Superlift or Rancho 4" lift
10-22-2006, 11:08 PM
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Superlift or Rancho 4" lift
Looking to get a 4/4.5" lift and narrowed it down between Superlift and Rancho. Just wanting some input if theres any difference other than price between the two?
I know the Superlift kit comes with shocks, so a reason for the price variance, but just wondering if either is better than the other.
TIA
I know the Superlift kit comes with shocks, so a reason for the price variance, but just wondering if either is better than the other.
TIA
10-23-2006, 08:20 AM
#2
I am looking into doing this as well, have done a lot of reading and talking with people that know about this type of thing on what to do and not to do, and I still haven't reached a conclusion. 
I maybe wrong, but from what I have read (Zero real world experience here) the Rancho might not be the better of the two. I have found that overall most people like the Skyjacker kit, as far as an off the shelf kit goes. Have you looked into Skyjacker yet? That is the way that I am looking, but it is still up in the air. A friend has a 6" superlift, and it uses blocks to raise the rear end, and I assume it is the same on the 4.5" kit. For our trucks it seems to be better to use all new srprings for the lift. Just my .02, from a newbie who is trying top learn all he can...
I maybe wrong, but from what I have read (Zero real world experience here) the Rancho might not be the better of the two. I have found that overall most people like the Skyjacker kit, as far as an off the shelf kit goes. Have you looked into Skyjacker yet? That is the way that I am looking, but it is still up in the air. A friend has a 6" superlift, and it uses blocks to raise the rear end, and I assume it is the same on the 4.5" kit. For our trucks it seems to be better to use all new srprings for the lift. Just my .02, from a newbie who is trying top learn all he can...
10-23-2006, 02:33 PM
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10-23-2006, 02:34 PM
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10-23-2006, 03:47 PM
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Ive never heard the Superlift w/ Bilstiens ever refered to as crap before. Maybe its because your a newbie here.....
I researched it a long time and and decided to go with the Superlift because I know most lifts are basically the same with the exception being the shocks. I know that Bilstiens are good quality shocks when compared to the cheepo basic shocks that come with the base kits. I also decided to get a external remote resivoir shock tower from Top Gun Customz for $119 and a set of remote resivoir Fox Shox for a TDR vendor for really cheap.
I got my 4.5" superlift w/ Bilstiens for under $1,100.
I've ridden it alot of lifted trucks and this is a great setup for someone that want's a affordable quality lift that ride's great.
I have not ridden in a BDS suspension but I'm guessing its another nice quality off the shelf bolt on lift but im not a jacka$$ and going to call it junk. The long arm's seem to be a good idea if youre trying to stuff the biggest tire under your truck with a off the shelf bolt on kit like nfsommer. The thing about long arms are they work great off road but they will produce greater body roll and not ride as well at freeway speeds due to it having more flex. I would of built a custom lift myself with custom arms and links like the other guys if I had to run large rubber. Like I said before its all in the shocks.
Since I wanted more then 2.5" of lift all of the fancy $4,000-$10,000 racing suspensions offer thoes were out. That and I dont need racing suspension or have that kind of $$$ to spend on a lift
Here's a pic of my "crappy" lift
I researched it a long time and and decided to go with the Superlift because I know most lifts are basically the same with the exception being the shocks. I know that Bilstiens are good quality shocks when compared to the cheepo basic shocks that come with the base kits. I also decided to get a external remote resivoir shock tower from Top Gun Customz for $119 and a set of remote resivoir Fox Shox for a TDR vendor for really cheap.
I got my 4.5" superlift w/ Bilstiens for under $1,100.
I've ridden it alot of lifted trucks and this is a great setup for someone that want's a affordable quality lift that ride's great.
I have not ridden in a BDS suspension but I'm guessing its another nice quality off the shelf bolt on lift but im not a jacka$$ and going to call it junk. The long arm's seem to be a good idea if youre trying to stuff the biggest tire under your truck with a off the shelf bolt on kit like nfsommer. The thing about long arms are they work great off road but they will produce greater body roll and not ride as well at freeway speeds due to it having more flex. I would of built a custom lift myself with custom arms and links like the other guys if I had to run large rubber. Like I said before its all in the shocks.
Since I wanted more then 2.5" of lift all of the fancy $4,000-$10,000 racing suspensions offer thoes were out. That and I dont need racing suspension or have that kind of $$$ to spend on a lift
Here's a pic of my "crappy" lift
10-23-2006, 04:08 PM
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Sweet Rig BD! You are lucky to be with us after your wreck. Don't know much about lifts, but I have to agree that the quality of shocks play a big role in ride, just depends on what you are using it for.
10-23-2006, 05:05 PM
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Ive never heard the Superlift w/ Bilstiens ever refered to as crap before. Maybe its because your a newbie here.....
I've ridden it alot of lifted trucks and this is a great setup for someone that want's a affordable quality lift that ride's great.
The thing about long arms are they work great off road but they will produce greater body roll and not ride as well at freeway speeds due to it having more flex. I would of built a custom lift myself with custom arms and links like the other guys if I had to run large rubber. Like I said before its all in the shocks.
I've ridden it alot of lifted trucks and this is a great setup for someone that want's a affordable quality lift that ride's great.
The thing about long arms are they work great off road but they will produce greater body roll and not ride as well at freeway speeds due to it having more flex. I would of built a custom lift myself with custom arms and links like the other guys if I had to run large rubber. Like I said before its all in the shocks.
And as far as long arms causing greater body roll and poor ride quality, try again.
There's WAY more to building a suspension that performs adequately than just shocks.....
10-23-2006, 06:12 PM
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Any reason beyond blindly following BDS?
Like I said also, BDS doesnt offer a 4"/4.5" lift, I dont want a 6" lift due to the added problems going higher, and I wont be running a tire large enough to need a 6" lift so its basically wasted additional height....
All you are saying is ride in a BDS truck, BDS this/that, I dont know anyone with a BDS setup, good or bad that doesnt mean its common enough to check out...
Like I said also, BDS doesnt offer a 4"/4.5" lift, I dont want a 6" lift due to the added problems going higher, and I wont be running a tire large enough to need a 6" lift so its basically wasted additional height....
All you are saying is ride in a BDS truck, BDS this/that, I dont know anyone with a BDS setup, good or bad that doesnt mean its common enough to check out...
10-23-2006, 08:29 PM
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I'm not blindly following anybody, it's just been my experience that BDS makes one of the best "off the shelf" kits for Dodge trucks. Quality fabrication, good spring rates and the least problems down the road.
My personal preference is something custom. If you're inclined to do so, you can put together something that's way better than anything available off the shelf for about the same money. DT, Thuren or Carli arms, CSS coils, Carli mini packs and Bilstiens, Thuren track bar and Carli sway bar links and it'll outlast and out-perform any "boxed" kit guaranteed. The whole set up will cost you about $1800, and if you decide later to step up to a better shock, all you'll have to buy is shocks and towers.
My personal preference is something custom. If you're inclined to do so, you can put together something that's way better than anything available off the shelf for about the same money. DT, Thuren or Carli arms, CSS coils, Carli mini packs and Bilstiens, Thuren track bar and Carli sway bar links and it'll outlast and out-perform any "boxed" kit guaranteed. The whole set up will cost you about $1800, and if you decide later to step up to a better shock, all you'll have to buy is shocks and towers.
10-23-2006, 08:41 PM
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I would definitely go with a custom setup like what Cowhand is talking about. You will get the top of the line stuff and it really doesn't cost that much more.
However, I would say the best off the shelf kit is the BDS setup with new rear leaf springs. Blocks are a bad idea with any lift on a diesel, stay away from them. BDS produces some pretty good stuff and the long lower arm is beneficial. It's basically a copy of the 2nd gen Skyjacker 7 inch system, which is a great lift kit. I'm running the Skyjacker 4.5 inch setup with rear leafs and it's alright, nothing has failed me yet, but the ride sucks and the arms are not long enough. In the end, I will end up using the Skyjacker springs front and rear and the Skyjacker track bar drop bracket, the rest will be pieced together.
I would get ahold of Don Thuren and tell him what you want, he can put everything together for you and the price isn't too bad. Make sure you get some good shocks, the $30 shocks that come with most box kits are pretty lame. Bilsteins are good, or if you can find the money, run some custom valved King 2.5's for the ultimate in shock technology.
However, I would say the best off the shelf kit is the BDS setup with new rear leaf springs. Blocks are a bad idea with any lift on a diesel, stay away from them. BDS produces some pretty good stuff and the long lower arm is beneficial. It's basically a copy of the 2nd gen Skyjacker 7 inch system, which is a great lift kit. I'm running the Skyjacker 4.5 inch setup with rear leafs and it's alright, nothing has failed me yet, but the ride sucks and the arms are not long enough. In the end, I will end up using the Skyjacker springs front and rear and the Skyjacker track bar drop bracket, the rest will be pieced together.
I would get ahold of Don Thuren and tell him what you want, he can put everything together for you and the price isn't too bad. Make sure you get some good shocks, the $30 shocks that come with most box kits are pretty lame. Bilsteins are good, or if you can find the money, run some custom valved King 2.5's for the ultimate in shock technology.