I love a good adventure. Getting away from home, exploring new areas, and soaking in the peace and beauty of the outdoors is something I’ll never get tired of. I also enjoy meeting new people along the way. And if they’ve built an adventure vehicle, I can’t resist checking it out. Honestly, I’m drawn more to low-buck, home-built rigs than flashy, high-dollar builds. Anyone can order the latest gadgets and bolt them on—or worse, pay a shop to do it. But if you take something simple, like a Leer DCC (Durable Commercial Cap) with barn doors, and turn it into a functional camper? You’ll have my full attention.
That’s exactly what happened when I came across Brian Slater’s 2003 Ford Ranger 4×4. I woke up at the KOA campground in Ouray, Colorado, and noticed his truck parked just a couple of sites away. I had to wander over and see what it was all about.
Brian told me he had used TheRangerStation.com as a resource while building his truck. I let him know I was the site’s owner, and it made my day to hear that TRS had helped and inspired him. I told him I wanted to feature his Ranger to inspire others as well, and I handed him a TRS sticker, patch, and keychain bottle opener.
Brian’s Ranger is far from stock. Out back, he swapped in a 31-spline 8.8-inch axle from a Ford Explorer, now running 5.13 gears and an ARB air locker. Up front, the torsion bars have been cranked, while Explorer Sport Trac leaf springs help make room for a set of 33×10.50×15 all-terrain tires. Power still comes from the reliable 4.0L V6 paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.
The armor is functional, too. The rear bumper with swing-out tire carrier came from Affordable Offroad, while the winch bumper up front was an Amazon find. From the looks of it, it appears to be the Ecotric winch bumper. It’s equipped with a Nilight LED light bar and a Zeak winch with synthetic rope. I couldn’t find the Zeak online, but a solid and affordable alternative is the X-Bull 10,000LB winch with synthetic rope.
The real star of Brian’s build is the Leer DCC aluminum cap. Inside, he built a sleeping platform with removable slats so one side can be opened up for extra space. There’s plenty of storage underneath, including a slide-out drawer with room for his propane stove and camping essentials. He even cut a hole in the roof and added a fan with an adjustable motor for ventilation. The side lift doors make it easy to access gear—or just open them up for a nice cross breeze.
I really admire Brian’s creativity. I’d put his Ranger up against any of the expensive overlanding builds out there. Simple, practical, and effective — exactly what an adventure truck should be. Hopefully his build inspires you with your own project.
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About The Author
Jim Oaks is the founder of The Ranger Station, one of the longest-running Ford Ranger enthusiast communities on the web. He has spent over three decades owning, modifying, repairing, and driving Ford Rangers on the street, trail, and cross-country routes.
Since launching TheRangerStation.com in 1999, Jim has documented thousands of real-world Ranger builds, technical repairs, drivetrain swaps, suspension modifications, and off-road tests contributed by owners worldwide. His work has been referenced by enthusiasts, mechanics, and off-road builders looking for practical, experience-based information rather than theoretical advice.
Jim’s hands-on experience includes long-distance overland travel, trail use, drivetrain and axle upgrades, suspension tuning, and platform comparisons across multiple Ranger generations. The content published on The Ranger Station is grounded in first-hand experience and community-verified data, not marketing claims or generic specifications.
