1993 Splash in SC

[bobbywalter]

I have a crane.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yes. Can you open your tailgate without swinging the spare out of the way? That's common. Mine just happens to swing down at the same time.

It's easier without the costume. That mask is greatly oversized and kept slipping so I couldn't see.

I was just curious if you had your aperatous mounted on a swing out too or if it was just the drop down setup was all.

 

[ericbphoto]

I was just curious if you had your aperatous mounted on a swing out too or if it was just the drop down setup was all.

The main pivot is on a 45degree angle. So it swings out and down. Works for me. Everyone may not like it. But it’s a whole lot better than what I had before, which was “no swing at all.” It doesn’t need a leg to support its weight when swing open because when open, it’s on the ground. I don’t have to lift a heavy tire up high and line up the holes with the lug studs when putting the tire on the carrier. It’s all done at ground level where it’s easy.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The main pivot is on a 45degree angle. So it swings out and down. Works for me. Everyone may not like it. But it’s a whole lot better than what I had before, which was “no swing at all.” It doesn’t need a leg to support its weight when swing open because when open, it’s on the ground. I don’t have to lift a heavy tire up high and line up the holes with the lug studs when putting the tire on the carrier. It’s all done at ground level where it’s easy.

Our trucks have pretty different mission parameters too.

Once unlatched my swingout is really easy to open on levelish ground, easier than the door on our Bronco because I don't have to fight with a gas shock. BUT to get anything out of the back of my truck the tire has to move. If I need to get the air compressor out of a tote or a pop out of the cooler I gotta move the tire out of the way to open the back of the truck up to get inside. Like a old Bronco or BII.

Yours with its nice open bed... big deal. You can reach whatever from wherever with the tailgate shut so it is much less of an issue for you.

I bet not counting camping I had the back of my truck open easily 6 times a day between fetching/stashing drinks and gear when on the road for the roundup.

I never wanted this to be a VS thing, I was just curious. I think it would actually be easy to have both for a slight weight penalty.

 

[ericbphoto]

It’s not a vs thing. Just explaining. There is no way I can get my kitchen box or a loaded cooler out of the bed without opening the tailgate. Most anything else, I can get over the sides.

 

[Garth Libre]

I bought this truck a few weeks ago - 1993 Ranger "Splash" 4X4, 3.0l, M50D, 1354 transfer case, 7.5" rear Dana 35 front, 3.73 gears. All stock except for the stereo. I live on 12 acres in the country. The truck will be used around the property, around town, and hopefully for trail riding and moderate rock crawling.

So far, I have found the following;
rear brakes grabbing, rusted, leaking - already fixed
leak at top of fuel tank - parts on order (fill tube, new fuel pump, strainer
and gasket
headliner is bad - being replaced today
dash is cracked and many parts are broken due to stereo installation
butcher years ago. - bought used dash parts this past weekend
heater control cable detached (plastic pin broken)
accelerator cable stretched - did the zip-tie mod as temporary fix

My Plans;
8.8" rear
4.56 gears
Lock-Rite - both ends
6" lift
33" tires on 15x8 steel wheels
Make a doubler? (got a 1350 for $75 yesterday - long-term project)
Might sacrifice A/C compressor to convert to air compressor
Engine mods? probably not until it dies

That's most of my plans at the moment. I have to repair and sell an '04 Yukon to finance most of this. I have been reading this forum and checking out the tech articles. In fact, a few of you have already helped me in the thread I started in General Discussions. Here are a couple pictures to get this thread started off right.


That's my stunt driver behind the wheel.

I always thought the splash was the coolest looking of the old Rangers. I thought about getting one myself but I don't see the need for making the bed smaller other than making it look cool.

 

[Roert42]

You don't really loose much in the way of bed space with the splash bed, unless you are completely filling it up with loose items that can tuck up in the bed sides. For larger items the usable space is about the same.

For my red ranger I use for camping I plan on keeping the splash bed, I would like to remove the fiberglass bedsides and replace them with sheet metal. That way I can mount things to the outside of the bed, like jack, spare tire, shovel.

 

[ericbphoto]

I would like to remove the fiberglass bedsides and replace them with sheet metal. That way I can mount things to the outside of the bed, like jack, spare tire, shovel.

That would be cool. Maybe even incorporate some metal molle panels for more flexibility in mounting things.

 

[Roert42]

That would be cool. Maybe even incorporate some metal molle panels for more flexibility in mounting things.

Would probably be better then a bunch of D rings clanking around as you bop down a dirt road.

 

[ericbphoto]

Videos from Gulches, last Friday.

 

[ericbphoto]

Finally got my video finished from Kentucky

 

[Lefty]

Finally got my video finished from Kentucky

Wonderful, Eric!

 

[ericbphoto]

Went to the ORV Park today. Gulches, in Indian Mound, SC.

 

[ericbphoto]

Went on a night ride with a local Jeep club. Nice, easy gravel roads with one creek crossing. You have a choice; cross over on the nice, flat submerged concrete slab, cross straight across just below the official crossing, or enter below and climb the rocks up to the slab crossing. I tried the hard way. Broke both front hubs and had to be winched out of the creek. Fun night. Now I get to repack wheel bearings and install my spare set if hubs.

 

[ericbphoto]

The aftermath. I couldn't even see them last night. I just reached down and felt that they were missing. Then wiped the grease off my hand. Missing pieces are in the bottom of a creek in Sumter Forest, SC, if anybody wants them.