A Look Back At The Ford Rangers of Top Truck Challenge

[Jim Oaks]

The Top Truck Challenge has been hosted 21 times. In the last 21 years, only (3) Ford Rangers have competed. Of those, the highest overall finish was Brian Buck when he finished 4th in 2006.

The trucks seem to get bigger and bigger each year.

Who will be the next Ford Ranger owner to get their Ford Ranger voted in to Top Truck Challenge?

Who will enter for the 2014 Top Truck Challenge?

Are there any Rangers out there strong enough to compete?

Here's a look back at the previous Ford Rangers to compete in Top Truck Challenge.


Brian Barker 1993 Ford Ranger - 2010 Top Truck Challenge

Results - Finished 7th overall after battling with transmissions problems.

Finished 1st in Tow Test
Finished 3rd in Mud Pit

Specifications:

Owner name/city: Brian Barker/Plamondon, Alberta, Canada
Occupation: Auto parts sales
Vehicle model: 1993 Ford Ranger
Estimated value: $100,000
Engine/aspiration: Ford 598ci V-8/EFI
Transmission: Hughes full competition C6
Transfer case: NorthWest Fab NP205/Black Box underdrive
Suspension (f/r): Double-triangulated four-link, 16-in King coilovers, King air bumps, Evolution rod ends/double-triangulated four-link, 16-in King coilovers, Evolution rod ends
Axles (f/r): 7-ton ITL SD-70/5-ton ITL SD-50; 5:1 hub reduction gears; Wilwood calipers, custom rotors; full hydro steering
Axle ratio: 15:1
Wheels: 20x12 steel bead locks
Tires: 54-in Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC

Scott Sidwell 1983 Ford Ranger - 2009 Top Truck Challenge

Results - Finished 9th overall

They overran the winch cable and got it wrapped around the axle on the frame twister. They Also bent the driver side front 4-link bars, a tie rod, rear pinion brake rotor, and had a slipping transfer case chain.

Specifications:

Owner name/city: Scott Sidwell/Glencoe, MN
Occupation: Shop owner, Sidco 4x4
Vehicle model: 1983 Ford Ranger
Estimated value: $25,000
Engine/aspiration: 514ci Ford V-8, Holley 770cfm Truck Avenger carb, Edelbrock intake, hand-fabbed exhaust w/ 21/4 x 5-in collector
Transmission: Stock 4-spd w/manual valve body, TCI 2,000rpm stall converter
Transfer case: 3:1 hand-fabbed double-row #60 chain-drive
Suspension (f/r): Four-link, 9-in Skyjacker F-150 springs, semitractor-trailer shocks/four-link, 9-in Skyjacker F-150 springs, Gabriel shocks
Axles (f/r): GMC 2 1/2-ton military/GMC 2 1/2-ton military; rear "lead" locker, 4x.0.120-wall driveshafts, pinion brakes
Axle ratio: 6.68:1
Wheels: 20-in hand-fabbed steelies
Tires: 54x20 Interco Super Swamper Boggers

Brian Buck 1990 Ford Ranger - 2006 Top Truck Challenge

Results - Finished 4th overall

Specifications:

Engine: Propane Ford 460 V-8
Transmission: Ford C6
Transfer case: NP203/205
Axles, f/r: Dana 60/GM 14-bolt
Traction aids, f/r: Detroit/Welded spiders
Ratio: 3.77:1
Suspension f/r: Four-link, coil springs/Three-link, elliptical springs
Tires: 42-inch Swampers
Special features: Receiver-mounted 12,000-pound winch, bobbed bed, heavy-wall driveshafts, 122-inch wheelbase
Driver experience: 6 years

 

[straycat]

Small trucks can do real well. The Rangers and the Toyotas have done well I think for their size. This is one of my favorite Toyota trucks at the TTC last year (2013):

http://www.fourwheeler.com/top-truck-challenge/2013/129-1307-ttc-2013-1999-toyota-tacoma/

 

[ricardo93]

I want to do in the future, when i get a 4x4 ranger, a powerstroke 7.3l swap with full width axles a 9" lIft a 3" body lift steering assist, and 44's

 

[country0001]

Maybe its time for trs 1 to be in ttc

 

[Kyle M.]

I'd love to do it, but too much cost involved getting out there, and trying to be competitive. People running 50 +inch tires, that's hard to keep up with!