Rancho adjustables for Gen 3

[Edmund K]

Thanks for the info about your experience with the Ranchos! Do you have any tire mods in mind now that you have more lift?

 

[GaryH2]

Thanks for the info about your experience with the Ranchos! Do you have any tire mods in mind now that you have more lift?

Not sure about the tires yet. I need to occasionally venture into a parking garage and we usually take it on the Autotrain to FL so I can't go too crazy.

I'm currently running 255/70 -18 Bridgestone ATs (not Revos). They will probably last through the Summer. Rancho says you can go up to 33" with the lift/leveling kit so that would theoretically max me out at something like a 275/70 R18 without rubbing. I believe I could go larger.

Once the size is decided then I'll need to pick a brand. I've had Firestone Destination ATs before and really liked them but I was thinking more of a highway tread (maybe) like the LE. I'm not sure about that yet.

 

[GaryH2]

Double post

 

[ViperXC]

Thanks for the info. After your alignment, do you feel it was necessary(alignment)?

 

[GaryH2]

Thanks for the info. After your alignment, do you feel it was necessary(alignment)?

YES! The front was out but the back wasn't too bad. It was a noticeable difference after the alignment.

With the 4 wheel independent suspension, it seems anytime you take it apart it should have an alignment, one way or another. Unfortunately its not like it used to be where you could easily change out shocks or add shackles. Plus with the cost of tires ($750-$1000+ for a set of 4) an alignment is cheap.

 

[ViperXC]

Ok. Without going into full detail, when I get the vehicle, it will have a fresh alignment. I was hoping to get the Ranchos (being on special now) and just pop them on without having to align it again. What you say about talking stuff apart and putting back together changing alignment makes sense.

 

[Ford_Forever]

Thanks for the valued info.
Do you think the wheels size 315/65R18 (34 inch) will fit on your truck or it will rub.
And base on your observation what is the maximum wheel size you can install with no rub.

 

[GaryH2]

Thanks for the valued info.
Do you think the wheels size 315/65R18 (34 inch) will fit on your truck or it will rub.
And base on your observation what is the maximum wheel size you can install with no rub.

I don't think that they will fit with this lift. The Ranchos only give you about 1.5-2 inches and say 33 inch tires will fit. If you were going larger than 33, I would think that you would need one of the spacer kits that gives you 2-3 inches lift.

Some of the other guys here have done that. I am sure they have better firsthand knowledge.

Since I need to go into an occasional parking garage, I'm not looking at anything bigger than 33 inches.

 

[GaryH2]

Another Rancho Update

Now that I have had the Ranchos a little while I have found an area where they really excel: milled pavement and gravel roads!

I find that these shocks really smooth out the roughness of the gravel roads and milled pavement. I also found that the highway ride is much more controlled.

Sharp bumps seem to be harsher than stock, but the overall control is better and I find that the Expy doesn't bottom out like it did when carrying 5 or 6 of us over some of the bumps on our crap-tastic roads around here. (Of course the old units had 100k miles on them...)

 

[buzzie0013]

where exactly?

so I just went to the rancho site, and I only find products for the F150, am I blind or something?

 

[GaryH2]

Interesting. I looked at the site and you are correct!

They do show the ReadyLift struts for 2012 and earlier. I would think that they are the same parts but you could call them to confirm.

 

[montecarlo31]

so I just went to the rancho site, and I only find products for the F150, am I blind or something?

Yes. :Flipoff: just kidding they list them for older models. My guess is that no one with a 13 has purchased them yet to try. I can probably believe that and was thinking about going that route however I'm not sure if I want to take the rake out as I do tow and compound that with the rear air suspension I might just skip it.

On a side note there are some much nicer sock / spring combos out there than the rancho's however they are running in the 1,700 to 2,000 dollar mark. You may want to look into them. Again, I probably would be running them if I did not need the rear air suspension and could go with those spring combos all the way around.

 

[Expy1]

I put Rancho's on my 07 Expedition, and have not been happy with them. My rake went from level to almost 2 " higher in the front. Could not keep it from rocking with lane changes at high speed even with new Michelin LTX M/S2 tires, no matter how much dial-in dampening I put in. Extra expense for Michelin LTX M/S E Load tires settled down the rolling with lane changes. With them set at 5 dampening front and rear, it feels about 90% solid for control. But the rake is exaggerated, and Rancho Tech has no answers yet for me. Anyone else had this problem with 3rd Gen?

 

[jmidway22]

I have the high front end problem with a 2007 xlt and the rancho techs have confirmed that its 3/4 inch higher than they expected from hub to wheel well. I have been racking my brain to figure it out. crazy thing is i bought the expedition with a old set of quicklifts on it that were shot and replaced them. The old quicklifts didn't have the problem but the new ones did... wondered if they shipped me the wrong struts or if they are listing the wrong struts for these gen3s. I also have some bad sound/shake at times under certain bumps or gravel roads. Someones said something about the center bolt not being tight which i might try. any and all input welcome.

 

[Tavy]

Here's some photos of my 2011 XLT 4x4. I did all four struts with Ranchos.