What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[Roert42]

Bought a camper top today. $350, with the keys, and they helped me put it on the truck. Lights work, screens aren’t tore, sliders all work.

Always thought toppers were stupid. Kinda half ass Swiss Army knife. Just turn your truck into a crappy van, you loose the open bed and are don’t gain many of the benefits of a van.

Got roped into doing a bunch of side work for relatives, lot of old people with one foot in the grave and no money to hire it out. Wasn’t about to go drop 10k on a van so I could drive around fixing peoples houses for them. Needed a way to carry around a bunch of power tools without leaving them in the open bed to get stole or rained on.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

RIP

Yep. Not one of my more intelligent moments. I’m a tad smarter now though.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Bought a camper top today. $350, with the keys, and they helped me put it on the truck. Lights work, screens aren’t tore, sliders all work.
View attachment 93321

Always thought toppers were stupid. Kinda half ass Swiss Army knife. Just turn your truck into a crappy van, you loose the open bed and are don’t gain many of the benefits of a van.

Got roped into doing a bunch of side work for relatives, lot of old people with one foot in the grave and no money to hire it out. Wasn’t about to go drop 10k on a van so I could drive around fixing peoples houses for them. Needed a way to carry around a bunch of power tools without leaving them in the open bed to get stole or rained on.

Looks alright on there and you got one of the more rare high ones. Nice.

I do kind of agree, I don’t really like the look of a cap, but I have one for the same kinda reason you now do. Becomes nice to throw tools in and lock them up out of the weather. Practicality wins.

 

[Roert42]

Looks alright on there and you got one of the more rare high ones. Nice.

I do kind of agree, I don’t really like the look of a cap, but I have one for the same kinda reason you now do. Becomes nice to throw tools in and lock them up out of the weather. Practicality wins.

I would have rather had a soft topper, had one on my old F-150, but they have practically doubled in price since then. Just couldn’t justify the $900+ for a new one. They are the best of both worlds I feel, yes they don’t lock, but you can’t really see in, so keeps the honest people honest.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Well, I finally won, the ZF5 fought a hard battle but it is now lowered to the bottom of the transmission jack travel... apparently I'm going to have to do some finessing of the trans tunnel pinch weld before reassembly, between that and the exhaust there was some interference... Not sure if I'm going to get as far as figuring out how I'm going to get the trans from under the thing tonight but we'll see...

 

[Rick W]

Looks alright on there and you got one of the more rare high ones. Nice.

I do kind of agree, I don’t really like the look of a cap, but I have one for the same kinda reason you now do. Becomes nice to throw tools in and lock them up out of the weather. Practicality wins.

One of the things they teach you in engineering school is “function over form.” Of course we all want stuff to look as cool as possible, but if it doesn’t work for what we need it for, it’s not worth two cents.

I went to Home Depot last night to get the last few boards for redoing my shed. I’ve been very impressed with the carrying capacity of The Missing Linc.

When I got there, there was an early 90s suburban blocking one of the isles at a 45° angle with his four ways on. One of his front ball joints came loose. When I got there, he had already gotten some washers and a cotter pin or some thing and put it together in an attempt to move it the mile back to his work, but he was wise in that he was very hesitant to drive it anywhere with an erector set steering linkage.

A lot of folks are having a hard time these days, and they don’t have the extra cash to throw at an unexpected problem. I suggested he go about 10 miles an hour, and I would follow him with the code 3 lights on. If it broke, he wouldn’t go flying off the road. So that’s what we did for about a mile and a half. Even had a local cop pass us, didn’t even blink.

When we got there, he wanted to pay me something which I absolutely refused. He asked if he could do anything for me, and I said you’re going to see someone else in trouble, and you’re not going to have the time, but you have to have the faith that their problem at the moment is bigger than your need. Pay it forward.

BTW, It was a black guy, and we did chat a little bit about all the manufactured crap in the press.

Then Lincoln and I went back and got our boards. Lincoln barked at the poor guy the whole time! I have to teach him some charity…

 

[Blmpkn]

One of the things they teach you in engineering school is “function over form.” Of course we all want stuff to look as cool as possible, but if it doesn’t work for what we need it for, it’s not worth two cents.

I went to Home Depot last night to get the last few boards for redoing my shed. I’ve been very impressed with the carrying capacity of The Missing Linc.

When I got there, there was an early 90s suburban blocking one of the isles at a 45° angle with his four ways on. One of his front ball joints came loose. When I got there, he had already gotten some washers and a cotter pin or some thing and put it together in an attempt to move it the mile back to his work, but he was wise in that he was very hesitant to drive it anywhere with an erector set steering linkage.

A lot of folks are having a hard time these days, and they don’t have the extra cash to throw at an unexpected problem. I suggested he go about 10 miles an hour, and I would follow him with the code 3 lights on. If it broke, he wouldn’t go flying off the road. So that’s what we did for about a mile and a half. Even had a local cop pass us, didn’t even blink.

When we got there, he wanted to pay me something which I absolutely refused. He asked if he could do anything for me, and I said you’re going to see someone else in trouble, and you’re not going to have the time, but you have to have the faith that their problem at the moment is bigger than your need. Pay it forward.

BTW, It was a black guy, and we did chat a little bit about all the manufactured crap in the press.

Then Lincoln and I went back and got our boards. Lincoln barked at the poor guy the whole time! I have to teach him some charity…

My best friend is black.. one of my late Rottweilers was ALWAYS super wary of him for whatever reason. Never aggressive.. just skittish.
I never understood why.. my buddy was ALWAYS around him from the time he was 8 weeks up until he passed at 8 or 9 the rotties brother LOVED my buddy though.. he loved everybody who would pet him lol.

 

[Curious Hound]

One of the things they are supposed to teach you in engineering school is “function over form.”

FIFY

That principle SEEMS to get lost more often than not these days. It's a real shame, too. When you look at machinery from early 20th century, there was a lot of machinery designed that was robust, functional, ling-lasting AND very pleasing to the eye. Some things were artistic beauties. A small example is early Sunger sewing machines. But look at any old industrial machines. Curved gussets, ornamental pedestals, stands and legs, etc.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well, I’m still not fully better from being sick, but I’m doing better than I was and I have to get moving again, no more time to rest, things need to happen. Have to get everything ready, hauling the choptop off to get plates Monday and getting the engine Tuesday and have Wednesday to get it going. Yeah, I know, seems a little backwards getting a new plate for it before it’s running, but where I need to go for the plate is near where the engine is so this way I don’t have to make a hurried trip back after it’s running and risk potential trouble.

Anyway, I’ll probably be starting a build thread in the B2 section on here at some point, want to gather some old pictures before I put it together (the build thread that is) and I don’t have time to do that at the moment. But anyway, the audio sucks but here it is…

 

[Uncle Gump]

Well, I’m still not fully better from being sick, but I’m doing better than I was and I have to get moving again, no more time to rest, things need to happen. Have to get everything ready, hauling the choptop off to get plates Monday and getting the engine Tuesday and have Wednesday to get it going. Yeah, I know, seems a little backwards getting a new plate for it before it’s running, but where I need to go for the plate is near where the engine is so this way I don’t have to make a hurried trip back after it’s running and risk potential trouble.

Anyway, I’ll probably be starting a build thread in the B2 section on here at some point, want to gather some old pictures before I put it together (the build thread that is) and I don’t have time to do that at the moment. But anyway, the audio sucks but here it is…

Don't forget the Bronco Corral.

I'd like to see more traffic going through there.

 

[Blmpkn]

Well, I’m still not fully better from being sick, but I’m doing better than I was and I have to get moving again, no more time to rest, things need to happen. Have to get everything ready, hauling the choptop off to get plates Monday and getting the engine Tuesday and have Wednesday to get it going. Yeah, I know, seems a little backwards getting a new plate for it before it’s running, but where I need to go for the plate is near where the engine is so this way I don’t have to make a hurried trip back after it’s running and risk potential trouble.

Anyway, I’ll probably be starting a build thread in the B2 section on here at some point, want to gather some old pictures before I put it together (the build thread that is) and I don’t have time to do that at the moment. But anyway, the audio sucks but here it is…

Backwards is as backwards does...

My broncos getting lifted, big tires, and rustproofed before I get around to registering it priorities lol. 20 day plates should be good for 25 days anyhow...

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Don't forget the Bronco Corral.

I'd like to see more traffic going through there.

Yeah, I know I should spend some time on there too… this is the only forum I regularly check anymore. Back in the day I was active on over 30 forums but I just don’t really have the time or ambition for that anymore, life kinda got in the way…

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Backwards is as backwards does...

My broncos getting lifted, big tires, and rustproofed before I get around to registering it priorities lol. 20 day plates should be good for 25 days anyhow...

Lol, if it wasn’t that I was trying to hurry up and throw this together so I can go annoy the Jeep crowd when I take it to JeepFest and camp out there with it, I’d be doing things differently. Add in getting sick and a few other things and now we are smashed right up against a hard deadline. I’m not particularly a fan of hauling a dead vehicle around places that it doesn’t need to go, but it seems like the most efficient solution with my time constraints

 

[sgtsandman]

FIFY

That principle SEEMS to get lost more often than not these days. It's a real shame, too. When you look at machinery from early 20th century, there was a lot of machinery designed that was robust, functional, ling-lasting AND very pleasing to the eye. Some things were artistic beauties. A small example is early Sunger sewing machines. But look at any old industrial machines. Curved gussets, ornamental pedestals, stands and legs, etc.

Long lasting and reliable doesn’t generate revenue. Companies can’t have that, now can they?

 

[Roert42]

Long lasting and reliable doesn’t generate revenue. Companies can’t have that, now can they?

Some companies do, especially in the world of industrial machinery. most people just don’t want to pay for it.

You can get a high quality USA made 20T bottle jack for $600 or a no name China made bottle jack that looks very similar for $80, or a name brand China made version for $250. What one are you going to buy?

The No name is in the trash within a year after the chrome flaked off or the check starting leaking, with name brand China one you might be able to get a warranty replacement when the same thing happens. Or the USA made jack that the chrome doesn’t flake off and the OEM sells rebuild kits for the next 100 years.