TAINTER, I assume this means the tire/wheel combo we are looking at would work? And I'd love to take you up on your offer. I assume I'd buy the kit with the 1/2" extended bump stops? Also, should I buy a pair of the Bilstein rear shocks to make sure all things are equal front to back? What brand of beer? LOL.

 

Interesting, I would assume this means that there is something different from the TC kit since they just mention 4.5" backspacing.

I was hoping to stay with 16" wheels as the price of tires starts to go up exponentially as soon as you go above 16" and I really don't want to pay $500 per tire.

 

Ok, so the one difference I can see is some bars that run across the bottom, not sure what those are for. Anyone shed some light on this?

The Rancho kit looks hell of a lot simpler, which I'm not sure is good or bad, less stuff to break I guess, or maybe all the parts are not pictures. Anyone got any comments or shed some light on those bars?

Rancho:



Tuff Country:



Also, here is another idea as well. The bilsteins for our truck have the same if not great collapsed and expanded range as the Rancho shocks for their lift kit. Does this mean that they could be used in place of the Rancho's in this lift? I don't know if thats a stupid statement or not. I've been wanting to replace all my shocks, but I've been holding off since I thought I would be throwing away money if I ever lifted my ride.

 

Your PM was replied to!

 

Just pulled this right from the PDF installation instructions on Rancho's site.


"The maximum wheel backspacing is 5 inches on 20” wheels and 4.5 inches on 16”, 17” and 18” wheels."

Looks like 16" wheels are just fine....

 

Sorry Draketh 16" rims with 4.5" of backspace will not work. Talk to Rancho and/or ANYONE who has a Rancho on their H3. You are not going to find 1 H3/H3T with a 16" rim on it. The rims would have to stick so far out of the wheel well that they would come in contact with the rear of the front fender and the front fascia when turning. I've seen 16" rims with 4.5" of backspacing tried on a Ranco lifted H3 and it ain't gunna work. The knuckle is in the way.

 

Thank you for your interest in Rancho products. 16" wheels will work as long as the wheels have 4.5" of backspacing. Anything greater than 4.5" of backspacing will contact the steering knuckle.


For further questions or assistance, please contact technical assistance at
734-384-7804 M - F 8:30am - 5:30pm EST.

Rancho Team Member,

Joe




I'm not sure what to think now. Apparently the people at Rancho know nothing about their own product if what you say is true Tainter.

 

Work and street legal are too different things....

Here is a H3 with a 4" lift, 16" wheels, and 4.5backspacing.... notice almost half the tire is not under the truck.

Of course he still had to grind down his caliper, AND use a spacer, which eventaully broke off his studs and his wheel passed him going down the highway....

But, I'm sure you'll be fine....

 

Thanks for the recommendation AutoRoc. I will contact Livernois Motorsports to see what they say.