What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[superj]

I picked up my new Ranger today…

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Wow!!! Beautiful. Thats exactly the color i would get.

 

[Rick W]

Wow!!! Beautiful. Thats exactly the color i would get.

What are the damages? My whole first house cost $41,000….

 

[Snoranger]

What are the damages? My whole first house cost $41,000….

That’s about what it cost after the z plan discount and $2500 rebate.

 

[Rick W]

So, as I write this, I’m watching an old episode of the “outer limits” were a guy’s brain gets damaged.

I just registered for the truck nationals at Carlisle. I’m thinking I’m going to bring up The 97 Road Ranger semi, with the trailer in tow. Problem is, I’ve barely started on the trailer, and I still have a lot to do on the semi. @lil_Blue_Ford Inspired me to get it done.

My total length should be 30 feet. I asked to be in The Ranger Station section, the non-judged show field, and I asked for an extra long space. We can all party atop my trailer.

I still have to hook up the CB/SSB, the trailer brakes, and the strobes, the air tank and air compressor and such on the “cab.“ On the trailer (used/titled 15’ travel trailer frame), I have to cut the tongue off, install the double brake axles in the rear, put on the trailer width extensions, and then set the tongue at the right elevation to be streamlined with the truck. Then do the bed, then do the wiring for the lights, etc.. Remember, I’m an old fart, I was sick and handicapped for a few years, and although that’s in the past, my ambition and my stamina are not what they used to be. But I suspect i will be there regardless of the progress, I can’t see missing the 40th. On the positive side, I’ve always worked better with a deadline.

I’m not much of a camper, my idea of camping is to stay at the Holiday Inn Express instead of the Ritz, but I made a reservation at the Wyndham Super 8 that’s close by. I plan on arriving Thursday night, so I can hit the field early on Friday. I suspect on Sunday I will head on to New Jersey by the GW, I have family there. I’m way too fat and old for all that driving from Hotlanta, especially with that stage two clutch, but you guys have totally inspired me. As regards your wishes regarding meeting me, be careful what you wish for….

Did I mention I was watching an episode of the “outer limits,” we’re a guy’s brain gets damaged?

Looking forward to meeting y’all!

 

[scotts90ranger]

Not much ranger related today other than driving it to work like normal and getting gas, said 25.2mpg when I did the math, best yet! this big fuel tank is nice, that was like 458 miles on 18 gallons of gas, still had over 2 gallons left but at $4.60 a gallon it's spendy over here...

Other than that I got given a Bolens leaf blower that's 23 years old, started ripping the carb down but the diaphragms were just fine, added gas and it worked... also cleaned the counter shaft for the F350 transmission and installed the bearings, went to the garage and grabbed my smaller slide hammer to get ready to remove the two races from the case that hadn't spun...

 

[racsan]

just the daily work commute lately, 2 days ago on the way home I saw a pair of trailer tires at the end of a long driveway by the road, so yesterday I stopped & tossed them in the back on my way home. The steel rims are the same style as whats on my new flatbed, just painted white. Both tires are wore bad like they were on a tandem axle and got dragged around corners alot But they both hold air so good enough to be a spare. Last week on the way to work I lost one of my 1976 hubcaps, found a used one on fleabay for $15 and it should arrive tomorrow. Couldnt stand missing just one hubcap so I put the small snap on caps that I painted blue. The smaller tires (225/70’s) sure work better when pulling the trailer and it seems like I use less gas over the weekly commute.

 

[Rick W]

I pulled up the Road Ranger to make a to-do list for truck nationals trip. What was I thinking? But I took it on all my errands today and a couple site visits, and it was a star with the folks. I fixed the dome light last night so I could actually see when I went to sweet pea’s.

Tomorrow, I’ll pull the trailer up and make a list, think about design details. I know I need the double eye axle hangers/pivots.

My plan is to work up a list of “must do” items and “want” items to generate a parts list and start getting stuff. That way I’ll have the stuff here so I can be productive.

I’ll post the details in the 1997 Ranger Semi link.

 

[ben_2_go]

I took my stRanger out through the farms last night to check out damage from flooding. We've had a lot of rain. The people that own the farms also take care of the roads. One of the many blind curves is in a fairly steep dip. It's also mainly gray clay through that curve and slick as snoot. The road had been graveled in places so I assumed, like an a@$$, that any slick places would be graveled. I came around that curve while looking at all the damage. The truck slid just enough to catch me off guard. I hit the brakes and lost momentum. I spun 1 tire until I stopped moving. Looked out of the window, and I was sitting on top of the clay spinning the water out of it. About that time, a man on a side by side came up. He didn't get on the clay. He told me he'd been pulling people out of the same spot for days. He told me to hold tight, and he'd get the tractor. He came back in this massive 4x4 Massey Ferguson tractor with huge wheels. I felt sure he'd dig that thing to the middle of the Earth. He pulled up behind my truck, stepped down on the lower step board, hooked up the chain to my hitch, and gently eased me back out. The tractor barely left tread marks on top of the clay. Once out, I thanked the man. He wouldn't accept any compensation. After that, I picked my line and kept my momentum up. I slid right across that clay like I knew what I was doing. Neither of us left a rut in the road. He did tell me they're planning to rebuild the road and raise certain sections to cut down on flooding. Their hay fields had just been turned. Hundreds of massive round bales had been washed down river and up onto the road in places. The round baled are around 1200lbs +. The road and river follow each other in some areas. My son and I almost got stuck there a few years back in a flood. The rear of the truck started to float and move with the current. Thankfully, I had enough momentum to get through it that time, before we were sunk or swept away.

 

[Roert42]

Patched the other side of my brother truck and painted it for him. He was kind enough to paint it before I welded the patch on, so that was nice.
Gonna try and get him up here tomorrow to put everything back together.

Had an old hitch I said he could have, so I knocked the rust off of it and primed it for him.

 

[broncc]

Installed a part that all TTB owners are due to replace now: the front hub seal.



McMaster 9452K226 4061T19. I had to buy 50 of them so I could spare to mail a few out for the cost of postage + a buck...

 

[racsan]

Went to lowes for more lumber, doesn’t look like $200 does it? Had a scare on the way there, someone in a black gm suv pulls out in front of me as Im about to go through a intersection. Good thing I had a empty trailer or it woulda been over. Nearly was, truck started going sideways, all 4 tires sliding.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Had a successful day of handling off the rear bumper to my brother in law.

He's going to put it on the plane as checked luggage. It's going to cost $150. Not the greatest, but better than the $400 UPS quoted me last year.

 

[racsan]

Brenda found a little tikes car on marketplace for $15, I wasnt sure it would fit in the escape so we took the ranger, went by the spot I almost wrecked yesterday, all 4 tire skids plainly visible. The little tikes car would of fit in the escape, its a lot smaller than I realized. Still nice to have it out on a sunday drive.

 

[RangerBilly]

The door window sweeps had deteriorated badly: rubber had torn off and the steel reinforcing had rusted away. I ordered a pair of replacements from RockAuto. Didn't need the special tool to remove the old ones, just a big flat-bladed screwdriver. Tapped the new ones in with a rubber mallet. Easy fix!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So yesterday I went and annoyed the counter help at Autozone, today I have to go back for round two because most of the parts had to be ordered. Hate dealing with the counter help, but a bunch of choptop parts need replaced and I’m using the “lifetime” warranty. Had to get different rear shocks because they don’t make the ones I had anymore, lol