Ford Takes the Ranger Up a Notch
For those interesting in off-roading, or the perfect meaty stance, a ride-height leveling kit might be the first go-to in giving a new pickup truck a fresh look and more capability. These raise the front end to match the rear’s jacked-up height, which is built-in to accommodate squat from payload or towing. Ford wants in on the fun (and the money), so it’s offering an accessory 2-inch ride-height leveling kit at Ford dealers for front suspensions on any four-wheel-drive-equipped 2019 Ford Rangers and 2015-19— including ones equipped with the already off-road-focused FX4 package.
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For $1,495 before installation, the Ford Performance Parts off-road leveling kit includes front Fox shock absorbers with aluminum bodies, new front coil-over springs with adjustable ride height, locking spring preload rings, plus Ranger- or F-150-specific upper polyurethane bushing mounts. Ford Performance engineers and Fox developed unique internal shock valving that Ford says “delivers confident performance and predictable handing both off-road and on the pavement.” With the 2-inch lift, the Ranger has a 21 percent increase in approach angle and 10 percent increase in breakover angle; the F-150 with a 145-inch wheelbase sees a 22 percent increase in approach angle and 7 percent increase in breakover angle.
In addition to the stated increased capabilities, leveling the front and providing extra ground clearance has the potential to give larger-diameter tires a little more breathing room. And like any suspension modification, it also has the potential to affect payload and towing performance, as those capabilities are measured in stock configurations and equipment.
The Ford leveling kit comes with a Ford warranty when installed at a Ford dealer and is now available as it was released in the fall.
