'85 Ranger Restomod

[Curious Hound]

Love the fake fried egg.

 

[ryan]

Technically that jeep is an overlander, not an offroader, because of the awning

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Technically that jeep is an overlander, not an offroader, because of the awning

That was the best part of his build, awesome for a car show. Everybody else was putting up canopies to try to stay out of the ran or out of the sun, he just flips it out lol.

 

[ryan]

That was the best part of his build, awesome for a car show. Everybody else was putting up canopies to try to stay out of the ran or out of the sun, he just flips it out lol.

If/when I get my little RTT for my tow rig, I'll definitely get one. Just makes no sense on a wheeling jeep to me as a tree magnet

 

[bobbywalter]

fair warning....never let Oliver around me for long periods........

it would be even worse....

hey mister........whats all this ghey shit doing on this jeep? do you even mall crawl bro?

 

[sgtsandman]

An awning is a game changer. 270, 180, straight awning off to one side, or even a Slumber Jack off the back of the truck makes a huge difference.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

An awning is a game changer. 270, 180, straight awning off to one side, or even a Slumber Jack off the back of the truck makes a huge difference.

I've thought about it... I just don't have a super consistent way to mount one. We just have a freestanding one which works good enough for now.

 

[sgtsandman]

I've thought about it... I just don't have a super consistent way to mount one. We just have a freestanding one which works good enough for now.

For the Scamper, You could mount one over the back door if all you are looking for is a straight one. Of course, that would require drilling holes into all that hard work you did repairing it....

For when the cap is on, I don't have much of a suggestion unless you make your own and figure out a way to attach it without a roof rack. Everything else is going to require some kind of rack, even the Slumber jack.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

For the Scamper, You could mount one over the back door if all you are looking for is a straight one. Of course, that would require drilling holes into all that hard work you did repairing it....

For when the cap is on, I don't have much of a suggestion unless you make your own and figure out a way to attach it without a roof rack. Everything else is going to require some kind of rack, even the Slumber jack.

The Skamper roof is like 9' high when its popped up though...

I am mulling some sort of exo cage for the topper for carrying the canoe...but even then a portable canopy works really well for most of our camping.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Ran it over to the lake again last weekend:

Post in thread '1984 Skamper 072S'

Aug 24, 2026

We opted for one last hurrah before I put the Skamper away for the year.

Got her packed up again...





One thing about this thing, especially when in the top bunk, the view out the back can be really nice since you are up so high and it has windows all around the sides and rear



It was a pretty light crowd which was strange because the weather was really nice...

• 85_Ranger4x4

• 

Truck was running heavy and un-aerodynamic obviously. Water tank was dry but the camper was full of gear with a bike rack and three bikes hanging off the back. So naturally wanting to test my work I flips the A/C on.

It was a 10 mile run, it barely got up to 203* once but for the most part settled into the mid 190*s. I think it was saying like 198* when we got there. It has a OE rated Explorer thermostat, I think around 195*.

This kind of confirms a theory I have had. Before the fan relay block was fully functioning the fans would kick on when the engine got warm enough. All the A/C could do was dump heat in front of the rad in an effort to get the engine to warm up quicker to spur he fans to work. By then the temp was climbing fast and just continued to climb as the fans fought to pull it back down.

No doubt it did no favors for A/C function either...

Now, when I flip the A/C on the fans come on too and they cycle on/off with the A/C compressor. So with the fans running the engine seems to heat up much slower and then the cooling system doesn't have to try to get ahead of it and cool it back down.

So that is pretty neat if it isn't a fluke. I drove into the park to the campground at 20mph or whatever and the fans were still cycling with the A/C which meant the ECM wasn't calling for the fans to run due to engine heat.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It is time...



I got it back in the trailer and ready to go back into the barn.



Ran it to town to pick my son up after school... and was reminded how borderline sketchy the thing is without weight on the rear.

Going up a hill on a gravel road it kinda wants to just kick the rear out if you are not on the ball and backing off power. Hit a big pothole and the dang Explorer springs tried to punch the pothole back... with one tire so it kind of tried to spin the truck out.

Anyway, the whole fleet gets to have a confab under the yard light tonight.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Ran it over to the lake again last weekend:

Post in thread '1984 Skamper 072S'

Aug 24, 2026

We opted for one last hurrah before I put the Skamper away for the year.

Got her packed up again...





One thing about this thing, especially when in the top bunk, the view out the back can be really nice since you are up so high and it has windows all around the sides and rear



It was a pretty light crowd which was strange because the weather was really nice...

• 85_Ranger4x4

• 

Truck was running heavy and un-aerodynamic obviously. Water tank was dry but the camper was full of gear with a bike rack and three bikes hanging off the back. So naturally wanting to test my work I flips the A/C on.

It was a 10 mile run, it barely got up to 203* once but for the most part settled into the mid 190*s. I think it was saying like 198* when we got there. It has a OE rated Explorer thermostat, I think around 195*.

This kind of confirms a theory I have had. Before the fan relay block was fully functioning the fans would kick on when the engine got warm enough. All the A/C could do was dump heat in front of the rad in an effort to get the engine to warm up quicker to spur he fans to work. By then the temp was climbing fast and just continued to climb as the fans fought to pull it back down.

No doubt it did no favors for A/C function either...

Now, when I flip the A/C on the fans come on too and they cycle on/off with the A/C compressor. So with the fans running the engine seems to heat up much slower and then the cooling system doesn't have to try to get ahead of it and cool it back down.

So that is pretty neat if it isn't a fluke. I drove into the park to the campground at 20mph or whatever and the fans were still cycling with the A/C which meant the ECM wasn't calling for the fans to run due to engine heat.

So much for that.

Truck was empty today, mirror was saying 91* with the A/C on again...



Probably stupid and overthought but I really like my check engine light thing. Pulled up the app and it was showing 208* which is about what it was before.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

We had possible weather coming into tonight so the lovely @Mrs. Eighty Five helped me set the topper back on... so my truck is whole again. Getting the topper back on also freed a parking spot in the barn for one of the daily drivers.