So what's best?

Doetsch 6/3" lift or the Fabtech 5.5" kit?

I'm asking because I'm debating over these two... And need people's opinions...

 

Are you a pavement pounder, or a dirt devil?? The fabtech is great kit for the street. I've read and seen pictures of poor quality & breakage when you push the limits. CAMBURG!!!

 

The only reason you see Fabtech breaking is because its ore widley used thus creating more chances of someone to break them. In my opinion I would much rather have fabtech then doetsch. Plus lift your truck level, don't have it sagging 3''.

 

fabtech is the better kit... n3elz broke one of his doetsch spindles about a year ago

 

Fabtech........they have a great reputation...

 

I'm gonna go with Doetsch because It's cheaper and being i'm a college kid on limited budget, I'll get the most for my money with this kit. Plus, I haven't heard too many bad things about them . Most people love them that do. I don't plan on doin any hardcore wheelin or jumping my truck in the near future and when I do i'll need different suspension, probably i-beam or extended a-arms... Thanks guys.

 

Well thanks for asking..??

 

I was looking for opinions on what people think. That's why I asked. The Doetsch lift is on it's way. Hell ya.

 

I have the same Dilemma Doestch or Fabtech? I have been saving money for almost 2 years now and have $1200. I can't afford the lift, wheels and tires all at the same time. Can you use your stock wheels with the Doestch kit? Post some pics of the kit? Are you going to install the kit yourself? If so let me know if it was hard to install?

 

you guys could try sporttrucksuspension.com they got some really good deals, and i've heard nothing but good things about their lifts, gonna get mine from there, but i also agree with yellow rhino fabtech is very widely used, its pretty good price and it last... Camburg, unless your a dirt devil or a desert rat you don't need Camburg, very expensive

 

Ya, that's true. I found the fabtech kit yesterday at jusnesmodified.com but now it's not there anymore. They must have taken it off temporarily. It was going for $950 and it was free shipping. Best deal I've found yet for the 98-00 2wd 5.5" Ultimate kit.

Florida, I'm installing the lift myself with the help of some friend tomorrow morning. I'll definitely post pics of the before and after and let you know of any problems that come up and their solutions. Also let you know how hard it was to install. Wish me luck!

 

I think sporttrucksuspension sells Doestch stuff.

 

Got the Doetsch lift on friday morning and installed it on saturday and finished it in one day. I love the lift. Can't wait to take it to have the alignment done and then to les schwabb to have the 33's mounted on my rim!

Problems with the lift:
Didn't come with Lower ball joints
Upper ball joints aren't pressed in the UCA
I recommend new tie rod ends
Lost some turning radius
Doesn't come with good instructions

Tools you'll need:
2 or more hydraulic jacks (2.25 ton)
pickle fork wedge
metric and standard sockets
hammers
Impact gun (electric or air)
air ratchet

Good thing with rangers, the brake lines don't need to be extended. They fit perfectly. Also the rear driveline doesn't need to be extended no steep angle and it drive perfect. The only thing with this lift is it rides rough as hell. But it's up there. Looks amazing too. I'll post pics tomorrow when I get to my other computer. I love it so far!

 

Shoulda got fabtech... just dont jump anything.

 

Well here's the pics you all wanted!

Before:


After with 30's and 33's in the bed:


With 33's mounted:


After 33's mounted and washed:



I'm pleased with the kit, but the alignment is a ***** and causing me to miss class and sh*t. The spindles weren't hard as long as you have two hydraulic jacks and some people to push down on the truck to seat the ball joint into the spindle. MAKE SURE YOU CLAMP THAT SPINDLE WHERE IT CUT AT THE TOP; THE SIDES HAVE TO TOUCH EACH OTHER! I didn't get them all the way and had to go get new bolts and possibly risk the chance of messing up my ball joints. You can use a spring compressor but if you have a few jacks and some people, it might save you some time. Hope this helps anyone doing this in the future!

 

looks good, thats what my truck is going to look like this summer. I'm adding the upper arms and coils on.

So your saying you didn't need extended brake lines? What do you have in the rear for lift, just blocks?

 

I didn't have to extend the brake lines, no. It just bolted right on after I installed everything and I still have some slack in the line in case I decide to jump it one day lol.

For the rear I did 2" blocks and 2" AAL's. It sits just a bit higher in the front so what I might do is sell the 2" blocks and buy 3" blocks to make it sit level. Hope this helps!

 

I noticed we have roughly the same truck minus the color haha. How well does the 2.5 handle the lift and the bigger tires? Hows the acceleration on it currently?

Im asking cause id like to lift my 2.5 4 banger but have been holding off, not sure how well it will handle it.

What kind of gears do you have it it right now? Hows the ride too btw?

haha, sorry for the flood of questions there. Looks great man! Keep us posted.

 

Well the 2.5 doesn't do too bad actually. I was surprised. I noticed a bit less acceleration from the lift and tires, but having an aluminum rim helps out a ton!

As for the gears, I used to think I had 3.73's because that's what I was told by a bunch of people but after reviewing the axle code on the inside of my driver's side door, found out I have 4.10 gears. So the 4.10's handle the tires just fine.

Now as for the ride, well, it's like driving a tank. Don't put this lift on if you're going for ride quality. I love it, brings be back to my old high school days with my buddies and their SAS trucks. The guy at LS when they put the tires on said it drove like a tank and that pretty much described it! I love it though, looks bad *** going down the road. It definitely turns heads more than I thought!

Let me know if I can help out some more!

 

Hmm I think I have 3.73s but what exactly was your code that told you that you had 4.10s?

So the thing drives like a tank? So in simple terms really stiff? like it hurts to hit a bump style ride? Could your current shocks be factor to this possibly?

 

The shocks don't play into that. They were the shocks that came with the kit. I don't mind the ride at all. I feel the bumps all the time, but it's not enough to make me get pissed of or anything.

As for the gearing. There's a code inside the drivers side door that says axle, and under that is a code. Write that code down and take it to www.rangerstation.com and go to the tech library and then axle codes. Mine read 87 and according to that site, it's a 7.5" Open with 4.10 gears.

 

Ah, we have the same exact axle. I was hoping for 4.10s and an 8.8 but ill settle for the 7.5.

Not sure if its been long enough but what kind of gas mileage are you getting after the lift and the tires?

 

Well I haven't been able to drive it. Something f*cked up with the spindles so Doetsch sent new ones and I'm having it fixed on Tuesday at a 4WD shop near home. I'll let you know. I'll fill up before I leave and come home. I used to go about 100mi on 1/4 at about 70-75mph all freeway driving on those miles. Changed in town of course.

 

Any updates Trevor? Did the 4wd shop fix it for ya?

 

Ya, it was a hefty $315 for them to do it... What they "said" was the problem was 1) the hole for the ball joint on the spindle was machined too big (I think he's full of ****, just didn't wanna admit I did it right to begin with) and 2) I needed to press the spindle into UCA with the pressed ball joint with a press, which is bullsh*t because the way it's setup you don't need to press that spindle into the UCA. Oh well, it's done and on the road now! Now I get to go home this weekend and get er and put the new clear corners and billet grille in! I'll let you all know how it drives now and the looks it's going to get lol