Lifting body or suspension ?

Do hard core trailriders dislike: rookies , newbies , amateurs, novices etc and why or why not? ?

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PWRWGN MAN

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I have a 2002 Ford Explorer what's the best way to lift it? Body lift or suspension lift? I'd like to get at least a 6 inch lift so I can get some decent rubber underneath of it so I can go trail riding with it next month I'm looking to join a four by four Club I want to become an active member with other like-minded people who like to ride in the woods that live close to me
 
Suspension if you want to stay with the ifs. That way if it's a good kit it will not only lift it but also increase the performance of the suspension. A body lift will do nothing for the performance of the suspension and all body lifts look like crap. My .02
 
Most likely for 6 inches of lift your going to have to do both. Few kits are offered for this line. I know of one company who offers a 4 inch kit, then you can add a 3 inch body. It really depends on tire size and end goal. If you really want to use the limits of the transfer case and the rear end I would suggest saving the kit cost and doing an axle swap. Of course this can snowball..............build build build. That's half the fun!

But seriously nobody does a straight 6 inch kit that I can find. With a 4 inch I recommend upgrading the front drive shaft as well. You will spend around 2k in kit and drive shaft alone. Then the cost of a body lift. Plus all the labor. This could go a long way in a straight axle swap.
 
Why so much lift? Build your skill level along with your rig. I started on 31s with a winch and strong recovery points. From there I learned my rig, how it handled, what broke and how my wheelbase worked. I upgraded as I seen where I needed it. You can find a group with similar rigs and interests and go from there.

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A moderate lift (3"), aggressive tires, some armor (skids, sliders), and a rear locker will safely take your truck places you never imagined it going. I wheeled the crap out of mine with that basic formula (only 32s but with t-case gears) and had plenty of fun with it all over the country. It was only when I started trying to keep up with my friends that had moved to 36"+ tires that I realized I was exceeding my truck's capability.
 
I agree with infamous. Go out wheel some places and go from there. No need to go crazy on a build if you just plan on wheeling somewhere like uwharrie. Keep in mind that lifting your explorer that much and buying some good size tires and wheels will cost. There are some good buggys out there that can be had pretty cheap. Just a thought.
 
Isn't the 02 Explorer IFS/IRS? Can those even be lifted? Bad platform to start with, regardless.
 
Sell it and buy a Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee. You can lift them for a small fraction of what it would cost to lift that Exploder and they will perform better.
 
Hell if you end up with a Cherokee and it doesn't have a lift I think my old lift is still sitting in my buddies shop. If so you can have it. I think it's 4" you'd need some shackles for the rear and shocks and good to go.
 
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IFS front, rear leaf sprung. I would be different, but yes more cost to "build". I use that term lightly since that could head numerous ways.
 
LBarr2002 said:
Isnt the '02 4 door IRS? Maybe sports and sport trac stayed solid axle for a while lobger. I don't know, it's been a long time since I kept up with explorer stuff.
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I believe you are correct. I did a quick search to find lifts and that popped up. Looks like it was only the little pickup version that carries a straight axle that long. If that's the case I completely agree with Shawn. Look elsewhere. Maybe the OP should look under his rig.
 
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