help you decide.

 

god that is sexy lol.. Dam!

 

all the kits require cutting. welding um im not so sure.

I really like my Rancho kit, the quality of the kit is far superior to the superlift kit i had on my ranger, if you really could use that as a comparison. not sure you really can though.

I am installing a Skyjacker 6" kit on another 05 F150 in a few weeks with some 35s, should be killer. that seems like a decent kit too.

 

zabeard, could you post up some pics or a link to a thread with pics of your truck before and after?

 

yeah i can do some before and afters. i dont really have a thread for it, i like the truck but i love the ranger. so i really only post the ranger. :)

 

haha i would appreciate it! I cant choose between the two lifts, although im not getting wheels right away so its prob. going to end up being the rancho kit.

Another question, your f150 is your dd correct? Do you mind the nitto's? i LOVE the look of them lol, but i have heard them and they are SOO dam loud, but is it that bad inside the cab? Thanks!

 

first day


wheels and air bags


325/60/18s, air bags, leveling kit


35s, 18" wheels, 4" Rancho done that night.


The next day



Little bit of dirt

 

they are pretty loud. i mean it doesnt bug me that much but i sometimes wish i had an all terain tire because i really have no need for these. I drive too many miles and i will just wear these down to nothing with little to no wheeling on them. great tire though.

somewhere in the video i roll the window up and you can hear the pitch change.