>>973741My understanding of torsion bar lifts (albeit limited; I'm no engineer) is that the angle of the bar is not inherently changed by keys. Aftermarket keys simply allow the bar to twist further, thus increasing the "lift" effect on the front control arms.
In my mind key lifts are snake oil.
#1 - Control arms can only travel down so far before they impact other parts, such as the frame. My stock keys allowed enough movement / lift to do this already. Changing the keys doesn't change the position of the frame in relation to the control arms, so any aftermarket parts are ultimately limited at the exact same spot as stock parts.
#2 - Rangers are old trucks. I'd wager that most torsion bars are getting a bit rusty by now. I'm not personally comfortable loading those bars beyond stock and twisting them more than they are supposed to, regardless of what keys they're connected to. Shit scares me. No clue if this is relevant or not, but worth thinking about.
#3 - When my keys were maxed out, the CV angle on my front end was fucking ridiculous. The boot was starting to fold over on itself. Irregular angles like this mean increased wear on critical parts. If the boot tears during an impact and lets a bunch of dirt in, you'll likely be replacing the CV, which is a pain in the ass and somewhat expensive.
If you want 33" tires on a Ranger fitted properly, you need a new front end.
YES, you can technically fit a skinny 33x10.5 or something, but you will still have rub on the sway bar and front valence. Probably other places too at full lock / flex (this is what matters in offroading -- mall crawlers fuckoff). And then there's also the topic of regearing. I have 4:10s in my truck and I can tell you right now it wouldn't be enough for 33" tires.
IMO 32" is maximum size on stock, 31" is recommended.
Sorry for long post. Just my opinions, I don't claim to know anything, blablabla
