- Joined
- Dec 27, 2010
- Messages
- 37
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Age
- 35
- Vehicle Year
- 1997
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 2.3L
- Transmission
- Manual
Well recently the girlfriend and I have bought a house and will be moving in this summer(I know a ridiculously long wait time but its from a family friend so courtesy is a must) and I've always said the moment I have a house with a garage where I'm not bumming off other people the trucks getting a tear down. Now what I do in that tear down I've never really been sure.
This truck was my mothers before she passed and I dont really have anything else to remember her by so I'm keeping it until it falls apart or gets totalled some how but being a 2.3L Lima manual rwd its not much use to me really except for an econobox daily driver. but with my business I need something that looks a little nicer than a ranger for a daily driver so thats not going to be its use.
Today browsing around I got the idea, maybe I could use it to tow my cherokee offroader to local trails with the right modifications. Its all flat easy roads around here and I know many people who use dodge dakotas to get to the local trails and then use big ass ugly beat up F250/350s to tow farther.
I figure why not with the ranger? Well I see that the XLT ext. cab short box with the 4L auto has a 6000lbs towing capacity. My Cherokee weighs in at about 4500lbs with all the mods fully fueled and ready to go. So that leaves 1500lbs for the trailer. Trailers that i'm looking at are around 2200lbs but come with double axle brakes.
So heres what I was thinking...
Frame
Fully box in the frame, cross bracing in a few locations.
Suspension
I was thinking 4 link front and rear on air bags(stock height is the goal)
Considering mirroring the stock D30 front suspension system instead of a 4link depending on how it all fits in the Ranger. Coils up front on the D30 is also an option.
Drivetrain
Ford 8.8 rear, HP D30 front
Engine/Trans
Heres where I havent done a ton of research, I was thinking 5L, auto, and obviously a t-case but I havent looked much into it. I could probably scavange the engine/trans/t-case out of an explorer.
Brakes
Stock 8.8 disc brakes(obviously new parts though) ZJ(Grand cherokee) brakes.
Steering
I feel like the stock box would be fine but I'd replace the tie rods and ends with upgraded ones. Chevy 1500 ends and DOM tubing for the tie rods.
----
The reason I am considering air bags is because i have fibromyalgia so the ride is pretty damn rough and it hurts me quite a bit to drive it. I could do coils up front on the D30 along with quality shocks too depending on price.
Whats everyone think? Im fairly certain it would tow my XJ fine, just wondering what everyone thinks. Criticism? Feedback? Suggestions?
This truck was my mothers before she passed and I dont really have anything else to remember her by so I'm keeping it until it falls apart or gets totalled some how but being a 2.3L Lima manual rwd its not much use to me really except for an econobox daily driver. but with my business I need something that looks a little nicer than a ranger for a daily driver so thats not going to be its use.
Today browsing around I got the idea, maybe I could use it to tow my cherokee offroader to local trails with the right modifications. Its all flat easy roads around here and I know many people who use dodge dakotas to get to the local trails and then use big ass ugly beat up F250/350s to tow farther.
I figure why not with the ranger? Well I see that the XLT ext. cab short box with the 4L auto has a 6000lbs towing capacity. My Cherokee weighs in at about 4500lbs with all the mods fully fueled and ready to go. So that leaves 1500lbs for the trailer. Trailers that i'm looking at are around 2200lbs but come with double axle brakes.
So heres what I was thinking...
Frame
Fully box in the frame, cross bracing in a few locations.
Suspension
I was thinking 4 link front and rear on air bags(stock height is the goal)
Considering mirroring the stock D30 front suspension system instead of a 4link depending on how it all fits in the Ranger. Coils up front on the D30 is also an option.
Drivetrain
Ford 8.8 rear, HP D30 front
Engine/Trans
Heres where I havent done a ton of research, I was thinking 5L, auto, and obviously a t-case but I havent looked much into it. I could probably scavange the engine/trans/t-case out of an explorer.
Brakes
Stock 8.8 disc brakes(obviously new parts though) ZJ(Grand cherokee) brakes.
Steering
I feel like the stock box would be fine but I'd replace the tie rods and ends with upgraded ones. Chevy 1500 ends and DOM tubing for the tie rods.
----
The reason I am considering air bags is because i have fibromyalgia so the ride is pretty damn rough and it hurts me quite a bit to drive it. I could do coils up front on the D30 along with quality shocks too depending on price.
Whats everyone think? Im fairly certain it would tow my XJ fine, just wondering what everyone thinks. Criticism? Feedback? Suggestions?