INFO Featured Build Threads

[Jim Oaks]

Featured Builds Banner (Carousel):

You've likely noticed the two featured builds banners (one on mobile) above the forum sections and posts. Perhaps that's how you ended up here. I am working on a new 'Featured Build Threads' feature for our members. Think of like 'Truck of The Month', but nothing like truck of the month at all. LOL.

Purpose:

The main purpose of 'Featured Build Threads' is to give recognition to the craftsmanship and ingenuity that goes into project vehicles. It's also meant to inspire others to start their own projects and share them. We all learn from others creativity, and we all love a good build thread.

In years past we've done 'Truck of The Month' and even 'Truck of The Year', but it required people to nominate trucks that appear in the forum and then vote for a monthly winner. It also required setting up nomination threads, polls, and getting people to participate. And even then, you had to deal with people voting more for their friends than the vehicles. And let's be honest, there's been times that the person that probably should have won didn't.

This isn't truck of the month. There isn't going to be any nominations and polls. But if you think a project is worthy of being a featured build thread, likes and replies go a long way in making threads stand out.

I get to choose. If I'm struggling to choose between potential candidates I may ask the moderators for their input, but at this point in my life, my bad decisions are usually limited to women.

The featured thread is actually an option built into the forum software. I can click on your thread, click 'feature thread' and just like that it appears in the 'Featured Build Threads' section you see above. Pretty easy to implement.

If you look at the 'Featured Build Thread' displayed above, you'll see a small icon that looks like an award ribbon just to the left of the 'Replies' counter. That signifies that a thread is featured.

But Wait, There's More...

I used to send TOTM stickers to the winners, but that required getting TOTM stickers made that were specific to the month and year. With 'Featured Build Threads', I can order a batch of stickers and not need separate designs. I can send people two TRS FTB stickers and you can stick one on both sides of your truck, one on your truck and one on your toolbox, one on your truck and... well... you get the idea. Be creative.

I'm also thinking of a 'Featured Build Thread' banner to go under your username just like we did with TOTM. Because hey, you can never have enough banners under your username. This forum leads the internet in user banners because let's face it... all of the other sites probably think they're stupid. But dang it, they were trendy 25+ years ago when forums started becoming popular and I see no reason to stop.

Featured Threads Lead To Featured Vehicles

Every month I look for a Ford Ranger to feature on the front page of this site to inspire people and recognize cool trucks. I usually check to see what the forum has to offer first. When I do find something feature worthy, I have to comb through every page and post trying to extract all of the details to share it. By participating in Featured Build Threads, it puts your build in the spotlight to be considered for a featured vehicle. That means it will be preserved here forever for others to appreciate and enjoy.

Strictly Voluntary

Below are the criteria we look for in a Featured Build Thread. This isn't suggesting that you have to do these things in your build thread. This is just letting you know what we look for if you want to be considered.

Featured Build Threads - Criteria

Featured Build Threads Are Selected Based On:

• The project is an RBV-related vehicle (Ranger, Bronco II, Explorer).
• The vehicle is currently being built, restored, modified, or otherwise actively documented. (See below)
• The member is regularly updating the build thread. (No dead threads) (See below)
• The thread contains useful information, photos, and/or progress updates.
• The project is interesting, unusual, technically informative, or otherwise noteworthy.
• The build thread educates, inspires, and/or entertains the TRS community.
• A member may only have one Featured Build Thread at a time.

Documentation:

Please tell people what you're doing and not just post a photo and expect us to figure it out. I realize sometimes it's obvious and you don't have to explain every photo. This is aimed at the person that spends the weekend doing a mod, posts a photo when they're done, and has no comment at all to go with it.

Speaking of photos, attach your photos to the forum instead of linking them. Over time we end up with build threads missing photo of important aspects of the build because someone linked to their photos on a server somewhere that's no longer available, or there's a huge watermark across it because they hosted their photos someplace like Photobucket. It's hard to feature your work when people can't see it.

Please don't let your thread die. I've seen this happen as well. People start a build thread and then turn into a ghost as they near completion and are never seen again.

Finally, your thread has to be more than just a post with a video in it. There's nothing wrong with reading what someone has done and then seeing a video of how they did it, but if I wanted to watch YouTube, I'd just go watch YouTube. Interacting with the forum and sharing your videos is good. Posting your YouTube videos solely for views and the algorithm and not engaging with the forum members is not good and will get you ejected.

Current Specs in First Post:

You must maintain a list of current specs and future plans in your original first post. This is usually easy because people have a plan of what they're doing and a list of parts. And you don't have to update the first post every day. If you spent the weekend regearing and swapping an axle, when the time comes that you add it to your thread, remember to take a minute and update your first post. So, when you share with us how you installed 4.88 gears and a Detroit Locker into a Dana 44 and then swapped it into your truck, update the specs in your first post with something like: 'Dana 44 W/4.88's & Detroit'.

It gets frustrating clicking through page after page trying to figure out what's been done to a vehicle. It's nice always being able to go to the first post and see its latest specs. It also makes it easier to preserve these builds as a featured vehicle in the main part of the site for people to see and enjoy for years to come.

For an example of what I mean, check out:

Thread 'Ultra cheap offroad race Explorer turned rock crawler'

Apr 16, 2017

The Plan:

So I have always wanted to build an Explorer to race, Baja style, and with that goal in mind I have been saving parts since I got into RBVs in 2008. It seems like such a good platform to build off of - throw some D44 knuckles out on the D35, redo the 8.8 for 5x5.5 bolt pattern, ditch the interior and glass, cage it, more shocks, and make it fly!

I finally found the perfect one to build, it was cheap ($220,) blue, absolute junk body, but it runs really well! Cut the cats off, scrap value $65. Misc parts - $95, into it $250 now.

M5OD was in good shape but prefer...

• Shran
• Replies: 94
• Forum: Members Bronco II & Explorer Builds

• 

In the first post, you can see the project vehicle that Shran will be building along with a description of his plans. As the build progressed, he added a 'Current Specifications' update and a photo of how it looks now. As the first-time reader, I'm now intrigued and tempted to read more to see how he got to the point he's at now.

More To Come:

This is evolving. Stay tuned.

 

[Robert Mangrum]

This will be super cool. The build threads have inspired me as well taught me a lot about how to or how not to do things. I encourage everyone to check out these builds. The 2 featured are full of great information and some awesome builds. I look forward to seeing more of what you guys have done. Thanks @Jim Oaks for putting this together. I really appreciate all the hours you put in keeping this the best forum on the internet.

 

[BBR]

Thanks for continually looking for ways to improve your forums!

 

[Rick W]

Jim, this sounds great. While I had a fuzzy vision of what I wanted to do with The Road Ranger and The Missing Linc (and the blue one I haven’t started yet), an awful lot of the “what do I do and how do I do it” came from seeing what other folks were doing on TRS

My only comment is to include a little bit of everything. I haven’t gone through TRS in depth, and it seems the group that I mostly communicate with are mostly into restoring their trucks, just keeping them in good running condition, and the big builds seem to be many versions of four-wheel-drive and charging through the woods and such. Obviously, I hear a different drummer. I would just suggest that you include some of the other visions and modifications and builds.

You and your team do an incredibly good job. I know I appreciate every bit of it!

 

[Jim Oaks]

I updated my initial post with more information.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Jim, this sounds great. While I had a fuzzy vision of what I wanted to do with The Road Ranger and The Missing Linc (and the blue one I haven’t started yet), an awful lot of the “what do I do and how do I do it” came from seeing what other folks were doing on TRS

My only comment is to include a little bit of everything. I haven’t gone through TRS in depth, and it seems the group that I mostly communicate with are mostly into restoring their trucks, just keeping them in good running condition, and the big builds seem to be many versions of four-wheel-drive and charging through the woods and such. Obviously, I hear a different drummer. I would just suggest that you include some of the other visions and modifications and builds.

You and your team do an incredibly good job. I know I appreciate every bit of it!

You put the 'U' in unique my friend.

I think people believe they have to have elaborate builds and fabrication skills to share their build threads, or that they're afraid because their a beginner and people will judge them.

I get as much satisfaction seeing a newbie figure it out as I do seeing a seasoned fabricators skills.

I love cheap budget builds as much as expensive ones. I personally always go for low budget. The winch bumper on my 2021 Ford Ranger FX4 started life as a Ranch Hand brush guard for a Dodge Ram I got cheap off of Marketplace and a Westin winch plate. I got about $300 in it.

There are guys here that could build a dirt-cheap capable rig from used parts that could hold their weight against a high-dollar build. And there are guys here that have the tools, ability and resources to build those high dollar builds. But I find there's something to be learned in all of them.

But to your post, I agree that there should be a mix to benefit the whole, not just a select group. But I can only choose from what's available.

 

[Rick W]

I love cheap budget builds as much as expensive ones. I personally always go for low budget. The winch bumper on my 2021 Ford Ranger FX4 started life as a Ranch Hand brush guard for a Dodge Ram I got cheap off of Marketplace and a Westin winch plate. I got about $300 in it.

All good, I agree that you can only pick from the folks who want to step up. With all modesty, I’m the master of repurposing what I come across. Some call it creative, but mostly I’m just really cheap Probably more than half of my builds are things that came from garage sales, Craigslist, marketplace, and during Covid when the rich people cleaned out their houses but didn’t care about the money, and the poor people cleaned out their houses because they needed the money. You could buy anything for virtually nothing.

The headache rack on the Road Ranger was a piece of the fencing at the top of an escalator in a mall that closed down. Super high-quality aluminum, powder coated, stainless hardware. I bought eight pieces for $100, I still have several left. The “fancy“ taillight assemblies on the back of the RR are from cross-bed toolboxes I picked up for free or for $20, and I cut the corners out and flipped them over.

And the super high quality stainless steel handles that are on top of the Weatherguard box behind the cab? They came from a free gas grill. If you ever need stainless parts or a panel, or whatever, there are always free gas grills available and they are very high-quality stainless. If you need a big sheet? You can find a free stainless refrigerator if you’re willing to just go get it

BTW, do you know what those handles are used for? If the chick (or guy) is too big to fit in the cab, they can sit on that toolbox and hold on with those handles!

You’re dedication and creativity to all of this is inspiring. And especially on this calendar day, your service is greatly appreciated, now and always.