What did you do to your 2019 and up Ranger today?

[sgtsandman]

I got the fiberglass cap off of the FX4 so I can start setting up the truck for an overlanding trip later in the year. The janky wiring job the installer did when they put the cap on reared it's ugly head again. So, I'll need to fix that. I also confirmed my suspicion that the roof rack on the cap would not be up to the task of holding the roof top tent since I broke it while removing the cap off the truck. So, I now need new landing pads for the rack.

The canvas cage got put on the truck and adjusted. It was too late to take pictures. I also confirmed that I will need to replace factory rubber antenna with a stubby to clear the RTT. On the plus side, the power block that was in the fiberglass cap is usable on the canvas cage. So that is one less thing I need to figure out. I just need to figure out how to hook up the third brake light for the Softopper, once I get it in place. The wiring is there but the plug is a different style and there are three wires, not just two. One for the brake light on the fiberglass cap, one for the dome lights inside, and I assume, a ground.

 

[JohnnyO]

I got the fiberglass cap off of the FX4 so I can start setting up the truck for an overlanding trip later in the year. The janky wiring job the installer did when they put the cap on reared it's ugly head again. So, I'll need to fix that. I also confirmed my suspicion that the roof rack on the cap would not be up to the task of holding the roof top tent since I broke it while removing the cap off the truck. So, I now need new landing pads for the rack.

The canvas cage got put on the truck and adjusted. It was too late to take pictures. I also confirmed that I will need to replace factory rubber antenna with a stubby to clear the RTT. On the plus side, the power block that was in the fiberglass cap is usable on the canvas cage. So that is one less thing I need to figure out. I just need to figure out how to hook up the third brake light for the Softopper, once I get it in place. The wiring is there but the plug is a different style and there are three wires, not just two. One for the brake light on the fiberglass cap, one for the dome lights inside, and I assume, a ground.

When I had a cap on my Sport Trac I ran a trailer wiring harness off the 4-pin trailer plug (I know you have a trailer but maybe there is a splitter or you can rig something up) into the bed. Then I added a third brake light module from Amazon, about $20, you run both turn signal leads into it then the hot lead out to the third brake light. The ground from the third brake light can go straight to the ground on the trailer harness. The brake lights use the same filament as the turn signals so wiring the third brake light to a turn signal will work except it will blink whenever you use that turn signal. The third brake light module prevents that from happening.

 

[sgtsandman]

When I had a cap on my Sport Trac I ran a trailer wiring harness off the 4-pin trailer plug (I know you have a trailer but maybe there is a splitter or you can rig something up) into the bed. Then I added a third brake light module from Amazon, about $20, you run both turn signal leads into it then the hot lead out to the third brake light. The ground from the third brake light can go straight to the ground on the trailer harness. The brake lights use the same filament as the turn signals so wiring the third brake light to a turn signal will work except it will blink whenever you use that turn signal. The third brake light module prevents that from happening.

The wire connection for the third brake light on the cap is still there. I just need to how to best adapt it and still keep the plug for the cap. I think I have a solution. I just need to finish the Softopper installation (it got too cold to stretch the fabric and snap it in place) and get to work on the stubby bumper to repair the damage to the plastics and have a better bumper. Then wiring and getting the rest of the fluids and wheel alignment done so Jessica can drive it while I get all the fluid changes done on her car.

 

[sgtsandman]

I got the bolts all torqued down on the rack and the Softopper mostly in place. It wasn't so bad once I got the fabric and the tubing facing the right way. I got about half the snaps done before it got too cold for the fabric to stretch enough anymore. So, I got the flaps all velcroed in place for the night since it was getting windy and snow was expected during the night. I'll attempt to get the rest done today. I may need to put a heater in the bed so the fabric gets warm enough to finish the job.

 

[sgtsandman]

I got the bolts all torqued down on the rack and the Softopper mostly in place. It wasn't so bad once I got the fabric and the tubing facing the right way. I got about half the snaps done before it got too cold for the fabric to stretch enough anymore. So, I got the flaps all velcroed in place for the night since it was getting windy and snow was expected during the night. I'll attempt to get the rest done today. I may need to put a heater in the bed so the fabric gets warm enough to finish the job.

Scratch that. I just looked at the weather forecast. It changed from low 50s to a high of 39. I might start working on the bumper instead.

 

[JohnnyO]

Scratch that. I just looked at the weather forecast. It changed from low 50s to a high of 39. I might start working on the bumper instead.

A little ice on the Parkway West this morning. Yinzers aren't used to ice in April.

Jon OData

Pittsburgh Parkway West this morning.

www.facebook.com

 

[superj]

Put some letters that my wife got off amazon on the tailgate. Supposed to be reflective and they are also thicker, not thin flat stickers. They are like those thick squishy stickers that seemed kind of holographic, when you were a kid back in the 80s.

Anyways, even though the ad says 24-25 ranger, they must be for 19-23 because they are a hair small for the letters in the tailgate... they don't fit feom edge to edge in the stamped metal letters.

Here are the pics.

Side view of the sticker to show type

 

[sgtsandman]

A little ice on the Parkway West this morning. Yinzers aren't used to ice in April.

Jon OData

Pittsburgh Parkway West this morning.

www.facebook.com

Apparently I missed the fun since I go to work so early in the morning. I did see some reports and videos of the carnage. Not much you can do about ice if you don't know it's there.

 

[JohnnyO]

Apparently I missed the fun since I go to work so early in the morning. I did see some reports and videos of the carnage. Not much you can do about ice if you don't know it's there.

Might be the same Wednesday morning too. Be careful.

 

[sgtsandman]

Might be the same Wednesday morning too. Be careful.

The roads were dry and clear. At 24 degrees, not much of a chance for icing anyway.

 

[CMOS]

Installed 12VDC/20Amp DC outlet in the bed.

CMOS

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

Just finished unloading from the weekend on the Georgia Traverse. Was cold and wet till today haha. But still a good time. Had to stop short. On Trey Mountain the XJ in the group started having alternator spikes to 19 volts. Found camp. Then diagnosed that it had a loose cable to the battery. But we were all ready to head home.

 

[JohnnyO]

Changed the lube in the axles. My 2020 has drain plugs so it's easy.
I changed it the first time at 30K and they drained out pretty black with lots of shavings on the magnetic drain plugs. Today at 90k the lube drained out fairly clean, still looked gold with minimal shavings on the magnets (wipe them off with a paper towel)..
I used Redline 75w-90 synthetic both times. It meets the Ford spec in the owner's manual.
An $8 transfer pump from Harbor Freight is ideal. I cut the hoses down, originally they are quite long.
Torque spec on the drain and fill plugs is 18 ft. lb.
Only the drain plugs have a magnet so don't mix them up.
I'll do the transfer case later this week.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

I need to get one of those transfer pumps. I think I got as much on the ground as in the diff last time haha. I wanna do mine again before the Vagabond trip. I'm pushing 75k right now.

 

[JohnnyO]

I need to get one of those transfer pumps. I think I got as much on the ground as in the diff last time haha. I wanna do mine again before the Vagabond trip. I'm pushing 75k right now.

Multi-Use Transfer Pump

Amazing deals on this Multi-Use Transfer Pump at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Actually I had to hop in the wife's minivan and drive to Harbor Freight for a new one today. My old one wasn't transferring anything and I'd already drained the rear axle.