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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Jim Oaks is the founder of TheRangerStation.com, the longest-running Ford Ranger resource online since 1999. With over 25 years of hands-on experience building and modifying Ford Rangers — including magazine-featured builds like Project Transformer — Jim has become one of the most trusted authorities in the Ford Ranger off-road and enthusiast space. In 2019, he was loaned a Ranger FX4 by Ford Motor Company to test and document across the TransAmerica Trail. Jim continues to inspire and guide Ranger owners around the world.
