2001 Ford Ranger 4×4 Overlander

This 2001 Ford Ranger 4×4 was purchased with the intended purpose of being a work truck, but it didn’t stay that way long.

After exploring the options for lifting this Ranger, the owner chose to add a 3-inch body lift along with some 33×12.5×15 Goodyear Duratrac tires, and smoothed out the ride with Bilstien HD shocks.

A used purple camper shell was found on craigslist, painted gray, and mounted on the bed. Next came a typical sleeping platform.

It didn’t take long for the owner to dislike how close he was to the roof of the camper shell, stating that it felt to much like a coffin. He came up with a different design that he could install when camping, and take out while working. It’s made from a couple of storage cabinets secured with camper shell clamps, and a piece of plywood down the middle to sleep on.

A new rear bumper was built by 505 Fab that features a swing out tire carrier, and swing out Jerry can holder. The bumper also has built in Rough Country 2-inch LED work lights, and a Hi-Lift jack mounted behind the spare tire.

A used ladder rack was purchased from another Ranger, and was shortened to fit closer to the roof line. A Rough Country 72940 40-inch curved LED lightbar was added to the front for night time adventures.

The addition of the ladder rack also allowed for a place to mount a Smittybilt Roof Top Tent, since the fiberglass camper shell really isn’t designed to support the weight. With the addition of the tent, the owner and his wife can now sleep in the tent when they’re camping, while the dogs sleep in the bed of the truck.

The work done has resulted in a great Ford Ranger that can be used for adventure and overlanding.

Links:

You can see more about this build at ‘My 01 Ranger Build’.

Photos:

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Follow Jim Oaks:

As a Ford Ranger enthusiast who enjoys modifying my Ford Rangers for off-road use, I quickly discovered that there wasn’t any websites dedicated to the subject. So in 1999, I created TheRangerStation.com. What started as my own personal desire to help other Ford Ranger owners, has grown into a wealth of online information from numerous contributors. 20-years later, my commitment to the Ford Ranger, and the Ford Ranger community, is as strong as ever.

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