Kirbys 1991 Ranger Build Up and Solid Axle Swap

[Li'l Work Truck]

For $60 it was worth a shot- it looks cool and the functionality is pretty rad. I have yet to install the backup camera, but the wiring is there.

But the sound quality is completely awful. I am not even picky, but I can barely get it loud enough to hear over the truck noise. I got a blown kicker speaker, and the rear speakers sound really tin-ie. Like they are only using the tweeters or something. It's too late to return it and I dont know if it has a problem or if it is just garbage. I think I am going to try something else with a bigger screen and keep this one for a spare for my kids Jeep. I put one in her Jeep with similar results.

I'd run it like a preamp. Get yourself a line out to RCA converter and run a 5-channel amp with an unpowered tube sub.

 

[Kirby N.]

A few more pics and some with the tent open.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Wow, that's a really nice setup!!

 

[Shran]

Wow, that is awesome. Such a nice truck!

 

[Jim Oaks]

How much does that thing weigh?

I have some fiberglass bedsides to go on my 1996 and I've wondered how much support I'll lose cutting the metal bedsides and replacing them with fiberglass. I've wondered if the bed would support a camper shell on the rails or if it would want to bow out.

 

[Kirby N.]

My bedsides are really supported well. I added some steel as you can see in previous posts. I also took them apart and glued the sides down with construction adhesive to create a support structure the entire length. The camper also sits inside the edges about 3/4” per side so it sits right on the dimples for cap clamps. I’ll take some pics for you of that.

After discovering nothing used and common would fit my bed, I talked to go fast and they wanted nothing to do with it, but lone peak acted like it was no big deal at all to make it custom to fit. Thier manufacturing system is such that every unit is made to order, so they just took my dimensions and plugged it in and built me one.

I have no idea on the weight, the camper is about 400# if I remember correctly. However, it definitely needs more spring and stiffer springs in the rear. That’s the next project.

 

[Jim Oaks]

The tent looks huge in a couple of those pics. LOL. Can you access it from outside, or do you have to go in through the bottom? If you have to enter it from the bottom, do you feel like you lose storage space because you have to leave room in the bed to move around?

 

[Kirby N.]

I actually got it because you access it from inside the bed. This means you can use the inside of your bed with out getting out of the camper. The lone peak also has a rad feature where the bed folds up so you can use the whole bed. So if the weather is bad or whatever we can use the bed and stand up. Here are some pics

 

[Kirby N.]

Standing up in the bed in the pass through area- looking toward the front.

Sitting butt on bed, legs dangling into the truck bed looking out the side

Bed folded up, standing I. The bed off the truck looking toward front of truck

 

[Kirby N.]

They also make an external ladder for the outside but I had that with my RTT setup and didn’t love it.

I added a hookup for a diesel heater so I can add a heater and run it in the winter.