I know, I know use search... TT offroad

[phoenix85020]

So I just purchased a 2001 awd ex. I am coming from a obs suburban that I had for several years and ran in the desert fairly stock. Since the explorers are on the torsion bar system like suburban's I know I can just crank the bars for lift. I also know that on the suburban's anything over like half an inch made the ride terrible. Is this the case for our explorers as well and people just suck up the crappy ride since proper lifts are not as common? I am by no means looking for anything extreme, I just want a half decent ride off-road for camping etc in the desert.

 

[MrQ]

You can get about 1.75" without too much stress on the CV shafts anything over and you are just asking for a "bang". Ride sucks though. An inch shouldn't make it too bad, but at this age most of the torsion bars have gone soft and that would probably be the most you can get out of them anyway.

I would up having to throw in sport trac torsion bars and 3" keys to maintain my lift after the 5.0 swap.

Proper lifts are out there, but they really only drop the crossmember down, negating the only good reason for a suspension lift... clearance. Body lifts are another option, there are 2" and 3" options out there if you don't want to mess with the suspension and just throw bigger tires on there to get the clearance.

Or you can run a combo of both. I run the 1.75" TT plus 1.5" shackles, and a 1" body lift.

 

[phoenix85020]

Ah yes, the body lift. I have kind of always avoided those, although I am seeing that is pretty common on here. May just be that the groups I was in all avoided body lifts. I agree that a cross member lift is not worth the money for the amount of added clearance. Maybe I'll just crank an inch or so up front and see how it rides and go from there.

 

[MrQ]

A lot of stigma against body lifts, but I have never seen an issue with one...well, unless Joe bubba did it with his redneck "enjuneering".

 

[phoenix85020]

A lot of stigma against body lifts, but I have never seen an issue with one...well, unless Joe bubba did it with his redneck "enjuneering".

I mostly do not like they way they look, but I think maybe a 1 inch will do the trick for me.

 

[MrQ]

I mostly do not like they way they look, but I think maybe a 1 inch will do the trick for me.

You are going to have to make your own for a 1". Performance Accessories discontinued the 1" for Explorers/Rangers some time ago.

 

[phoenix85020]

ha. ok well 2 inch it is. Thanks for the info