Ok i'm going to first say what my plans are so far and what I wanna do with my vehicle then hopefully you can answer a couple of my questions based on this info. In about 2 months or maybe a little less i'm planning on sas on my ranger.

The axles i'm planning on running are dana 44 for front leaf sprung and dana 60 rear. I was thinking 4" long travel all pro leafs but not sure if thats the best option. I'm going to be running 37x14x15 tires, 5:13 gears, arb's front and rear, etc... It will be my DD but I'm not the type that rarely goes out and wheels it so it's not gonna be a street queen. What I do is snowy roads with deep snow on them, snow trails and in the summer I do forest type trails and maybe dunes every once in awhile. I probably go up to the snow about every weekend. I want the 37x14's to not look "stuffed" so i want plenty of clearance. Not saying I need rockcrawler clearance and flex but I want a pretty decent amount.

What would you suggest I do if I plan on running these axles as far as suspension/lift setup? Do I use a toyota IFS steering box? I really wanna do leafs since they are of course easier to do. I was looking at this truck and I think that would be close to the amount of lift I want and need but with some 37's on it instead of those 33's he has on it temporarily.
http://www.rangerpowersports.com/for...d.php?t=228985

Anything else you would like to talk about that I may not of asked about or discussed, please go ahead.

thanks

 

first is a 14" tire that prime for snow wheeling? seems narrower tire would work better.

yep you can run a yota box.

 

I think that depends on the snow, Zach. From what I've been reading, snow is a lot like mud in the sense that there are different kids. For some snow there's no substitute for flotation, while other conditions require digging to terra-firma.

The requirements of a tire for sand vs. snow can be very different, again depending on the depth and quality of snow.

For all that you've going to need a pretty broad compromise or run different sets of tires.

Some of the snow I've wheeled at Wharton would have been better with narrower tires, but even in that season, you can still break ice and end up in deep mud which wants a wider floatation tire because Wharton mud is "bottomless" -- that is, it's a result of an underground aquifer which makes the water go deep, deep, deep.

That's one of the things that skews tire discussions sometimes: we talk about "pure" wheeling environments when in reality many of us do such a mix there really is no single "best" tire I think.

Being the leaf spring bigot I've been accused rightly of being, lol -- I would suggest taking your time and doing front coils. Better ride when you do street it and long term I think you'd be happier. Many will disagree. What you will find is guys with leafs will defend them, and guys with coils will defend them. I've got coils in the front of my SAS in case you hadn't guessed, lol...

But coils are generally acknowledged as being a better choice up front for a DD offroad truck like mine. High arch front leaf springs are usually much harsher, but perhaps it doesn't matter to you -- it seems not to for some. I'm old though and like my comfort, lol!

 

Hey dude thats my truck you have there in that link.

I used Rancho 44044's for my front leafs and some Chevy 63" leafs with a 2" Shackle lift and a 2" Block for the rear.

I think 37's may be a bit to small for the truck haha it sits pretty tall. I havent really been able to get it on the street for a while, keep running into steering adjustments that need to be made but once i clear it all up this is my DD. All my info is in my sig on parts i used. for the most part at least. i used a D30 not a D44 so that will differ for you but not much.

I used the Yota IFS Steering Box, the steering shaft will need to be custom aswel as alot of other stuff.

 

So you plan on running over 37's on a d30? It's your life.

Once I get my **** back going its getting 4" all pros in the rear, and EB coils up front with a d44 and a 9" to run 36" IROKS. So I know how you feel.

 

yeah man, the truck will never see mud. i most likely wont have it in 4WD 95% of the time and i also have put in 4340 Chromoly Axle Shafts just in case. if i break em i have a 10 year warrenty no questions asked.

 

ok thanks a lot guys. yes for our type of snow that we usually get, the wider the better so thats why I need a wide tire.

 

I more question the unit bearings. A jeep non disco 30 I'd guess? My g/f's cherokee hates the 33's on it.

 

you forsure need a different steering shaft? I just haven't read that yet. I knew you needed a yota ifs steering box but didnt know bout needing a custom steering shaft?? what exactly do i need?

 

instead of our steering shaft going into the rack and pinion, you need to make one that goes into the yoda or F150 or w/e you use steering box.

i would say maybe the 5" springs and do high steer.
are you going to do a body lift?
willing to trim the fenders?

Remember, Kevin aka 2002fx4 has the 6" springs and no body lift he had to cut his fenders for 38s.

 

No the steering shaft is basically a hybrid, between yota and ranger...

I've seen jeeps with d30's and 38's and still not break ****... Just all how it's built... An axle is only as strong as it's weakest link ya know lol

 

its also as strong as your right foot and the line you take lol

i bet they guys on 38s were nice and careful
me... when in doubt, throttle out

 

I was wanting to keep it all suspension and no body lift... Yes I am willing to cut my fenders if needed. The sas doesn't have enough lift to not require cutting the fenders or body lift??

 

you may be able to get away w/ no cutting.. but you cant flex

on my truck a 35 fit in the wheel well and that was all that was going to fit, not even a 36...

i already have my rears cut. and i plan on being able to stuff 37s or 38s.. the fenders just aren't big enough

 

35's is as big as you're going to stuff into the ranger fenders...

If you wanna stuff you have to cut...

You won't need to though Cory... You should be fine... Run a 5 or 6in all pro leaf if you're concerned

 

yea
37s wont fit

 

its no biggie... i feel stupid, i didnt even think bout the wheelwells not bein even big enough to squeeze the tire inside. I thought it was so the tire could go further... uggghhh. lol yeah I'm willing to cut a couple inches no prob.

 

Dont let me offend you when I ask but are you planning on doing this yourself with no guidence or help from anyone else other than this thread ?

If so Ill save you thousands of dollars in therapy , dont try this till you get all your ducks in a row , Ive seen what i would consider experts on this board just want to trash there trucks after undertaking this . It is not a simple axle swap , its very complicated , might I add you need to be very good with welding and fabrication this is not a simple bolt on sorta thing ...

Once again not trying to insult you or take the wind out of your sails , just trying to prepare you for what eeveryone else has been sugar coating ...

 

Yah, Cory knows what he needs to do

For me, it's not going to be all that hard, I'm quite good at fab'ing **** so it's nothing new to me... Hopefully if he sells his banshee and trailer he'll be starting on it soon, in which case I'll be able to help him... Shane may also be of assistance as well as Austin!

 

lol no sugar coating here thats for sure. its taking me atleast twice to get it RIGHT. I spent way too much and way too long on it last year. I thought I had every part and it all planned out. HAHA

 

Your one of the people I was refering to Ive read your SAS project several times Zack , and from your post your what I would consider highly knowledgeable in the areas needed to do an SAS and like you said you had every thing lined out . Its all those little things that hang you up you know and I dont think is prepaired from what im reading do deal with this thats why I was curious to see if he was getting some help . If for nothing else so he doesnt get hurt during fab or worse from something that failed at highway speed ....

 

He is willing to cut the fenders on a 2007 ranger *whimpers* poor truck :-( Might I suggest just going fiberglass?

 

I said he should, he'd rather just run flares he said lol.. but if he's willing to cut, might as well go FG lol

 

you think I care if it's an 07 if i'm doing all of this other hacking?? lol hell if the hack job looks bad i guess I will go FG but I don't see the problem with cutting them. Plus FG costs more...

 

i would hate to be the one to nag,but pic's,where are better pic's foxy ford??