Suspension Tech General discussion of suspension for the Ford Ranger.

Is SAS the only way?

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Old 06-03-2009
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Is SAS the only way?

Ive seen a couple people on here convert their 2wd to 4x4, but all of them have the edge model with torsions. I on the other hand have coils. Is an SAS the only way for me to get 4x4 on my truck? Or is there some way to convert it to stock 4x4?
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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psssh, i would sas it... im going to assume if you want 4x4 your probably going to want to go off road... and if you really want to enjoy the work you put into your truck... sas it man! i have 4x4 and im going to torch out the front end one of these days...
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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Thats the thing though. I want 4x4, but i dont want a rock crawler. I only want 3" of lift at the max for my truck. Im going for the prerunner look. But I want the 4x4 for when I deside to go muddin. 2wd + Deep mud = Epic Fail, lol
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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2wd + Rear Locker = Not so epic fail in mud

or

2wd + Rear Locker = 4x4 with open diffs
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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^^not when you get stuck like i did, lol. When I get stuck, i get stuck. I had the whole rear axle buried and it took 4 tow trucks to pull my *** out! But the front tires weren't even sunk in at all.
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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You could do a sas and not get much lift. Look at 99ranger4x4 he did not get much lift from his sas. Most of his lift is from the bl.
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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Mud wheeling isn't real wheeling.

Mud + nothing = fail. Therefore, Mud = fail.

I vote just lift it and a locker, and you're golden.
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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4wd will always do better than a 2wd anywhere except high speed desert running.

I think with coils you are stuck. Maybe sell the 2wd for a 4wd truck.
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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Originally Posted by Jimmeh
Mud wheeling isn't real wheeling.
Doesnt mean its not fun tho, lol
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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Originally Posted by fddriver02
4wd will always do better than a 2wd anywhere.

I think with coils you are stuck. Maybe sell the 2wd for a 4wd truck.
thought about that, but I dont have the truck in my name for another year or so.
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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Well as Jim said. Locker and a lift and you can go pretty far. Don't forget tires too.
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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i still havent head why you dont want to do a SAS? That would work great for "mudding"
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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If you want it just for mudding you would want to lift it high. You also need to remember that you need all the tools and skills to SAS a vehicle.

Edit: You also need the knowledge.
 

Last edited by TrucknGolf; 06-03-2009 at 09:14 PM.
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Old 06-03-2009
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Originally Posted by 08XLT4x4
i still havent head why you dont want to do a SAS? That would work great for "mudding"
cuz everyone I see with an SAS has their truck lifted high as hell. And i figured I couldnt keep a max of 3" with a SAS.
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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Originally Posted by robert99ranger
2wd + Rear Locker = 4x4 with open diffs
not quite...

its been done before without a swap. 05edge did an entire write up on it
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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Yeah. SAS isn't a weekend job. It takes tools, planning and skill. I wouldn't know where to begin. You could make your SAS so you only gain about 3". Just measure the travel of the axle and make sure nothing is in the way.
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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Originally Posted by offroadn_redneck
cuz everyone I see with an SAS has their truck lifted high as hell. And i figured I couldnt keep a max of 3" with a SAS.
all depends on what you want the truck to do... mud, I would say go as big as possible.

I dont see why you couldnt have a SFA and make it only 3" higher than stock, what size tires do you want?
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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I am 2wd and coilsprung and took my truck into some sweet mud. Im 7.5" 3.73 l/s
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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Alright, maybe I need to clarify. The point of this thread was to see what other options I have besides an SAS because I dont want to do one. I want to go for the prerunner look and I didnt say that I wanted to make a mudding truck. Just that when I do encounter mud or go mudding with some friends, im not the dumbass getting stuck all the time. And for the tire size question, I dont want to go any bigger than 31s.

this is what I would like my ranger to look like when Im done, minus the stickers and decals



 
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Old 06-03-2009
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Thats MUCH more than 3" of lift!!! lol
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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More like 6" or so if I had to guess
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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Originally Posted by robert99ranger
2wd + Rear Locker = Not so epic fail in mud

or

2wd + Rear Locker = 4x4 with open diffs
haha thats the funniest thing ive heard in a long time




anyway, looks at matt(99ranger4x4). im as tall as he is. if he didnt have that body lift he would be super tiny. lol. sas isnt the only way. if you put yur mind to it and want to do some good fab then put an diff in there and swap in the 4x4 upper and lower control arms. and even the spindles. then get some coilovers with rcd bracketry and bolt them in. and then youll need tcase with ds of course. it all depends on what extremes you want to go to to have 4x4.

i would go sas cuz you can still keep it kinda small and very doable. but for prerunner, ifs is the way to go fo sho
 

Last edited by shadow905; 06-03-2009 at 09:46 PM.
  #23  
Old 06-03-2009
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Originally Posted by offroadn_redneck
^^not when you get stuck like i did, lol. When I get stuck, i get stuck. I had the whole rear axle buried and it took 4 tow trucks to pull my *** out! But the front tires weren't even sunk in at all.
well i guess in that situation 4x4 wouldnt help you much unless you were already in 4x4. when i go i try to run in 4x2 until i really need it. that way i know i have atleast one other option lol. but yeah, you can sas without much lift. i say do it!
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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Here is a rule about offroading. If you stop moving forward then lay off of the gas. Don't sit there with the gas buried until you hit the frame. Try to rock it out a bit. If that doesn't work then sit and wait or warm up the winch if you have one.
 
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Old 06-03-2009
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i say lock it and lift it 3". a guy i go to school with has a 2wd 3"spindle lift shackles and stock 4x4 blocks. it looks like a 4x4 and does well in the mud.

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