Fx4wannabe01 2001 Ford Ranger XLT 4×4
Shane, better known on The Ranger Station forums as Fx4wannabe01, introduced himself to the community back in September 2008. At the time, he had a Deep Wedgewood Blue 2001 Ford Ranger XLT 4×4 SuperCab that was already sitting on 35-inch tires. By the time he shared more pictures of his truck in 2009, it was clear that this wasn’t just a Ranger with a lift kit and oversized tires. Shane had put some thought into making it work the way he wanted it to.
His Ranger combined a Superlift suspension lift with a body lift, 35-inch tires, lower gearing, and a locker. It was a setup that gave the truck an aggressive stance while making it more capable off-road.
Shane’s Ranger went on to earn February 2010 Off-Road Truck of the Month honors here at The Ranger Station.
A Ranger Built for More Than Looks
The truck started out as a 2001 Ranger XLT 4×4 powered by Ford’s 4.0L V6 and backed by a five-speed manual transmission. Shane installed a 4-inch Superlift suspension lift along with a 3-inch body lift to make room for the larger tires.
In the later photos he shared on the forum, the Ranger was running 35×12.50 BFG Mud-Terrain KM tires mounted on 15×10 Pro Comp Daytona 51 Series wheels. The combination filled out the wheel openings and gave the blue SuperCab the look of a truck ready to spend time on the trails.
But tires and lift height were only part of the equation.
Gearing Up for 35s
Running 35-inch tires on a Ranger can make a noticeable difference in how the truck drives. The larger tires effectively change the gearing, making it harder for the engine to get the truck moving and putting more demand on the drivetrain.
Shane experienced that firsthand. He explained on the forum that he originally ran the 35s with 4.10 gears and wasn’t happy with the way the truck drove. After switching to 4.88 gears, he reported that his highway fuel economy improved from approximately 13 mpg to 18 mpg and that the truck was much more enjoyable to drive.
The Ranger also received an Aussie locker, giving it additional traction when the trail got difficult. A Stage 2 clutch rounded out the drivetrain modifications documented in his posts.
The combination of 35-inch tires, 4.88 gears, and a locker made this more than a truck built around appearance alone. Shane had addressed some of the compromises that come with running larger tires and gave the Ranger the gearing and traction it needed for off-road use.
Details That Set It Apart
Shane also made some changes to the truck’s lighting and interior. The modifications included HID headlights and fog lights, along with blue LED dash lighting.
These weren’t necessarily the biggest modifications on the truck, but they were part of making it his own. The Deep Wedgewood Blue paint, lifted stance, wide wheels, and mud-terrain tires gave it a distinctive look without losing the familiar shape of the third-generation Ranger.
Shane also shared photos of friends’ trucks in his forum posts. He jokingly contrasted his own trail-used Ranger with some of the cleaner trucks in the group, making it clear that he wasn’t particularly concerned with keeping his truck spotless.
That attitude suited a lifted Ranger on 35s with an upgraded drivetrain. It was built to be used.
February 2010 Off-Road Truck of the Month
Shane’s 2001 Ford Ranger XLT 4×4 earned Off-Road Truck of the Month recognition from The Ranger Station in February 2010.
Looking back at these older trucks is a reminder of the builds that helped shape the Ranger off-road community. Long before today’s factory off-road packages and oversized tire options became commonplace, Ranger owners were working out their own combinations of suspension lifts, gearing, lockers, and tires to get more out of their trucks.
Shane’s Ranger was one of those builds, and we’re bringing it back into the spotlight as part of preserving The Ranger Station’s history.
Truck Specifications
Owner: Shane (Fx4wannabe01)
Truck: 2001 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCab 4×4
Engine: 4.0L V6
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Suspension: 4-inch Superlift suspension lift
Body lift: 3 inches
Tires: 35×12.50 BFG Mud-Terrain KM
Wheels: 15×10 Pro Comp Daytona 51 Series
Gears: 4.88:1
Traction aid: Aussie locker
Clutch: Stage 2 clutch
Lighting: HID headlights and fog lights; blue LED dash lighting
Award: February 2010 Off-Road Truck of the Month, The Ranger Station
See the Original Forum Threads
- Damn Noobie Here — Fx4wannabe01’s introduction and truck photos
- About Time I Whore My Truck (and a Few of My Friend’s Rides Too)
Photo Gallery
About The Author
Jim Oaks is the founder of TheRangerStation.com, the longest-running Ford Ranger resource online since 1999. With over 25 years of hands-on experience building and modifying Ford Rangers — including magazine-featured builds like Project Transformer — Jim has become one of the most trusted authorities in the Ford Ranger off-road and enthusiast space.
Since launching TheRangerStation.com, Jim has documented thousands of real-world Ranger builds, technical repairs, drivetrain swaps, suspension modifications, and off-road adventures contributed by owners worldwide. TheRangerStation.com has been referenced in print, video and online by enthusiasts, mechanics, and off-road builders looking for practical, and experience-based information.
