Even those remotely familiar with Ford's ever-popular Ranger know that the truck underwent a radical chassis change in '98. The switch from I-beams to A-arms netted better handling and longer tire life, and that '98 chassis continues on through '08 and beyond. There are two basic A-arm chassis styles: torsion bar and coil spring. The torsion bar chassis is used for the 4x4, 2WD Edge, and 2WD Sport SuperCab models. The coil spring chassis is used for the 2WD XL, 2WD XLT, and 2WD Sport regular cab models.
Since the 2WD XL and XLT models are produced in greater numbers and are available at lower price points, there are quite a few coil-spring Rangers out there, waiting for the chance to become desert weapons.
Camburg Engineering offers a long-travel kit to owners of coil-spring Rangers with a need for real desert speed. This is the same kit campaigned in multiple MDR racing seasons by Camburg's Jeremy Zindroski, who also happens to own Dezertrangers.com. Due to the frame modifications and shock hoop fabrication required for a clean, strong installation, this kit should only be installed by an experienced fabricator or a high-end off-road shop.
Quick Specs
1. Four inches wider per side
2. Boxed-plate lower control arms
3. Tubular chromoly upper control arms
4. Factory-style bushings are replaced throughout with high-misalignment rod ends and spherical bearings.
5. Factory steering knuckles are replaced with a custom-fabricated knuckle that is much stronger.
6. Stainless steel tie rods replace the OEM wet-noodle tie rods.
7. Uses either 8- or 10-inch stroke coilover shocks.
8. Can also be used with bypass shocks.
9. The kit yields up to 18 inches of wheel travel depending on the shocks and the shock mounts' configuration.
 Here's Camburg's long-travel...  Here's Camburg's long-travel off-road system in full-race trim. Choosing the full-race option gives you burly 2.5-inch spindle snouts, billet aluminum hubs, and Wilwood Superlite brake calipers in addition to the upper and lower control arms, tie rods, and steering knuckles. If you can get your Ranger to Camburg's Huntington Beach, California, home base, the 'Burg can install this suspension using the same quality materials and attention to detail that pervades the kit itself. Installation is not free, but the quality is first-rate and worth the asking price. |  Two views of the custom steering...  Two views of the custom steering knuckle show textbook-quality MIG welds, beefy materials, and sensible design. The factory ball joints are replaced by one-inch spherical bearings on top and one-and-a-half-inch spherical bearings on the bottom.... |  ....The steering arm tabs...  ....The steering arm tabs are boxed in for extra strength, and the spindle snout's mount is reinforced by a doubler plate on the outboard face. Heat signatures on the back side give away the presence of internal gussets. |
 If you're ready for the long-travel...  If you're ready for the long-travel kit, but not quite ready for the full-race hubs and brakes, Camburg offers its custom steering knuckle configured to used the factory Ford hubs and brakes. |  The boxed plate lower control...  The boxed plate lower control arms are four inches wider per side, and use one-inch spherical bearings in place of the factory bushing pivots. Internal gusset plates are a sign of strength, as are the wrap-around tabs that clutch the spherical bearing cups. Shock mounting tabs are usually not included, allowing the installer to determine the final shock mounting position. At the customer's request, Camburg can install coilover mounting tabs for 8-inch stroke shocks. It should be noted that tapping the full potential for 18 inches of wheel travel means using 10-inch stroke shocks and creating overhead wheel travel clearance by fabricating a custom radiator core support and deleting the factory A/C box. In addition to the shock mount fabrication required, the factory coil pocket bulge in the frame must be cut out and plated straight across to create the lateral clearance needed for the coilover and optional bypass shocks. |  One-inch spherical bearings...  One-inch spherical bearings are used in place of the factory A-arm pivot bushings, and a one-and-a-half-inch spherical bearing is used in place of the factory lower ball joint.... |
 ... It doesn't get much beefier...  ... It doesn't get much beefier than this, even on real live Trophy Trucks. |  Tubular 1.5-inch, 0.120-wall...  Tubular 1.5-inch, 0.120-wall chromoly upper control arms are simple items, but there's not always a clean, simple way to meld flat-plate spherical bearing mounting tabs with round tubing. Thanks to clever execution and laser-cut plate, these spherical bearing mounting tabs look great and have the strength to back up the looks. At the frame, 3/4-inch rod ends are used in place of the factory bushings; all the better for durability and lasting alignment. Custom rod-end spacers allow these control arms to bolt directly into the factory mounts without modification. |  The factory tie rods are a...  The factory tie rods are a joke compared to their Camburg replacements. Instead of wet-noodle dimensions, the 'Burg gives you oversized, custom CNC-machined, heat-treated stainless-steel tie rods for maximum strength and corrosion resistance. A custom clevis connects the Camburg tie rods to the factory steering rack, and heavy-duty rod ends are used on outer and inner ends. To reduce bump steer, the head-treated stainless steel clevis uses a special bolt design that places the inner rod end as close to the steer rack as possible. Note the wrench flats built into the tie rod: a custom touch that makes life easier. |
 Billet aluminum hubs, 2.5-inch...  Billet aluminum hubs, 2.5-inch tapered roller bearings, and 5/8-inch studs (in a 5-on-5-1/2 bolt pattern) are much tougher than the factory hardware. If you're using 35-inch tires, drive hard, race, or all of the above, the full-race version of Camburg's Ranger long-travel kit is highly recommended. |  The ability to stop produces...  The ability to stop produces the confidence to go fast. Wilwood Superlite calipers and matching Wilwood Polymatrix brake pads add up to sure stopping. | |