RockRangerII refresh

[RockRanger]

Did you go up wheeling on the 28th? I thought I saw you at the bottom of the 4 lanes. I was in the black step side ranger, parked on the curve. Then I saw two more Rangers go up after you.


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Yes I did. But I was by myself. Not sure about the other rangers. I never saw them. I took my daughter up to Red lake to do a little wheeling and fishing. She had a good day, she caught three fish is less than an hour.

20150928_124154 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20150928_121908 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20150928_113546 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20150928_114333 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

Did you see this old Ford at the Prather Shell? So much want.

20150928_083809 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

That's cool man, any time spent outdoors with kids is time well spent!
No I didn't, I didn't stop up there though. I was just scouting the nf at the bottom of the hill for deer though before I went home.


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[RockRanger]

While searching on Amazon I found some $19 LED pod lights so I decided to give them a try. I needed mounts so I decided to try the bottom of the windshield. I drew up a bracket and cut them out.

20150929_111335 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

Not having a decent way to bend metal I resorted to a hammer and vice. The cut lines in the bracket help to line up the bend points.

20150929_111521 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

Two brackets mirror images of each other for each side of the truck.

20150929_134400 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

Lights mounted up.

20150929_175939 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

Hood clears all the way through normal motion. I still need to wire and aim them. If I decide I like them I have a few ideas for improving these mounts that I will implement into version two.

20150929_175656 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

 

[RockRanger]

In my quest for more storage spots on the truck I turned to the dash. The 89-94 ranger and 91-94 explorers have a nice flat spot on the dash that is fine to hold pens on the highway but nothing stays there when off road. I decided to build a box to fit in this area.

Little time with cardboard and the computer and I had this drawing.

dash box by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

After cutting it on my plasma table I started to make the necessary bends. I need a finger brake as this was what I came up with to make a few of the bends.

20150929_142010 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

Here is the box in position. To mount it I drilled two holes through the bottom and thru the dash. I dropped the glove box which gave me the room to put a fender washer and nut on the bottom to mount it. I had to grind a bit of the latch to allow it to clear the dash.

20150929_161041 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

 

[SPSully]

What ever happened to the plywood interior pieces? Any updated ideas to them?

The reason I ask is what about adjusting the center console a touch to hold your cb and ham mics. I really dig what you did, but my luck would have me hit a bump the split second I lift the Mic out and impale my hand on a corner.

 

[RockRanger]

The plywood center console is still in. I am waiting to redo it till I get new seats. I like the general layout of it. Once I get new seats will determine any size changes.

As far as sharp corners on the mic holder, that is the nice thing about cnc. It is easy to round corners to get rid of sharp points.

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[RockRanger]

Made the adjustments to my hilift adapter to make it more versatile.

20151002_123825 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

More info on it can be found in its own thread. http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162920

I also added some cheap led lights under the truck. 6 of them for 9 bucks off amazon. Might pick up a few more to fill in under the front and back of the truck.

20151002_195130 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

 

[RockRanger]

Also a couple better pictures of the dash mounted box.

20151001_174911 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

20151001_174844 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

 

[SPSully]

For cheap LEDs, they do a good job lighting up under the truck

 

[RockRanger]

Last week I took my daughter to Strawberry Lake and West lake before the trails closed for the season. She caught her largest fish so far. It was a 14" trout. I guess I thought I got a picture but didn't so it will have to remain a fish story.

Starting to clean up the interior. The old headliner was nasty and falling off.

20151102_154506 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

My first trip to Joanns fabric with my wife and $26 later we walked out with Adhesive and new material. Stripped the old material off and glued the new material on.

20151102_173144 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

Installed in the truck.

20151102_185936 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

I also added a switch to the clutch start switch. With the switch off you have to push the clutch in to start the truck. Flip a switch and it will start in gear.

 

[buell-eyed-devil]

amazing fab work!

 

[Josh40601]

Made the adjustments to my hilift adapter to make it more versatile.

20151002_123825 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

More info on it can be found in its own thread. http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162920

I also added some cheap led lights under the truck. 6 of them for 9 bucks off amazon. Might pick up a few more to fill in under the front and back of the truck.

20151002_195130 by Matthew Dresselhaus, on Flickr

Will you post the link to the amazon ones you picked up? I need like 20 of those things between all my vehicles. lol

 

[RockRanger]

KAWELL Universal 6pcs High Power White 3w LED Eagle Eye Bumper DRL Fog Light Motorcycle Light Daytime
Running DRL Tail Backup Light Car Motor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FEZEVQK/?tag=959media-20

They list some others as 9watt vs my 3 watt. You can get them cheaper if you buy more.

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[Josh40601]

thanks buddy!

 

[RockRanger]

I might order this 12 pack to fill in a few spots under my truck. Then use the rest on my car trailer wired into the reverse circuit of the tow rig. It sucks backing a trailer at night with no lights back there. 4 on my truck and 8 on my trailer.

http://www.amazon.com/HOT-SYSTEM-trade-Backup-12-pack/dp/B00MVMRS6O/?tag=959media-20