When the TRS crew rolled into Overland Expo Mountain West this year, we saw plenty of newer Ford Rangers and even a few Ranger Raptors. But one of the rigs that truly stood out wasn’t new at all—it was this 1987 Ford Ranger 4×4 owned by Rick Gonzalez of La Mirada, California.
This Ranger has quite the backstory. Before Rick got his hands on it, the truck spent time as an off-road race rig. Rick took that retired racer and transformed it into the overlanding machine you see today. Here’s how it looked when he first brought it home:
Rick has touched just about every part of this Ranger. The exterior received fresh paint, while the interior was completely redone with new carpet, seats, and a steering wheel. Even the gauges got an upgrade with new faces, plus additional white-face gauges under the dash to monitor engine vitals. Modern overlanding gear fills the cab, including a GPS, Midland CB radio, inclinometer, and mounts for both a phone and tablet.
Under the hood, the Ranger still runs the trusty 2.9L V6 paired with a 5-speed manual transmission and manual transfer case. The front axle is a Dana 28 TTB, and the rear is a Ford 7.5-inch. A Skyjacker 4-inch suspension lift clears the way for Rubitrek 30×9.50×15 all-terrain tires mounted on American Racing wheels.
Up top, the front half of a carpenter’s rack provides extra storage and carries an LED light bar, traction boards, and a PVC water tank. Behind the cab, a toolbox conceals an additional 15-gallon fuel tank for extended backcountry trips. Rock sliders salvaged from a Chevy Silverado now protect the rocker panels, while a Ford Ranger STX grille guard houses an X-Bull 10K winch—ready for recovery duty. The front end also features upgraded LED headlights and a pair of LED fog lights for improved visibility on and off the trail.
In the bed, dual racks support a Pittman rooftop tent. Hidden beneath the spare tire and black bed cover are a pair of storage drawers, keeping gear tucked away but accessible.
Rick calls his Ranger *El Viejo*, Spanish for “Old Man.” But don’t let the name fool you—this Ranger is still living an adventurous life and proves that old-school rigs can hang with the best of them.
You can follow Rick’s adventures and see more of *El Viejo* on Instagram: @elviehoadventures
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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.
