Ok I recently purchased a 1996 Ranger and first I was looking at getting a skyjacker lift for it, but I have been talking to a few local 4x4 people and one of them said my best option for a trail rig would be to go with an SAS conversion. He said that the skyjacker lift is the best you can get, but it has its flaws and going with an SAS is a lot cheaper and will give me better performance.

So can anyone comment as to what the pros and cons are of both of these?

Thanks

Kyle

 

TTB sucks. Constant camber changes off-road. Weak IFS drop down brackets with a lift kit. hardly no articulation....

SAS is the best way to go for off-road performance. SAS are rediculously easy on TTB trucks. All you gotta do is get an EB d44 and it's already set up for coils and radius arms. Radius arms and coils with flex pretty damn good. Just make sure you do all your research before you start. If ya got any specific questions go ahead and ask, I am in the middle of a SAS...

 

I think 034x4 is right a SAS on a TTB truck has got to be easy at least easier then on a T-bar truck.

The skyjacker kit is probally the best for the semi-average guy most anyone should be able to do it in his/her driveway/garage.

The SAS is the best for performance. Food for thought Jeeps are thought by some/most to be the best off road vehicals around, they have solid front axels.

 

they make bolt on SAS or very close to bolt on SAS kits for 93-96 rangers.

www.setstr8.com

 

I hate them....j/k dam that really sucks that wont work on a T-bar truck makes me want to go buy a TTB truck. come to think of it my bro's truck is TTB its a 94, if it was an extended cab that would be so cool.

 

do the sas.

 

i know what you mean. i wish they would make something for the IFS torsion bar ranger. they make a 97-03 f150 IFS kit, i think they are just slacking on there part.

 

My truck before the SAS would run all over a stock jeep. Pis is here for the decal on my tailgate...

 

they have a bolt up SAS for a T-bar F-150 *faints*........



those bastards.....j/k man I hope they make one for us rangers

 

Why I ask is a local shop is developing a bolt on SAS kit and they need a test truck. There is a good chance they will use mine.

From the sound of it some people would like to have a bolt on kit that replaces the IFS, but they aren't touching my L2

 

i would let them use mine, as long as im not paying for parts

 

You are a little too far away.

 

They are making a kit for SLA or for TTB...If for SLA let them use your Lvl2. They do all the fab and installs, so if you ever have ANY problems...they are the ones liable. Not you if you do it yourself. I'd be interested in how they do the steering set-up because you obviously can't use a rack with a solid axle.

 

They are making one for the TTB, its just that the people that posted on here have ifs, and it sounds like no one makes a bolt on SAS kit for an IFS.

 

TTB lifts are easy to install and work alright. coming from fullsize TTB land i can speak on this subject.

TTB has a scisors (sp) action up front and thats why the constant camber changes happen. also toe likes to change. making sure the front end is nice n tight will help.

BDS, not sure if them make lifts for little TTBs, is the best out there. its not that the TTB doesnt flex or have wheel travel but stock it sucks. short shocks and sway bars get in the way. unlike a t-bar front the TTB has wheel travel, just need to know to get it. i flex mine pretty well. but ya, im not gunna get into a pissing match with TTB of SAS.

if the shop is going to make a SAS kit for a TTB truck then go for it. it is VERY easy to do...id have one on mine if i had the room for the axle.

 

It's impossible to have a bolt on kit for SLA rangers, hell you have to cut off the front crossmember just to fit the axle under there.

 

WHAT??? Most people who say that have no idea how the TTB works. A lot of flex can be achieved from the TTB, but there is going to be money involved. Skyjacker is a great kit, and it actually helps with flex unlike IFS truck suspension lifts. The only limiting factor with the TTB is the raduis arm (can get or build extended radius arms, add a great deal of flex) and the shock, which I would wait until you get a lift on there before buying shocks, so you can cycle the suspension and see where the usable suspension travel is with your terrain. If it is nothing but mud, i.e. no rocks, washouts, ruts, just big mud holes and puddles, then shocks dont really matter.

SAS is also a great option, but I would wait and get a lift on there to begin with then go from there. you may determine that a lift will work great for what you are doing, and a SFA is uneeded.

034x4, have you seen TTB drop brackets? Especially the axle brackets? They are beefy. Skyjacker is some of the beefiest on the market.

Harry Tasker, you may want to check out www.therangerstation.com and look around there. Check out the tech pages and see what you think. No one can really make the decision but you. Just know, SAS requires lots of suspension angle and steering angle knowledge, fabrication, and lots of money. Or you can have someone else do it for a ton of money.

 

First off, TTB sucks it has no flex. And if you don't know Flex does not = suspention travel. You can get alot of TRAVEL out of ttb but no FLEX. My old truck was a 93 f-150 with ttb and i lifted it 6". I've seen the damn drop down brackets and radius arms bla bla It does not flex. I has travel. if you are serious about off-roading in a "trail rig" putting any money into ttb is a WASTE. If you are still in denial go to www.pirate4x4.com and search for "ttb*" and read all the threads about how much nuts ttb sucks.

BTW: i'm not most people. i know how ttb works and i know why it sucks.

 

ONe reason people on POR ditch the TTB is because they are into rock crawling, requiring large tires and INSANE wheel travel. The biggest TTB you can get is a D50 (rather hard to find) and there is little aftermarket support, most rock crawlers use D60s with upgraded shafts or bigger, lots run rockwells.

Please explain to me how wheel travel is different from flex. Thats a new one on me.

 

I figured it would be a new one. Really D60's and rockwells what are those omg!?!?!? :rollseyes:

Travel is the distance the suspension can move within its limits up and down. Flex or articulation is the distance in wheel travel that the wheel on each side of the axle can move in relation to the other. Put a coil sprung ttb on an RTI ramp and then put a coiled SFA on an RTI ramp. Thats articulation (flex).

 

No need for sarcasm, there are different setups that fit different people. Maybe Harry Tasker doesnt want to do hardcore rock crawling, so why should he fork out however much for a SAS when a Skyjacker 4 or 6 inch will fit him fine.

Flex and wheel travel, when a vehicle is on the ground is the same thing. Put one tire on a RTI ramp that will show both wheel travel and flex. I do see what you are saying about wheel travel and flex being different. Did you ever drive that Effie without swaybars? What about put some extended arms on it? That increases flex *and wheel travel*.

http://www.therangerstation.com/foru...1120707999.jpg
This is a B2 owned by a fellow on TRS, who has 22 inches of usable wheel travel, but no flex This is one of the flexiest TTBs Ive seen. I dont know if you can tell, but it is TTB, has extended radius arms, XJ coils, for a total of 3-4 inches of lift.

RBVs could be flexier if they came with softer springs (hence the XJ coils on the B2) but they are stiff. There are better vehicles for flex and off roading, but RBVs are so nimble that they work well.

Just because you had a lift doesnt mean ****. you have to work with the TTB to get results.

Back to the task at hand, advice for Harry. I, personally, would start with a lift kit. see how that works and where improvement is needed, then start modifying the system. If it comes to a point where the TTB cant perform for you, then that is a good time for the SAS. However, you are the one that can make that decision. Remember, lift kits can be removed and sold if you decide to go to a SFA, but jumping straight to SFA cant be returned to easily. I wouldnt jump straight into it, it is a lot of money and time required, as well as knowledge. But, if you do decide to go with a SFA, can I recomend a 4 link with some flexy coils?

EDIT: changed picture to link.

 

soft coils with extended arms and long shocks will give plenty of wheel travel. but the TTB can flex pretty good as well. but im not going to enter into thos arguement, as it seems continuing with this is gunna end in a draw because some people insist they are right no matter what.

 

Seeing as how the shop that will be doing the SAS for me will only be charging me cost parts plus 20%, which should only be around 300 bucks I think I will go for the SAS. Oregon doesn't have too uch high speed desert off road places, it is mainly rought trails with watermelon sized rocks.

 

Thank you. rocks = sas. Keep us posted on how it comes and what all parts they use.

 

I will do the best that I can to keep you all updated. From what we have talked about we are looking to run 33x12.5, a dana 44 in the front, I didn't want this thing jacked into the sky I want it to be mainly functional than form.

This is what I want the ranger to be able to handle.

trail ride photo gallery