Superlift or SAS?

[Fiveflat]

I just picked up a B2 to use around my property. Now that I have it, I'd like to make it kinda trail ready as well. I *THINK* I want to do a full width SAS but I don't know enough about them yet. I want to lift it asap though and I was looking at the 4.5" Superlift for it.

If I go the SAS route AFTER the superlift, will I end up with a take off lift kit? Or will parts from the kit be used for the SAS?

The superlift kit is $631. What should a fw-SAS run me complete?

 

[Fiveflat]

I wish I knew more about what kind of labor is involved in a SAS. I just found this on craigslist for $600:
The whole package Dana 44 and 9" with everything you see on them:

 

[4x4junkie]

I think the question should be:
"Full-size-width or Stock width?"

If you want it to be full width, then a SAS using that stuff would get you there... Another option might also be to use a FW D44 TTB ('80-'96 trucks), which this would allow you to reuse a majority of the parts from a lift for the stock suspension.

Superlift is among the last choices I'd pick for a lift on yours though. Skyjacker or James Duff have far better quality products.

What are your intentions? Rock crawling? Mud-whomping? Speed running? (desert, sand, etc.)? Trail driving? (trails in the forest, powerline/mining roads, etc.)?


Also, and welcome to TRS

 

[Fiveflat]

Skyjacker only offers a 1.5" or a 6" lift. I don't want to go 6" high. The James Duff kit is only 3" and the Superlift is 4.5"

I was chatting with another friend of mine and it seems the best process might be to simply put a small lift on it now (all I really want are 31's maybe 32's). And upgrade to an SAS as things break if I need to. I called a local shop that does SAS turnkey and I about choked on their quote... I can't justify 10TIMES what I paid for the entire truck on suspension alone. Not at this point anyway.

 

[Fiveflat]

by the way, yes a full-size-width is absolutely the route I'd go if I decide on an SAS.

Perhaps the turnkey shop's quote needs to pay his mortgage and health insurance so that's why it was so high? I was quoted around $7000-8000 (hence my choking on thin air)

I am a mechanical guy but I just don't know what is physically involved in the swap.

 

[country0001]

Check this out. It would be similar to what you are wanting to do. That is a good price on the SAS stuff, especially if it has better gears and/ or a locker in it.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/ford/1126474-ford-explorer-sased.html

 

[Fiveflat]

Thanks for that link! much appreciated.

 

[4x4junkie]

Skyjacker has 1.5", 4", 6" and 8" lifts.

Sounds like the shop quoted you a price as if they were going to SAS an A-arm IFS truck, not a TTB truck (it's about 1/2-2/3 the labor on a TTB truck since a lot of the hardware can be reused (steering box, coil mounts, etc).

 

[armadillon]

Hmmm. Fullwidth sounds cool. I wish I had a full-width ranger. That moved.

 

[Fiveflat]

I think a full size TTB is the direction I want to go for my needs. Still have no clue whats involved in that swap, but thats why I'm here I suppose. What's all your opinions on that?
What I want is a good trail rig and be able to make runs across some flat dry ground at speed...

 

[country0001]

Check out desert rangers or something like that and search out a guy named Joel. He makes a kit to make it a bolt in