June 2010 Off-Road Truck of the Month
When ozziemo27 introduced his 1999 Ford Ranger to The Ranger Station in April 2010, it was already a work in progress. The regular-cab XLT started out as a stock 4×4 with a 4.0L V6, but it didn’t stay that way for long. With a combination of aftermarket parts, used components and some homebuilt modifications, he turned it into a trail truck that was ready to get dirty.
One of the things that makes this Ranger interesting is how much of the work was done with basic tools and a willingness to figure things out. At just 18 years old, ozziemo27 was building the truck while working at McDonald’s. As he pointed out in his build thread, he was doing it with a basic set of hand tools.
Building a Trail Truck
The first changes were relatively simple. A three-inch body lift, torsion-bar adjustment and two-inch rear lift shackles gave the Ranger more room for larger tires. He also added an external sun visor with running lights, giving the truck a distinctive look.
The next step was a homemade cowl-induction snorkel. Rather than simply buying accessories, ozziemo27 was willing to make things work for his own truck. That same approach showed up when he adapted a full-size GMC roll bar to fit the Ranger, doing the fabrication himself.
The truck eventually landed on a set of 33×12.50R15 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM1 tires mounted on 15×8 Cragar Soft 8 wheels. The wider tires filled out the wheel wells and gave the Ranger the stance of a truck built to see more than pavement.
Suspension Upgrades
The body lift and torsion-bar adjustment were only the beginning. After rolling the truck onto its side during the winter, ozziemo27 acquired a used four-inch Superlift suspension lift from an Explorer that had been cut apart. He paid $460 for the setup, then sandblasted and painted the components before installing them.
The installation included new Moog upper control arms and lower ball joints, with tie-rod ends and brakes also on the list for replacement. It was a practical way to get a suspension lift without paying the price of a brand-new kit.
Out back, he replaced the factory leaf springs with a three-leaf setup using 63-inch Chevy springs. The longer springs provided additional suspension travel, and the truck’s trail photos showed the results. The Ranger was still running its independent front suspension, but the combination of lift, tires and rear suspension modifications made it a capable-looking trail rig.
Ready for the Trail
This wasn’t a show truck being kept pristine. The thread includes photos of water crossings, trail obstacles, body damage and the occasional mishap. The busted taillight and flooded interior were part of the experience, and even the winter rollover became another chapter in the truck’s development.
Other details helped make the Ranger more useful off-road. A Smittybilt XRC8 winch provided recovery capability, while a Flowmaster Super 44 exhaust with a 2.5-inch cat-back system exited at the side to keep the exhaust tucked out of the way. A homemade roll-bar installation, KC Daylighters, auxiliary gauges and a Cobra CB radio rounded out the truck.
The bed was coated with Herculiner, and the interior received base-model rubber flooring and heavy-duty seat covers. A K&N drop-in air filter was included for ease of washing rather than any claimed performance gain.
By June 2010, ozziemo27’s Ranger had earned its place as The Ranger Station’s Off-Road Truck of the Month. It was a good example of what a young enthusiast could accomplish with a used suspension kit, some fabrication skills and a truck he wasn’t afraid to use.
What Happened Next
When ozziemo27 started the thread, his future plans included half-doors, front and rear bumpers, rock sliders and eventually a solid-axle swap. His original thread, Life of my truck, Wheeling, Fun stuff!, documents the build and the trail adventures that earned the Ranger its place in TRS history.
View his thread: Life of my truck, Wheeling, Fun stuff!
Specifications
- Vehicle: 1999 Ford Ranger XLT regular cab 4×4
- Engine: 4.0L V6
- Transmission: Automatic
- Suspension lift: 4-inch Superlift
- Body lift: 3-inch Summit
- Front suspension: Independent front suspension with torsion bars
- Rear suspension: 63-inch Chevy leaf-spring swap, three-leaf setup
- Shocks: Superlift four-inch lift shocks
- Tires: 33×12.50R15 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM1
- Wheels: 15×8 Cragar Soft 8
- Winch: Smittybilt XRC8
- Roll bar: Custom-fitted full-size GMC roll bar
- Lighting: Two 100-watt KC Daylighters; external sun visor with running lights
- Exhaust: 2.5-inch cat-back Flowmaster Super 44, side exit
- Air intake: Homemade cowl-induction snorkel; K&N drop-in filter
- Communications: Cobra 19DX CB radio with two-foot fiberglass whips
- Gauges: Autolite oil-pressure, voltmeter and water-temperature gauges
- Bed protection: Herculiner
- Interior: Base-model rubber flooring and Sportsman Advantage Max-4 HD seat covers
- Award: June 2010 Off-Road Truck of the Month
Photos
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.
