When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
VDF does quality work, but there are just better kits. We can leave it at that.
RPG has a bolt on kit that does 14.5" strapped. It comes with upper arms, knuckles, and lower arms. The frame doesn't have to be cut, mounts moved, stock coil buckets are intact. This also gives you the option to sell the kit and return the truck back to stock if you like. You can also install this yourself or have anyone install it, versus having to have a suspension fabricator install it.
If money was no option and you are okay with not being able to fit in drive throughs and only be able to back into parking spots, the HnM/outlaw/bms kit is the way to go. I just sold my raptor and I can only imagine driving a truck that is 7" wider around town. I would do it, but its too much for most.
Im not looking to jump it, it's not a trophy truck. I just want to go to the desert and drive fast around there and slide it around a bit.
You will jump it sooner or later.
I don't know much about all the 4x4 kits for these trucks but I do know a few things.. CV binding is an issue. If you're going to invest in any form of travel.. go long travel, don't half *** it and go mid-travel. I did and it's just a stepping stone to LT. Brenthel is known for mis informing customers on usable travel.. VDF kits rides on the bumpstops. HnM does great work.. outlaw works specifically on a lot of raptors I'd check into them but most of their work is bolt-on - but speaking with the owner connor everything is warrantied that's why they run specific brands over others. BMS I hear their turnaround times are ridiculous.. but they do great work if you get the product. Just what I heard... the quote for an 11k front-end people have definitely paid for.. I wouldn't. Search around, meet people, talk to people, connect. That price will drop.
I know dezert n00b............. Just waiting on price drops now.
I really didnt want to bed cage it But yours looks pretty great, it gets the most amount of useable bed I have seen.
and yes I saw the gif of your truck jumping
If you're looking to do your front suspension just start shopping shops. Meet at truck meets, or discuss on forums. Dezertrangers.com is real popular offroad scene in cali, not just rangers either.
My cage is exactly what I wanted. Use of bed space! But.. I will be upgrading and doing a full two spare tire rack in the back, bolt on. Everything is bolt on till I 4-link the rear.
Yep. Jumped my midtravel, stock LCA (aluminum) with stock lower balljoints a little over a 1' of the ground.. (I think, at least). Risky.. but I'm not here to spend thousands of dollars to not have fun.
Nahh not my raptor. My truck was just leveled on beadlocks and 37s.
BMS doesn't really do offroad parts anymore, they transitioned to machining vape parts. Outlaw is similar to SDHQ, they were a bolt on lift shop and started doing the LT kit installs. The outlaw kit is a combination of the HnM with BMS billet uppers. I'm not even sure they still do that anymore or if they use the complete HnM kit.
Splitting hairs when comparing mid to long travel. Most will say anything up to 13-14" is a mid travel kit, but some competitors sell that as their long travel(Camburg, Brenthal) A properly set up mid travel kit will be hard to beat. Check out that video I posted of the Icon raptors and see how hard they are running with just 3.0s and bumps in the back.
Here is raptor with RPG replacement arms, 3.0s, bypasses, and bumps. This is stock raptor suspension width which is around 12-13" of travel. Trucks just need to be valved correctly and tuned.
If you're looking to do your front suspension just start shopping shops. Meet at truck meets, or discuss on forums. Dezertrangers.com is real popular offroad scene in cali, not just rangers either.
My cage is exactly what I wanted. Use of bed space! But.. I will be upgrading and doing a full two spare tire rack in the back, bolt on. Everything is bolt on till I 4-link the rear.
Yep. Jumped my midtravel, stock LCA (aluminum) with stock lower balljoints a little over a 1' of the ground.. (I think, at least). Risky.. but I'm not here to spend thousands of dollars to not have fun.
I went to the meet in garden grove once. Do you go to that one?
Exactly! Still can be used as a truck when needed. Ok I will be chase truck for you if you take me out next time you go out to barstow, we can put the tires in my truck lol
Nahh not my raptor. My truck was just leveled on beadlocks and 37s.
BMS doesn't really do offroad parts anymore, they transitioned to machining vape parts. Outlaw is similar to SDHQ, they were a bolt on lift shop and started doing the LT kit installs. The outlaw kit is a combination of the HnM with BMS billet uppers. I'm not even sure they still do that anymore or if they use the complete HnM kit.
Splitting hairs when comparing mid to long travel. Most will say anything up to 13-14" is a mid travel kit, but some competitors sell that as their long travel(Camburg, Brenthal) A properly set up mid travel kit will be hard to beat. Check out that video I posted of the Icon raptors and see how hard they are running with just 3.0s and bumps in the back.
Here is raptor with RPG replacement arms, 3.0s, bypasses, and bumps. This is stock raptor suspension width which is around 12-13" of travel. Trucks just need to be valved correctly and tuned.
........... thats some serious droop for a street truck
I went to the meet in garden grove once. Do you go to that one?
Exactly! Still can be used as a truck when needed. Ok I will be chase truck for you if you take me out next time you go out to barstow, we can put the tires in my truck lol
Got to test the limits
I did not, I think I saw you in a post on here where I mentioned it.. I've only been to the socaloffroad meet once. I don't really go out of my way to go to these meets unless they're larger.. less consistent. I know there's a larger one coming 4th of july in barstow but lots of people have plans.
Haha. I need the tire rack in the rear for weight, but if I can offload all my tools, canopy, jacks, wood, etc. I'd totally be for that! However.. I am weary about my lower aluminum arms. in the next few weeks in preparation for the 4th I'll be changing out my lower balljoints, extending my brakelines, and changing my front rotors. I'll have two spares strapped down in the rear by then (no cage yet), but just to add the weight.
06-03-2015, 01:29 PM
But yours looks pretty great, it gets the most amount of useable bed I have seen. 
