HOW DO YOU CONVERT A RANGER TO A MOBILE WORKSHOP?

[NIGERIAN RANGER]

I do use frame-mounted hitches rather than the bumper. The ‘93 had a receiver hitch and the ‘94 has a home-built frame hitch with a receiver tube. I also have coil helpers on the rear axle housing for a little extra suspension. I plan on upgrading my front brakes soon to ‘97 dual-piston calipers.

As regards the piston upgrades, I hear people can use those of explorers, or sports track explorer. How true this is?

 

[NIGERIAN RANGER]

You guys are amazing with your suggestions, and experiences.

 

[racsan]

regular cab, minamal cab space, can have either 6’ or 7’ bed. seats cant recline much because they will hit the back window/cab
super cab, 6’ bed only, can recline seats, actually have room behind seats for small children, not very comfortable for a adult though. some have small half doors for access, older ones the seat tips & slides forward for access.
Crew cab, 4 full doors. not much bed. In the north american market only available 2019 & up. there was a explorer sport trac available that is ranger-ish, just basd on a explorer.
not sure what explorer parts if any would work on a ranger, my older 94 will have newer ‘97 spindles/knuckles and calipers.

You have a regular cab, I cant really tell if its a longbed (7ft bed) or a shortbed (6ft bed)

 

[MikeG]

From your post in another thread, you have a single cab. That means it is the lightest Ranger body. So that helps a little with payload.

Downside, shorter wheelbase is a little less stable when pulling a trailer. If you don't go real fast, no big deal.

If you want to max out the trailer load, I would strongly encourage you to get a trailer with brakes. Especially if you don't have a lot of experience pulling trailers. Heavy load, and hit the brakes on a curve, and that is called a 'jack-knife' and a very bad thing. If the trailer is heavier than the truck, it will start push the truck around.

An Explorer 8.8 axle is a good thing, if it gives you the gears you want. Should have rear disk brakes, which helps a little. But it weighs more too (good for traction and braking, but cuts into your load capacity). If you do the Explorer rear axle, get the Explorer springs as well. Will increase the capacity of the truck bed a little, although will ride somewhat rougher. The Ranger springs won't tolerate being loaded to full capacity for very long.

I'd probably look for a trailer with brakes, put a receiver hitch on the truck, and put the lowest rear end gears you can find in the 7.5 axle to start with (probably 4.10s). Unless an Explorer axle is just cheaper than gears for a 7.5.

And did you find out what gears are in the 7.5 rear?