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

[racsan]

Changed oil & filter.

 

[Rick W]

Came back yesterday from a two-day trip to the Blue Ridge Rock Festival, which was about three hours away from home. I stayed in a motel about an hour from the venue. The Ranger ate up the road without any problems and turned over 130,000 miles during the trip.

The festival itself, unlike the Ranger, was a fiasco. Details if you're interested...

Give, a little. Blue Ridge plus Rock don’t seem to go together..,,

 

[Rick W]

(Edited, but just to clean up the Ambien typos…)

Still in clean up mode. I dug all the trailer axle parts out and inventoried my wheels/tires.

I’m going to start a thread on the 1987 4WD 2.9 short short. Although it’s 2/3rds done and a reliable driver, there’s still a bunch to do. I picked up an 88 short bed, and a bunch of trailers axles and hubs a couple/three years ago, and some toolboxes. About a year and a half ago I stripped the bed and flipped it over and started putting together a frame for it that was half square tubing and half the remnants of a harbor freight trailer. In hindsight, I should’ve just used all square tubing. Taking apart the trailer and putting it back together actually just doubled or tripled the work with no particular benefit. Anyway, that frame is about 80% complete now.

In the junk pile, I have a 3500 pound axle, which is probably too heavy, but then I have all the springs and clamps and 5 x 4.5 wheel hubs, etc. to put it together under that short bed with the ranger bullet hole wheels on it. Having said that, I’m going to try to find another 15 inch steelie like the ones on the Missing Linc. I have one 14 spare and one 15 spare. If I can grab another 15, that will make the trailer that match the truck, and I can use the 14 as the spare. If I only find a 14, vice versa.

I have four matched and one miss matched 5 x 4.5 hubs with all the bearings that will fit on the axle. (I also have six 5x5 up for grabs). Just have to clean a couple up and grease it and cut the axle to the right length.

The final edition will be a trailer I make out of that 30“ x 10‘ aluminum sign that I just picked up. I’m thinking a double axle under there, something like the road ranger on a much smaller scale. I have one complete axle that will work and I’ve got three extra 5 x 4.5 wheel hubs, spindles, and springs, I just have to find another axel, and then just have to put it together. But I’m not sure that’s the route. I would want those two axles to match on such a tiny trailer.

The other thing I did today was just inventory my tire and wheel pile. On the ranger bullet holes, I have seven 14 inch, most with good rubber, and one 15 inch.

if I use the steelies on the missing Link trailer, I need to find one more. BTW, the trailer will be painted in striped the same as the Missing Linc.

The new sign project will need five of the bullet holes, four and one spare

I also have four 15 inch towncar turbine wheels that will bolt right up on the 87 Missing Linc, and I have four of the 7 x 15 bigger turbine wheels from the 78 Mark V that are 5 x 5 pattern. I already bought the adapters to go from the 5 x 4.5 on the truck to the 5x5 turbines. When I catch my breath a little, I’m going to bolt one two on one side, and just look at it, and then do the others, and just look at it, and see if I like the turbines better than the steelies. If I like the big turbines with the wider tire and wider stance (from the adapters), I’m probably going to paint the inside of the turbine blades the same regal red, and then maybe use a couple other paint accents. I hope to have the trailer ready in a month, maybe a little longer on the wheel swap for the Missing Linc, and I’m still straightening out problems with the road ranger from the trip.

 

[bobbywalter]

I finished up replacing the front brake hoses and one hard line tonight. Also washed it for the first time, getting ready for a show this weekend. Next is to get it off the jackstands and on the trailer tomorrow, not quite ready to drive it 30 miles on the highway lol.

I have to come and bask in the glory of this thing.

 

[bobbywalter]

One of my 85 BIIs has some significant weight reduction on one of the rear wheel openings. View attachment 98284
I’ve seen some bushwacker cut out style fender flares but I would have to fill that “flare”. 10.50s don’t fill that kinda space. It says it cuts out 4” of steel and adds 2.5” of additional tire coverage. Ok so without lifting can I get 33x12.50s on and clear the frame. Put a set on my 89 with stock suspension 3” body lift and cut fenders. They clear the frame. View attachment 98285. Most of the body rust on my 85 can be cured with the fender flares. It’s very secluded. I don’t ask why. When you live in the rust belt you take whet you can get. I’m thinking low on 33s would look awesome. After all clearance is only achieved by tire size. I see a new BII project. It never ends, till ur dead. “YOLO”.

We were just talking about this at camp.


In fact ... the best performance gain for wheeling is cutting the fenders and maybe an add a leaf or drop shackles...some two over coils or some spacers up front.

My go-to back in the 90s and early 2ks was 150 coils and f150 or e150 radius arms with relocated brackets and e series brake hoses. This greatly increases articulation and minimally effects steering issues. This combined with max fender cut allow for 35 inch tires for under 150 bux. With a welded diff it makes for an off road animal.

A former member matt8888 done such builds on a few projects and could run level 5 trails. Not pretty....but pretty effective.


I would in your case look at early bronco fender flare options. These look great on rbvs and will really open up tire options. The old school war flares I really liked back in the day.

You want to use a nice sheer on the outer skins. This rolls the edge and keeps it clean and controls rusting over a saw or grinder cut.

Win win.

 

[tw205]

We were just talking about this at camp.


In fact ... the best performance gain for wheeling is cutting the fenders and maybe an add a leaf or drop shackles...some two over coils or some spacers up front.

My go-to back in the 90s and early 2ks was 150 coils and f150 or e150 radius arms with relocated brackets and e series brake hoses. This greatly increases articulation and minimally effects steering issues. This combined with max fender cut allow for 35 inch tires for under 150 bux. With a welded diff it makes for an off road animal.

A former member matt8888 done such builds on a few projects and could run level 5 trails. Not pretty....but pretty effective.


I would in your case look at early bronco fender flare options. These look great on rbvs and will really open up tire options. The old school war flares I really liked back in the day.

You want to use a nice sheer on the outer skins. This rolls the edge and keeps it clean and controls rusting over a saw or grinder cut.

Win win.

I’m leaning heavily in this direction with the blue 85. First things first, I gotta get rid of the A4LD. I’ve done one swap to the M50D and am happy with it. Got my clutch and brake pedals so now I’m looking for a doner rig for the trans assembly and any other spare goodies it may have.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Give, a little. Blue Ridge plus Rock don’t seem to go together..,,

The event is a four-day festival with multiple bands and stages. It has been held at the Virginia International Raceway south of Danville since last year, so it's not really in the mountains, but in the piedmont to the east. Big-name headliners were scheduled toward the end of each day. In 2021 it was held in a different spot.

This year attendees either used remote day parking or camped nearby. Remote lots used shuttle buses to carry people to the venue. No day parking was allowed at the venue, and nearby roads were restricted to local traffic. The event sold out with roughly 40,000 tickets sold.

The lines at the remote lots to catch a bus were an hour long, including security checks.

On Thursday I arrived around 2:30 pm. The weather at the venue was very hot and there was a shortage of water—until strong thunderstorms rolled through. The storms had not been forecast. The second had strong winds, torrential downpours, and hail, and around 6 pm it led to the cancellation of the remainder of the acts. I waited over 3 hours to board a bus back to the remote lot, which didn't do my plantar fasciitis much good. Among the acts I really had wanted to see that couldn't perform were Three Days Grace and Five Finger Death Punch.

The organizers had wanted people to begin to evacuate during the thunderstorm. Expecting people to walk in open fields during lightning is a recipe for disaster if lightning strikes. Afterward, during the wait to get on the buses to leave, several people passed out or had other problems from the heat and standing in line. I was soaked from the downpour and couldn't do much about the wet clothes until I got back to the motel.

On Friday I arrived around 1:30 pm, but it was too hot at the venue to stay. I left after a wait of over an hour to buy merchandise (which I did buy). I found out only after I was back in the remote lot to leave that the act I had most wanted to see, Till Lindemann of Rammstein with his solo band, had cancelled that evening anyway due to illness. There was no notice about the cancellation at the venue; a woman walking to her car told me. I decided that was it for me this year, so I cut off my wristband in the Ranger and prepared to return home Saturday morning.

On Saturday, after more thunderstorms in the morning, the organizers cancelled the entire remainder of the festival for Saturday and Sunday. Papa Roach and Shinedown were among the acts scheduled for Saturday, and Pantera for Sunday. I wasn't there for that foulup, but it's all over online media. Others complained about portajohns being filthy and out of toilet paper and a lack of water again.

My brother had bought me the four-day pass. A refund for Thursday was announced, and the organizers announced intentions to refund for the other missed days.

The whole thing smacked of poor planning and organization.

 

[Rick W]

The event is a four-day festival with multiple bands and stages. It has been held at the Virginia International Raceway south of Danville since last year, so it's not really in the mountains, but in the piedmont to the east. Big-name headliners were scheduled toward the end of each day. In 2021 it was held in a different spot.

This year attendees either used remote day parking or camped nearby. Remote lots used shuttle buses to carry people to the venue. No day parking was allowed at the venue, and nearby roads were restricted to local traffic. The event sold out with roughly 40,000 tickets sold.

The lines at the remote lots to catch a bus were an hour long, including security checks.

On Thursday I arrived around 2:30 pm. The weather at the venue was very hot and there was a shortage of water—until strong thunderstorms rolled through. The storms had not been forecast. The second had strong winds, torrential downpours, and hail, and around 6 pm it led to the cancellation of the remainder of the acts. I waited over 3 hours to board a bus back to the remote lot, which didn't do my plantar fasciitis much good. Among the acts I really had wanted to see that couldn't perform were Three Days Grace and Five Finger Death Punch.

The organizers had wanted people to begin to evacuate during the thunderstorm. Expecting people to walk in open fields during lightning is a recipe for disaster if lightning strikes. Afterward, during the wait to get on the buses to leave, several people passed out or had other problems from the heat and standing in line. I was soaked from the downpour and couldn't do much about the wet clothes until I got back to the motel.

On Friday I arrived around 1:30 pm, but it was too hot at the venue to stay. I left after a wait of over an hour to buy merchandise (which I did buy). I found out only after I was back in the remote lot to leave that the act I had most wanted to see, Till Lindemann of Rammstein with his solo band, had cancelled that evening anyway due to illness. There was no notice about the cancellation at the venue; a woman walking to her car told me. I decided that was it for me this year, so I cut off my wristband in the Ranger and prepared to return home Saturday morning.

On Saturday, after more thunderstorms in the morning, the organizers cancelled the entire remainder of the festival for Saturday and Sunday. Papa Roach and Shinedown were among the acts scheduled for Saturday, and Pantera for Sunday. I wasn't there for that foulup, but it's all over online media. Others complained about portajohns being filthy and out of toilet paper and a lack of water again.

My brother had bought me the four-day pass. A refund for Thursday was announced, and the organizers announced intentions to refund for the other missed days.

The whole thing smacked of poor planning and organization.

WOW, sounds like a real suck fest.

I don’t recognize any of those bands and acts. Were they before or after Glenn Miller?

 

[Rick W]

Guess what followed me home for $40?

I think I found my second axel for the other project. This little guy had brand new tires, still had the sticker on the tread, a brand, new, high-quality coupler, unfortunately, 1 7/8 inches, and I think the wood was from the mayflower, or maybe something from the Civil War.

I’ll flip it over in the next few days and make a decision on whether to clean it up and just sell it for a profit, or strip parts for the other projects.

When I was out in Kennesaw, I went looking around, drooling in the Northern Tool store ( like tractor supply). I looked at the trailer springs and hubs and such, and that was absolutely the deciding vote on picking up this little yellow monster. If I don’t use it out right, I’ve always done better with horse trading.

Medically, it was just in time. I was about to suffer withdrawal from not painting something with rustoleum…

 

[Curious Hound]

WOW, sounds like a real suck fest.

I don’t recognize any of those bands and acts. Were they before or after Glenn Miller?

They were after Glenn Miller Jr, Jr, Jr.

 

[bobbywalter]

There are much more cost effective options.

The event is a four-day festival with multiple bands and stages. It has been held at the Virginia International Raceway south of Danville since last year, so it's not really in the mountains, but in the piedmont to the east. Big-name headliners were scheduled toward the end of each day. In 2021 it was held in a different spot.

This year attendees either used remote day parking or camped nearby. Remote lots used shuttle buses to carry people to the venue. No day parking was allowed at the venue, and nearby roads were restricted to local traffic. The event sold out with roughly 40,000 tickets sold.

The lines at the remote lots to catch a bus were an hour long, including security checks.

On Thursday I arrived around 2:30 pm. The weather at the venue was very hot and there was a shortage of water—until strong thunderstorms rolled through. The storms had not been forecast. The second had strong winds, torrential downpours, and hail, and around 6 pm it led to the cancellation of the remainder of the acts. I waited over 3 hours to board a bus back to the remote lot, which didn't do my plantar fasciitis much good. Among the acts I really had wanted to see that couldn't perform were Three Days Grace and Five Finger Death Punch.

The organizers had wanted people to begin to evacuate during the thunderstorm. Expecting people to walk in open fields during lightning is a recipe for disaster if lightning strikes. Afterward, during the wait to get on the buses to leave, several people passed out or had other problems from the heat and standing in line. I was soaked from the downpour and couldn't do much about the wet clothes until I got back to the motel.

On Friday I arrived around 1:30 pm, but it was too hot at the venue to stay. I left after a wait of over an hour to buy merchandise (which I did buy). I found out only after I was back in the remote lot to leave that the act I had most wanted to see, Till Lindemann of Rammstein with his solo band, had cancelled that evening anyway due to illness. There was no notice about the cancellation at the venue; a woman walking to her car told me. I decided that was it for me this year, so I cut off my wristband in the Ranger and prepared to return home Saturday morning.

On Saturday, after more thunderstorms in the morning, the organizers cancelled the entire remainder of the festival for Saturday and Sunday. Papa Roach and Shinedown were among the acts scheduled for Saturday, and Pantera for Sunday. I wasn't there for that foulup, but it's all over online media. Others complained about portajohns being filthy and out of toilet paper and a lack of water again.

My brother had bought me the four-day pass. A refund for Thursday was announced, and the organizers announced intentions to refund for the other missed days.

The whole thing smacked of poor planning and organization.

Bummer ..I just seen Pantera and 5 finger death punch...sux you rolled snake eyes on what could have been an epic trip. But....gonna have this stuff when out in the elements..... just be that way. Hopefully you can catch up later.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Guess what followed me home for $40?

View attachment 98349

I think I found my second axel for the other project. This little guy had brand new tires, still had the sticker on the tread, a brand, new, high-quality coupler, unfortunately, 1 7/8 inches, and I think the wood was from the mayflower, or maybe something from the Civil War.

View attachment 98350


I’ll flip it over in the next few days and make a decision on whether to clean it up and just sell it for a profit, or strip parts for the other projects.

When I was out in Kennesaw, I went looking around, drooling in the Northern Tool store ( like tractor supply). I looked at the trailer springs and hubs and such, and that was absolutely the deciding vote on picking up this little yellow monster. If I don’t use it out right, I’ve always done better with horse trading.

Medically, it was just in time. I was about to suffer withdrawal from not painting something with rustoleum…

At least the coupler isn't welded on...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Drove it home after a two way 4 state expedition.

 

[rubydist]

Guess what followed me home for $40?

View attachment 98349

That's kind of expensive for a dog bowl, isn't it?

 

[Rick W]

That's kind of expensive for a dog bowl, isn't it?

I wasn’t thinking, or I would’ve kept both the wheel chocks and the dog bowl!