Im getting ready to buy a '97 4x4 ranger to replace my 2wd dodge. I plan on adding a 6" lift 33's and a rear locker. My only question is are Rangers at all capable offroad?

Can't say I've seen one offroad. What sort of wheelin are you looking to do?

If you are looking for a full case locker for the rear, I would suggest swapping to the 31 spline axles from the explorer while you are at it.

The rear should flex without much effort given a good set of leafs. The front is kinda odd with the split Dana 35 up there. It does lift better than the ifs version, but its still an odd beast. It might work well, just never seen one in action.

Jason

freind has a 95 xploder with 6 inches of lift lockers front and rear 35's and seems to really like it, it flexs ok not bad not great just ok, there was a company in Huntington Beach that was making a long travel suspension for rangers/xploders it was big bucks but had 14 inches of wheel travel or something crazy like that, what kind of wheeling do you want to do in the truck? fire roads / light mud / light rocks would be great it's just not going to be a billy goat on the rocks, my DD is o 03 edge right now 4x4 4.0L supercab and it works really well in snow/mud and unpaved roads, i wouldn't even try to mod it to work as a rockcrawler (would do a SAS if i did) that's what i have the TJ for, there is a ranger bbs, but i can't remeber the site i think its www.therangerstation.com or .net something like that

Well, I got back from playing around in some mud today and my buddy was following me around in his stock 4WD Ranger. All it has is some 31" off brand mud tires and to tel you the truth it surpized the hell out of me, it was doing really well for a basicly stock truck.

Looks like my sister is about to pickup an '02 edge 4x4. Should have it to play with tomorrow. I wonder if I can have 33s on it by the end of the weekend...

Jason

Here in South Carolina, I'd mostly go for mud and some light rocks and some gnarly hill climbs.

then your ranger should do just fine

quote:

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Originally posted by 7orp0r:
Here in South Carolina, I'd mostly go for mud and some light rocks and some gnarly hill climbs.

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And Tellico?

I have a 94 Explorer with the exact same setup as your Ranger. your rear end should already have 31 spline axles if I remember correctly. As far as the TTB front D35, it flexes "alright" mine does at least.... as long as you remove the sway bar or disco it atleast, and after market spings and shocks help it out even more. Your rear end, don't worry about your rear end...... they flex hardcore, trust me . a locker for the rear, that's easy, if youre looking for an inexpensive one, I'd recommend goin with the Powertrax Lock-Right. They are a very nice lockcer and I"ve never head ANY complaints about them.... dependin on what size of tires you wanted to run, regearing is a good thing, depending on whehter or not you've got an auto or manual trann depends on what gearin you've got in your axle right now, I'd take a quess that you've PROBABLY got 3.73s in there right now, and they're good to about a 32" tire assuming you've also got he 4.0V6 in your whip too.

Summary:: The Ranger is a very good truck for wheelin, I've wheeled with a bunch of them, and heck, my Explorer is basically an overweight Ranger anyway.... you won't be disappointed.

I hope this helps you out a little bit.

--Ryan

With a 6" lift and 33s your ranger with follow a jeep anywhere. I have been wheeling rangers for decades and if you extend the radius arms on the front (which you pretty much have to do with a 6" lift) getting 14" of travel or more is easy. The rear 8.8 will have 28 spline axles, only the explorers came with 31s. That wont be much of a problem unless you go over a 35" tire. The ranger flex way better than explorers due to the cab is detached from the bed allowing the frame to flex more. Explorer bodys kind of work as an antisway bar for the frame and hinder flex. I have ran lock rites before and they are very strong and dependable. The best way to go of course is a full detroit, and then swap in a set of explorer 31 spline axles with it. Stop in on www.therangerstation.com/forums and ask the guys there about what you can do with a ranger.
Heres some pics of some of the ranger stations guys' rangers with a similar setup as you are planning:











you get the idea....

Just a nother GREAT sight to Check out is the "Ranger-forums.com" There is a huge amount info on the sight and All the guys are awsome! Come checks us out.