Got a few questions

[Urban Hillbilly]

Hello new to the forum. I have a 2023 Ranger Lariat 4x4 and absolutely love it! I’ll have it two years in March and already have 39k miles. I’ve done a few things to it and I have a few questions

The only thing that’s sucks about the truck is the leaf springs are garbage even for a light duty truck. I bought a Smart Topper and it’s been on it for about a year and a half. The topper stainless steel and the weight has damn near killed the leaf spring. I need to bring the ass end back up so who makes the best aftermarket leaf spring?

I put a leveling kit on the front to get rid of the shackled look. Don’t really care for those so needing to address the leaf springs I went ahead and purchased a Eibach Stage 2R kit. The front is adjustable and I don’t really want to do a high lift because the wife is short and will definitely notice somethings different! ? At what point do I need to change out upper/lower control arms?

I also just acquired a set of 20x9 Fuel Coupler wheels. I had the 18” 4Play with the Cooper AT3 XLT tires. They are 33’s and I have a noticeable vibration at 65 mph and higher. Is this somewhat normal for the larger tires? I had them balanced and the alignment done when I put the leveling kit on! Now that I’m going with 20’s what would the best tire size be? I want it to look somewhat aggressive without the road noise. The Coopers are actually quite!

I had some Bushwacker fender flares on it for about 3 months. I was washing it and noticed they were damaging the paint where the rubber trim meets the fender. Also it was black underneath! Is there a better fender flare out there that won’t damage the paint? I’ve been looking at the RTR flares but don’t want to wast more money.

I put on a MBPR dual exhaust system it sounds great. Not too over the top sounding like a Honda

Any advice wound be appreciated

Sponsored

 

[Buckbull]

Great looking truck and welcome to the forum.

 

[IdahoRanger]

Welcome, Alvin. There have been a few conversations about leaf springs so hopefully someone will pop up to answer your question. Stock here.

 

[LT Dangle]

most people seem to go with Icon, Deavers, or with the Tremor leaf packs.

 

[Urban Hillbilly]

I’ve been looking at the Old Man Emu leafs but not sure about them!

 

[Colo_Ranger]

Hello new to the forum. I have a 2023 Ranger Lariat 4x4 and absolutely love it! I’ll have it two years in March and already have 39k miles. I’ve done a few things to it and I have a few questions

The only thing that’s sucks about the truck is the leaf springs are garbage even for a light duty truck. I bought a Smart Topper and it’s been on it for about a year and a half. The topper stainless steel and the weight has damn near killed the leaf spring. I need to bring the ass end back up so who makes the best aftermarket leaf spring?

I have the OME 2.2" medium duty leaf springs and they are great. I have the RSi SmartCap too, but I also have the Decked drawer system, so I do have a bit more weight. I find that they ride great. @AndyMedic is about to install the Dobinson's leaf springs. Hopefully he can compare the OME (that he has now) to the Dobinson's, once they are installed.

I put a leveling kit on the front to get rid of the shackled look. Don’t really care for those so needing to address the leaf springs I went ahead and purchased a Eibach Stage 2R kit. The front is adjustable and I don’t really want to do a high lift because the wife is short and will definitely notice somethings different! ? At what point do I need to change out upper/lower control arms?

The generally accepted height for UCAs is 3" lift. That being said, I installed Icon UCAs at 2.5" lift and the ride did improve. Need is a loose term, but I found them to be a worthwhile upgrade.

I also just acquired a set of 20x9 Fuel Coupler wheels. I had the 18” 4Play with the Cooper AT3 XLT tires. They are 33’s and I have a noticeable vibration at 65 mph and higher. Is this somewhat normal for the larger tires? I had them balanced and the alignment done when I put the leveling kit on! Now that I’m going with 20’s what would the best tire size be? I want it to look somewhat aggressive without the road noise. The Coopers are actually quite!

You shouldn't get any vibrations out of tires like the AT3. Did you have them balanced once or several times? I worked at Discount Tire for 5+ years and I can tell you, you can balance wrong. With the 20s, are you trying to go up in size or stay at 33? www.TireSize.com has a comparison feature so you can find out what the comparable tire size from 18 to 20 would be.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

I’ve been looking at the Old Man Emu leafs but not sure about them!

I just replied above, but I moved from the Icon to the OME springs. The Icon were great until I added weight. Since they are a softer spring, they 'wallowed' when I hit a bump on the highway. It was really unnerving. I changed to the OME and it immediately got better.

 

[Urban Hillbilly]

I have the OME 2.2" medium duty leaf springs and they are great. I have the RSi SmartCap too, but I also have the Decked drawer system, so I do have a bit more weight. I find that they ride great. @AndyMedic is about to install the Dobinson's leaf springs. Hopefully he can compare the OME (that he has now) to the Dobinson's, once they are installed.



The generally accepted height for UCAs is 3" lift. That being said, I installed Icon UCAs at 2.5" lift and the ride did improve. Need is a loose term, but I found them to be a worthwhile upgrade.



You shouldn't get any vibrations out of tires like the AT3. Did you have them balanced once or several times? I worked at Discount Tire for 5+ years and I can tell you, you can balance wrong. With the 20s, are you trying to go up in size or stay at 33? www.TireSize.com has a comparison feature so you can find out what the comparable tire size from 18 to 20 would be.

I’ve had them balanced twice. Still got the vibration! Also didn’t notice that the tire shop sold me 10 ply tires so I’m not sure that could be a problem. I’ve had them on for about 4K miles. With the 20’s I think I want to go 32” or so. Wanna try to get the fuel mileage to go back up. With the stock I was getting like 400 miles to the tank. With the 33’s I’m getting 320

 

[Urban Hillbilly]

I have the OME 2.2" medium duty leaf springs and they are great. I have the RSi SmartCap too, but I also have the Decked drawer system, so I do have a bit more weight. I find that they ride great. @AndyMedic is about to install the Dobinson's leaf springs. Hopefully he can compare the OME (that he has now) to the Dobinson's, once they are installed.

I love my topper. Heavy duty!! Had to wait 9 months to get it but totally worth it.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

I love my topper. Heavy duty!! Had to wait 9 months to get it but totally worth it.

I love my topper too. Offroad Alliance actually had them in stock, and it was on my door in less than a week.

 

[Urban Hillbilly]

I love my topper too. Offroad Alliance actually had them in stock, and it was on my door in less than a week.

Lucky bastard!! LOL. I got mine three days before Hurricane Ian beat the hell out of us! I was putting the cap together and boarding windows. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to put a light bar on it.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

Lucky bastard!! LOL. I got mine three days before Hurricane Ian beat the hell out of us! I was putting the cap together and boarding windows. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to put a light bar on it.

I am working through a chase light right now. Below is a picture and I hate how it looks so far.

I am thinking an SSC2 on the underside of that bracket would look less out of place.

 

[Urban Hillbilly]

I am working through a chase light right now. Below is a picture and I hate how it looks so far.

I am thinking an SSC2 on the underside of that bracket would look less out of place.

I am looking for a used roof rack the size of the topper. I wanna brace it down the rails and attach lights.

Something like this

 

[Fx4ranger2019Larait]

Nice looking truck & welcome to the forum.

I agree the leafs are trash after I put smart- cap on noticed rear leafs actually bent backwards. Was only a matter of time before they broke. I went with Icon set at option 3 for most weight. (They also squeak a little I did apply grease when I installed them but still squeak.) Now I’m starting to lean towards OME. Looking at BP-51 set just waiting to upgrade shocks form 5100’s.

Don’t think you will have to change lower control arms. If you want a little more comfortable ride and better articulation you could change UCA’s. But stock will work.

For fender flares I went with Tremor flares for a stock look and they come painted carbonized grey.

Tires you could run Ko2’s I’ve had good experience with them and quite on the road. Definitely don’t get 10ply loadE tires though if looking to save MPG’s. I think my tire set up is around 80lbs a tire. I’ve been looking at Bronco steelies to put on ranger and probably going to change to C rated tire as well.

 

[Urban Hillbilly]

Nice looking truck & welcome to the forum.

I agree the leafs are trash after I put smart- cap on noticed rear leafs actually bent backwards. Was only a matter of time before they broke. I went with Icon set at option 3 for most weight. (They also squeak a little I did apply grease when I installed them but still squeak.) Now I’m starting to lean towards OME. Looking at BP-51 set just waiting to upgrade shocks form 5100’s.

Don’t think you will have to change lower control arms. If you want a little more comfortable ride and better articulation you could change UCA’s. But stock will work.

For fender flares I went with Tremor flares for a stock look and they come painted carbonized grey.

Tires you could run Ko2’s I’ve had good experience with them and quite on the road. Definitely don’t get 10ply loadE tires though if looking to save MPG’s. I think my tire set up is around 80lbs a tire. I’ve been looking at Bronco steelies to put on ranger and probably going to change to C rated tire as well.

I didn’t realize they were 10 ply until my buddy pointed it out after a few thousand miles! I have thought about the Tremor fender flares. They add an inch of flare. I loved the over size flares I had but they were hell on the paint

Sponsored