Mirage's '03 Edge 4x4 Build

[Mirage775]

Here's the semi after paint shot! Took me a while to find 2011 fender emblems.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/23GgcXk]IMG_20160803_180052268 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

 

[Mirage775]

In February '17, I wanted a beefier front bumper, with the ability to carry a winch. Searches upon searches were really bringing me down. Other than paying someone to build me one, (which isn't cheap around here), wasn't very cost effective for me. I really wanted an Affordable Offroad bumper, but at almost $600, I couldn't afford it at the moment.

So, I found a WARN Trans-4-mer Grille guard, that had the ability to hold a winch and more, but normally the guard alone was $700 plus on Amazon, so that wasn't going to work either. I had already bought an 8500lb winch, but couldn't find a damn bumper...

One random day, I looked on Amazon and they had an amazing sale of $600 off the WARN Guard!!! I bought the guard and the winch plate and the extra support bar all for like $300 shipped. I was so happy, but when it got here, there were zero directions, the box said WARN on it, but none of the parts had WARN on them at all.... And it was a complete nightmare to install and when I finally figured out how to completely secure it to the frame, it wasn't going anywhere!

[url=https://flic.kr/p/SaBJVU]IMG_20170223_194658766 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/SaBJG7]IMG_20170223_194939178 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/SaBJrh]IMG_20170228_202433271 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

The guard was only made for 98-03 Rangers. When the changed the bumper covers in 04-11, you have to notch out a spot, (like the next pic), for the winch plate to fit...
[url=https://flic.kr/p/SaBJbY]IMG_20170228_202438354 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

 

[Mirage775]

In March '17, I decided it needed to be a little higher than OE. I bought the Chevy 1/2 ton rear shackles and cranked the stock torsion keys to about 1.5"-1.75", as I didn't want to crank them to 2" or more, due to ride quality afterwards!

I also installed new extended Rancho RS5000 front and rear shocks.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/SaBHUW]IMG_20170303_190423609 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dcHo6E]IMG_20170303_202557563 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

After crank and shackle install

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dcHnPh]IMG_20170304_072412311 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

 

[Mirage775]

Superwinch 8500lb Winch installed.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dcHnEu]IMG_20170310_191145622 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

 

[Mirage775]

In March '17, I had a little antifreeze leak. I do not like to have any leaks/problems with any of my vehicles, so I decided to fix it. This was a complete PITA to replace. After I replaced everything, the truck was super hard to start on cold mornings, but once it started or was warm outside, it ran or started just fine... It turned out being both temp sensors pictured below....

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dcHnuu]IMG_20170313_131230697 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dcHnis]IMG_20170313_131322432 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QxqTqz]IMG_20170317_184027423 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QxqT9c]IMG_20170317_184034838 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

 

[Mirage775]

Also in March '17, I finally found a nice A.R.E. Hard Bed Cover made for 98-11 Rangers/B Series for $50. It needed a small frame repair as well as being paint matched to my new Blue.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/23GgwUP]IMG_20170320_161132490 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QxqSmR]IMG_20170323_182743578_HDR by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QxqRRT]IMG_20170324_093235197_HDR by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

I also ordered new gas lift struts.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/QxqRdP]IMG_20170324_181325461_HDR by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2cUU7rK]IMG_20170324_183841734 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

 

[Mirage775]

May '17, first time I used the winch! A massive tree limb fell in my moms driveway while they were out of town. Hooked to it and switched to 4-low and pulled it right out of the way

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QxqQzV]IMG_20170521_092036192 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

 

[Jim Oaks]

Pretty nice and distinctive looking truck! How do you like your Cooper tires?

 

[Mirage775]

Drove it for a year and did absolutely nothing but go to work and Lowe's.

On a random Friday in March '18, I took half a day off work, stopped by my house, loaded up an old air compressor and put my little puppy in the truck and we headed to my in-laws, about 30-40 miles south of us, to give my Father-in-law my old compressor.

On the way home, some asshat in a Camry didn't yield to me and hit me. I'm so glad I had installed that WARN Guard the previous year! When he hit me, that guard tore into his car, like a sardine can! Nobody was hurt, but look at his damage, compared to mine!

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ee8YsG]IMG_20180223_160618307 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ee8Y71]IMG_20180223_160625062 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/23GgJhD]IMG_20180223_160541438 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/23GgJun]IMG_20180223_160536009 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

Once I got home, 2 self-tapping screws took care of my "damage"
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2cUUmdT]IMG_20180223_173849263 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

But, the WARN guard was beyond repairing... After I had a hell of time dealing with his insurance company, they're adjuster came out and made a list of damaged parts on my truck and we agreed on a check for almost $4000 to be received a few days later!

 

[Mirage775]

After I got the insurance check, I decided to order the Bull Bar Winch Bumper from Affordable Offroad. I repaired my winch, instead of replacing it with another, as it still worked, but the control box was bent up a little bit. I bought some stuff for our convertible and I bought some stuff for my wife as well.

Here's the new bumper:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dcHM6h]IMG_20180409_150951253_HDR by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dcHLQs]IMG_20180409_152847373_HDR by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dcHLH3]IMG_20180409_185016923 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

 

[Mirage775]

In May '18, I noticed that the drivers side rocker panel I "fixed" in '15, had fallen out, like a massive hole was in the middle of the rocker! One weekend, I went to Lowe's and got some sheet aluminum, that was bendable, yet not too thin. I came home and cut out the rot with my cutoff wheel. Cleaned and sprayed rust preventer all inside and on the cut edges. I thin ran a bead of silicone around the perimeter and riveted the aluminum to the body and painted it. It's almost unnoticeable.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dcHLy5]IMG_20180525_202743573 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dcHLqu]IMG_20180525_205728430 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/QxrmUn]IMG_20180525_210733790 by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

 

[Mirage775]

Pretty nice and distinctive looking truck! How do you like your Cooper tires?

Thanks! I almost missed your reply, LOL! I like the Coopers! First time I've ever had any. They seem to not be wearing at all, LOL! Last year, I did manage to pick up 2 nails, in the same tire, inches apart from one another, less than a week apart... The tires' rubber was super tough trying to get the tire plug in it. I bent 2 tire plug pokers, attempting to get it in the tire!

Anyway, they've got about 30k miles on them. Not as much road noise as I was expecting. I had 35" M/T's on my Jeep and they were loud. I'll have to upgrade to 17" wheels with the lift kit I'm buying and haven't been able to find any Coopers in the size I need. Since I have a Firestone card, I guess I'll be getting Destination M/T's.

 

[Mirage775]

May '18 This is what it looked like until '19.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dcHLd5]IMG_20180526_104620895_HDR by Jason M., on Flickr[/URL]

 

[Jim Oaks]

You going Rough Country?

 

[Mirage775]

You going Rough Country?

Yes sir, I am! I had their Long Arm 4" lift on my Rubicon and liked it, although, I understand a Ranger is nothing like a Jeep....