Factory suspension ( rake )

[Fitzmotor]

I prefer level, I have adjusted the ride height on almost every truck I have ever owned.

The Ranger was one of the tougher ones to level by dropping the back.

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[WingShot]

My truck has to play a variety of roles in my life. It is my daily driver and has become the weekend grocery getter with the Princess. But it also tows a 5700# camper, goes off-road quite bit, hunting and fishing in the snow, rain, and mud. I need it to do all these different things reasonably well, it's not dedicated to one purpose. And it seems with just my usual stuff that lives in the bed, it looks more level and rides better than empty.

 

[THLONE]

Back in the day, probably before most of your mothers were born, the style was to raise the rear and lower the front on cars. Fads come and go with the wind. I live in Tucson where cars are modified to raise or lower sides, fronts, backs , or everything with the push of a button.

 

[Dgc333]

Back in the day, probably before most of your mothers were born, the style was to raise the rear and lower the front on cars. Fads come and go with the wind. I live in Tucson where cars are modified to raise or lower sides, fronts, backs , or everything with the push of a button.

I am from "back in the day". The motivation to raise the backend was to get more tire under the car for traction, I never saw a car with the front end lowered "back in the day".

Back then to get more tread width the tire diameter had to increase. The famous Firestone Wide Oval that came on a lot of muscle cars was a 70 series. There was no such thing as 60, 50, 40, etc. tires. To get a tire with say ~10" of tread width you had to buy a 255 (or old alpha designation of L78) which would be 30" in diameter. To fit that under a car with the wheel wells never designed for a tire that size you had to jack the back end up in the air.

There were a number of ways to get the back up; longer shackles, helper springs, air shocks, seldom was it engineered to not spoil the handling.

 

[Hounddog409]

Considering almost all pickups come from the factory with a level stance and they tow just fine I think you are exaggerating what leveling your truck will do.

The only pickups on the market that have a rake are the Ranger and GM twins, everything else is level.

Dude. Every pickup comes with a rake. ram. F150. Superduty. ALL.

Go to the f150 and ram forums and look at the endless leveling posts.

Even the toyotas are.

Not sure where you get your info from, but it aint accurate.

 

[Hounddog409]

I am from "back in the day". The motivation to raise the backend was to get more tire under the car for traction, I never saw a car with the front end lowered "back in the day".

Back then to get more tread width the tire diameter had to increase. The famous Firestone Wide Oval that came on a lot of muscle cars was a 70 series. There was no such thing as 60, 50, 40, etc. tires. To get a tire with say ~10" of tread width you had to buy a 255 (or old alpha designation of L78) which would be 30" in diameter. To fit that under a car with the wheel wells never designed for a tire that size you had to jack the back end up in the air.

There were a number of ways to get the back up; longer shackles, helper springs, air shocks, seldom was it engineered to not spoil the handling.

The front end is not lowered on new pickups.

 

[BiilyJones]

I prefer level, I have adjusted the ride height on almost every truck I have ever owned.

The Ranger was one of the tougher ones to level by dropping the back.

How did you accomplish that? I just removed the rear block on my 2015 f150, but it seems the ranger is not so cooperative.

 

[Fitzmotor]

I had to dearch the springs 1.5" but I didn't want do it to the original springs, so I bought a second set and sent them out to the spring shop.

 

[Dgc333]

Dude. Every pickup comes with a rake. ram. F150. Superduty. ALL.

Go to the f150 and ram forums and look at the endless leveling posts.

Even the toyotas are.

Not sure where you get your info from, but it aint accurate.

Well not any that I have seen. The neighbor behind me has a F150 FX4 that is level, the neighbor to the right has an F250 that is level, the guy across the street has a Tundra that is level, my son's RAM 1500 is level, the three Dakota's I had prior to the Ranger we're level and my buddies new 22 Frontier is level. The three Tacoma's I walked past going into work this morning we're level.

Now I did not take a level to the rocker on any of these trucks to actually measure how much if any rake these may have had but to the eye they are level. The Ranger, Colorado and Canyon look like a 60s muscle car with air shocks in the back.

 

[Hounddog409]

Well not any that I have seen. The neighbor behind me has a F150 FX4 that is level, the neighbor to the right has an F250 that is level, the guy across the street has a Tundra that is level, my son's RAM 1500 is level, the three Dakota's I had prior to the Ranger we're level and my buddies new 22 Frontier is level. The three Tacoma's I walked past going into work this morning we're level.

Now I did not take a level to the rocker on any of these trucks to actually measure how much if any rake these may have had but to the eye they are level. The Ranger, Colorado and Canyon look like a 60s muscle car with air shocks in the back.

So the 3000 level posts in the f150 forum, tacoma, RAM, and Nissan forums are folks spending money to level their level trucks?

If you dont want to read forums, google the specs. Every pickup made has a rake.

By any chance is your left leg shorter that your right?

 

[Dgc333]

So the 3000 level posts in the f150 forum, tacoma, RAM, and Nissan forums are folks spending money to level their level trucks?

If you dont want to read forums, google the specs. Every pickup made has a rake.

By any chance is your left leg shorter that your right?

Really don't care what is on forums for vehicles I don't own. My statement is based on observations of what I have previously owned, what family members currently own, what is parked in neighborhood driveways, what is in the parking lot at work and what I see driving down the road.

Not sure what specs you might be referring too, never seen any published that would indicate if a vehicle is level or not.

I was going to ask if your head was tilted to the left but that does not add anything positive to the discussion.

FWIW, based on my observation the white Ranger in post #40 is nose high. Just look at the rocker compared to the ground. It may be an optical illusion in the picture but if asked that would be my assessment.

 

[Hounddog409]

Really don't care what is on forums for vehicles I don't own. My statement is based on observations of what I have previously owned, what family members currently own, what is parked in neighborhood driveways, what is in the parking lot at work and what I see driving down the road.

Not sure what specs you might be referring too, never seen any published that would indicate if a vehicle is level or not.

I was going to ask if your head was tilted to the left but that does not add anything positive to the discussion.

FWIW, based on my observation the white Ranger in post #40 is nose high. Just look at the rocker compared to the ground. It may be an optical illusion in the picture but if asked that would be my assessment.

Ok, then go look at level kits. 2/2.5 inches for EVERY pickup. Why would thousands of folks buy level kits for level trucks? Why would the seemingly industry standard be the same for all pickups?

You made a starement that is clearly not correct.

And lighten up Nancy, it was a joke

 

[hersh]

I raised my front 1.25” and I like the look. I also haul stuff and want the function of having some rake. I see a LOT of trucks rolling down the road towing/hauling with their noses sticking up in the air and that looks silly to me.

Love the look, What running boards you rocking?

 

[Trustable]

I think the level definitely looks good, but I know as soon as I leveled it I would end up needing to throw 1k+lbs in the bed and tow a 6k trailer. I would rather have it (the rake) and not need it, then to need it (the rake) and not have it I guess.

 

[SSingh1975]

Primary reason is if u do towing, your truck won't look stupid with the front elevated towards the sky. Not to mention since a lot of people use the bed, over time, the rear shocks will start wearing out more quickly so u lose that stance. I've seen more enough Tacomas in my area with the fronts kissing the sky and rear sagging like old womans tits.

And lastly, more rake in the front means better air flow means better gas mileage. Higher the front, less efficient and shit gas mileage.

This is a 2018 Pacific Ranger (diesel variant) that I've used for years (inc driving thru mountains, hurricane induced mud, overflowing creeks) and it has the factory rake as well and zero issues with practibility. In the islands, we actually use what trucks are primarily designed for .

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