Factory suspension ( rake )

[Hounddog409]

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.

A level is the worst thing you can do if you tow/haul.

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[Trustable]

A level is the worst thing you can do if you tow/haul.

Yeah thats what I've heard, I wonder if air bags would be any help?

 

[hmrutherford]

Just a thought or question , is the Ranger's stance terrible ? I am old school in that the lower nose is appealing almost Hot Rod . Sure the factory

Just a thought or question , is the Ranger's stance terrible ? I am old school in that the lower nose is appealing almost Hot Rod . Sure the factory shocks suck but an easy fix . Level trucks are more the norm but also boring . What are your thoughts ?

I totally agree. I don’t think it’s terrible and prefer it with a rake.

 

[jss81258]

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.

One of my co workers owns a 2021 F250 that he bought a level kit along with a radius arm mount lowering kit.

My previous Ranger, a 2011 XLT 4x4, looked pretty level. It had a significant squat whenever I loaded it or towed a heavier trailer with it.

One thing that I've noticed is that certain trucks do appear level. i don't know if it's because of trim or what. But it seems like most of the F150 Platinum trucks I've seen appear level. But I don't know if they are actually level, or just look like they're level. It could also be that they have a rake but don't look like it (I park next to one regularly at work).

In any event, I don't pay much attention to the rake with my 2020 Ranger and unless I see some performance or functional advantage for leveling, it's going to stay that way.

 

[jss81258]

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.

Not sure when "back in the day" was but the mid sized cars I had would accommodate G60s and some would take L60s with the right offset. The problem is that most (me included) liked the look of deep dish wheels on the rear and this meant jacking up the rear for clearance. This also meant that the cars looked more like Pro Stock cars. I had Cragar SS, Centerline, and ET Slots on various cars including Mustangs, Chevelle SS and a 69 Cobra. The 66 Mustang I had would not take G60s without jacking the car up. Well, with the offsets I tried anyway.

Interesting, to me anyway, is that I ran 8" steel wheels with stock offset and L60s on my Cobra for a while and liked it.

Edit: Thinking about this, I'm really showing my age.

2nd Edit: Remembering that I ran 235 60 14 on a 74 Datsun 280Z. They were tight but didn't rub. I don't remember the offset but that's about the widest I could get under it. They came with skinny tires.

 

[Joeiconic]

Love the look, What running boards you rocking?

thanks. It’s just the OEM 4” running boards. They are very functional in terms of ingress/egress. I like them.

 

[THLONE]

The clue to all of this tom foolery is the "rocking." What "tune, level, wheels, steps, and etc. are you "rockin dude." A lot of car people are buying trucks for the look, or whatever dude. Cool dudes have no clue what a truck is for or what anybody uses a truck for. When gas goes skyhigh the fad will shift to little cracker box cars.

 

[Dgc333]

Not sure when "back in the day" was but the mid sized cars I had would accommodate G60s and some would take L60s with the right offset. The problem is that most (me included) liked the look of deep dish wheels on the rear and this meant jacking up the rear for clearance. This also meant that the cars looked more like Pro Stock cars. I had Cragar SS, Centerline, and ET Slots on various cars including Mustangs, Chevelle SS and a 69 Cobra. The 66 Mustang I had would not take G60s without jacking the car up. Well, with the offsets I tried anyway.

Interesting, to me anyway, is that I ran 8" steel wheels with stock offset and L60s on my Cobra for a while and liked it.

Edit: Thinking about this, I'm really showing my age.

2nd Edit: Remembering that I ran 235 60 14 on a 74 Datsun 280Z. They were tight but didn't rub. I don't remember the offset but that's about the widest I could get under it. They came with skinny tires.

I have 255/60-15s on 8" wife rims on the back of my 68 Barracuda and 215/60-15s on the front on 7" wide rims. A 275/60-15 will fit but I don't like the look.

 

[Wytchdctr]

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.

I park next to a taco almost daily. It has a rake but the rear wheel arch/fender is cut off square and hides it far better than the arch ours have, but the back end isn't as high for sure.

 

[AzScorpion]

I park next to a taco almost daily. It has a rake but the rear wheel arch/fender is cut off square and hides it far better than the arch ours have, but the back end isn't as high for sure.

You're right those ugly (my opinion) plastic flares hide it somewhat on the Tacoma. Here's my '16 Tacoma and unless they've changed the rake it's pretty noticeable. Ours is a lot more noticeable with the ass end up in the air. Even my friends new F150 has a rake and he just bought all new shocks from Stage3 to get rid of it. It wasn't as noticeable as ours but there was still a rake there.

 

[OregonRangerTremor]

The factory stance is the design. For me its functional..

Medium duty off road capability, reasonable ground and tire clearance, smooth and efficient on the road..All set to tow and load. (Tremor)

I agree. I like the look and function right from the factory.

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