kunar

Name: Brandon Kunar

Forum Name: kunar

Forum Name / Link: kunar

TRS Volunteer Staff Position: Forum Moderator / Event Staff

Joined TRS: 2003

Location: Toledo, Ohio

Year Born: 1987

Occupation: Restaurant Equipment Service Tech

Background & Expertise

Brief biography:

I’m a manufacturing engineer with a strong background in machining, maintenance and fabrication. In my free time, aside from the truck projects, i enjoy working on vintage garden tractors, working in the garden, working around the house, and a little computer gaming here or there.

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

Since 2003. I joined to figure out how much bigger I could go for tires on my stock ranger

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

My first truck was a ranger, but even as a teenager, I was into anything with an engine

Any certifications, qualifications, or education worth noting?

Associates of Applied Science degree, graduated summa cum laude

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

I enjoy the headscratcher problems that take serious thought for troubleshooting. Also have some v8 swap experience, and pretty through knowledge of the ins and outs of the 1st gen trucks.

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

Current:

• 1987 Ford Ranger shortbed 351w 2wd
• 1986 Ford Ranger longbed 4×4 4.0L
• 2003 Ford Ranger FX4 Level II

Past:

• 1987 Ford Ranger ongbed
• 1987 Ford Ranger supercab,
• 1987 Ford Ranger supercab
• 1989 Ford Ranger shortbed
• 1996 Ford Ranger longbed
• 1996 Ford Explorer Sport
• 1997 Ford Explorer 5.0 AWD 

I can expand on this, but I feel like it’s already a mile long list.

Contribution to TRS

What do you do at TRS?

Volunteer mod duties, keeping an eye out for spam, 

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

Build threads (if I can make sure to take pics, and find the time to update them) also an article contributor, event participant, etc

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

Keeping these old trucks on the road. Helping people figure out how to troubleshoot/fix/retrofit issues

Fun & Personal

Favorite Ford vehicle ever?

I know it sounds cheesy, but the 1st Gen Ford Rangers will always be special to me. They’re still obtainable for the average Joe and can be built to either end of the extreme. Outside of that, early Mustangs are iconic, early Broncos as well. I’ve always liked the 1st Gen Econolines, even the Pintos. Anything 60s-70s Ford is just cool.

Favorite mod or upgrade you’ve ever done?

V8 swap by far. So much that I’m considering swapping my 4×4 truck as well

Most memorable off-road trip or experience?

I sunk my old 1987 Ford Ranger supercab in a mudhole at Bundy Hill. Completely swamped the interior and had to be pulled out. Fortunately, it didn’t damage the engine. Made a big mess, and a story we still talk about nearly 20 years later.

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

Don’t make a mountain out of a mole hill. Break big projects down into manageable goals and troubleshoot issues methodically one step at a time.