Old Man Emu Light or Heavy Load 2.50 Inch Lift

[nsalcedo20]

I said my build was going to be slow and... it escalated very, very quickly. So... y es, we know how that goes.

After looking through stage 3's website, I see this on sale and the description sounds like it's a Ford tuned version of the heavy load OME lift? Thoughts on this? Almost $300 off is a good deal in my eyes.

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[Colo_Ranger]

After looking through stage 3's website, I see this on sale and the description sounds like it's a Ford tuned version of the heavy load OME lift? Thoughts on this? Almost $300 off is a good deal in my eyes.

Call up Stage 3 and talk to them. They can answer questions. I agree, that's what it looks like. They also usually give forum members a discount (not off discounted items).

 

[Frenchy]

After looking through stage 3's website, I see this on sale and the description sounds like it's a Ford tuned version of the heavy load OME lift? Thoughts on this? Almost $300 off is a good deal in my eyes.

It's not tuned by ford, but it is the same stuff at a discounted price.

 

[nsalcedo20]

Call up Stage 3 and talk to them. They can answer questions. I agree, that's what it looks like. They also usually give forum members a discount (not off discounted items).

Chatted with the guys at Stage 3, they said its a solid kit, will definitely give clearance for a 285/70/17 or 33x11 tire, and that it should be on sale the whole month of June so if you know anyone else looking for a good discount, looks like this is a solid deal. Also said UCAs are recommended but not required to get it on there

 

[Frenchy]

Chatted with the guys at Stage 3, they said its a solid kit, will definitely give clearance for a 285/70/17 or 33x11 tire, and that it should be on sale the whole month of June so if you know anyone else looking for a good discount, looks like this is a solid deal. Also said UCAs are recommended but not required to get it on there

Almost like I mentioned it was a good kit. Weird.

That said I can confirm fitment of Firestone Destination XT Tires in 285/70-17 on the Factory Sport Wheels with no spacers. I did not remove the crash bars, but instead loosened and moved them as far as I could from the tires then removed the front plastic cover from the front crash parts. After that it was set for the most part

 

[Colo_Ranger]

Chatted with the guys at Stage 3, they said its a solid kit, will definitely give clearance for a 285/70/17 or 33x11 tire, and that it should be on sale the whole month of June so if you know anyone else looking for a good discount, looks like this is a solid deal. Also said UCAs are recommended but not required to get it on there

I can confirm they will also fit 285/75r17 tires with a 1" wheel spacer. That's the largest tire you can fit in the OE tire location.

 

[seanellaz]

Good to know, from what Frenchy said it sounds like the icon coilovers and the shackle are what’s giving you the lift and you just have the OME leafs? If so what do you think of that set up. I’m mainly looking for a good overall suspension lift that’s not going to cause issues further down the line like a rough country lift or something, but also handle some heavier days with ease

Hi nsalcedo20
I took the long way to get where I am. I started the mods with a BDS 3.5 Inch Lift Kit (https://bds-suspension.com/products/3-5-inch-lift-kit-ford-ranger-19-23-4wd) . This replaced the stock upper control arms with very nice BDS UCA's, kept stock rear springs, replaced the rear shocks with NX2 Nitro Series (by BDS) and added 1" shackle lifts. The kit used the stock front coilovers with spacer's to level the truck. I swapped out the wheels from the stock 17 x 8 with +55mm offset to XF Off-Road XFX-301 Wheel 17x10 with +12mm Offset. I wanted to keep the tires inside the wheel wells and under the truck as much as possible. I think I was running TOYO Open Country R/T 295/70 R17's. When crawling over rocks, the truck would rock side to side in an unsettling manner. So I replaced the front / spaced coilovers with Extended Travel ICON Front 2.5 Coilover Kit. This lifted the front a bit, helped a ton, but the rear stock springs were too stiff for my taste. So I called ARB / OME and talked Nils about what I wanted and which springs to get. I wanted a bit more lift and some added capacity, because I felt the rear was too far down when pulling my overlanding trailer. He suggested ARB / OME EL121R, and said that these springs would raise the rear by 1.5" and add 600 pounds capacity.

The ride was much improved but I felt more damping was needed on the rear, still some Rocking back and forth when rock crawling, so I replaced the rear NX2's with Fox 2.0 PERFORMANCE SERIES.

Then I swapped the tires to ATTUROTRAIL BLADE X/T 35 X12.50R17 LT 121Q E2 BSW and had some rubbing on the frame. I added 1.25" spacers and eliminated the frame rubbing but at the cost of rubbing on various pats in the wheel well. I removed the crashbars, and did some cutting of not needed stuff inside the wheel well. Now the suspension is all done I don't antcipate any troubles or further suspension, or wheel mods. I'm kind of a boring driver so don't think I need any shocks with external reserviors.

If I knew then what I know now - that I wanted 35"s, and would need extra lift in the rear and front, better shocks / coilovers; I'd go with XF Off-Road XFX-301 17x10 with -12mm Offset wheels (no spacers), BDS UCA's & Rear Shackle lift, Fox 2.0 PERFORMANCE SERIES rear shocks, ARB / OME EL121R rear springs and the Extended Travel ICON Front 2.5 Coilover Kit .

 

[seanellaz]

You are a bit confused on the leafs. It's not that it adds capacity, but is designed to carry a capacity at said lift height. For example the EL120R will have no problems holding 600 Lbs. That said it will lower the rear accordingly. I know because I have loaded the rear with 780 lbs with those springs and it leveled my Ranger completely and that was with the Old Man EMU Nitrocharger Sport Suspension.

For you having the Icon mismatched, it is messing with your perception of how it all works.

Hi Frenchy, confusion is my middle name I was just forwarding what Nils at ARM / OME told me about the ARB / OME EL121R, he said they'd add 1.5" lift and 600lbs carrying capacity. The truck runs with a little rake unloaded, and flat / no rake or rear sag, when fully loaded and pulling my little trailer with the roof top tent. The sweet thing about multi leaf springs vs stock 1 leafs is the more supple ride. I admit addtional confusion and potential misconception about "having the Icon mismatched". This is what is in the front of my truck: https://iconvehicledynamics.com/products/91255 . The page says they lift the front of my truck 2.5", not 3.5" as I originally stated, sorry 'bout that y'all.

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