well you could always bring the exo all the way back...and get that military fabric stuff for a "soft top" styled camper...just a though.

 

No pictures yet, but I have the Rancho 44044 springs installed. Rides the same (excellent) and the lift is perfect. I gained about 1.5"-2" of lift from them. The leaf pack in general is thinner so that worked out as I didn't want it to have too much lift. The front in now about 1" taller than the rear. Next up are the new lights, custom rear drive shaft, trim rear fenders, weld 8.8 axle tubes, and move rear shock mounts for clearance.

 

A small change of plans as far as the rear axle goes. I decided to ditch the 28 spline 8.8 and I'm having an Explorer 8.8 completly rebuilt. Disc brakes, custom 31 spline Dutchman Chromos (4340) with 6x5.5 bolt pattern, Super 88 kit so that means no c-clips and the width I need (kit, minus the shafts as I'm getting custom ones made), welding the tubes, sticking with lock-right for the locker and of course my 5.13's which are awesome! Also a Riddler or Solid diff cover. Once this is done in the next month or so I will feel confident in my rear axle.

I got my lights about 4 weeks ago and they're awesome!

No night pictures. They make the front end look good too!








here is the truck all cleaned up and looking pretty as ever!



I doubt anybody here but........

Anybody want to buy a 8.8 28 spline, geared, locked, pretty Solid diff cover, and ready to roll??

 

are you building it or someone else?

sounds like a nice axle. too bad it still has c clips!

 

A local guy I know, LetzRoll Off-Road, jpcrawleram on Pirate, he builds some wicked hybrid 9" and 14 bolt axles or a 9" and 609 housing. I was scouting out his shop yesterday. I was in heaven.

With the c-clip eliminator kit though I won't have to worry about the axle walking out on me, God forbid I break a chromo. I could have gone 14bolt or 10.25 Sterling, but I don't want ungodly wide axles on this thing and he already has a few Exploder 8.8's laying around. I'm planning on going with Chromo fronts (300m way overkill for me) and CTM's before summer comes around so then I can almost say both axles are done, even though nothing is ever finished on these trucks. With the manual hubs I should be fine with the CTM's.

 

Can-Back Canvas Truck Camper Shell

These are really cool. Build up the exo to go on the outside of that, make yourself a nice little boat rack too. Great thing about these, is that they fold up to the front without taking it all the way off, great if you need to haul some fire wood or **** back to camp.

 

i have said it before and ill say it again... I LOVE YOUR TRUCK!

 

haha i bet so, those are killer axles.

sorry, i guess i read the first post wrong, didnt see that super kit. haha im a retard.

 

Here is an update. I got the rear axle (explorer 8.8 31 spline, discs) in back in November and it is awesome. Custom rear driveshaft, chromos, drilled rotors to 6x5.5 to match bolt pattern of waggy axle (no more adapters/spacers), new 5.13 gears and I decided to stay with a lock-right in the rear as they're cheap and work which is what I want. No c-clips as I did go with the Superior c-clip eliminator kit. Next is a custom rear bumper with rear winch built in, hydro steering and a beefed up front axle and then I should be happy for a little while. Here are some pics. I'll ***** out my truck once again

Here is my reason for a new high clearance bumper and cutting out some sheetmetal.







you can tell how flexed the truck was by lookign at the rear passenger tire on the ground









Snow wheeling is fun. Only a few inches but in 2wd I was sliding around and it was a good time with some buddies. It is an OHV area so it is legal to ride all over in designated areas which makes it fun. My cousin took all the pics with the watermark, he drives the Tacoma.

















Our group lined up


Our fearless women




Hill is steeper than it looks and you can see all 3 trucks in this pic too.

 

Fall off the ramp?? lol



GB :)

 

Yeah, fell off the ramp. I knew it was going to happen as other rigs fell off, but I forgot about the long overhang that the ranger has behind the rear tires and that support bar for the ramp . That chrome rear bumper doesn't fit the truck anymore anyways

 

dude, why didnt you line back up for the ramp? lol

truck looks good tho

 

I fell off my second time. I figured out that when I'm backing up the ramp (it was my first time ever on a ramp) that I need to turn my wheels more. I was lined up perfect each time but as you go up you have to turn. I made it up further (about 6") then what the pics show because the support bar in the back. I fell on top of that and in the pics I'm not that far back. Next time I'll stop by his shop not at a huge BBQ event and see what kind of magic my truck has.

 

Truck looks great any night pics of the LED lights in action I have been looking at those for a while now.

 

Truck looks great, it sure has come a long way in the past few years. Love the wheels too, I've got them on my truck.

 

 

No more LED lights. Some ******* scumbag decided to steal my LED lights last night from in front of my house. They had tools as it was a clean job with cut wires and all. No more lights for a while.

 

buncha ******! ..with hard times all of us should be extra careful with our toys. And on a lights note, that pic above is rad..so sketchy looking!

 

That sucks about the lights, but it could have been worse!
Every time I think about a light bar for my truck and fixing up something nice, I think about how easy they are to steal too. If someone walked around my truck the only thing they would think is worth stealing are the catalytic converters. No fancy lights, stereo equipment, etc. I try to keep it looking clean and simple so I don't sweat too much if I park it at a trail head and hike away from it.
The real problem though is that you need a garage to park your truck in at home!

 

Baddd **** truck dude. I love the clean, simple leaf setup. I have always been a fan of a very function and durable truck build. Alot of times people go sorta crazy and next thing you know the ranger is no longer a ranger its some kind of rock buggy thing.

But your truck is staight awesome. Keep up the good work, and keep posting pictures!

 

truck looks really classy and functional, good job dude!

 

Whatever happened to him? He fell off the planet!

 

I'm still around. I graduated from college and began a career so I'm busy, but life is settling down again. I still got the Ranger and still wheel it. The simple design and set-up has left me trouble free since it has been built. No breaks and just regular maintenance (knock on wood). I want to do more with it like put chromos in the front D44, I still need an e-brake from the rear axle swap, and eventually a rear bumper and the list goes on...

 

Awesome! Congrats on graduation!

 

post some pics of you wheeling that thing if you get a chance i have always liked your truck it.

i have always thought of it as one of the best built dual purpose rigs