Thinking rancho or tuff country

[954paulo]

So I'm thinking of getting the ranch or tuff country lift. Mainly the cheaper tuff country one. Can anyone who has either chime in and let me know how the ride quality is compared to T bar cranking.

Solid swap is to much money at the moment and I need new shocks on the truck and 2new tires so I thought now would be the best time to do this and get the new rims with correct back spacing


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[Cajun_Tiger_Hummer]

Tuff Country level kit? Just use a socket set and turn your torsion bars. Add extended bump stops let the front end settle, the get a front end alignment done.

If you want a suspension lift. Rancho is your only option. I've had mine since summer time. My H3 handles so much better with the lift. The shocks are not that great and have minimal travel. The leaf springs are also weak point. You can go with air bags once they do start sagging, custom heavy duty springs, or a SOA conversion with your stock springs.

 

[Schwarttzy]

Ignore the guy comment above me about socket set and torsion stuff because I don't think he knows about Tuff Country's 4" lift.

When you look at the two part kits, there is clearly some more thought put into the design of the Rancho from my perspective. How ever don't use the dumb rear suspension that both of the kits come with, do a SOA (spring over axle). SOA is where you bring the leaf spring from underneath the rear axle, up above it on top of the axle.

 

[06 H3]

Tuff country stopped making the 4in kit for the 3. It's rancho or t bar crank or custom

 

[Cajun_Tiger_Hummer]

Ignore the guy comment above me about socket set and torsion stuff because I don't think he knows about Tuff Country's 4" lift.

When you look at the two part kits, there is clearly some more thought put into the design of the Rancho from my perspective. How ever don't use the dumb rear suspension that both of the kits come with, do a SOA (spring over axle). SOA is where you bring the leaf spring from underneath the rear axle, up above it on top of the axle.

When did Tuff Country start making lifts for the H3 again?

 

[06 H3]

They stopped about a year ago, maybe they are back at it...I am not sure. IIRC They said the cost of making the knuckle was very expensive.

I spoke to one of the rancho guys on Pirate and said they dont plan on discontinuing the H3 lift any time soon. I hope it sticks around, in the end you are paying for the front of the kit and its top notch.

 

[Nevets1119]

Tuff country stopped making the 4in kit for the 3. It's rancho or t bar crank or custom

Idk where the info came from but I did some research because I had been looking at the tough country as well. I'm going to do an SOA with it and use heavy duty leaf springs due to some towing I do. Any way the Tough country 4" kit is still around I emailed tough country to find out if replacement parts would be available if they had stopped making it. The email I got back said "Yes parts will be available. We at this time do not plan to stop making this kit as it also fits the Chevy Colorado and we have plenty customers with both vehicles still." So as for now the kit will still be made if he's going to run tough country though. He should look for the parts separate and buy some different leafs and shock set. The shock extenders and other parts are ok but the leafs suck and I'd deff use a better shock set too.

 

[Cajun_Tiger_Hummer]

Idk where the info came from but I did some research because I had been looking at the tough country as well. I'm going to do an SOA with it and use heavy duty leaf springs due to some towing I do. Any way the Tough country 4" kit is still around I emailed tough country to find out if replacement parts would be available if they had stopped making it. The email I got back said "Yes parts will be available. We at this time do not plan to stop making this kit as it also fits the Chevy Colorado and we have plenty customers with both vehicles still." So as for now the kit will still be made if he's going to run tough country though. He should look for the parts separate and buy some different leafs and shock set. The shock extenders and other parts are ok but the leafs suck and I'd deff use a better shock set too.

HMMMMM, interdasting. I was originally was going to go with the Tuff Country kit but when the 4 4x4 shop called to purchase the kit they said it was discontinued. Its also interesting that the said the Colorado kit fits the H3. B/C no other kit on the market does.

 

[Nevets1119]

HMMMMM, interdasting. I was originally was going to go with the Tuff Country kit but when the 4 4x4 shop called to purchase the kit they said it was discontinued. Its also interesting that the said the Colorado kit fits the H3. B/C no other kit on the market does.

They said it fits the Colorado of course with a couple extra parts then the H3 needs. Also the front and rear springs are different. Which to me sounds like a completely different set up but he said it was "basically the same". Other kits Rancho exc... also don't fit because of the front suspension hardware. Where are you located? I went to a local shop(20mins away) from me in Modesto CA and they called tough country and are able to order it(also where I acquired the tough country Email). Also how long ago was it? I did the research in the last 2 days.

 

[Cajun_Tiger_Hummer]

They said it fits the Colorado of course with a couple extra parts then the H3 needs. Also the front and rear springs are different. Which to me sounds like a completely different set up but he said it was "basically the same". Other kits Rancho exc... also don't fit because of the front suspension hardware. Where are you located? I went to a local shop(20mins away) from me in Modesto CA and they called tough country and are able to order it(also where I acquired the tough country Email). Also how long ago was it? I did the research in the last 2 days.

This was 6 months ago. I had 2 different shops call in Louisiana. Front and rear springs? Sorry but you lost me. From my experience, the Colorado/Canyon kit and H3 kit are not enter changeable. The front ends are not even the same. If this was the case I would of gone with the 6" skyjacker kit made for a Colorado.

 

[Nevets1119]

This was 6 months ago. I had 2 different shops call in Louisiana. Front and rear springs? Sorry but you lost me. From my experience, the Colorado/Canyon kit and H3 kit are not enter changeable. The front ends are not even the same. If this was the case I would of gone with the 6" skyjacker kit made for a Colorado.

That's what I tried asking him!? It doesn't make sense to me that a kit for a 6' 1/2" wide vehicle would fit on a Colorado almost exactly half the width and a lot lighter, smaller springs, exc... How can it be interchangeable when none of the parts match not just the springs and I asked him "what are extra parts?" I haven't heard a response. Here's what I did figure out though from the wordings he used. And I called instead of continuing to use the email because I now am impatient with half info he's giving. I found out though the Email I got is to the direct distributor for Tough Country for that shop and shops in this area. So although he's good at selling the product and hitting the main points on why its a valued product; When it comes to detailed questions like swapping kits what exact parts fit and don't fit, how long the kit will be around, He does not have technical answers. Unfortunantly to get to Tough Country Tech customer service I would have to wait on hold forever and don't have the time. But I was able to confirm with customer service and sales that the kit for the H3 is still being produced.

 

[arkalpha]

Before I got my Rancho,I was going to go with the Tuff Country. When I finally went to order it I could not find one ANYWHERE. I called Tuff Country direct and their tech support told me it was discontinued and that they had no plans to produce anymore. Main reason"cost of the knuckles was too high". I believe that's the same thing H3 said also. However things can change, but I would call their tech support before I went off what a sales person told me. No knock on the Tuff Country lift, but I am glad I went with the Rancho. I haven't had a problem with the rear leafs sagging yet, but when it happens I'll worry about it then. Good luck on getting the kit.

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[954paulo]

i found a tuff country lift new for sale. so I'm thinking of getting it. my truck needs a little fretting up. new lca bushings and joints. so i thought that would be the time to do it. plus I'm not a big fan of how bouncy the front end is with the tbar crank. How does your rancho ride? I'm sure the tuff country would ride the same with better shocks and airbags in the rear like benlaud has (i think thats how you spell his user name)

 

[Medic_Morgan]

i found a tuff country lift new for sale. so I'm thinking of getting it. my truck needs a little fretting up. new lca bushings and joints. so i thought that would be the time to do it. plus I'm not a big fan of how bouncy the front end is with the tbar crank. How does your rancho ride? I'm sure the tuff country would ride the same with better shocks and airbags in the rear like benlaud has (i think thats how you spell his user name)

Where did you find it? Do they have more than one?! I have $$ on hand!!!



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[arkalpha]

Every truck I have owened has been lifted, from IFS Tacomas, 1500 Chevy P/U, and a V8 Dodge Dakota and this the Rancho H3 is by far the best riding truck out of the bunch. When I was looking for the Tuff Country kit I had several places say they had it out could get it only roo get a call back and say they didn't our their supplier was out. Again though that was back in March, something may have changed. If they do in fact have more than one you may want to post up and let folks know or maybe even start a separate thread.

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[954paulo]

It's a local deal someone crashed their truck before the lift was installed.


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[Medic_Morgan]

It's a local deal someone crashed their truck before the lift was installed.


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If you decided to not go the Tuff Country route would you PM me their details? I'm happy to pay a finders fee



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[954paulo]

no problem, but I'm set on it lol

 

[954paulo]

So I got permission from the soon to be wife for the big purchase. Not sure if it's one of those ok get it. Or ok get it.. I dare you, either way I got it

Now I just have to find some well priced wheels to fit.

Anyone with the tuff country please confirm that 16x8s -6 offset or 3.96 offset.

I read some where that the rancho needed 17s with 4.5 offset so I'm curious


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[Cajun_Tiger_Hummer]

I'm running stock 16" rims with 1.75" spacers. With my Rancho lift

 

[954paulo]

How does it drive compared to the t bar crank



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[06 H3]

Much much much better

 

[954paulo]

Crap sale fell through. Dude was a douche and lied


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