Just starting off

[Doctor]

So i have had my 03 XLT for close to a year now and have yet to do anything with it. I found this site and saw how much better my XLT could look with some work.

So im asking for your guys help starting off. To begin with i want to give it a 3" lift and was wondering if theres a kit you guys would recommend I look into. After that id like to put the largest sized tires that fit with the 3" lift(for off roading, and because i love big vehicles).

Also looking into a black billet grill from here http://www.mytightride.com/foex20bigr1.html unless someone knows of a place with better pricing, but I have found black to be sort of hard to find.

 

[thepotroast]

You have a couple of options to lift your 2003. A 3" body lift (Performance Accessories PA-883) which is made for a 98-00 Ranger, but there is a writeup here about how to make it work on 3rd gen explorers:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219234

Or you could go with some roadbully spacers which is an actual suspension lift. RoadBully is a member here, and has his own website. Quite a few members here use his products with much success. Here's a thread about his spacers, and also his website. He custom makes each set to your spec...

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=223741

http://www.roadbully-offroad.com

As far as tires, you could go with some 33's (or 285/75's) with a 3" lift. Plenty of pics around here of folks running these tires on lifts, to give you an idea.

 

[Doctor]

I went through the first couple pages of that thread.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=223741&page=3

Post 49 looks like what id want to go with. Idk what size tires hes using, but hes got 3" lift up front and 1.75" in back. I like the lower in the back look, but for offroading purposes it would be best to go 3" all around correct?

 

[macknos94]

roadbully recommends 2.5 in the fron max but a bunch of people on here are running 3 inch front and 2.5 rear

 

[Doctor]

I'd like to know RoadBully's specs, after looking at his site and seeing his explorer, thats exactly what im looking for, except he has an 02 XLS and i have an 03 XLT. Hes got the lift height that looks right, and the tire size that looks right.

 

[thepotroast]

I'd like to know RoadBully's specs, after looking at his site and seeing his explorer, thats exactly what im looking for, except he has an 02 XLS and i have an 03 XLT. Hes got the lift height that looks right, and the tire size that looks right.

Depends on which pics of his you're looking at....he has some pics of his truck with only the 3" body lift on it on 285/75/16's and then he has some pics of the 3" body lift and the 3" suspension lift on the same size tires.

02 XLS and 03 XLT has no difference in the way your truck would look, versus his. Same suspension and parts.

 

[thepotroast]

I went through the first couple pages of that thread.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=223741&page=3

Post 49 looks like what id want to go with. Idk what size tires hes using, but hes got 3" lift up front and 1.75" in back. I like the lower in the back look, but for offroading purposes it would be best to go 3" all around correct?

The tires he has are 265/75 Mud Kings. As mentioned above, if you go with a spacer kit, RoadBully only offers UP TO a 2.5" spacer for the front now...no more 3" spacers in front. Of course he can custom make any size in that range that you would like....I have 2.25" front and 1.75" rears for instance....but with a 3" body lift.

 

[Doctor]

Im talking about this picture

 

[macknos94]

thats the 3 inch body lift with the "3"? inch spring lift that really isn't 3 inches

 

[Limited02]

I believe that he has a 3" body lift with his 3" FR and 2.5" RR lift strut spacers. I also think the tires are 285/75/16's?

 

[Cozmik]

thats the 3 inch body lift with the "3"? inch spring lift that really isn't 3 inches

That is correct.

I believe that he has a 3" body lift with his 3" FR and 2.5" RR lift strut spacers. I also think the tires are 285/75/16's?

He is not yet running his spacers. He purchased lift springs for his truck before he designed and started making spacers. His front springs are the reason he came up with the spacers, they sag and don't give a true 3".

He will be pulling those springs and moving to his own spacers as soon as time permits.

 

[Limited02]

Thanks for the clear up Cozmik

 

[Cozmik]

Thanks for the clear up Cozmik

No prob. Glad I could help.