Before you Buy: 2019-2020 Ford Ranger Suspension Package Breakdown!

Posted by Stephen Sandefur on 3/21/2020 to Before you Buy

Right out of the factory, it might be a tad difficult to imagine the 2019-2020 Ford Ranger as an off-road warrior. It sits a little too close to the ground for comfort. Stock wheels and tires are also on the small side for any truck enthusiast and its OEM tread is more geared for the highway than uneven, rocky paths. Handling and control off-road can be problematic as well as its so-so damping performance, which can be dangerous if your truck can't handle the land around it. Despite its drawbacks, in its stock form, our 2019 Ranger XLT 4x4 Project Truck drove decently on the bumpy trails of Sedona, Arizona, but it was far from our vision of the most effective and comfortable off-road ride. You've probably already gathered that the Ranger isn't off to the best start. However, all hope is not lost for the 2.3L EcoBoost engine midsize truck. Aftermarket suspension upgrades are key to get the most out of your Ranger and to expertly crush trails.

Why should I consider a full package?
While there are multiple choices out on the market, the most premium upgrade you can make is a complete suspension overhaul. There are numerous reasons why these parts need to be on your radar. These packages generally offer more height and more parts for the best off-road experience. You'll love how much better the Ranger will handle over rocky terrain and the ability to mount larger wheels and tires. The new clearance and tougher components will help you avoid dangerous obstacles and to withstand obstacle impacts. Besides the astronomical increase in performance, you can also take more pride in your outfitted Ranger's appearance. No longer will your Ranger be a wimpy little brother that sits low to the ground. You can drive the Ranger around town and have more of a birds-eye view of envious car drivers. Take our word, it's a nice feeling of power and security. The fact that you don't have to mix and match parts is an additional positive of buying everything in one package. Peace of mind is achieved through knowing that everything works together.

What options are out on the market?
Luckily for you, there are a lot of choices for you to pick the best suspension kit for you. Your Ranger doesn't have to suffer as a typical, average truck for much longer! Our options include great packages from manufacturing experts like Eibach, Old Man Emu, Fox, King, and ICON. Let's dive in to what's available at the time of writing for the Ranger at Stage 3 Motorsports!

Eibach Suspension Packages for your 2019-2020 Ford Ranger

Let's turn our attention first to what coilover packages are available for 2019-2020 Ranger Eibach Kits. Complete with Pro-Truck Sport Front Struts, coil springs and Pro-Truck Sport Rear Shocks, this kit helps 4WD versions of the Ranger to have a smoother and more effective off-road ride. 3" of front height is added and your truck can now handle an additional inch in the rear. The monotube struts utilize a 1.81" piston for better compression and response over stock struts. The coil springs can be fitted without modifications and the coilover package can just drop in place of your old struts. The kit's shocks also handle much better than your original parts. An expertly crafted gas-charged monotube internal design with valving helps eliminate some of the bounciness of the factory rear shocks; Therefore your Ranger's rear end maintains better control in aggressive applications. The part also drops right into where your old shocks went for the most convenience possible. Please note that this kit is not compatible with RWD/2WD Ranger out of the box, due to slight differences in the RWD truck's lower shock mounts. However, this can be remedied by replacing or boring out the included bushing sleeve.

Old Man Emu Suspension Packages for your 2019-2020 Ford Ranger

Another great option are our 2019-2020 Ranger Old Man Emu Kits! Both the 2019-2020 Ford Ranger 4X4 Old Man Emu 2.5" Complete Suspension Kit (Standard Load) and the 2019-2020 Ford Ranger 4X4 Old Man Emu 2.5" Complete Suspension Kit (Heavy Load) allow for about 2.37" of front lift and can handle 1.57" of rear suspension. In the front of the Ranger, you'll find two Nitrocharger sport struts and coil springs to handle the first half of the vehicle's suspension. No matter if you're carrying a load or not, the struts will function just as well. The coil springs feature an impressive spring rate of 60t lbf/in. In the rear, you'll find two Nitrocharger sport shock absorbers, leaf springs, and suspension hardware. The shocks add a comfortable, controlled ride after testing determined its design was the best it could be. The leaf springs provides much better ride quality than the stock version. Additional hardware is included for proper fitment and a better product. The only difference between the two kits are how much weight they can manage. The standard kit is optimal for Rangers that carry a stock to medium load. It functions from 600lbs to GVM, but its optimal performance lies between 6,000 and 12,000 lbs. The heavy kit is optimal for Rangers that carry a heavy load. It functions from 12,000 lbs to GVM, but its optimal performance lies at 12,000+ lbs.

Fox Suspension Packages for your 2019-2020 Ford Ranger

2019-2020 Ranger Fox Kits are another fantastic option to upgrade your truck's suspension. Fox's Stage 1-Stage 4 Suspension Packages all offer better off-road handling and height for a better build. All four kits add 3" of front height and can handle up to 1.5" of rear suspension. The Stage 1 and 2 Kits both use FOX 2.0 IFP Performance Series Adjustable Front Coilovers and FOX 2.0 Rear Shocks to accomplish this. Each FOX 2.0 coilover is built around a tough aluminum-body and a nitrogen-charged coilover shock that's wrapped with a finely-tuned spring; each component works together to get you maximum performance, improved response, and much better articulation off road. The aluminum body shocks improve articulation, wheel travel, and heat dissipation in a drop-in design. The Stage 2 Kit also adds a BDS 1.5" DOM Tubular Upper Control Arm to improve suspension droop travel. The Stage 3 and Stage 4 Kits use Race Series 2.5 Adjustable Front Coilovers and 2.5 rear shocks for an even more impressive package. The 2.5 parts feature a bigger diameter design and remote reservoirs to dissipate heat faster than internal reservoirs. The Stage 4 Kit, like the Stage 2, adds a BDS UCA for even better performance. It is recommended that you use the Stage 3-4 Kits for 4WD Rangers while the Stage 1-2 Kits can be used for both 2WD and 4WD builds.

King Suspension Packages for your 2019-2020 Ford Ranger

The fun doesn't stop there, because there are tons of 2019-2020 Ranger King Kits to consider as well. Each 2.5 kit adds 3" of front suspension and can handle up to 2" of rear height. One option adds OEM Performance Series 2.5 Coilovers and 2.5" diameter race-inspired rear shocks with piggyback reservoirs. The remote reservoir coilovers add improved rebound, better compression, 2.5" more wheel travel, and greatly reduced fade over the stock struts. The shocks feature large shafts and piggyback reservoirs to provide increased travel, improved rebound, better compression, and reduced fade. Another kit features adjustable remote reservoirs and adjustable bypass tubes to adjust the flow of oil going to and from the reservoirs for firmer or softer operation. An extended travel coilover adds 3" more wheel travel, 0.5" more than standard King coilovers. Adjustable remote reservoirs can also be added to the extended travel version coilovers in a separate kit for better performance. If your kit includes extended travel coilovers, then you need to add a UCA because they do not work with stock UCAs; we include ICON's Tubular Delta Joint UCA in those kits. The UCAs feature improved suspension geometry for predictable handling. Like Eibach, the King parts are not compatible with RWD/2WD Ranger out of the box, due to slight differences in the RWD truck's lower shock mounts. You can allow for 2WD fitment by replacing or boring out the included bushing sleeve.

ICON Suspension Packages for your 2019-2020 Ford Ranger

Before you make a decision, it is imperative to compare the many 2019-2020 Ranger ICON Kits available. The Stage 1-5 ICON Kits offer so many possibilities for you to provide your Ranger a much-needed boost. These kits all provide 3.5" of front suspension and can handle 1.5" of rear height. The Stage 1-2 Kits' coilovers use 2.5" aluminum CAD plated shock bodies and ICON-engineered performance coil springs for 25% increased front wheel travel over stock and articulation distance. 2.0 corrosion resistant aluminum body shock absorbers also provide excellent ride quality, performance, and reliability even under extreme conditions. ICON Tubular or Billet Aluminum Upper Control Arms can also be added to the Stage 2-5 Kits and allow for 35% more wheel travel when paired with extended travel coilovers. The Stage 3 Kit changes out the shock for ones with remote reservoirs and adds bump stops (also comes in Stage 4-5 Kits). The remote reservoir shocks offer improved heat dissipation over the internal version while the bump stops increase rear end compliance. The Stage 4 Kit also adds a remote reservoir to the the front coilovers for better cooling properties and consistent damping. Each Stage 5 Kit's reservoir adds Compression Damping Control Valve system; this features a dial that controls the fluid flow going between the reservoir and shock body. This allows you to dial in the coilover's compression just to your liking for the most complete ICON kit.

Are there any drawbacks and alternatives to complete suspension kits?
While all our total suspension parts are some of the most important upgrades you can make for your Ranger, we understand if you have any hesitation. Are the kits really too good to be true? While we stand by the quality of these suspension kits, we understand that it does cost more for these components than others. If you are looking for other alternatives, you could always fit individual leveling parts to your Ranger build. To find out more about leveling upgrades, our Ranger front leveling kits article and Ranger rear leveling kits article are here to help. Another option to make adding big off-road wheels and tires possible on your Ranger are some wheel spacers. Wheel spacers are a very cost-effective alternative to a leveling kit, but the spacers come with their own concerns that you must investigate before purchasing. We also have an existing Ranger wheel spacer article available to help you make your choice. We are pleased with the leveling and wheel spacer options we have tested on our Ranger build, and plan on testing more.

A worthwhile addition to your 4WD build
While complete suspension upgrades are more of an investment than other aftermarket parts, they are well worth it. Their impact is unprecedented when you get to the core argument. Ultimately, you need something that you can trust to get you and your Ranger safely across treacherous terrain. You don't want to worry about the durability of your stock components when flying across the dirt. It also is important to just have fun and the addition of a lift kit to your Ranger makes this so much easier.

Do you already have a suspension kit on your Ranger? Which one and what are your impressions of it? Let us know about it in the comments below!

2019-2020 Ranger Eibach Package:

2019-2020 Ford Ranger 4WD Eibach Complete Pro-Truck Sport Shock & Strut Kit (3" of Leveling)

2019-2020 Ranger Old Man Emu Packages:

2019-2020 Ranger Fox Packages:

2019-2020 Ranger King Packages:

2019-2020 Ranger ICON Packages: