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

[Rick W]

I’m going to do the specific updates for the semi trailer in that 97 ranger semi write up I’ve been doing. Let me just say here that I spent most of the day yesterday cutting and drilling and welding, making all the pieces I’m going to need to both mount the axles and also widen the bed. Today I spent most of the day welding a lot of that together, the axle assembly that will actually be underneath the trailer frame. Then I put the trailer behind the truck so I could start eyeballing and measuring to get the deck height, correct. I’m going to have to fabricate some 29 inch high sawhorses to hold the frame to make the lattice between the frame and the axle mount members.

My phone was locked up all day because I had it in the pocket of my T-shirt and I was sweating, and the iPhone thought my nipple was trying to break into the phone with the wrong access code. Obviously straightened out now, I’ll have some pictures tomorrow.

I can’t help but add, for all my trailer coupler fans, that when I put the axle frame and the rear axle together, I attached it to the trailer frame with some very big zip ties. They’re holding you tight while still allowing me to wiggle it forward and back and such. (No, I’m not going to leave it like that, I’ll weld the zip ties later.)

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

My phone was locked up all day because I had it in the pocket of my T-shirt and I was sweating, and the iPhone thought my nipple was trying to break into the phone with the wrong access code. Obviously straightened out now, I’ll have some pictures tomorrow.

I can’t help but add, for all my trailer coupler fans, that when I put the axle frame and the rear axle together, I attached it to the trailer frame with some very big zip ties. They’re holding you tight while still allowing me to wiggle it forward and back and such. (No, I’m not going to leave it like that, I’ll weld the zip ties later.)

This is why I’ll set the phone in the shade somewhere near I’m working or leave it in the house when I’m working outside and sweating.

Welding the zip ties requires a little care not to compromise their strength. May I suggest getting the zip ties that have a metal locking tab?

 

[Snoranger]

I’m going to do the specific updates for the semi trailer in that 97 ranger semi write up I’ve been doing. Let me just say here that I spent most of the day yesterday cutting and drilling and welding, making all the pieces I’m going to need to both mount the axles and also widen the bed. Today I spent most of the day welding a lot of that together, the axle assembly that will actually be underneath the trailer frame. Then I put the trailer behind the truck so I could start eyeballing and measuring to get the deck height, correct. I’m going to have to fabricate some 29 inch high sawhorses to hold the frame to make the lattice between the frame and the axle mount members.

My phone was locked up all day because I had it in the pocket of my T-shirt and I was sweating, and the iPhone thought my nipple was trying to break into the phone with the wrong access code. Obviously straightened out now, I’ll have some pictures tomorrow.

I can’t help but add, for all my trailer coupler fans, that when I put the axle frame and the rear axle together, I attached it to the trailer frame with some very big zip ties. They’re holding you tight while still allowing me to wiggle it forward and back and such. (No, I’m not going to leave it like that, I’ll weld the zip ties later.)

I’ve got a drawer full of spare zip ties and heat shrink but connectors… Ill bring you a few extra. You want the 36” ones?

 

[Curious Hound]

I’ve got a drawer full of spare zip ties and heat shrink but connectors… Ill bring you a few extra. You want the 36” ones?
View attachment 94903

Just bring that big truck we saw you fitting out about a year or so ago. You know. The big one with all the tools and goodies.

 

[Snoranger]

Just bring that big truck we saw you fitting out about a year or so ago. You know. The big one with all the tools and goodies.

VS 238


I just handed in an order for a new service truck.
$236,111… I may add to the order since they gave us $253,000 for each of the 2 trucks.

 

[Rick W]

I’ve got a drawer full of spare zip ties and heat shrink but connectors… Ill bring you a few extra. You want the 36” ones?
View attachment 94903

Those might work. I think mine were about 18 inches. Trailer frame is 2“ x 3“ square stock, and the axle dolly is 2“ x 4“ square stock. I finally got the axel underneath it last night, and I lined it up with the truck. My vision was to have the trailer deck match the deck of the truck. I’d have to put a 7 1/2 inch tall spacer between the trailer axle dolly and the trailer frame. That would take a ton of work so the spacers wouldn’t fold over in a turn. I’ve been rethinking that, the deck just may have to be lower. Although I’ve thought out my visions, in great detail, a lot of the final details are decided when I slap the stuff together with watch laying around.

 

[Rick W]

VS 238


I just handed in an order for a new service truck.
$236,111… I may add to the order since they gave us $253,000 for each of the 2 trucks.

My Road Ranger isn’t costing that much:…

 

[sgtsandman]

The 2011 got put through it’s paces over the weekend. Nothing like following a guy with a lead foot while pulling a trailer with a truck that isn’t geared right for towing. All while on two lane back roads in Allegheny National Forest country, tight turns and hills galore up there.

Fuel average said I was getting 10 mpg at one point.

 

[Snoranger]

My Road Ranger isn’t costing that much:…

It’s not my money.

 

[ben_2_go]

Overfilled the bed on my little stepside Ranger and hauled it all to the landfill.

 

[sgtsandman]

Overfilled the bed on my little stepside Ranger and hauled it all to the landfill.

Ranger and everything???

 

[ben_2_go]

Ranger and everything???

Yep all of it. After I got the trash unloaded, I drove it back home.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Yesterday I tinkered with the choptop a little. The seal on the axle shaft crumbled, so I tried getting new ones and what I ended up with was a set that I’m not exactly sure how all the parts go. It was pretty cheap and includes a new bearing and seal for the spindle. I’m just not entirely sure how the other parts go because they’re different from the old seal. Once I figure that out, I can put things together for the choptop today.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well, the seals in my last post showed up this morning and a quick search online netted me no instructions and one person posted on another forum with no replies asking about it. So I went out and got to work anyway. First up was knocking apart the drivers side shaft since I figured I’d grease the bearings while I had it out. Knocked it apart, did some cleaning, knocked the old seal off and figured out how to put the new one together, did a few other things, got pulled away from my project a few times, and when I finally got around to giving the U-joint attention I didn’t like how it looked. It would make a decent spare. So I scraped the bottom of the barrel a bit and called for new joints. Just don’t need any more headaches from this any time soon.

So now the drivers side is finally ready to go back together. I’m not re-packing the wheel bearings, the grease really isn’t bad, I’ll just pull out what I can and put a little fresh stuff in. Hopefully tomorrow I can get the drivers side together and since I know what’s going on and have everything now, hopefully I can blast through the passenger side. I already got the inner shaft set for that side prepped in and among things today.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I noticed my brake pedal had a bit of a spongey feeling a few days ago. My last inspection I figured next look it would get new shoes and hardware. I ordered shoes and hardware kits and pull it apart yesterday. Not a huge shocker but both wheel cylinders were seeping. As with most rust belt trucks the lines rounded off from rust. So I ordered cylinders and 25 feet of NiCop line with a bunch of fittings. I've always just use standard steel brake line... but many here say it's good stuff. I guess I will know more when it gets here tomorrow.

I also soaked everything in Kroil in prep for installing my torsion bars. Hopefully they don't give me much trouble.