2002 Fx4 Ford Ranger Build

[TravisB316]

Hey guys! I’m new here and thought I would start off my introducing my truck and showing a few pictures! Always looking for ideas on how to improve it so if you have any ideas please let me know!

My truck is a 2002 Fx4 Ford Ranger with a 4” superlift, I ditched the torsion bars and did a coilover conversion with Fox emulsion coilovers. I also installed a set of BTF uniball upper control arms and running a set of 33x12.50r15 BFG Ko2’s. The truck has factory 4.10 gears and Torsen LSD in the rear. I built a rear swing out spare tire carrier bumper and have a 2 gallon Daystar cam can on the spare. I welded on a set of trail gear rock sliders for protection!

I’m currently exploring my options as far as a roof top tent / awning set up and if I want to run a camper shell or a bed rack set up.

 

[Camp_Llama]

Love the FX4 Ranger, yours looks great. I'd like to hear more about the conversion from torsion to the coilovers. I didn't know people were converting the front ends on these trucks.

 

[TravisB316]

Love the FX4 Ranger, yours looks great. I'd like to hear more about the conversion from torsion to the coilovers. I didn't know people were converting the front ends on these trucks.

Yeah they are great little truck and thank you. Yeah RCD used to make a lift kit that would come with the coilovers and conversions brackets. But they have since stopped making the lift so one enthusiast began producing and selling very similar brackets.

The coilovers are a much nicer ride over the factory torsion bars. And the conversion can be done in a day if your skilled or two if your a weekend warrior !

 

[Camp_Llama]

Yeah I had always had Tacomas before I went full size with the F150, but I had always liked Rangers, but hated torsion bars in the front. I had seen people do similar conversions to Chevy Suburbans on here and found the conversion pretty fascinating. With the Ranger, I found it interesting because the last FX4s were really capable trucks and the last gen trucks can be had for a decent price. I had read about the Superlift 4" in a magazine a while back and was impressed with it based on what I saw, but is everything in that Superlift kit (aside from the torsion bar components) necessary for doing the lift with the coilover? (ex. lower control arms).

 

[TravisB316]

Yeah I had always had Tacomas before I went full size with the F150, but I had always liked Rangers, but hated torsion bars in the front. I had seen people do similar conversions to Chevy Suburbans on here and found the conversion pretty fascinating. With the Ranger, I found it interesting because the last FX4s were really capable trucks and the last gen trucks can be had for a decent price. I had read about the Superlift 4" in a magazine a while back and was impressed with it based on what I saw, but is everything in that Superlift kit (aside from the torsion bar components) necessary for doing the lift with the coilover? (ex. lower control arms).

Yeah so with the super lift kit I used about half of the lift personally. But if you just wanted to do the superlift and the coilover conversion you would use everything but the drop down brackets. I didn’t use those or the rear lift blocks instead I did an add a leaf and a set of shackles to achieve the 4” lift.

But yeah rangers and especially the Fx4 models are awesome trucks!

 

[TravisB316]

A few of the more recent additions to the truck.

Rigid Dually D2 HD lights in the driving pattern and a Daystar Cam Can on the spare

 

[Raul B]

Welcome aboard. Nice looking Ranger

 

[TravisB316]

Welcome aboard. Nice looking Ranger

Thank you!

 

[Motohead1]

Nice truck. Love the coilover swap.

 

[TravisB316]

Nice truck. Love the coilover swap.

Thank you! Yeah it was easily one of my favorite mods!

 

[LandPirate]

Awesome.

 

[TravisB316]

A few pictures from our trip to the Harquahala mountains this weekend!

 

[Crusty Overland]

Dang! Looks great! We’re looking at doing a coil over conversion ourselves. We have a 2.5in lift on 31s and want to go bigger. (We did paint this winter and have not reattached the roofrack yet)




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[Crusty Overland]

We’re fabricating rock sliders next, could you post some pics of the underside of your rock sliders?


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[TravisB316]

Dang! Looks great! We’re looking at doing a coil over conversion ourselves. We have a 2.5in lift on 31s and want to go bigger. (We did paint this winter and have not reattached the roofrack yet)

Nice the truck looks good! I would look into doing the 2006+ mirror swap. I think it gives the truck a meaner look. Also I’m sure you are aware but the coilover conversion doesn’t give you anymore lift than torsion bar cranking!

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[Eric Neal]

Aw man! Love it!

I'm running an 02 Ranger as well. Would love to get more info on the source for the coil over conversion you mentioned in the original post.

I opted for a Yakima RTT and their bed rack system - so far its great. But if running in the desert there is a dust issue to factor in for anything stored in the bed.

I'm using 3 latching plastic bins as a system - I've set up one as, Kitchen, one Pantry, one as general camp which includes hand axe, tarp, water filter, couple if day-packs for hiking, etc. Also carry two plastic jerrys, one as 20L water and one for gasoline backup.

Enjoy the ride!!

However i run 285/75 16s (33") with a 2 inch lift but still using the IFS with sway bar removed. Youve now just opened a new door for a future upgrade! Thanks

 

[Crusty Overland]

Thanks! We’ll have to look into that! We’ve also been thinking of ways to do a solid front axle conversion but that would take serious money. What size tires are you running?


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[Crusty Overland]

Sorry missed where you said 33s, we popped in 33s before the front bumper swap and they rubbed so we got 31s instead


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[TravisB316]

We’re fabricating rock sliders next, could you post some pics of the underside of your rock sliders?

The rock sliders are trail gear 84” (I believe) weld it yourself kit. They aren’t perfect length but close enough. See pics above.

Aw man! Love it!

I'm running an 02 Ranger as well. Would love to get more info on the source for the coil over conversion you mentioned in the original post.

I opted for a Yakima RTT and their bed rack system - so far its great. But if running in the desert there is a dust issue to factor in for anything stored in the bed.

I'm using 3 latching plastic bins as a system - I've set up one as, Kitchen, one Pantry, one as general camp which includes hand axe, tarp, water filter, couple if day-packs for hiking, etc. Also carry two plastic jerrys, one as 20L water and one for gasoline backup.

Enjoy the ride!!

However i run 285/75 16s (33") with a 2 inch lift but still using the IFS with sway bar removed. Youve now just opened a new door for a future upgrade! Thanks

There is some good information on the conversion on the ranger forums. There is a guy by the username me00stepside (zeros in his name) that sells the brackets to convert to coilovers. They run about $300. And I’ve looked into roof top tents but I’m not sure they are right for me at this juncture but if a good deal on one comes up I’ll snag it.

 

[Crusty Overland]

View attachment 47225 View attachment 47224

Thanks for the pics! That’s pretty much what we are building next, and a custom rack system to hold an RTT in the future.


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