DrBubbles84

For those of you who wanted a definitive answer as to whether Rancho stands by these for our 2011 trucks (as I did)- we have our answer. My question to them was would the 4" lift work just as well with the 2011 models as it is listed on their website as only up to 2010. Here is their response:

Thank you for your interest in Rancho products.

As long as it does not have the 4DR and a 6.5" bed with the 2 peice drive
shaft. We exclude that vehicle. Just the Crew cab with the 5.5" bed with
single drive shaft.

For further questions or assistance, please contact technical assistance at
734-384-7804 M - F 8:30am - 5:30pm EST.

Rancho Team Member,

Rob

Hofmanns4rj

I'm having a Rachco lift put on my 2011 FX Screw with a 6-1/2" bed. For the 2 piece drive shaft on these, Procomp offers as spacer kit so I simply ordered it on the side. The Dealer is installing it all next week. So, there is the solution for using the Rancho kit on a long bed.

TEXAS MWD

You wouldn't by any chance have the Pro Comp part # for that spacer?

Is the dealer putting the lift on before you buy the, or are you having the dealer install after the fact? I'm just wondering who will still provide a warranty for all of this - Rancho or the dealer??

Hofmanns4rj

Per Procomp that part number is 90-4107B (but I would double check if you intend to buy). My F150 delivery also got delayed a week+ to the dealer with a new date of August 15th. Everything was suppose to be ready by now. Anyway, the dealer is installing the Rancho Lift, Rancho 9000s, the procomp drive shaft lowering bracket, fuel wheels and Nitto 325/65/18 tires (they do Rancho's, Procomps, other kits, and all kinds of accessories all the time and always have several lifted trucks on there lot). They made it clear that with them doing the installation I won't have any warranty problems or issue. I also know this dealer has been installing lift kits out of there own shop for as long as I can remember prior to purchases, part of pre-purchase deal, or after the fact. They also do all the alignments themselves and the pretty much buy the equipment through 4wheelparts and tires through them or other local shops. None of my friends have ever had an issue with this dealer and everyone gives them two thumbs up that I've ever talked with. To make a long story short, one of my good friends owns a local ford dealer. But I bought from the guys across the valley simply because they'll install the lifts and take responsibility for them with no warranty issues. My Buddy's dealership won't do the same. So as other have posted on-line - it really depends which dealer you are working with. Hope this helps?

TEXAS MWD

Thanks for all the info! Definitely post some pics once you get it. I've been wanting to put the Rancho 4" on my truck for a while now.

Hofmanns4rj

Here's some pics of my FX4 Eco SCrew 6.5' bed with the Rancho 4" lift kit. This is proof that the 4" Racho kit works with the two piece drive shaft. Also, if you think about it, the procomp, BDS and other lifts all look really similar when you look at their pics. If a 6" lift from Procomp, BDS or others works, then obviously the 4" kit from Rancho will work as it's less angle on the drive shaft. Remember, all we are talking about is the height of the blocks in the back of the truck.

stock?

Looks sharp man!

TheKurgan

Just because it all bolts up doesn't mean it's a good idea. Why did Rancho say you can't use it with the 2 piecer ? I'm assuming you might need a pinion angle adjustment. For the previous post come back after you've got a couple thousand miles on it and have had it up to 100mph with no vibrations.

Hofmanns4rj

In response to being a good idea or not???

Put it this way, if it's a bad idea to use 4" blocks with a SCrew and 6.5' bed with a Rancho kit, then it would be even a worse idea to use the 6" blocks for a SCrew with a 6.5' bed with the Procomp, BDS and the taller 6" lifts. The point is, that there is absolutely nothing unique about the Rancho kit except that the Rancho kit requires less drive line angle than all the 6" kits.

So, here's an example (look at the difference not the actual angles as this is based on a right triangle formula, not the actual driveline lengths/angles, but it provides the same difference in value on a calculated basis for comparison):

2" block with a 60 " drive shaft = angle of 1.91 degrees
4" block with the same 60" drive shaft = angle of 3.81 degrees
6" block with the same 60" drive shaft = angle of 5.87 degrees

So, more angle means more stress on the U-joints. However, If shims or angled blocks are used in conjunction you can also correct the angle at the differential and actually improve the u-joint ange over a stock pickup. The other option is to drop the center joint of the two piece drive shaft splitting the difference in the raised block height based on the ratio of each piece of drive shaft length for absolutely maintaining the stock alignment (except at the transfer case, unless you don't drop the junction point).

I wont argue with your questions and I agree time is always the best way to tell, or to let someone else do it first and prove it - right. But, as I'm an engineer with electrical and mechanical engineering degrees, part owner of a machine shop, have the ability to calculate engineering solutions etc and build for the most part what I need I am confident by analysis and calculation. But honestly, I can say with 100% certainty, that by the design of the 4" Rancho kit on a Screw with the 6'5' bed versus the Procomps, BDSs and other 6" lifts, that I have less drive shaft angle, less stress on my joints, improved alignment, and less chance of failure. Stock is obviously the best, followed by a 2" lift, then 4", then 6" etc. The higher you go the worse it will get. But the higher you go the bigger tires you can put on a truck too.

My educated guess is that if you called Rancho you'd find out they've never installed a lift themselves on a Screw with a 6.5' bed and that as a result of not testing it out they can't confirm or deny that it would or would not work. The answer I got when I called them was basically that, but it probably would depend on who you talked with. Oh, and they could not explain why a 6" kit from their competitor would work but theirs would not when there's really no difference in design (except block height) in all the F150 lifts out there.

Hope this helps, and I'll be glad to provide occasional updates. Also if there is something I've totally missed or lost sight of from my view in a difference between the Rancho kits versus the others for the back end for a SCrew with the 6.5' bed, I'm more than happy to receive anyones input or experience. Oh, I forgot to mention the my Ford Dealer did the installation and guarantees the installation/warranty and they've done hundreds of lifts on fords over the years. So, that certainly helps. It also gets better, the Rancho kit was approx $1900 with the RS9000 adjustable gas shocks which qualified me for a $500 rebate that I received last week - that means, $1400 for the Rancho lift/shocks.

In summary I really wanted a 6" lift and 37" tires (procomp or BDS which are both great), but as I'm getting older and I'm in my late 40's I figured it was time to start going lower than my previous trucks. My dealer had a blue Lariat SCrew 6.5' bed with the 6" procomp on the lot when I bought my truck which look incredible, but the practical older side of me dropped 2+inches and I went with the Rancho kit. After 950 miles no vibration, the truck has run great and I just pulled my 8000lbs boat this weekend for the first time with the Ecoboost Eng. Haven't gone over 80 yet, but probably never will either.

Hammer40

Truck looks great, I really want to ditch my leveling kit and go with a Rancho lift. I hate looking at the severe front angles caused by a 2.5" spacer.