2 1/4 inch lift installed.

Jewce

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Installed the FordRangerLifts.com 2 1/4 lift kit. Very satisfied with the quality and overall look of this kit. Tire size is 245/65/17 which were installed prior to lift. I plan on upgrading to 255/75/17 with modifications down the line. But so far it drives great and performed well off-road. That little bit of extra clearance made a huge difference.

Ford Bronco Sport 2 1/4 inch lift installed. IMG_9393


Ford Bronco Sport 2 1/4 inch lift installed. IMG_9392


Ford Bronco Sport 2 1/4 inch lift installed. IMG_9391


Ford Bronco Sport 2 1/4 inch lift installed. IMG_9429


Ford Bronco Sport 2 1/4 inch lift installed. IMG_9432


Ford Bronco Sport 2 1/4 inch lift installed. IMG_9433
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Looks nice! Seems like you lost a lot of breakover clearance with those sliders, is it possible to find a more integrated option?
 
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Jewce

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Looks nice! Seems like you lost a lot of breakover clearance with those sliders, is it possible to find a more integrated option?

With the lift installed, I would have had 11 inches of clearance under the door where the sliders are mounted. With them on, I get 9 inches—roughly back to stock height. Their main benefit is making roof access more convenient for loading my surfboard, kayak, and mounted accessories, plus I like the aesthetic. They’re not mounted in a way that I can see them protecting much if I really came down on them for ‘sliding’ purposes.

The downside is that they don’t provide extra clearance in that area and add weight, which contributes to my MPG loss. Right now, fuel efficiency is my biggest concern. Between the roof rack, steel light bar, cargo box, wheels and tires, lift, and sliders, the added weight is noticeable. I’m averaging 23 MPG on a good day, down from 28+.

Still undecided on whether I’ll keep the sliders, but so far, clearance hasn’t been an issue on the trails I run.
 


Mark S.

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Between the roof rack, steel light bar, cargo box, wheels and tires, lift, and sliders, the added weight is noticeable.
The added height from the lift also decreases fuel economy. When you lift a vehicle you increase drag, and drag is the biggest factor affecting fuel economy on the highway.
 

elijahj

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Installed the FordRangerLifts.com 2 1/4 lift kit. Very satisfied with the quality and overall look of this kit. Tire size is 245/65/17 which were installed prior to lift. I plan on upgrading to 255/75/17 with modifications down the line. But so far it drives great and performed well off-road. That little bit of extra clearance made a huge difference.

Ford Bronco Sport 2 1/4 inch lift installed. IMG_9393


Ford Bronco Sport 2 1/4 inch lift installed. IMG_9392


Ford Bronco Sport 2 1/4 inch lift installed. IMG_9391


Ford Bronco Sport 2 1/4 inch lift installed. IMG_9429


Ford Bronco Sport 2 1/4 inch lift installed. IMG_9432


Ford Bronco Sport 2 1/4 inch lift installed. IMG_9433
Did you install the lift yourself? Looks great by the way, I would love to throw a lift on my Bronco sport soon.
 

NMhunter

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Years ago, I had a Karman Ghia, and put a roof rack on it to carry a small Jon Boat. It made a depressing difference in gas mileage, even without the boat. With the Jon Boat on, I couldn't pass a semi without a running start. The wind was coming around the front of the truck, and it was like hitting a soft wall.

The moral of the story is that I don't leave a roof rack on unless I really need it. I put a roof box on my Badlands once, and the gas mileage was as bad as pulling a trailer. I notice in the owner's manual that the oil change interval is the same for roof box or trailer pulling.
 
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Jewce

Jewce

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The added height from the lift also decreases fuel economy. When you lift a vehicle you increase drag, and drag is the biggest factor affecting fuel economy on the highway.
For sure, but the fuel was affected before the lift.

The lift itself only dropped my MPG by about 0.5, so it’s not the main culprit. The bigger impact comes from added weight and aerodynamics (as you said). The general rule of thumb is that every 100 lbs of added weight can reduce MPG by 1–2%, and I’ve added a roof rack, steel light bar, cargo box, wheels & tires, sliders, and the lift—all of which add up.

On top of that, anything on the roof increases wind resistance, which hurts fuel efficiency even more than just weight alone. Larger tires also create more rolling resistance. I was getting 28+ MPG before, and now I’m at 23, so the lift alone clearly isn’t responsible for the full drop. The combined weight and drag from all the mods are what’s making the biggest difference.

not that it’s a major concern for me it’s just something to think about for anyone planning to go this route.
 
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Jewce

Jewce

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Did you install the lift yourself? Looks great by the way, I would love to throw a lift on my Bronco sport soon.
I was lucky enough to have the good people at Peak Suspension help me with the install. They don’t make Sport lifts but we’re happy to take on the project for me. 🙏🏼
 


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Jewce

Jewce

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comes from added weight and aerodynamics. The general rule of thumb is that every 100 lbs of added weight can reduce MPG by 1–2%, and I’ve added a roof
Years ago, I had a Karman Ghia, and put a roof rack on it to carry a small Jon Boat. It made a depressing difference in gas mileage, even without the boat. With the Jon Boat on, I couldn't pass a semi without a running start. The wind was coming around the front of the truck, and it was like hitting a soft wall.

The moral of the story is that I don't leave a roof rack on unless I really need it. I put a roof box on my Badlands once, and the gas mileage was as bad as pulling a trailer. I notice in the owner's manual that the oil change interval is the same for roof box or trailer pulling.
Very interesting. It’s extremely handy having that extra space up on the roof but yeah… I’m going to most likely be taking it down in non peak camping season / my long drives out to AZ from California. Thanks for sharing 🤘🏼
 

jhnvan

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I couldn't install anything more than a 2 inch lift kit in mine. at full droop and full lock, my steering binds and grinds a little plus I couldn't get my shocks back in as the suspension bushings bottomed out so I stayed with 2 inches to prevent these issues. how is it on yours?
 

DesertRat19

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Can you provide details on how your brush bar attaches to the frame? I see that you have shackles where the OE tow hooks used to be. Do these attach to the vehicle in the same way as the tow hooks?
What is the main purpose of a brush bar? Is it as literal as the name?
 

Escape2Bronco

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What is the main purpose of a brush bar? Is it as literal as the name?
Realistically, the main purpose is for looks or holding lights. The original purpose of brushguards or bull bars was exactly as the name sounds. But the old school ones typically bolted directly to the frame of the vehicle. Given the fact these vehicles do not really have a frame per se, the main structural component is missing so they are best used for mounting off road lights.

This is from the Ranch Hands website.

Ford Bronco Sport 2 1/4 inch lift installed. IMG_1270
 
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FordBroncoLifts

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The added height from the lift also decreases fuel economy. When you lift a vehicle you increase drag, and drag is the biggest factor affecting fuel economy on the highway.
Actually less resistance and letting air flow under the chassis. Bigger heavier tires is the culprit for 2-3mpg decline which is nothing to look great and perform amazing off road.
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