Safari Pacific MX2 Build

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

damn that was fast!

 

[schanusa]

damn that was fast!

Haha. Well, I want the thing running soon. Tired of just looking at it. I haven't hooked anything up yet though. Just set it in place.

 

[schanusa]

Update on the new motor. IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finished hooking up the major components and test fired it. Need to redo the AC system before I can test drive, since I need the AC pump to put on a belt.

 

[schanusa]

Here a crude video of the second time I fired up the motor. I reattached everything including the bad ac pump, so I could begin running a flush through the coolant system

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeVauSwbKDo

 

[MountainMike]

That's awesome Travis, the turnaround time wasn't that bad.

 

[schanusa]

Did my first test run since the new motor was installed. 100+ miles this afternoon. Dang its a good feeling to drive the Ranger again.

Took longer to get back on the road then I wanted. Had to replace a bunch of things including the wheel bearings again. I replaced them recently after the failed spindle last summer. I'm a bit disappointed at Timken. I expected better from them. The seals were cracked when I pulled off the rotor. I'm guessing the cracks must of let water in, allowing the bearings to eat themselves. Used National bearings this time with a SFK seal. Hope it fairs better.

 

[FORDboy357]

Why did I start reading this at midnight?

This is an unbelievable build.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

great to see it running again!

now SAS it LOL

 

[daniel3507]

Best build ever. I frequent your website quite a bit looking for updates

 

[schanusa]

Quick update: To be quite honest I lost all motivation to complete the truck and trip since everything fell apart last year. The proverbial scat hit the fan, including other aspects of the venture that I'm not willing to talk about online. Well, that feeling has also rolled into this year and has been hard to get back into the groove. Burnt is the best way to explain it. For now I'm focusing on rebuilding my savings to complete the adventure. I have also decided to go back to my original concept for the truck. What I know it can and will do. More to come as I get my wheels rolling again.

I went on a trip last weekend with Adventure Duo and SoCal Teardrops. I had a great time and reminded me of what my goals were all about. Fun and adventure. Dave's writeup is here http://www.adventureduo.com/2011/06/nevada-overland-rhyolite-to-tonopah.html

 

[-Nathan-]

Think I saw this rig in person today, if so looked great. Im on my honeymoon in Palm Springs, and were on our way to San Diego, you passed us going the opposite way at 10:30 AM on Temecula I think its called. Im sure it was you, unless theres another Ranger with a quad cab, white.

 

[4.0B2]

wait so... what was the original plan of the rig? lol

 

[schanusa]

Think I saw this rig in person today, if so looked great. Im on my honeymoon in Palm Springs, and were on our way to San Diego, you passed us going the opposite way at 10:30 AM on Temecula I think its called. Im sure it was you, unless theres another Ranger with a quad cab, white.

Thanks. Yep, it was probably me since I'm living in Temecula now. Have an office in old town where I've gone back to work doing the web design/hosting thing for a while.

wait so... what was the original plan of the rig? lol

Pretty much a roof top tent on the bed and a some storage in the bed accessible through the tailgate. There's other small things i'll be doing. Also having to redo the front suspension again. The camper was too heavy and destroyed most of it. Even wore out the hyme ball.

My brothers going to start giving me a hand building out the bed of the truck. So updates are coming once we get cracking.

 

[schanusa]

Updates from a couple small trips;

http://safaripacific.com/gallery.php?g=20

http://safaripacific.com/gallery.php?g=19

http://safaripacific.com/gallery.php?g=18

 

[schanusa]

Onto the bed top tent... Since I've gotten the tent life has been a little easier on the truck. Not nearly the same amount of weight. The only problem with the tent is the cover is only held together by a couple rolls of gorilla tape. I bought it used off craigslist and the owner said he hadn't used it in a while. The tape has held up ok, though does leak. I'm still on the fence whether I want to make a hard aluminum cover or just make a new canvas one.

Open

Closed

So far I've only used the tent mounted directly onto the bed rails, where it flips off to the rear. While this works it makes it a pain to access my gear in the bed. I mocked up the tent to flip off to the side and see how well it works. Some old ammo cans worked out to be the right height. Overall its not too bad. I would have easier access to my gear and a little extra height in the bed, but it hangs passed the tailgate since its longer width wise.