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.
Jim Oaks's Latest Posts
Recent Articles #1
Billy's (Casper98) Red Sled
Billy’s (Casper98) Red Sled
Sometimes the nicest customs, don’t look all that custom. They look great, get your attention, but nothing jumps out at you as being ‘custom’. Sometimes you have to look at a vehicle and try to figure out what’s different about it that makes it looks so good. If it’s done right, it’ll all come together […]
Recent Articles #2
Chris Maurer's 1989 Ford Ranger
Chris Maurer’s 1989 Ford Ranger
This 1989 Ford Ranger is owned by Chris Maurer of Albuquerque, New Mexico. It features a front suspension from a Toyota, and uses air bags with custom mounts. The factory frame rails were replaced with 2×4-inch tubing, and allows the cab to sit 6-inches closer to the ground. The rear suspension is a custom 4-link […]
Sean Shaw's Desert Ranger
Sean Shaw’s Desert Ranger
Hey everyone, This month we’re featuring Sean Shaw’s 1994 Ford Ranger. Sean built the truck for high speed off road desert driving. It’s set up like a pre-runner or what Sean likes to call a trophy truck. The Ranger is equipped with the factory 4.0-Liter V-6 that has well over 190,000 on the clock that […]
Not All There Racing
Not All There Racing
Recently I had the opportunity to talk to Aaron Matthew-“Air” for short, President of Uconn Off-Road and the owner/driver of Not All There Racing about the 1995 Ford Ranger he’s building to replace the Bronco he races…….. What have you done to the engine? – Stripped and gutted, Ported intake and exhaust ports, engine is on […]
Bradley's Old Red Ford Ranger
Bradley’s Old Red Ford Ranger
I saw this truck in our forums with it’s new red paint job and was really impressed by it. I asked the forum member (rangerslim) who owns it if he would send us some pictures and details about the truck. Here is what he wrote ~ Jim Oaks: Well, I guess you could say that […]
Cummins 4BT Ranger
Cummins 4BT Ranger
This 1988 Ford Ranger 4×4 is owned and built by Rich Dunning of Smyrna, DE. Here is a break down of the vehicle as provided by Rich: Engine: 1999 Cummins 4BTA Turbo Diesel (pulled from a commercial box truck) (Cummins 4BTA Turbo Diesel) (All cleaned up and painted) Transmission & Transfer Case: 1988 Ford F150 […]
Looking Back - 1984 Ford Ranger
Looking Back – 1984 Ford Ranger
1984 Ford Ranger 2WD September 2013 – It’s not to often you find a nice original looking Ranger from the early 80’s. The Ranger shown here showed up recently in the Akron / Canton Ohio Craigslist ads for $3,750.. (Owner claims the 37,053 miles is original) So, the Ranger isn’t actually original. It was […]
Bryan Smith - TREC Racer C747
Bryan Smith – TREC Racer C747
Who says off-road racing has to be an expensive hobby? TREC = Trail Racing Endurance Circuit. TREC is a race help within the Badlands Off-Road Park in Attica Indiana. The 12-mile course traverses sand dunes, woods, hills, mud, water crossings, rocks, and about anything else you could expect to find off-roading in the mid-west. The […]
Angry Iron's Rally Ranger
Angry Iron’s Rally Ranger
On 05/28/2009 forum member Angry Iron started a build thread on their rally Ranger. I recently followed up to see what had ever become of the rally Ranger. The 1990 Ford Ranger Crew Cab was chosen and will provide ample space while remaining light weight and versatile. The truck was chosen because the parts […]
Southern Storm Monster Ford Ranger
Southern Storm Monster Ford Ranger
One of the most notorious Ford Ranger monster trucks was the Southern Storm Ford Ranger built, owned, and raced by Robbie Giles of Goose Creek South Carolina. The truck featured dual Ford 429 V8’s (you can see the second one under the bed), dual C-6 automatic transmissions, and a 2.5 ton military transfer case. Robbie […]
Jeff Davis' Class 7 2003 Ford Ranger
Jeff Davis’ Class 7 2003 Ford Ranger
After 25 years of treating other people’s race frames, Jeff Davis decided he wanted something more. So when it came time to envision his 2003 Ford Ranger in off-road trim, he saw it as a prerunner–a modified rig he could roll through the desert in, without having to give up the finer things in life […]
Safari Pacific Exploration Ford Ranger
Safari Pacific Exploration Ford Ranger
Travis Schanafelt is a member of The Ranger Station that posts under the name ‘MaoriExpeditions‘. He has a website, www.safaripacific.com. Travis is probably best known on this forum for his Ranger build that involved shortening the bed and extending the cab on his 2001 Ford Ranger. Travis then added a Flip-Pac camper to the back […]
Bray Dierker ('Bray D') 1996 Ford Ranger 4x4
Bray Dierker (‘Bray D’) 1996 Ford Ranger 4×4
Forum Member ‘Bray D’ and his Ford Ranger is well known amongst our forum members. This well thought out trail rig sees regular trail duty, and Bray and his Ford Ranger even participated in the Petersen-s 4Wheel & Off-Road 2012 Ultimate Adventure. This is how 4Wheel & Off-Road described Bray and his Ford Ranger: Bray […]
Jim Oaks' 1996 Ford Ranger 4x4 (TRS-2)
Jim Oaks’ 1996 Ford Ranger 4×4 (TRS-2)
This build-up of this vehicle has been featured in Off-Road Adventures Magazine Update 11/2018: This Ranger is in the process of being rebuilt and given an updated look for our 20th anniversary, and will receive a new patriotic paint scheme. By Jim Oaks The Ranger seen on this page is my 1996 Ford Ranger extended […]
Jim Oaks' 1983 Ranger 4x4 (TRS-1)
Jim Oaks’ 1983 Ranger 4×4 (TRS-1)
This is the original TRS-1 Ford Ranger built by The Ranger Station creator Jim Oaks. It started as a red stock 1983 Ford Ranger 4×4 with a 2.8L V-6, and a 5-speed manual transmission. The truck went through various transformations over it’s life. The more it was wheeled, the more things were changed / modified. […]
Billy Diesel 7.3L Ford Ranger Dually Diesel
Billy Diesel 7.3L Ford Ranger Dually Diesel
Billy Diesel is a member of our forum and has been building this impressive dually Ranger. You would probably never guess that there is a 7.3L turbo diesel lurking under that hood, or that one could even fit in a Ranger, but there’s one living in this Ranger. Billy started out with a 1995 Ranger […]
1990 Shelby Ford Ranger
1990 Shelby Ford Ranger
Everyone has their own idea on how they want to build their vehicle. We do it because we’re not satisfied with the same old thing that everyone else has. We want something unique – a truck unlike any others. Forum member ‘multiranger’ came across a neglected 1990 Ford Ranger shortbed with a 2.3L 4-banger, and […]
Ford78's 1999 Ford Ranger SAS 4x4
Ford78’s 1999 Ford Ranger SAS 4×4
Seeing a 1998-2011 Ford Ranger converted to a solid front axle (SAS) isn’t all that rare, but it is rare to see one that’s been done with front leaf springs. When forum member Ford78 built this 1999 Ford Ranger 3.0L 4×4, he decided to swap in a Dana 44 and use Rancho 44044 front leaf springs. […]
Jeremy Fitzpatrick’s 1991 Ford Ranger views: 1233
One of the trucks that quickly got everyone’s attention at the 20th Anniversary Trail Ride was Jeremy Fitzpatrick’s 1991 Ford Ranger 4×4. What really surprised many of us is that he actually took the Ranger off-road. We’re glad he brought it out for us to enjoy, and pretty cool to actually see him take it […]
Ford Ranger ‘Trigger’ views: 1883
The French company Arquus presents a new generation of its ALTV (Armored Light Tactical Vehicle) under the name of Trigger. The Trigger is a 4×4 light tactical vehicle based on a Ford Ranger chassis which can be configured for different roles and missions. The Trigger is able to be used as troop’s carrier and logistic […]
The ‘Loan Ranger’ – 2019 Ford Ranger FX4 views: 1922
(Looks like a backdrop, but this photo was really taken in Colorado!) In March 2019, Ford loaned me a 2019 Ford Ranger FX4 to use for 6-months to celebrate 20-years of TheRangerStation.com. Ford allowed me to modify the truck as long as I didn’t drill any holes in it, or permanently mount anything to it. […]
Overland Expo West – 2019 views: 1876
Overland Expo West 2019 – And Why You Should Go To An Overland Expo! I love to travel and discover new areas. I’ve done everything from a random 1-day roadtrip, to a trip that lasted 22-days. These trips always involve me either sleeping in my vehicle, or a tent. There is an amazing sense of […]
