03 Ranger Camping Project - Page 5

__s10slayer__ · #61 01-06-2017, 11:29 AM

I'm thinking about going skinny 33's on mine. Taking my lift off. Or 32x11.50

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AgentGTO · #62 01-06-2017, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UltraHDGames

Skinny 33's will fit without a body lift though which is nice

Yeah, that's kinda the problem. I would most likely be getting 33/12.50R15's and those are going to be some FAT tires. :P

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Quote:

Originally Posted by __s10slayer__

I'm thinking about going skinny 33's on mine. Taking my lift off. Or 32x11.50

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I'll probably be going with 32/11.50's too, but I really want 33's. :P
Ugh, I need to make more money. :P

RobertD23 · #63 01-06-2017, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgentGTO

Then we I started driving back home I decided to stop by a promising place I saw on google maps. The place is called John Redmond Reservoir and it was amazing! There is this really cool rock climbing spot when you 1st get there.

Do you see that nice scrape on the dirt? Yeah, that was the torsion bar covers.

These are just a few pictures I took while riding around, taken a look at the place.

And it was all fun and games..... until I got overconfident in my driving skill and got stuck.

I ended up getting stuck for 3-1/2 hours, had an old couple, who were looking for eagles, drive up on me but neither of us had the tools to pull anything out of anything. I ended up getting out after sacrificing a couple tools and cutting up my sweet bed mat to shove under the front wheels, then found some bigger gravel rocks and dropped a handful in front and aired the tires down. Getting out involved a lot of work, cursing and time, but I did get myself out.

But if you look at this way, it was a learning experience. It just means that I need to buy a winch, bigger tires, off road lights, road flare and a green smoke bomb to signal for air rescue.

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Yeah, I've seen your ad but I don't want 4" of lift because it's still my DD and I won't be able to go exploring all too often. I'm might go with a small body lift, like 1 - 2" and crank the bars to level but that's still undecided. But who knows, things can change and if it's no longer a DD and I can find a coil over kit, then I will seriously look at that lift you have.

And thanks! Glad people are enjoying reading my thread.

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This might give you an idea of what kind of mud/clay I was going through.

It was just packed in there, and inside the rims making them unbalanced.

And this is what the interior looked like by the time I got out. Looks like it's time to start my own garden.

And this is her before spending 30 mins at a self car washing, washing her down.

See that's what I did with my truck. I got a 2" lift and cranked the tbars so it'd sit level and it gives it a nice look mines a DD and there isn't there much of a difference of handling but it still gives it a little more clearance

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Jimmyspy · #64 01-07-2017, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgentGTO

Yeah, that's kinda the problem. I would most likely be getting 33/12.50R15's and those are going to be some FAT tires. :P ---------- I'll probably be going with 32/11.50's too, but I really want 33's. :P Ugh, I need to make more money. :P

Body lift is only 200 bucks. Lol. 😜😜

AgentGTO · #65 01-07-2017, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobertD23

See that's what I did with my truck. I got a 2" lift and cranked the tbars so it'd sit level and it gives it a nice look mines a DD and there isn't there much of a difference of handling but it still gives it a little more clearance

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That's the route I'm thinking of going. I don't want to take it to the sky but I don't want more room for bigger tires and don't want to sacrifice too much of my road quality.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmyspy

Body lift is only 200 bucks. Lol. ��

That's true, but tires are $800-1000, winch is $300-400, superlift is $1500, off-road bumper $1200, coilover $unknown but too much

, more off road lights because you can never have enough, dual battery setup and upgraded expo alternator.

Maybe I need to lower my expectations. :P

Jimmyspy · #66 01-07-2017, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgentGTO

That's true, but tires are $800-1000, winch is $300-400, superlift is $1500, off-road bumper $1200, coilover $unknown but too much

, more off road lights because you can never have enough, dual battery setup and upgraded expo alternator. Maybe I need to lower my expectations. :P

You're not wrong, it's a slippery slope. Lol. I lucked out and found my superlift, wheels, and tires on Craigslist for half the cost of new. (From different sellers, but all were NIB)

However, it sounds like a body lift and 33s would be a good start for you. It would do a lot for the look and capability of the truck.

Also, you don't have to do everything at once. I've been doing things here and there on my ranger for the last 4 years. Haha.

__s10slayer__ · #67 01-07-2017, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgentGTO

Yeah, that's kinda the problem. I would most likely be getting 33/12.50R15's and those are going to be some FAT tires. :P

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I'll probably be going with 32/11.50's too, but I really want 33's. :P

Ugh, I need to make more money. :P

33x10.50's?

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31x10.50x15 no t-bar crank

33x12.50x15 and tbar crank and 3" body lift

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AgentGTO · #68 01-09-2017, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmyspy

You're not wrong, it's a slippery slope. Lol. I lucked out and found my superlift, wheels, and tires on Craigslist for half the cost of new. (From different sellers, but all were NIB)

However, it sounds like a body lift and 33s would be a good start for you. It would do a lot for the look and capability of the truck.

Also, you don't have to do everything at once. I've been doing things here and there on my ranger for the last 4 years. Haha.

Lol, yes it is. I know there's a member here selling a superlift for a grand but I don't have the cash for it now and i'm not really sure if I want 4" of lift. Plus I'm not sure if I want to go through all the effort a 3" body lift requires, cause I'm pretty lazy. :P

And yeah, I know I don't have to do everything all at once, but I'm an impatient bastard. :P

Right now, the plan is looking like it's going to be 32x11.50's with a T-bar crank to level.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by __s10slayer__

33x10.50's?

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31x10.50x15 no t-bar crank

33x12.50x15 and tbar crank and 3" body lift

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Lol, don't quite understand your comment. Where is the 33x10.50 coming from?

jordisonjr · #69 01-09-2017, 08:07 AM

Awesome truck! Loving the progress, and can't wait for more!

AgentGTO · #70 01-14-2017, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordisonjr

Awesome truck! Loving the progress, and can't wait for more!

Thanks! I'm pretty excited with the ideas I have rolling around in my brain. Just need some more cooperative weather.

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Ahhhh Yissssss, GAINS GAINS GAINS and more GAINS. Lets get all those power GAINS! :P

I stopped by a local custom shop and asked if they'd be able to re-calibrate my speedo and ODO when I got bigger tires and apparently the older fords ECU's don't really allow for it. You have to get a tuner in order to make changes, so I picked up this tuner from a user here and figured since I had to have the tuner for the wheels, I might as well get the truck tuned when I do get my bigger wheels. Not really sure what kind of tune I'll get, but it will most likely be an economy & power/exploring/off-road tune.

AgentGTO · #71 02-05-2017, 10:05 PM

Been a while, so here's an update.

I've been working on collect tools to be able to start building a lot of my own stuff. Since there isn't a whole lot of aftermarket support, I figured I'd have to build custom pieces for what I want.

I scored a small drill press and an ugly as sin bench grinder.

I also picked up a cheap flux core welder for $60 so I can start practice welding. I was able to pick up some scrap steel that my uncle had laying around to practice with. This is my 1st attempt, it's not very pretty but there's a good bead and the rest are just booger welds.

But still, I don't think it's too bad for never holding a welding gun before.

I went back to the reservoir to take some more pics and think I was able to get a couple of good ones.

This one is my favorite.

Then....... I got stuck again. :P

And this time I had to get a tow, I had no hope of making it out of what I stuck in. Turns out that when I tried to turn around, I ended up turning into a section of land that collects rainwater until it gets high enough to drain into the river so it was nothing but a foot & a half of mud. Not very good pictures because it was foggy.

Little background info, I used one of the DOT scales on highway for weighing semi trucks and found out that my truck and me weigh in at 4400lbs. Well I was carrying more gear with me when I got stuck, but when I got towed out and started heading back it was late enough that the scales were open so I stopped by. 5000lbs!!!, so I estimate 300 to 400 lbs of mud being thrown around while trying to get out.

And the latest news is this truck that I picked up.

I towed this Explorer back with a tow dolly about 60 - 70 miles south. Threw her in cruise control at 65mph and overdrive off and she handled the tow with ease. Wanted to see what my mileage would be while towing, so I filled up after I picked up the truck and again when got to my destination. I got a whopping 10.4mpg. :P

The Expo has a blown 4.0 SOHC and no trans but I picked it up for $300 so it's a screaming deal for me. I plan and using the roof rack, external trans cooler, maybe the center console, OHC, the rear end and various wires and plugs. I was also going to use the rear leafs but the previous owner took them 1st, so there goes that plan. But here it is partially stripped.

UltraHDGames · #72 02-06-2017, 07:27 AM

Might be time for mud tires and bringing friends with while exploring

horizon94 · #73 02-06-2017, 08:04 AM

Or a winch/Maasdam rope puller

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UltraHDGames · #74 02-06-2017, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horizon94

Or a winch/Maasdam rope puller

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Still even with a winch and all the fancy self recovery devices out there I wouldn't venture out to far on my own. Things can go wrong

tnoutdoors · #75 02-06-2017, 01:28 PM

Like the project man. I'd go crazy on the expo. Big plush leather seats, OHC, auto mirror, etc in the Ranger. You could take all that out and still probably make your money back scrapping what's left. That's a deal!