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

[85_Ranger4x4]

You should feed him gummy bears and red bulls!

He seemed good with speggetti and ice cream tonight.

 

[ericbphoto]

He seemed good with speggetti and ice cream tonight.

I’m usually good with spaghetti and ice cream.

 

[ericbphoto]

Here's what happened to my tailgate, and any input on when that color was used year wise so I can keep an eye out for a tailgate would be nice...

View attachment 63103View attachment 63104

Looks like the Dark Toreador Red on my 97 Fun50. I don’t know what other years it was used though.

 

[Blmpkn]

No. I haven't. Aside from being complicated to install, I think I would have a very long, rough learning curve with that in my truck.

Getting enough throw on that to actually operate the clutch on an M5OD transmission sounds like quite a challenge. And operating it smoothly? Wow.

No thanks. My solution is easy.

Have you considered one of those hydro e-brakes like they put in drift cars?

*edit. I now realize this wouldn't really work as well unless you had 3 arms lol. A button is much easier to deal with.

 

[sgtsandman]

I refuse to accept a twin stick as anything but a Np203/205 doubler...

Simply adding a high-low lever to a single case isn't actually achieving anything but 2wd low. A twin stick doubler gives you 3 speeds in 4 and 2wd. Which is actually a triple stick if done right...

4wd on and off lever for the 205, hi-low on the 203 lever, and hi-low on the 205 lever.

So you have hi-hi, hi-low, and low-low in both 4x4 and 2x4.

Twin stick also gives you neutral.

 

[sgtsandman]

A doubler would make my life much more fun.

They make them. I think I still have a link saved but you’d have to wait until I get home to give you the link.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Got the estimate on the cash payout for my tailgate issue from Yesterday already, it's $100 more than I paid for the Ranger originally... I think I can live with that...

 

[ericbphoto]

They make them. I think I still have a link saved but you’d have to wait until I get home to give you the link.

Can’t be spending money on that right now. I actually have a second t-case to make a doubler following the instructions in our tech library. But I doubt I will ever do that. Making the new shaft is a pain, plus it seems to be a weak point.

 

[sgtsandman]

Did the initial setup and poking around on the Midland GMRS MicroMobile radio. It seems to work as it should testing it with the handhelds and Quad Band Ham radio. I just have to wait for a mount bracket to come in so I can piggy back it off the TYT TH-9800. A better antenna and mount are on order as well. Once that is all in, I’ll temporarily install it into the 2011 until I can scrounge up the cash for a higher end radio for it. The permanent home for the MXT275 will be the 2019 when that happens. Less room to mount radios in these new Rangers compared to the original models.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Anyone made their own over head storage shelf/ radio bracket? I’m thinkin about building one that spans the width of the cab to cary my rifle, then mounting my CB and marine radio under it.

 

[sgtsandman]

I did not but came close. There is a second layer of sheet metal around the perimeter of the roof that is about 2” wide and a bit of an extension in the middle where an over head console would go in an Explorer. I had to make a spacer out of a 2X4 to fill in the gap between the headliner and the roof to support the CB. The spacer fasted to the extension and the radio bracket to the 2X4. The radio doesn’t move.

I’ve used that same lip to mount a Big Sky rifle rack to the ceiling behind the seats as well.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I did not but came close. There is a second layer of sheet metal around the perimeter of the roof that is about 2” wide and a bit of an extension in the middle where an over head console would go in an Explorer. I had to make a spacer out of a 2X4 to fill in the gap between the headliner and the roof to support the CB. The spacer fasted to the extension and the radio bracket to the 2X4. The radio doesn’t move.

I’ve used that same lip to mount a Big Sky rifle rack to the ceiling behind the seats as well.

Depending on trim on a first gen you could have a solid steel headliner too. Good for mounting normal console stuff to... probably not great for mounting rifles to.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I’m picturing a half inch tube frame with sheet metal, that spanned the width of the cab, approximately 10-12” front to back, with a top hinged door that’s lockable and has a shock to hold it open.

 

[sgtsandman]

I think that will be too deep. At least in front of the seats. Build a cardboard mock up and try it before you build the real deal. Sit in the seats and move around to get things off the floor, the glove box, etc. Also, consider traffic lights. Where do you normally see them in the windshield?

There are a few lights, because of their placement in the intersection, that I have to stop short of the intersection with the windshield visor I have on the truck. Kind of an apples to oranges comparison but an example of things to consider before you make blind spots or something you’ll be smacking your head on.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I hadn’t thought about that. Very good point and I’ll definitely use the cardboard idea. I’m only 5’6”, so I don’t anticipate any issues with creating blind spots. I’m gonna double check though lol. I’m wanting to make it just big enough to clear a 30-30 or maybe a scoped .22. If it fits an AR too, that’ll be cool. I’ll post pictures and maybe do a build thread when I start building it.

Also, this truck is my hunting truck, I won’t be DD it or driving it in town much.