Jim Oaks
As a Ford Ranger enthusiast who enjoyed modifying my Ford Ranger 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.
Almost 20-years later, my commitment to the Ford Ranger, and the Ford Ranger community, is as strong as ever.
Jim Oaks's Latest Posts
Recent Articles #1
2019 Ford Ranger Test Drive
First Drive: 2019 Ford Ranger On/Off Highway
On December 14th, I participated in a ‘Media Drive’ to finally test drive the 2019 Ford Ranger. Due to the number of people attending, and the number of trucks, I shared a Ford Ranger with my friend and automotive writer Steve Turner. We ended up with a white Supercab Lariat 4×4 with push button start. […]
Recent Articles #2
2019 Ford Ranger Test Drive
Darren Parsons Ranger Raptor
Darren Parsons posted his Ford Ranger project in our forum back in 2012. A lot has changed since then. Like many projects, they are always evolving. Looking at this Ranger, it may be confusing as to what it really is. It started life as a 1993 Ford Ranger. It was updated with fiberglass body panels […]
Ford Ranger Storm Concept
Ford Ranger Storm Concept
If it wasn’t bad enough that Ford told us we weren’t going to get the Ford Ranger Raptor here in the United States, Ford has released a new Ford Ranger concept to add to that frustration. Introduced at the Sao Paulo International Motor Show this week, the Ford Ranger Storm is an off-road pickup concept […]
BDS Ford Ranger X
BDS Ford Ranger X
One of the 2019 Ford Ranger concepts that really stood out at the 2018 SEMA show in Las Vegas this year was the ‘Ranger X’ built by BDS Suspension. Project Ranger X takes Ranger’s built-in performance and capability to the next level in the form of this ultimate back-country adventurer. The truck features a custom […]
Jeff's Duratech Turbo Ranger
Jeff Simpson’s Duratech Turbo Ranger
One nice thing about meeting with Ford Ranger enthusiasts, is that you never know what you’re going to discovered when you start looking at everyone’s truck. Such was the case when I saw Jeff Simpson’s (dangeranger93) 2001 Ford Ranger at the Dearborn Michigan Meet. At first glance, you may simply think this is just another […]
Start of Ranger Production
Ford Celebrates The Start of Ranger Production
I’ve been a Ford Ranger enthusiast since the early 1990’s. My love for them inspired me to create this website. When I was contacted by Ford and asked if I wanted to participate in an employee event on Monday 01/22/2018, I jumped at the opportunity. Ford even allowed me to bring along TRS Forum Moderator […]
Dearborn Michigan Meet 10/21/2018
Dearborn Michigan Meet 10/21/2018
On Sunday 10/21/2018, Forum Moderator Caleb Johnson (fastpakr) and myself found ourselves flying to Detroit Michigan for a Ford event being held the following Monday. Since we were flying in the day before, we arrived early enough that we could meet up with some Ford Ranger and Bronco II enthusiasts. With less than a weeks […]
460 Ranger Drag Truck
1986 Ford Ranger 460 Drag Truck
There’s something about the style and body lines of the first generation Ford Ranger that make them cool candidates as a hot rod. This 1986 dark red Ford Ranger is definitely a cool example of one. The tiny 170 CID (2.8L) V6 has been replaced by a massive Ford 460 CID V8 engine, and is […]
1994 Ford Ranger Rock Crawler
1994 Ford Ranger Rock Crawler
This 1994 Ford Ranger 4×4 was built for rock crawling and trail riding while maintaining street ability and a low center of gravity. The drivetrain consists of a 4.0L V6, 5-speed manual transmission, and BW1354 transfer case. The front and rear axles were replaced with Dana 44’s out of a Jeep JK Rubicon. Both have […]
Travis Denison's 1989 Ford Ranger
Travis Denison’s 1989 Ford Ranger
When Travis Denison was 16 years old, he spotted this 1989 Ford Ranger sitting in the driveway of his brother’s girlfriend’s house. The truck didn’t look this nice, but the owner had static dropped it, and it sat on 15-inch Roadster 100-spoke wheels. Travis eventually managed to buy the truck for $3,000. After he graduated high […]
Overlanding - 2006 Ford Ranger FX4
Overlanding – 2006 Ford Ranger FX4
This 2006 Ford Ranger FX4 based out of Steinbach Manitoba has been set up to overland and explore the beauty that Canada has to offer. It doesn’t take an expensive expedition vehicle to get out and travel. The 2006 Ford Ranger FX4 Level II comes from the factory with 4.10 gears, 8.8-inch rear axle, Torsen limited […]
1998 Ford Ranger EV
1998 Ford Ranger EV
Remember the electric powered Ford Ranger? The Ford Ranger EV (Electric Vehicle) is a battery electric vehicle that was produced by Ford. It was produced starting in the 1998 model year through 2002 and is no longer in production. It is built upon a light truck chassis used in the Ford Ranger. A few vehicles […]
2002 Ford Ranger AKA "The Spicy Pickle"
2002 Ford Ranger AKA “The Spicy Pickle”
Trying to build a truck that can do everything can be a challenge. Nick Czeczulin’s Ford Ranger looks like it’s a combination of pre-runner and rock crawler. The truck was built by SamCo Fabrication. SamCo Fabrication is Nevada’s premier off-road fabrication shop specializing in off-road racing and rock crawling. The key to safety while retaining interior space is […]
Decepticon T6 Ranger
Decepticon T6 Ranger
One of the first things I notice about this 2018 Ford Ranger T6 is a Transformers – Decepticon vibe. The goal of the Decepticon’s was total domination, and this Ford Ranger looks like it’s ready to totally dominate a trail somewhere. Why am I showing you this 2018 Ford Ranger? Because it’s built on the […]
Chuck Johnson
Chuck Johnson
Last month I wrote a tribute to legendary off-road Ford Ranger desert racer Many Esquerra. This month I wanted to pay tribute to another legendary Ford Ranger desert racer, Chuck Johnson. While Chuck may not have had all of the fame from doing Ford Ranger commercial and print ads, he still logged a lot of […]
Ford Ranger T6 & 46-Inch Tires
Ford Ranger T6 & 46-Inch Tires
I thought I would throw another Ford Ranger T6 in to the mix this month, since they’ll be going in to production here in the U.S. this fall. Based on the headlights, I can see that this is a 2011-2014 Ford Ranger T6 from Thailand. The 2015-2018 Ford Ranger T6 (like we’re getting) has a […]
Tribute to Manny Esquerra
Tribute to Manny Esquerra
One of the greatest off-road racing legends, and Ford Ranger drivers, was Manny Esquerra. He died of a heart attack at the age of 64, while driving 1400-class Trick Truck #18 in the BlueWater Resort & Casino – Best in the Desert Parker 425 on February 2, 2008. Other drivers and co-riders listed included Tracy […]
1983 Ford Ranger D-Ranged
1983 Ford Ranger D-Ranged
The body lines of the 1983-1988 Ford Ranger will probably always be my favorite. When I saw this truck, I felt that it needed to be preserved here at TheRangerStation.com. This 1983 Ford Ranger was owned and built by Chick Deitz of Pennsylvania, and is a grand national champion show vehicle. After competing and winning car […]
1999 Ford Ranger Powerforce Concept views: 3434
Not all concepts reach for new expressions, forms, technologies or structures. Some, in fact probably most, are mildly-altered recognizable variants of production vehicles. Tailored to specific applications, markets or styles, these concepts seek to explore the market’s acceptance of mild alterations or reactions to hints of coming features. Ranger Powerforce is one such hint of […]
2001 Ford Ranger 4×4 Overlander views: 6020
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. […]
The 1st 2019 Ford Ranger Rolls Off The Line views: 8970
The production of the Ford Ranger is getting closer. According to this article at @FordOnline; Wayne, MICH., – Anticipation is building at the Michigan Assembly Plant. From all the talk, to the ongoing construction in the plant, the Ford Ranger is top of mind. The excitement reached a new level as the first 2019 Ranger […]
Ford Hints At Ford Ranger Raptor For The U.S. views: 3733
The new Raptor Ranger was unveiled Wednesday (02/07/2018) at a press conference in Thailand, and Ford took pains to say that what you’re seeing is the Asia Pacific market version of this truck. The question everyone is asking though, is whether the Raptor version will be offered here in North America. That’s still to be […]
