Woah Black Betty, the Danger Ranger!

[Uncle Gump]

Well I'm 1 for 2... I will consider it a win!

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news...

 

[strugbus]

Well I'm 1 for 2... I will consider it a win!

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news...

Rome wasn't built in a day! The entire rear-end/lift/suspension refresh will all be done at once if everything goes to plan. I have time to swap these out, plus since Kohl's will take these back it gives my wife and I an excuse to go SHOE SHOPPING!

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I would blame this all on racism.

 

[strugbus]

I would blame this all on racism.

Not Ram Jam?

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Yes them too. Damn Ram Jam.

 

[strugbus]

Stuff's still happening...

Got a package today!

 

[strugbus]

Things are slowly spinning in my world. I'm off for a week after Friday and will be going to my girlfriend's to build out the shell. Goal is to have everything for up to 2 weeks off grid in the bed and to have storage for all of the equipment my hobbies require. Right now the timetable looks like March will be the final bit of purchasing and installation of the lift and new rear end. Wheels/tires will be in April and are the final real piece of the puzzle.

If more Stimulus money comes in at some point I'll have her done a lot sooner!

 

[dccarpenter]

Cool project, how did the truck do on the BLM and forest roads in 2wd open diff configuration?

I've thought about adding one of those e-lockers to both of my last couple 2wd rangers. It seems to have stopped snowing in the winter here though for the last 3 years so I'd lost my motivation.

 

[strugbus]

Cool project, how did the truck do on the BLM and forest roads in 2wd open diff configuration?

I've thought about adding one of those e-lockers to both of my last couple 2wd rangers. It seems to have stopped snowing in the winter here though for the last 3 years so I'd lost my motivation.

Truck has always done great. Only time it's ever been stuck was when my wife got into some sand. It's been some places it definitely shouldn't have been. One memorable one was about 10 miles of legit 4x4 trail that weaved up and down a flowing creek out by Lopez Lake. I had nice knobby 33's on then and it didn't have issues despite being almost up to it's floorboards in water a couple times.

A locker will do amazing things, but tires are what hit the ground. Good tires will take you far!

 

[sgtsandman]

Things are slowly spinning in my world. I'm off for a week after Friday and will be going to my girlfriend's to build out the shell. Goal is to have everything for up to 2 weeks off grid in the bed and to have storage for all of the equipment my hobbies require. Right now the timetable looks like March will be the final bit of purchasing and installation of the lift and new rear end. Wheels/tires will be in April and are the final real piece of the puzzle.

If more Stimulus money comes in at some point I'll have her done a lot sooner!

You have a wife and a girlfriend? That doesn't work well very often...

 

[strugbus]

You have a wife and a girlfriend? That doesn't work well very often...

But it's pretty awesome when it does!

 

[strugbus]

Well I'm back from my vacation! The truck isn't though, my girlfriend kept it for the week to try and tidy up/finish up a few things. We made an insane amount of progress though and after this week the woodworking portion of the camper will be done.

First thing to do was help my girlfriend set her woodshop back up. This was the first time she's had a functional shop in about 9 years. It was also the first time her big table saw has run since her dad passed away. It was very cool to see her get so into it.

The shop:

Wiring the saw to run for the first time in almost a decade.

Cutting the main bulkhead with space for cabling and pex piping. It's cabinet grade 3/4" birch 9ply as are all the cabinet runners.

The rear all decked and sided. The floor is 1/2" ply my GF had laying around..

Girlfriend super proud of her hard work. (I am too!)

Drawer runners installed into the bulkhead and floor.

Test fitting the decking. Everything will hinge up from the sides with gas struts. The center will have 2 removeable pieces 15" wide and 20.5" long that just sit on some furring. They are removable and will screw into custom mounts for camp tables.

The drawers all cut and slotted. They're cabinet gradr 1/2" birch 5 ply with 5mil ply bottoms slotted and glued in.

Test fitting everything after sanding/routing.

Glued, clamped and Brad nailed.

Test fitting the stove in it's drawer, fits like a glove baby!

Custom stovetop drawer installed and fitted! Aint it snazzy?

All that's left for woodworking is to mount the 2nd drawer and hinge all the cabinets for the top lift.

Not gonna lie, I had so much fun doing this. I'm not a woodworker, but I learned a ton! The quality is just unreal as well, I couldn't have ever come up with something this well built and lightweight on my own. The entire build is 2, 1/2" sheets of plywood and about 2/3 of a 3/4" sheet of plywood. Hats off to the fabulous GF for all her help!

 

[sgtsandman]

Heck of a lot better job than I would do. I'm a rough-in kind of person that is slowly learning how to do better. My wood work is functional but far from pretty.

 

[strugbus]

Heck of a lot better job than I would do. I'm a rough-in kind of person that is slowly learning how to do better. My wood work is functional but far from pretty.

Just got sent this:

 

[Uncle Gump]

I like it...

I would do something like that but with my cab high cap I'm afraid I would never be able to fit in there.