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Rancho Lift Feedback

MustangGirl666

MustangGirl666

Well-Known Member
Messages
291
Location
West Hartford CT
I know this has been covered before in the past before but we have few more people with them and some new members who have them also. I'm interested in purchasing one and wanted to hear input/feedback from those who have ran the Rancho lift on the H3. Pics are always nice too :wink:
 
JohnnySpikesH3

JohnnySpikesH3

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Location
Mississauga Ont canada
IMO "A" you and your Hub's have done a amazing job on your rig and his . Your rig is rock'in and i don't think you need it . If anything throw in a DayStar 1 inch body lift . That should satisfy any mod itch you have . Again just my opinion to save you cash .
 
MustangGirl666

MustangGirl666

Well-Known Member
Messages
291
Location
West Hartford CT
JohnnySpikesH3 said:
IMO "A" you and your Hub's have done a amazing job on your rig and his . Your rig is rock'in and i don't think you need it . If anything throw in a DayStar 1 inch body lift . That should satisfy any mod itch you have . Again just my opinion to save you cash .
Click to expand...
I already have a Daystar ordered and it will be here Wednesday. I had ordered it for clearance with the new wheels I have coming which have less back spacing.
 
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06 H3

06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,506
Location
Meridian, ID
Great kit for the front don't waste your time though with the rear springs they claim they fixed the problem but I call bull****. I got "improved springs" but still sagged. Get custom arched springs or go spring over for the best performance on and offroad a shop can do it if you guys don't want to
 
gfbh3t

gfbh3t

Well-Known Member
Messages
140
Location
Lockport, NY
GO FOR IT!! Forget about saving cash you own a HUMMER. Ride quality is so much better after you take some tension off those torsion bars. 100% satisfied with my Rancho lift.
 
A

atvspeed4

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,214
Location
massachusetts
If I could run stock wheels without spacers I would have already installed one. I have a 2006 H3 (yellow) on 35s with a daystar bodylift. I am limited on the trails I can run due to break over. If I had the rancho lift it would help a ton.
 
TAPDH3T

TAPDH3T

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,510
Location
Texarkana, Texas
My wife has recently approved my rancho life!!! December can't get here fast enough... Still trying to decide if I wanna do the body lift as well...
 
gfbh3t

gfbh3t

Well-Known Member
Messages
140
Location
Lockport, NY
No, been working in Seattle. Have new tires and rims to go on when I get home. My T would look good with some nice wide fender flares though, get rid of these wimpy E&G flares.
 
4speedfunk

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,250
Location
Tardville
Other than the cost, the need for aftermarket wheels, and the blocked steering rack bolt....its a great kit. Drives, handles, & brakes and offroads very well. Saggy springs will happen....Rancho or not. The rubber boot on the front driveshaft CV does not take too kindly to the Rancho lift, and you might want to consider a custom front shaft that can handle the increased angle.

You can fit 35" or 37" tires with the Rancho alone, so I don't see the point of a body lift. However, if you're into that...I don't see any problems running both. Gearing issues will far outweigh any tire rubbing you have anyway.
 
RamRod

RamRod

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,914
Location
AB, Canada
I have never had the OEM setup, but from my experience the Rancho setup rides great both on and off road!
 
TAPDH3T

TAPDH3T

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,510
Location
Texarkana, Texas
I'm curious if the alpha has enough power to pull 37's and the lift as a daily driver with light to moderate off roading... When the truck is paid for it will be strictly for off road and that's when I will make te major drive train upgrades... Hopefully I can catch up to reconh3 lol
 
MustangGirl666

MustangGirl666

Well-Known Member
Messages
291
Location
West Hartford CT
4speedfunk said:
Other than the cost, the need for aftermarket wheels, and the blocked steering rack bolt....its a great kit. Drives, handles, & brakes and offroads very well. Saggy springs will happen....Rancho or not. The rubber boot on the front driveshaft CV does not take too kindly to the Rancho lift, and you might want to consider a custom front shaft that can handle the increased angle.

You can fit 35" or 37" tires with the Rancho alone, so I don't see the point of a body lift. However, if you're into that...I don't see any problems running both. Gearing issues will far outweigh any tire rubbing you have anyway.
Click to expand...
I already have new wheels showing up today with the correct back spacing that will work with the Rancho lift.

The body lift was ordered to give some clearance under articulation with the new wheels with less back spacing and fender flares going on. I know I don't need both but it will get me by until when/if I get a Rancho.

I will be staying with 35's for now for obvious reasons.
 
06 H3

06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,506
Location
Meridian, ID
TAPDH3T said:
I'm curious if the alpha has enough power to pull 37's and the lift as a daily driver with light to moderate off roading... When the truck is paid for it will be strictly for off road and that's when I will make te major drive train upgrades... Hopefully I can catch up to reconh3 lol
Click to expand...

I think the alpha has the power to do it especially if tuned for 37s with the superchips programmer or regeared to 4.56 from its stock 4.10 gears but more stress is inevitable with the bigger tires.

but I want you to be reminded that the leafs will sag! Improved set or not they will sag. Their are many approaches into fixing it or band-aiding it with some easy bolt on fixes available I just dont want you to be disappointed when your rear is sitting like stock and your front is lifted. Some cheap easy bolt on fixes can be done and I will post about that if need be.
 
TAPDH3T

TAPDH3T

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,510
Location
Texarkana, Texas
06 H3 said:
I think the alpha has the power to do it especially if tuned for 37s with the superchips programmer or regeared to 4.56 from its stock 4.10 gears but more stress is inevitable with the bigger tires.

but I want you to be reminded that the leafs will sag! Improved set or not they will sag. Their are many approaches into fixing it or band-aiding it with some easy bolt on fixes available I just dont want you to be disappointed when your rear is sitting like stock and your front is lifted. Some cheap easy bolt on fixes can be done and I will post about that if need be.
Click to expand...

I am curious.. I do have the programmer and I am curious about the cost to re gear and the simple fixes.. I know as soon as its payed for the real upgrades begin... I can close my eyes and just see the potential of this BEAST!! (Sometimes a bandaid or duck Tape is all u need JK)
 
arkalpha

arkalpha

Well-Known Member
Messages
162
Location
arkansas
I've had my Rancho on for about a month. I can't believe how good it rides. I haven't been off road yet but for daily driving it is great. Also if your planning on doing it , you have picked a good time for it ,as Rancho is doing a rebate. The wheel spacers, I was not a fan of, but I went with the motor sport tech spacers and have had no issues. It tracks straight and no vibration. I am currently running 35s. The only down side is everyone who sees it tells me I need to slap a set of 37s on it now.

TAPADROID
 
TAPDH3T

TAPDH3T

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,510
Location
Texarkana, Texas
I've called rancho and they say the lift isn't made for the T.. However tonkatoys sells it as a T model.. To get the rebate do I just order it as a H3 model???
 
arkalpha

arkalpha

Well-Known Member
Messages
162
Location
arkansas
Not sure on that. There is a number on the rebate form for folks who handle everything for the rebate. That should be able to tell you.

TAPADROID
 
4speedfunk

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,250
Location
Tardville
The Rancho kit fits the T....gfbh3t runs one on his...

IMG_20110813_153036.jpg

There might be some minor rear spring rate issues but they do bolt up just fine. GM puts lighter rear leafs on the T (I've tried them out on SUV, and it sat lower), so if anything you might notice some stiffer rear suspension since the Rancho leafs are designed for the extra weight of the SUV cabin. Gfbh3t runs airbags in the rear.

CLARIFY>> The problem with big tires is not OFF ROAD...its ON ROAD. 35" and 37" tires work great in low-range, and the H3 has plenty of gear to drive them (with either t-case). Around town or stop & go traffic, they're not too bad. But on the highway...the problem becomes apparent. Even with a PCM4Less tune and an AirDoc, the 5-cly struggles to stay in 4th gear on anything more than level ground. The slightest incline at 70mph will cause downshifting, and if you live in a hilly or mountainous region...or if you do a lot of interstate driving...you'll hate 35"s. I don't think its particularly harmful to the truck. Its just annoying and sucks fuel.

I think Kflips has 4.56 gears in his Alpha. He might be able to shed some light on the gearing issue with a V8. All of my experience is based on the 3.7L.
 
MustangGirl666

MustangGirl666

Well-Known Member
Messages
291
Location
West Hartford CT
arkalpha said:
I've had my Rancho on for about a month. I can't believe how good it rides. I haven't been off road yet but for daily driving it is great. Also if your planning on doing it , you have picked a good time for it ,as Rancho is doing a rebate. The wheel spacers, I was not a fan of, but I went with the motor sport tech spacers and have had no issues. It tracks straight and no vibration. I am currently running 35s. The only down side is everyone who sees it tells me I need to slap a set of 37s on it now.

TAPADROID
Click to expand...
Got any pics of yours with the Rancho?
 
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