bobbywalter

Bobby is the first to help and usually fix a Ranger / Bronco II at trail gatherings

Introduction

Name: Robert T Walter III

Forum Name / Link: bobbywalter

TRS Volunteer Staff Position: Technical Advisor

Joined TRS: 2000

Location: Belleville, MI

Born: 1971

Occupation: Oil Field Roughneck – Mechanic

Background & Expertise

Brief biography:

Cidiot, Formative years created from 70’s and early 80’s Detroit. Exposed to Mopars from birth….340 LA fanatic…also exposed to Babbit bearings and Model-T stuff early. Yeah, I ate the lead chips.

Favorite uncle owned a tool and die shop and did a lot of Ford development.

Myself, as a lad, had always figured I would go in that direction.

Ended up in the trades and oil field roughnecking and progressing through the typical ranks of that insanity. I have always worked on or built off road and racing vehicles since I could hold a wrench. One thing about coming out of Detroit and the metro area, being humbled regularly every time you think you are getting good at doing stuff is a constant thing. Simply keeps one in check. Today I see this as a blessing. And to this day, my primary job is making machines go. Mostly oilfield based.

How long have you been a member of The Ranger Station?

TRS among the first things I found on the open internet missed 2k event as I went with wrong group but triple digit member and was early enough to be in founding status of defunct RRORC which is offshoot of TRS. So, 1999 with just reading lists and 2000 and 2001 with actually signing up.

How did you first get into Ford Rangers or off-roading?

Above mentioned uncle was part of ranger development (jigs and stuff I did not understand at the time) amongst other things of the malaise era. I was always around total performance due to his SCJ Torino’s and Cyclones ect. I got to watch the first one they had as a shop run-about delivered have a V8 install done right off the train. Vito and Rob from total performance were heroes to me at that time. Off roading was instilled in me by my other uncle as he was a founding member of bushwhackers 4×4. In 1988 I began my dive into the ranger v8 conversion world and had several pintos under my belt at that time. Blazers, Broncos and Mopars. In 1989 I did my first V8 Ranger swap.

Any certifications, qualifications, or education worth noting?

Industry training. Not really related to classic education. School of hard knocks.

What specific areas of expertise or interest do you bring to TRS?

If I recall this right. I think Jim actually created the tech spot just so he had a place to put my stupid ass.

What kind of Ranger(s) (or Bronco II, Explorer, etc.) do you currently own or have owned in the past?

Currently I own a 1988 sort of could be Ranger, and a sort or 89 Bronco II. I cannot think off the top of my head of all of the RBV trade rigs I have been through.

Contribution to TRS

Do you contribute or help with specific areas of the forum?

I just tramp around the sight off of the what’s new link

What do you enjoy most about being part of the TRS community?

The honesty of the core group of TRS whether its brakes, coolant choice, loss, divorce…God.

Fun & Personal

Favorite Ford vehicle ever?

Gen one RBV platform. By far.

Favorite mod or upgrade you’ve ever done?

Lockers / winch

Most memorable off-road trip or experience?

Sliding down Bullgap in Mio Michigan on my roof and the crowd roaring (in approval).

One piece of advice you’d give to a new Ranger owner:

New Ranger owner? Enjoy the ride.