(2014 TRS Off-Road Truck Of The Year)
One of the most capable off-road rigs at The Ranger Station is this 1995 Ford Ranger 4×4 owned by Seth Schacht (aka ‘PlumCrazy’). This truck is such an impressive off-road rig, that it was awarded Off-Road Truck Of The Month twice, and Off-Road Truck Of The Year once.
(Current state as Fall 2014)
Seth started this build with a stock 1995 Ford Ranger 4×4.
But from the very beginning, it was evident that this truck was going to transform into something much more than a typical lifted Ranger.
Seth started out by adding a 4-inch Skyjacker suspension lift. But he couldn’t just bolt on the aftermarket lift kit.
He gusseted the drop brackets and extended a pair of factory radius arms. He also made his own transmission crossmember & radius arm mount.
The rear received a 64-inch Chevy leaf spring swap, and a 31-spline Ford Explorer 8.8-inch rear axle. A 2-inch spacer made from 1/4″ wall 2-1/2″ tubing welded to the bottom of the factory coil seat helps level it out for a 6-inch lift.
He also built a custom skid plate to protect the front Dana 35 differential.
But that wasn’t good enough. The build continued and Seth swapped out the front axle for a Dana 44. He added 5.13 gears and lockers as well.
And he put together a dual transfer case doubler for better crawling ability.
And the truck continued to get beefier and beefier.
There are so many custom fabricated parts on this truck, as well as parts swapped from other vehicles. You really have to look closely, or there will be cool details that you’ll miss.
Some examples are:
Onboard air connection and remote battery connection
Ford Explorer Thunderbolt mirrors with curb / entry lights
Full length Ford Explorer console
Piston head shifters. Note the small t-case shifter to the left
Custom snorkel
Here is a run through of everything Seth has done to it:
Wheels/Tires, Axles, Steering, Steering, and Suspension
- 38.5×14.50-15 Super Swamper TSLs on beadlocks
- SAS with Narrowed HP Dana 44, OX selectable locker, RCV shafts, converted to disc brakes w/ F150 knuckles, Warn lockouts w/ 300M 30 spline upgrade, 5.13s, 6.5″ XJ coils, and 1.5″ DOM steering linkage
- Reid Racing knuckles, 4 bolt high steer arms
- Hydro Assist w/ removable steering cylinder
- Homemade extended shock towers and modified RBV coil buckets w/ internal bumpstop
- Homemade radius arms with 1.25″ Johnny Joint ends
- Explorer 31 Spline 8.8 w/ lock-rite locker, disc brakes, 5.13’s, 1/4″ Steel cover, trussed, welded tubes, and Yukon Chromos w/ C-Clip elim
- 2″ Chevy lowering shackles
- Single traction bar w/ shackle
- PS cooler
- PS spin on filter
- High flow PSC Saginaw pump w/-12 AN can
- 1qt+ External PS resi
- ’98+ one piece rear drive shaft (shortened for doubler)
Brakes
- ’78 Thunderbird Front calipers
- ’02 F150 Lightning rear calipers
- ’98 Super Duty Hydroboost
- 1-Ton brake master
- ABS removed (not unplugged, but completely removed and plug depinned)
Transmission, Transfer case(s)
- Hybrid M50D Transmission (4.0 trans w/ 2.5 gear ratios)
- Homemade billet aluminum short throw (15% shorter throw than a Hurst)
- Manual Tcase swap w/ BW1354
- 1350/1354 Doubler
Engine, Cooling
- Comp Cams 422 cam and dual valve springs
- Smith Bros Pushrods and hardened Delta rockers
- Engine oil cooler
- Straight piped w/ cats still
- Pacesetter Headers
- 66mm BBK TB
- Homebrewed High-Idle setup
- Cartridge style fuel filter housing
- Homemade snorkel w/ pre-cleaner
Exterior, Body Armor
- Homemade HD front and rear bumpers, tailgate, and backrack w/ LED taillights
- Boxed/reinforced frame horns
- Aluminum belly skid
- Tree/Rock sliders
- Cut and rolled fenders
- Aluminum pop out windows
- Homemade tubed core support
- Thunder bolt mirror glass w/ LED turn signals
- Explorer mirrors w/ puddle lights
- Clear corner lights
- ’03 Taillights
- ’93 4×4 grille w/ Yellow Ford emblem
- Removable mirrors
- 20% Window Tint
Interior
- Pillar pod w/ Autometer UltraliteII Oil pressure and Voltage gauges
- Custom aluminum switch panel w/ Autometer UltraLiteII wideband, boost, and temp gauge
- Modified radio bezel with HVAC vents deleted
- Explorer full length center console, dual lighted sun visors, and overhead console
- FX4 LvlII Seats
- FX4 LvlII silver gauge cluster & HVAC panel
- Rubber Floor
Electrical, Lighting
- 130w KC Daylighters
- (2) 130w KC 69 Series
- Dual Optima batteries
- Aux fuse box for lights, horn, etc.
- (2) Memphis 10″ Subs
- Memphis 1100w amp
- Pioneer Head unit w/ Bluetooth
- Pioneer speakers
- CB
Misc.
- On-Board-Air
- 150A 12V disconnects
- receiver mounted Warn M8000 winch
- Remote Battery terminals
- High mount breather manifold for Transfer case, Doubler, and rear axle.
Wheeling Photos:
There are so many modifications to this truck. If we tried to show them all to you, it would take pages.
However, Seth (PlumCrazy) has done a great job documenting everything he’s done to this truck from day one. You should look at his build to really appreciate the work he’s done and learn a few tips for your own build.
Check It Out:
TRS Awards:
- October 2012 Off-Road Truck Of The Month
- October 2014 Off-Road Truck Of The Month
- 2014 Off-Road Truck Of The Year
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. In 2019, he was loaned a Ranger FX4 by Ford Motor Company to test and document across the TransAmerica Trail. Jim continues to inspire and guide Ranger owners around the world.
