The Rancho Lift

[H3TBone]

I figured that since I already have the wheels and tires for it, why not add the lift at this point.

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Maybe now you'll do some of the challenging obstacles with the lift. Like the ones I did with no lift

 

[Bigunit]

Can't wait to go back! Had to be conservative this time as I was having front diff/crossmember issues again with the diff bolt coming loose and everything moving and bouncing up & down on the front end & noticed a lot of fluid coming out from the inner tie rod boot on the passenger side. The truck didn't feel right from the moment we left pavement & went on the first trail.

Just got back from picking the T up from the dealer for its post-Moab inspection & guess what was blown -- the steering rack! It's toast! Dealer ordered a new one today and will replace it under warranty. Sound familiar Mike? Glad it didn't blow on the trail. Dealer acknowledged that that was the loose feeling in the steering/front suspension and the movement was also moving the front diff around - enough to sheer 1 bolt and loosen the replacement bolt on a regular basis. Glad I didn't screw up the whole drivetrain.

 

[H3TBone]

Can't wait to go back! Had to be conservative this time as I was having front diff/crossmember issues again with the diff bolt coming loose and everything moving and bouncing up & down on the front end & noticed a lot of fluid coming out from the inner tie rod boot on the passenger side. The truck didn't feel right from the moment we left pavement & went on the first trail.

Just got back from picking the T up from the dealer for its post-Moab inspection & guess what was blown -- the steering rack! It's toast! Dealer ordered a new one today and will replace it under warranty. Sound familiar Mike? Glad it didn't blow on the trail. Dealer acknowledged that that was the loose feeling in the steering/front suspension and the movement was also moving the front diff around - enough to sheer 1 bolt and loosen the replacement bolt on a regular basis. Glad I didn't screw up the whole drivetrain.

So you didn't have to spend four hours on your back replacing your steering rack like me? I pity you. Not really. And I only had one spare! Hopefully mine will be replaced as well under warranty, but since I already replaced it this will be interesting.

 

[06 H3]

Im gonna replace mine and put 12 damn mounts on it if I have to just to keep that sucker still

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[06 H3]

well I must say I feel the review of the rancho kit never is really over as I will have different views on things after each run but yet again the rancho lift really pleased me. I was glad with how it performed on the John Bull Trail. I am not sure whats the toughest trail a rancho lifted 3 has been on but I would say this trail would be up there. Everything took a complete beating. The front diff skid from rancho now matches the rest of my skids...beat to hell! They took the abuse. I really gouged up my front drop bracket for the control arms and those held up too. The added height in the mid section helped, even though I did hit those mid section crossmembers a few times it wasnt enough to get me stuck, I could slide right over the rocks. Where did I get hung up? My leaf springs. Which is figured, in a loose rock garden its tough to pick a line to suit you for the lowest points on your truck, especially if all 3 are right across from each other! If I could avoid the diff I would get hung up I on the springs, if I avoided the springs I would get hung up on the diff. So a spring over is pretty high on my list. I would start with the stock springs and stock hangers and if the stock hangers become too much of a hangup spot I would chop those off too.

Overall, I love the lift. The only thing that hangs me up is the spring under which is a GM design. As for the deavers I love them minus the fact that they are low hanging, they seem to flex well and I wonder if that is part of why I was happy with the truck overall. If I went back to stock springs I wonder if I would lose some flex for clearance. Who knows...I could do some investigating on that to find out though.

One other recommendation, if you wheel with a rancho rig make sure you get custom UCP! I would of been screwed without it. I came down hard and have a nice gouge in the UCP and the mark was made right where the driveshaft was. Without the UCP I made I would of hit the driveshaft. I think the UCP is a must and am happy after moab, john bull and some other smaller runs the UCP has held up well.