I have a few basic and should be easy questions to answer before I put together a lift for my gf's 99 for ranger 4x4. The truck right now is mostly driven back-and-forth to work about 30 miles a day and averages 16/17MPG. I've read and re read quite a few posts including the sticky about lifts tire size and such just want I make sure I have my ducks in a row before I go off ordering parts. I've decided since the lift will be mostly for cosmetic purposes to go with a 3" body lift. It seems like a 3" body lift will allow clearance of 33" tires on stock rims with out any rubbing issues am I safe to think this? Next thing I want it make sure I have right is the fact that any body lift made for a truck 98+ should work on my truck? As I will start looking in the classifieds before I go buy new, I would like to make sure I know of any compatibility issues. Last but not least I'm worried that if I do go with a 3"/33" set up that it will dramatically decrease my mpg. When I had my jeep comanche on 33's with a 4.0 I6 and 4:10 gearing I was getting 10mpg. Right now with my stock size tires 3.0 v6 and 4:10 gearing I'm averaging 16-17mpg. Will I have to stick with a 31" tire to stay around the 14/15mpg mark? Or will 33" tires work? Thanks again for any and all advice you can give me. With any luck I will have it all put on the weekend before her birthday on the 17th of November.

 

You'll definitely lose significant MPG on a 3.0 with 33's and not increasing your gearing. You may actually be able to combat this by not using OD, but I haven't tested that theory. I did notice when I had my 31's that I could increase my average MPG by turning off the OD when I wasn't going over 60. That 16-17 MPG is low, even for a 3.0. I typically get 18-19 out of mine, and it's very high mileage. If you're already a couple MPG lower, you may end up around 12-13 range with 33's.

 

Yeah I Definitely don't want a daily driver getting 10mpg, I've been though that before not oingn it again. Only real reason I'm lifting the truck is so my gf can say she drives a lifted truck. And yeah the mpg she gets is a bit lower then I had hopped but assumed she Wasent driving it all that nicely, the truck also has 170k miles so I'm sure it's getting a bit worn out. We'll it's nice to know I can run 33's if I want but don't think I will.

Brandon

 

You should be getting better mpg than that. Have you done all the maintenance? New plugs/ filters could resolve the mpg issue

 

I'm a 4.0, but I can get 17-18 mpg highway no problem with my lift and 33's with 4.10 gears.

Combined city/highway I average 15-16


Now the 3.0 will be different less power so it will use more fuel getting up to speed and around town.

 

Yes have kept up with mainteance since I got it about a year ago. Have gotten about the same mpg since I got it. Now this is mostly city driving under 60mph. I'm unsure of how it does on the high way just assumed the mpg had to do with it being a 4door extended cab with a car motor in it. Her ford exsplor got about 15-16 with the 4.0 and that was an 05 with 80k miles. Also I put 10-14k miles on it in this last year of owning it.

 

Ok one more question, what ably my tow hooks up front and my Reese hitch in the back with a body lift does this affect them at all? I'm assuming it does

 

Yes it will effect them.

The tow hooks will need to be either removed, or modified, or trim the bumper valance.

The hitch will simply sit 3" lower than the bumper. Only issue with that is cosmetic. It will function the same.

 

Thanks since you said that I've been looking into it, looks like there really is no good way to cut the bumper to fit the hooks. I guess I'll just order a from receiver hitch. This is becomjng more and more of an exspencive project lol glad I decided to look into it before I just ordered a lift and got pissed. Thanks again for all of the help!

 

Front receiver will be more useful anyways!

When I did mine I just hacked up my bumper lol. Its not a show truck. Doesn't have to be the prettiest. Just has to work.