My 24’ Cactus Gray Ranger Build

[skytrucker]

I have the same truck 2024 XLT FX4 4X4 with 2.3. I'm interested in changing out the shocks too. Can you in as much detail as you can describe the ride difference between stock fx4 and bilstein 5100.
Off road and on road etc...
Thanks
JRRANGER

Same question….just bought a New 2024 Lariat FX4 and interested in your experience with the Bronco bilstien shocks. Is that front only? To achieve the Level, not over all lift? Retaining the stock rear suspension in full?

yours looks awesome! (Especially in the fastest colour)

Thanks for posting progress

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[GCMRanger]

Welcome to my 2024 Ranger FX4 XLT cactus build! I wanted to make a little thread to document my build for fun.
Comingfrom a 2021 tremor I was a bit worried, but I’m happy to have the freedom to do what I want to it as the tremor had limited lift options and such. So far this thing has been amazing and I couldn’t be more stoked.
Day 1

I started immediately by removing the air dams, bed side decals, and adding my red rocket hitch recovery point!

Next was pretty big, level, tires, wheels.
Bronco Bilstein 5100’s with OME coil/Top Hat.
Toyo open country 285/70/17’s
Black rhino wheels 17x9 +25mm

Next up, was ditch lights, tailgate letters, switch panel, step removal, and tonneau cover.
AuxBeam Switches
Diode Dynamics amber combo lights.
Bison Hard Tri fold tonneau cover

Next up will be GoRhino rb20 slims and then will chill for a bit, but I hope to keep updating this thread as it
I’m also trying to figure out some sort of mounting method for maxtrax, rotopax and such. Maybe a bed rack or bed mounting. Not sure yet!
Anyways. Thanks for your time, hope you can gain some info for your builds!
Shameless plug, If you wanna follow any of my adventures in BC I will be logging them on my IG
www.instagram.com/bc.cactusranger
A few More Pics cause I love this thing.

Wow, this looks amazing!

I have the same exact wheels and tires in my cart and about to pull the trigger for my 2024 WildTrak! I have a couple of questions if that's okay

- I don't see the Black Rhino Taleo in 17x9 and it isn't listed on their site - are you sure these aren't 17x8.5?
- I am stuck between the +25 offset and +35 offset and this makes me want the +25 offset. Besides the poke and rocks being flung onto the truck, anything else noticeable or wishing you went more tucked?
- I noticed in another post you are starting to dislike the Toyo's? Is there a reason? How is the ride and noise when on the road (where I will be 90% of the time!)

Followed on insta as well! Looking forward to more

 

[steveconnery]

Wow, this looks amazing!

I have the same exact wheels and tires in my cart and about to pull the trigger for my 2024 WildTrak! I have a couple of questions if that's okay

- I don't see the Black Rhino Taleo in 17x9 and it isn't listed on their site - are you sure these aren't 17x8.5?
- I am stuck between the +25 offset and +35 offset and this makes me want the +25 offset. Besides the poke and rocks being flung onto the truck, anything else noticeable or wishing you went more tucked?
- I noticed in another post you are starting to dislike the Toyo's? Is there a reason? How is the ride and noise when on the road (where I will be 90% of the time!)

Followed on insta as well! Looking forward to more

I appreciate it man! I’m pretty confident they are 9 inch wide and +25. I’m not sure what the model is as they were unreleased and used for a photoshoot and I bought them off the guy who got them from BR.
As for the poke. I feel like it’s perfect. There’s days I wish I had more poke.. purely for aesthetics. They did shoot up some rocks but the sliders and mud flaps solved that problem
I can look into the offset/width for ya.

As for the toyos. They honestly are great at everything, except wet pavement is terrifying here where I live. We’re talking fishtail in corners at slow speeds. Losing traction on hills. I will likely change them out after summer. But they have been great for everything else.

 

[steveconnery]

Same question….just bought a New 2024 Lariat FX4 and interested in your experience with the Bronco bilstien shocks. Is that front only? To achieve the Level, not over all lift? Retaining the stock rear suspension in full?

yours looks awesome! (Especially in the fastest colour)

Thanks for posting progress

Correct just bilstein in the front for level. Still
Stock in the back. I’m considering getting some 2021 ranger bilsteins for the rear but was kinda hoping they would have 2024 ones by now

 

[RB205]

This is such a great thread. Hoping my cactus gray FX4 ends up looking this good when I'm done with it.

Digging your Privateer mountain bike too. Those always look so dialed in person. Love a raw aluminum bike.

 

[steveconnery]

This is such a great thread. Hoping my cactus gray FX4 ends up looking this good when I'm done with it.

Digging your Privateer mountain bike too. Those always look so dialed in person. Love a raw aluminum bike.

Thanks dude! I’m sure your truck will turn out great!!
And oh man the privateer has been great! Shes getting old but I just gave it a full refresh. Running pretty good still!

 

[RB205]

Thanks dude! I’m sure your truck will turn out great!!
And oh man the privateer has been great! Shes getting old but I just gave it a full refresh. Running pretty good still!

They're built well, should last a good long while. We're basically truck and bike twins.

 

[steveconnery]

They're built well, should last a good long while. We're basically truck and bike twins.

Hell yeah dude that’s awesome.
The raw look is absolutely the move!

 

[GCMRanger]

I appreciate it man! I’m pretty confident they are 9 inch wide and +25. I’m not sure what the model is as they were unreleased and used for a photoshoot and I bought them off the guy who got them from BR.
As for the poke. I feel like it’s perfect. There’s days I wish I had more poke.. purely for aesthetics. They did shoot up some rocks but the sliders and mud flaps solved that problem
I can look into the offset/width for ya.

As for the toyos. They honestly are great at everything, except wet pavement is terrifying here where I live. We’re talking fishtail in corners at slow speeds. Losing traction on hills. I will likely change them out after summer. But they have been great for everything else.

Thanks for the feedback!

The wheels are for sure Black Rhino Taleo - and I know this because this was my wife's favourite option when we were shopping for the truck. I think I will go with the +35 version and add spacers if needed as I am not a HUGE fan of poke but yours makes it look very good.

I think you just helped me make my choice of tire as well. I live in the Cayman Islands so absolutely no snow and it rains for about half of the year and 2 of those months we are under hurricane warning and it can flood within an hour. I was stuck between the Toyo's (looks slightly more aggressive) and the Nitto Terra G3s (wayyy better traction for dry and wet conditions but less aggressive look). I think I might pull the trigger on the G3s since the roads aren't that great and its either always extremely hot or raining.

What tires are you thinking about going with or you haven't crossed the bridge yet?

Is the front and back perfectly levelled or did you leave a small amount of rake? The back looks a little lower than others I have seen on here where they only level the front

 

[steveconnery]

Thanks for the feedback!

The wheels are for sure Black Rhino Taleo - and I know this because this was my wife's favourite option when we were shopping for the truck. I think I will go with the +35 version and add spacers if needed as I am not a HUGE fan of poke but yours makes it look very good.

I think you just helped me make my choice of tire as well. I live in the Cayman Islands so absolutely no snow and it rains for about half of the year and 2 of those months we are under hurricane warning and it can flood within an hour. I was stuck between the Toyo's (looks slightly more aggressive) and the Nitto Terra G3s (wayyy better traction for dry and wet conditions but less aggressive look). I think I might pull the trigger on the G3s since the roads aren't that great and its either always extremely hot or raining.

What tires are you thinking about going with or you haven't crossed the bridge yet?

Is the front and back perfectly levelled or did you leave a small amount of rake? The back looks a little lower than others I have seen on here where they only level the front

Ya fair enough man, I’ve talked to a few people with the open country, and they have the same issue, but if you search online they have glowing reviews. So not sure what to say there, that’s just my experience.
I had the fallen wildpeak at3 on my last ranger and they were incredible. If I were to upgrade I’d go back to wildpeaks 100%.

As for the level. I’m pretty sure it was super close to level maybe a tiny bit of rake.
Maybe it’s cause I see the truck everyday, but I always feel like it looks low. Would love to lift it but I live with underground parking and that gets tight fast. Lol

In theory it should be at least a couple inches higher than a stock in the front with a level and 33’s, but I guess I’ve never really done a side by side test.

 

[GCMRanger]

Ya fair enough man, I’ve talked to a few people with the open country, and they have the same issue, but if you search online they have glowing reviews. So not sure what to say there, that’s just my experience.
I had the fallen wildpeak at3 on my last ranger and they were incredible. If I were to upgrade I’d go back to wildpeaks 100%.

As for the level. I’m pretty sure it was super close to level maybe a tiny bit of rake.
Maybe it’s cause I see the truck everyday, but I always feel like it looks low. Would love to lift it but I live with underground parking and that gets tight fast. Lol

In theory it should be at least a couple inches higher than a stock in the front with a level and 33’s, but I guess I’ve never really done a side by side test.

Yeah, the reviews on most of these sites are usually left by people with 500 miles on the tire when they are brand new after they replaced a worn set of stock wheels so anything will be better.

I actually moved the FWAT3/AT4 off my list because apparently they are just as bad (if not worse) in rain and are heavier - 285/70/R17 is 53 lbs (SL) and 67 lbs (C/LT). They scored okay in the tests on TireRack but nothing to write home about. I would rather a lighter tire and better wet grip than anything so thanks for your points about the Toyo - that pushed me aware from it.

Trying to level with the available options on the market but its a bit different for me because I have a 2.0L Bi Turbo Diesel (non-us market) and apparently the weight of the engine plays a bigger role in levelling than I originally thought.

 

[Sauce]

Yeah, the reviews on most of these sites are usually left by people with 500 miles on the tire when they are brand new after they replaced a worn set of stock wheels so anything will be better.

I actually moved the FWAT3/AT4 off my list because apparently they are just as bad (if not worse) in rain and are heavier - 285/70/R17 is 53 lbs (SL) and 67 lbs (C/LT). They scored okay in the tests on TireRack but nothing to write home about. I would rather a lighter tire and better wet grip than anything so thanks for your points about the Toyo - that pushed me aware from it.

Trying to level with the available options on the market but its a bit different for me because I have a 2.0L Bi Turbo Diesel (non-us market) and apparently the weight of the engine plays a bigger role in levelling than I originally thought.

for what its worth the wildpeak comes in a lighter load rating (and weight) in the 275/70 r17 size. Part of why I chose that tire over the 285.

 

[steveconnery]

Yeah, the reviews on most of these sites are usually left by people with 500 miles on the tire when they are brand new after they replaced a worn set of stock wheels so anything will be better.

I actually moved the FWAT3/AT4 off my list because apparently they are just as bad (if not worse) in rain and are heavier - 285/70/R17 is 53 lbs (SL) and 67 lbs (C/LT). They scored okay in the tests on TireRack but nothing to write home about. I would rather a lighter tire and better wet grip than anything so thanks for your points about the Toyo - that pushed me aware from it.

Trying to level with the available options on the market but its a bit different for me because I have a 2.0L Bi Turbo Diesel (non-us market) and apparently the weight of the engine plays a bigger role in levelling than I originally thought.

Yeah I’m torn, I want to upgrade, and I was considering 285/75/17 c load wild peaks but the price, and the weight are a concern. Especially with the way gas is going lol
But not sure what else I would go with. I’ve heard the nitro grapplers are solid.
Realistically I’ll probably just stick these out until I almost crash again. Lol

 

[GCMRanger]

for what its worth the wildpeak comes in a lighter load rating (and weight) in the 275/70 r17 size. Part of why I chose that tire over the 285.

How are the WildPeak in the rain?

 

[GCMRanger]

Yeah I’m torn, I want to upgrade, and I was considering 285/75/17 c load wild peaks but the price, and the weight are a concern. Especially with the way gas is going lol
But not sure what else I would go with. I’ve heard the nitro grapplers are solid.
Realistically I’ll probably just stick these out until I almost crash again. Lol

I'll keep you updated on mine as I might just go with the Nitto G3s and see how they go.

Sorry for high jacking your thread and try not to crash. Post on insta once in a while!

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