The Road Ranger. 1997 SEMI

[sgtsandman]

Trying to be disciplined, and not start more projects before I finish up some that are open, I finished putting the interior back together in The Road Ranger.

New carpet, I got the brake controller mounted just off the stick shift, and put the new seat covers on. It really looks good if I do say so myself.

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Always something more to do, but now I can drive it while I tinker. I was going to play musical vehicles in the driveway, and I don’t know what I did, but it was dead as a doornail, so it’s sitting on the charger now.

I hear you. I want to build a storage bin/shelf in the extended cab but don't want to do that before I pull the useless jump seats and remove the factory carpet so vinyl floor can be installed. I've been dragging my feet on the vinyl flooring.

 

[Rick W]

I hear you. I want to build a storage bin/shelf in the extended cab but don't want to do that before I pull the useless jump seats and remove the factory carpet so vinyl floor can be installed. I've been dragging my feet on the vinyl flooring.

I hear you, doing the carpet was a real pain in the butt, but it looks sweet now! I’m hoping it cuts down on some of the heat and noise as well. When I got this 97, there was nothing on the floor, just bare steel.

 

[Rick W]

I hear you. I want to build a storage bin/shelf in the extended cab but don't want to do that before I pull the useless jump seats and remove the factory carpet so vinyl floor can be installed. I've been dragging my feet on the vinyl flooring.

Afterthought, do you really want to sacrifice the carpet for a solid vinyl floor? Couldn’t you achieve the protection with some custom weatherguard type floor mats? I know you guys do a lot more heavy duty running through the mud and such, and you work with these trucks, but getting rid of the carpet seems extreme (this coming from the guy who added an axle).

Do you have any sketches or thoughts on the kind of storage space you want to build? I have the little jump seats too, and I don’t think I’ll get rid of them, but everything just ends up getting thrown in the back there and then I can’t find anything. I’m going to do something, but I haven’t even started thinking about it yet, so if I can copy it from you and get it done first, and then take the credit, that would be great!

 

[sgtsandman]

Afterthought, do you really want to sacrifice the carpet for a solid vinyl floor? Couldn’t you achieve the protection with some custom weatherguard type floor mats? I know you guys do a lot more heavy duty running through the mud and such, and you work with these trucks, but getting rid of the carpet seems extreme (this coming from the guy who added an axle).

Do you have any sketches or thoughts on the kind of storage space you want to build? I have the little jump seats too, and I don’t think I’ll get rid of them, but everything just ends up getting thrown in the back there and then I can’t find anything. I’m going to do something, but I haven’t even started thinking about it yet, so if I can copy it from you and get it done first, and then take the credit, that would be great!

The carpet is light gray and shows dirt easily. I like the vinyl floor in the 2019 and the trucks at work much better.

As far as the storage in the back of the cab, just a general idea. The passenger side would be more of an open cubby for the two get home bags to be stored. The other side, two tool kits, two folding camp chairs, wheel chocks, bottle jack, and a jump pack. I'm still trying to work out what to do with the factory bottle jack and rods. A fuse/junction box will be worked in the top somewhere for the radios. The top will probably have some kind of hinged cover with a shallow storage underneath. The axe, small mattock, bow saw, and some other stuff will probably get stored in that shallow storage area.

 

[Rick W]

No joy. Now that the interior is buttoned up, I tried to move it. Main battery dead but it charged overnight. Tool box battery doesn’t seem to be taking a charge.



I’m thinking of just planting flowers in all of them.

 

[RobbieD]

I’m thinking of just planting flowers in all of them.

If you do, better put 'em behind a tall picket fence, and watch out for the gray unmarked helicopter.

Oh; you mean regular flowers.

Sounds like you may have a hefty parasitic current draw.

 

[Rick W]

If you do, better put 'em behind a tall picket fence, and watch out for the gray unmarked helicopter.

Oh; you mean regular flowers.

Sounds like you may have a hefty parasitic current draw.

I had a cheap Chinese trickle charger on it the whole time. I have several of them, and they always work well. The only thing I could think of is I had the doors open so much, and I was testing this and that, and either it was too much for the trickle charger, or I fried the trickle charger. Like I said, the front battery charged up overnight with the good battery charger, but I’m fearful of the marine battery in the toolbox may be fried. I have it on an old fashion 2 amp charger right now, the kind that just pumps away. If I can get the charge up at all, then I’ll switch it to my smart charger. I have one of the really good diehards.

There’s always a Plan B. I’ve been on the verge of getting a new battery for the Missing Linc probably for a year. If I have to buy a battery, I’ll get a new one for the Missing Linc, and make that battery the electronics battery for The Road Ranger.

At least with the main battery, I can move it around, and keep the projects flowing.

Spent my time today mostly cleaning up other than that. I’m way overdue for some maintenance on the Lincoln’s, but I have to make room in the driveway before I can do anything. Ditto the garage, every workbench is covered with crap.

 

[Rick W]

I used this older charger on the 2 amp auto setting, and it charged up the battery a little bit.

Then I used my smart charger on the #2 battery overnight. It seems to be bringing it up to 6 V or a little bit more, and then seems to level out with a trickle charge. I think the smart charger thinks the battery is a 6 V battery at that point.

So now I put it back on the old charger on the 12 amp high output setting to see if I can jump it up to 8 or 9 V, and then see if the smart charger can finish it off. Neither charger has a manual 6v/12v select switch.

BTW, I checked the water level, no issue there.

Any thoughts on any of this would be appreciated.

 

[Curious Hound]

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I used this older charger on the 2 amp auto setting, and it charged up the battery a little bit.

View attachment 107376

Then I used my smart charger on the #2 battery overnight. It seems to be bringing it up to 6 V or a little bit more, and then seems to level out with a trickle charge. I think the smart charger thinks the battery is a 6 V battery at that point.

View attachment 107375

So now I put it back on the old charger on the 12 amp high output setting to see if I can jump it up to 8 or 9 V, and then see if the smart charger can finish it off. Neither charger has a manual 6v/12v select switch.

BTW, I checked the water level, no issue there.

Any thoughts on any of this would be appreciated.

It’s DRT (Dead Right There) Get a new battery. You’re wasting your time and possibly risking a fire trying to charge that.

 

[Rick W]

In an effort to clean up my shop, I actually made more progress on the step trailer. I had painted my $15 fold up ramps, but they were still leaning against my workbench inside. And I also bought this 30” toolbox when I bought the tongue box, both with some other stuff for $75 if I remember right, but no keys.

I’m going to turn this box sideways and use it as an under the deck storage box for a jack, and the tongue jack leg wheels, tire iron, etc.

The box had some handles on it, and a few random holes drilled in it, and it had a strut that would only allow the lid to open about 80%. I drilled out the handle rivets, took out the strut and ground out the strut supports, and straightened out a few dents.

I flipped it the way I’ll mount it, so the lid folds out and down. I went into the shed of miracles and got some quarter inch bolts, and a couple short lengths of chain, and I made lid support chains to hold the lid level when it’s down.

If I mount the face of the box flush with the frame, it will sit back about 6 inches from the edge. I plan on making a hanging sub frame, the width of the trailer frame. The box will sit on one side, and the two folded up ramps can slide in from the other side, and I’ll probably just use a chain and pad lock to keep them secure. I checked inventory in the shed of miracles, and I have everything I need to build the frame.

I ordered two 16mm toolbox locks with matching keys for the tongue box and for this box.

 

[Rick W]

It’s DRT (Dead Right There) Get a new battery. You’re wasting your time and possibly risking a fire trying to charge that.

I looked a little closer, and this #2 battery was not my marine battery, that’s still in my garage as an extra. I got this one when I was doing the flying out the window, on the job design, of the whole Road Ranger extra battery in the toolbox thing, and I wanted a battery with the threaded side mounts.

But still, you think batteries just grow in magnolia trees down here?!?!?

I got this battery 3-4 years ago for $26.95 plus a core trade in. I think they’re $29.95 now with a trade-in. Do you think I’m just made of lead?

High light flipped over “PAP” = Pull A Part

If it doesn’t take a charge in the next day or two, I’ll stick the Missing Linc battery in there or the marine which was the original plan anyway. (on the Missing Linc, it still always starts, but sometimes it draws so much current from the old battery that the radio memory goes dead. I’ll get a battery before I start parking on hills to jumpstart it with the clutch.)

You’re on battery spend thrift probation…

 

[Curious Hound]

I looked a little closer, and this #2 battery was not my marine battery, that’s still in my garage as an extra. I got this one when I was doing the flying out the window, on the job design, of the whole Road Ranger extra battery in the toolbox thing, and I wanted a battery with the threaded side mounts.

But still, you think batteries just grow in magnolia trees down here?!?!?

I got this battery 3-4 years ago for $26.95 plus a core trade in. I think they’re $29.95 now with a trade-in. Do you think I’m just made of lead?

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High light flipped over “PAP” = Pull A Part

If it doesn’t take a charge in the next day or two, I’ll stick the Missing Linc battery in there or the marine which was the original plan anyway. (on the Missing Linc, it still always starts, but sometimes it draws so much current from the old battery that the radio memory goes dead. I’ll get a battery before I start parking on hills to jumpstart it with the clutch.)

You’re on battery spend thrift probation…

 

[RobbieD]

Your battery does have a little age on it.

Back when that battery was made, they put a gerbil inside to rub a comb through his fur to make the electricity.

Your gerbil has died.

I know it hurts to spend money, but the battery technology is so much better these days.

It'll be worth it.

 

[Rick W]

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You obviously never watch the series. Nothing is dead till Kirk says it’s dead.

I am the Kirk of The Road Ranger!!!!

(sweet pea is yeoman Rand, obviously the best part!)

 

[Rick W]

Your battery does have a little age on it.

Back when that battery was made, they put a gerbil inside to rub a comb through his fur to make the electricity.

Your gerbil has died.

I know it hurts to spend money, but the battery technology is so much better these days.

It'll be worth it.

I do not appreciate at all the shadowed and veiled references to Richard Gere‘s ass…