Ranch Hand with body lift

[tyhuck]

Well, let me begin by saying I have an illness.

 

'My name is Tyson, and Im a mod-aholic."

 

OK, step 1 complete.

 

So heres my issue. I recently acquired a Ranch Hand brush guard. My plan was to run this for a while until my tires wore out and then lift, add a full front replacement, and put on larger tires. Well, that didn't happen. I found a body lift on sale today, and bought it. So now, I need to find a way to modify my brush guard to run it with the lift. anyone ever done this before? Im interested in how you modified the guard, or what kind of adapter brackets you made.

[zach1990]

Ha! I knew you'd lift this one! I don't have any pics but a friend of mine cut his brush guard close to the mounts and lifted it up 3 inches with brackets welded on the sides of the gaps

 

 

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[kstruckcountry]

Take a look at the brackets, you can either extend those or do what Zach said his friend did. Honestly after some of the stuff I've seen that you've fabbed I'm kind of surprised you'd ask, haha.

[tyhuck]

Well, Once I saw that the mileage was gonna suck with 4.10s , no matter what, I always planned on lifting it, I just didn't expect to do so this soon.

 

I know I can do it, but I was hoping that someone else had done this so I get some input on how sturdy its gonna be. The idea crossed my mind to just go ahead and fab a total new front end replacement, but I figured it would just look better and be easier to go with the modified guard.

 

Kinda wish I had just kept the parts off of my 05 and just run them on this truck instead of selling them.

[TimmyG]

On my buddys ford he just cut off the headlight hoops and left it alone. Looks pretty good

 

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[8.1HD/ALLISON]

I had a pushbar on my last truck with a 3 inch body lift. Took a plasma cutter to the frame and fabbed some mounts to fit the bar.

 

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[tyhuck]

I really don't want to modify the truck permanently. Given my track record, I will sell this truck eventually, and I don't want to do anything that's gonna raise a red flag to a buyer. I took a look at the guard, and it is gonna take some engineering to get it sround the frame. If nobody posts any ideas, maybe I can come up with something. I really didn't want to get rid of the guard but if I just can figure out a good way to make it look stock, I guess I can always sell it and pay for most of the material to build a couple replacement bumpers. Really, REALLY don't want to at this point though.

[tyhuck]

Well, the lift came in yesterday, but all day yesterday I was using the truck to shuttle the tractor to and from the lease to get my food plot put in, and after looking at it several times, Im unsure if I want to lift it or not. Im having an internal debate as to lift it or not. Mainly because its gonna be 2 years or so before my current tires wear out, so I wouldn't really see any benefits to the lift until after that, so I can put 35s on it. Who knows what will happen in 2 years. Given my current track record, I could have a whole new truck by then.

Im debating on whether or not just to sell the lift and get my money back. I don't know. Can someone talk me in or out of lifting?

Here is my truck pretty much as it sits now, but before the guard was installed.

 

 

What would you do?

[8.1HD/ALLISON]

I would love to lift my truck and set it on 35s but lift kits and goosenecks dont really work. To me it depends what you are going to do with the truck.

 

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[zach1990]

Do the lift. Pick up some used 35s for now and sell your current tires to offset the price. Good looking truck btw!

 

 

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[kstruckcountry]

I like the way it looks now. I don't really see the point of 35's. But then again I only have 31's and I'm happy with them.

[TimmyG]

I got a 3 in lift on mine with stock tires..

 

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[tyhuck]

I would love to lift my truck and set it on 35s but lift kits and goosenecks dont really work. To me it depends what you are going to do with the truck. Sent from my LGL86C using Tapatalk 4

 

 

I know a lot of guys that run 6" lifts and still pull goosenecks. Just have to be careful, very careful. However, I also know a few guys that run 35s on their HDs with just a torsion crank, but they run stock wheels too.

 

Do the lift. Pick up some used 35s for now and sell your current tires to offset the price. Good looking truck btw! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

That aint gonna happen. In hindsight, I shoulda just kept everything off my old truck. But, instead, I sold it all, bought new tires, and went back to stock. The wife was so mad because I made a big deal about buying new tires, and at the mere mention of 35s she got mad again. I could buy some 35s off craigslist or something, but I think it would cost me way more than just the money for the tires. That whole, "If momma aint happy..." scenario

 

 

I think Ive just about decided to leave it alone for now. I put about 900lbs in the bed, plus a 45hp tractor and 6' brush-hog on a 16' trailer. All in all, about 8000 lbs plus me. Truck handled it awesome, even on the hills. I just don't think that it will tow as well with 35s, so Im gonna have to really put some though into it before these tires wear out.

[KMGZ400]

i personally wouldnt want it any higher if your doing work with it.. it looks really good the way it is now. and it wont handle or get as good MPG with 35's save your money.

[tyhuck]

That's what I keep thinking. Plus, I can barely reach the camper glass when its lifted now, and Im 6'2". I might have to jump if I lifted it.

 

Im sitting here staring at the box that it came in, looking at the picture of my truck, and comparing it to the pictures I have of my 05. I think Im just torturing myself. But, the more I think about it, the more I think Im just gonna send it back. If I don't lift it, I might even save my poor old seat from wearing out any more.