Being an originator means being an innovator, and that's what Rancho has done with its new H3 suspension kit and its Realift technology. Historically, lifting almost any vehicle with independent suspension is relatively simple; either drop all the brackets, make new knuckles, and drop half the brackets, or crank the torsion bars for a higher stance and a rougher ride. Add blocks or springs to the rear and shocks all the way around, and you're done. Since most wheelers want actual performance out of their 4x4 instead of just the jacked-up look, we all appreciate any innovation that lifts a rig so bigger tires can be fitted. The problem is that most kits also drop the torsion bars down to a stock or worse rock-scraping level. We've seen some kits that drop the front and rear crossmembers so that snowplow duty would be easy, without a plow. Try taking those kits in the mud, sand, rocks, or snow, and you'll be wishing for something else. In addition, most kits require cutting and welding of the crossmembers, as well as reworking the exhaust system. By the time you are done, lots of time and money has been spent, with no real gain in ground clearance.
Luckily, Rancho is using a trick innovation for these H3 rigs called Realift technology, which we showed you in "Neat, New, & Basic" (June '03). Simply put, the rear torsion bar stays at the stock location at the rear crossmember, while the front of the bar gets a relocator which indexes into the lower A arm, and 4 inches higher the stock torsion bar is indexed into the locator. This keeps the bar level in the stock location with no reduction in ground clearance. In fact, with the new front knuckles and rear springs installed, the bars are 4 inches higher than stock-improving approach, departure, and ramp breakover angles. Not only that, no welding and cutting off brackets are happening with this kit, and the steering stays stock, as does the exhaust. At first we thought the system would bend and whack out the torsion bars, but we checked them on the trail with remote video cameras. The bars still twist, but also bend slightly, which has the effect of smoothing out the suspension loads for a better ride. Check out the high points of an install and see how much better this style of lift is compared to a snowplow lowering kit.
Here's the core of Rancho's Realift system: a hunk of steel which indexes into the lower control arm (A) and a hole (B) where the bar indexes into it. We thought that it might flex and move all over the place, but the controlled ride was just right. We even remotely mounted a camera to watch how it moves in action. | 
The unique two-piece front crossmember allows for easy installation with no cutting. The front bracket installs in the lower A arm holes (A), and the A arm installs in the bracket. The rack-and-pinion steering (B) remains in the stock location so bumpsteer is eliminated. Brackets for the differential (C) drop the pig into the proper location, and longer sway-bar links are also provided (D). |
The rear of the two-piece front crossmember (A) drops and mounts the differential and the lower A arms (B). The torsion-bar relocator (C) indexes into the lower A arm and then the torsion bar (D) indexes into the relocator. Extra braces (E) run from brackets on the rear crossmember to the brackets on the front crossmember for extra support and rigidity. | 
By tying the two-piece front crossmember together with a skidplate, even more structural rigidity is maintained. The differential doesn't need to be removed, cut, or modified, and the supplied drop brackets keep the pinion angle correct for little drivetrain vibration. |
Mounting the new raised knuckle (A) can be a pain by yourself, but is relatively easy with two people. The new knuckles have a raised upper mount to the ball joint, and the steering boss is raised as well. This allows the steering links (B) to stay in the stock location. | 
The rear suspension uses specially tuned multileaf spring packs for lift and good ride quality. The bumpstop spacers go on top of the axle, and new sway-bar links are provided. Shocks are sold separately, and they are specific to the H3 mounting system. |