How did your ranger try to kill you today?

[85_Ranger4x4]

Add a couple railroad track tie plates or rail connectors to the rear of the chassis. I recommend the rail connectors, run as rear impact bars. 3/4-1” thick cast iron, with “speed holes”, U-bolt it to the frame as close to the rear bumper as possible.

Normally it looks something like this:



For the past two months it has looked like this:



It currently looks like this:



Trust me, I know how to make it heavier lol

Eventually I need to get the topper back on so I can get the camper back in the barn, its been so hot it has been hard to find the ambition and as we clean up my grandfather's farm the open pickup bed has been kind of handy too.

 

[sgtsandman]

Normally it looks something like this:



For the past two months it has looked like this:



It currently looks like this:



Trust me, I know how to make it heavier lol

Eventually I need to get the topper back on so I can get the camper back in the barn, its been so hot it has been hard to find the ambition and as we clean up my grandfather's farm the open pickup bed has been kind of handy too.

Yeah, when I was at the meet to see the Big Boy, I was joking about taking the opposite direction for leveling the Ranger after JonnyO was talking about his leveling kit.

 

[oldgeek]

These trucks are quite squirrelly. It was winter, the roads were dry. Not a thought about the bridge coming up. Just a slight bump at the edge of the bridge, hit ice and was going sideways in the opposite lane. Fortunately, it was clear traffic at that moment. Going sideways then hit dry pavement on the other side of the bridge. Still don't know how it didn't roll. Should I replace the shocks? Well, later in the year, driving at highway speed, there was a strong cross wind from the right. The pavement got real bumpy and the wind almost blew me in the other lane. So, I replaced the shocks after all.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah, when I was at the meet to see the Big Boy, I was joking about taking the opposite direction for leveling the Ranger after JonnyO was talking about his leveling kit.

My truck is usually trying desperately to maintain anything of a rake let alone strive to sit level.

My levelling kit is a fully loaded Skamper lol

 

[sgtsandman]

These trucks are quite squirrelly. It was winter, the roads were dry. Not a thought about the bridge coming up. Just a slight bump at the edge of the bridge, hit ice and was going sideways in the opposite lane. Fortunately, it was clear traffic at that moment. Going sideways then hit dry pavement on the other side of the bridge. Still don't know how it didn't roll. Should I replace the shocks? Well, later in the year, driving at highway speed, there was a strong cross wind from the right. The pavement got real bumpy and the wind almost blew me in the other lane. So, I replaced the shocks after all.

Some of it is the light weight of the rear end of the truck and some of it is axle hop due to the solid axle and leaf springs. Depending on how old your tires are, they can contribute as well because the rubber is hardening up.

Most of the time, it is not a problem for me because of the fiberglass caps and platforms I keep on/in my trucks. With the tires getting at the end of their service life on the 2011, I have had an instance or two where the rear end skipped sideways.

Fiberglass caps and bed platforms aren't for everyone. Shocks can help. A lighter capacity leaf spring will as well. The amount of sidewall you have makes a difference. I've had solid rear axle cars that started axle hopping when I went to a lower profile tire. I would imagine a truck would do the same. All just ideas to think about. I doubt any one of them will be a complete anwer in themselves.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Some of it is the light weight of the rear end of the truck and some of it is axle hop due to the solid axle and leaf springs. Depending on how old your tires are, they can contribute as well because the rubber is hardening up.

Most of the time, it is not a problem for me because of the fiberglass caps and platforms I keep on/in my trucks. With the tires getting at the end of their service life on the 2011, I have had an instance or two where the rear end skipped sideways.

Fiberglass caps and bed platforms aren't for everyone. Shocks can help. A lighter capacity leaf spring will as well. The amount of sidewall you have makes a difference. I've had solid rear axle cars that started axle hopping when I went to a lower profile tire. I would imagine a truck would do the same. All just ideas to think about. I doubt any one of them will be a complete anwer in themselves.

I have springs out of an explorer on mine which IMO are way too much for a standard cab truck. However with the fiberglass topper they are great.

 

[Lefty]

Some of it is the light weight of the rear end of the truck and some of it is axle hop due to the solid axle and leaf springs. Depending on how old your tires are, they can contribute as well because the rubber is hardening up.

Most of the time, it is not a problem for me because of the fiberglass caps and platforms I keep on/in my trucks. With the tires getting at the end of their service life on the 2011, I have had an instance or two where the rear end skipped sideways.

Fiberglass caps and bed platforms aren't for everyone. Shocks can help. A lighter capacity leaf spring will as well. The amount of sidewall you have makes a difference. I've had solid rear axle cars that started axle hopping when I went to a lower profile tire. I would imagine a truck would do the same. All just ideas to think about. I doubt any one of them will be a complete anwer in themselves.

Yup, a problem not often discussed. My mechanic has a B2000 and reports the very same thing. Yes, of course, many pickups are squirrels, especially when they are empty, but the Ranger seems a little worse than comparable models. I just follow what others report here. KYB shocks seem to help. I have also put adjustable Monroes in the back. Both made a difference. So did the junkyard Ford Explorer v8 sway bar in the front. It did make the ride more harsh, but not bad. Wheel hop was cured with james duff traction bars which seemed to tighten up the shifts. Tires make a difference too. 35 inch tires might help for off road, but a smaller diameter will keep the center of gravity closer to the road. A different sway bar would help in back, but I opted for a pair of leaf spring clamps instead

 

[oldgeek]

Some of it is the light weight of the rear end of the truck and some of it is axle hop due to the solid axle and leaf springs. Depending on how old your tires are, they can contribute as well because the rubber is hardening up.

Most of the time, it is not a problem for me because of the fiberglass caps and platforms I keep on/in my trucks. With the tires getting at the end of their service life on the 2011, I have had an instance or two where the rear end skipped sideways.

Fiberglass caps and bed platforms aren't for everyone. Shocks can help. A lighter capacity leaf spring will as well. The amount of sidewall you have makes a difference. I've had solid rear axle cars that started axle hopping when I went to a lower profile tire. I would imagine a truck would do the same. All just ideas to think about. I doubt any one of them will be a complete anwer in themselves.

I was able to acquire some 3/8" steel plate that fit in the back. It was big enough to cover the entire bed, after cutting out for the wheel wells. I figured that added about 300 pounds. That settled the truck down nicely. But, before that, I was often on wash board roads and the truck would go just about everywhere until I replaced the shocks.

 

[Lefty]

I was able to acquire some 3/8" steel plate that fit in the back. It was big enough to cover the entire bed, after cutting out for the wheel wells. I figured that added about 300 pounds. That settled the truck down nicely. But, before that, I was often on wash board roads and the truck would go just about everywhere until I replaced the shocks.

Hah! That's one way. I have to go to the lumberyard and buy sand every year