Txhillbilly
Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2012
- Posts
- 45
- Reaction score
- 5
- Ram Year
- 2012 Dodge PowerWagon
- Engine
- Hemi 5.7
We spent the last couple days lifting the truck. I used the Rancho 4" kit,and put some 35" Cooper STT's on the factory wheels.
The Pitman arm must have been put on by King Kong,the guy's broke 3 Pitman arm removing tools,and 2 impact sockets getting the factory arm off the gear box.
Then when we tried to install the new control arms,we find out that Dodge changed the bolt size and they are too big to go through the bushing sleeves.
So after talking to Rancho,I decided to take the sleeves to a machine shop and have them drilled out so the bolts will fit.
I already knew the drivers side exhaust will have to be modified to clear the front driveshaft,so that wasn't a surprise.
The rear end was the biggest surprise. The rear skid plate crossmember will need to be modified before the truck goes off-road. The driveshaft barely clears it setting on the ground,so I'll have to cut out the center section of the crossmember,and then weld in a driveshaft loop to ensure the driveshaft won't get damaged,and the crossmember is still functional.
Then after installing the rear blocks,and setting the truck back on all four tires,I notice that the rear is a whole lot higher than the front-2.5" higher.
So now,I will have to either replace the blocks with lower ones,or take out all of the short stack leafs that Dodge uses for a lift block on the Power Wagons.
The photo in the Rancho instructions shows the block is installed under these,so that was the way we did it.
I'm not trying to put down Rancho in any way,but they need to stay on top of any changes that the mfg's do to each year of vehicle that they sell lift kits for,and then include those changes in their kits.
Anyway,I love the way the truck looks and drives.The ride is a little firmer than stock,and the tire do make a little noise on the highway,but not too much. As soon as I can get the few things modified,I'll take it out for some dirt/mud testing,if we ever get any rain.
Before-
After-
The Pitman arm must have been put on by King Kong,the guy's broke 3 Pitman arm removing tools,and 2 impact sockets getting the factory arm off the gear box.
Then when we tried to install the new control arms,we find out that Dodge changed the bolt size and they are too big to go through the bushing sleeves.
So after talking to Rancho,I decided to take the sleeves to a machine shop and have them drilled out so the bolts will fit.
I already knew the drivers side exhaust will have to be modified to clear the front driveshaft,so that wasn't a surprise.
The rear end was the biggest surprise. The rear skid plate crossmember will need to be modified before the truck goes off-road. The driveshaft barely clears it setting on the ground,so I'll have to cut out the center section of the crossmember,and then weld in a driveshaft loop to ensure the driveshaft won't get damaged,and the crossmember is still functional.
Then after installing the rear blocks,and setting the truck back on all four tires,I notice that the rear is a whole lot higher than the front-2.5" higher.
So now,I will have to either replace the blocks with lower ones,or take out all of the short stack leafs that Dodge uses for a lift block on the Power Wagons.
The photo in the Rancho instructions shows the block is installed under these,so that was the way we did it.
I'm not trying to put down Rancho in any way,but they need to stay on top of any changes that the mfg's do to each year of vehicle that they sell lift kits for,and then include those changes in their kits.
Anyway,I love the way the truck looks and drives.The ride is a little firmer than stock,and the tire do make a little noise on the highway,but not too much. As soon as I can get the few things modified,I'll take it out for some dirt/mud testing,if we ever get any rain.
Before-
After-
