This is my 1994 Ford Ranger XLT.It has the 4.0L V6, 5sp stick and manual 4wd system.
I custom-ordered it new (because all the dealer stock longbeds had the auto-4WD crap and/or 3.0 engines) and began customizing it that same year.
This is after installing a Rancho 3" lift, 32" BFG mudterrains and a Warn winch & mount.
The truck performed well like this but the Rancho lift kept falling apart on me. So after some more wasted $$$ on trying Superlift components that also broke, I finally settled on Skyjacker. The Skyjacker Class2 suspension has fared much better in the rocks I go play in.
This is with the Skyjacker 6" system. It actually came out to about 5" from the weight of the winch and the two big batteries to run it. It is also now on 33X12.50 BFG tires. It has far better suspension flex than the Rancho, which had rather stiff springs & rear add-a-leafs.
I made a few tweaks to the suspension accordingly (such as using the 4" mounting holes). This increased the ground clearance under the front axle dramatically and actually made for almost a zero camber correction setting. The steering is much better this way, too.
Around '97, I added a pair of ARB Airlockers, a Dana44 (that I'm not sure was needed, more on that below), and big 31 spline shafts for the rear 8.8" to replace the smaller 28 spliners.
This should make it good and stout (so I thought).
Turns out, the stock Dana35 axle was already a stout piece. To my dismay (after popping an axlejoint gettin'it),I find the D44 uses the same damn thing (spicer 297s)! >:( I guess I just needed to learn my limits. Having procured all the D44 goodies before realizing this I just went through and finished putting it in. Thats what I get for listening to the shmos who said Ranger axles were so weak and not doing the research myself (maybe they thought it was the older D28 axle).
I managed to go several more years before busting another joint.
Next one that breaks will get replaced with the better Spicer 5-760X, or maybe CTM's/alloys (Mmmmmmm :) ($$YIKES!$$)
Some pics of me wheeling.
The roof rack is homemade (after seeing the $300+! pricetag ConFerr wanted for theirs) and is attached via brackets to the rollbar. It makes a good place to haul light items such as folding chairs when camping. It gets a little non-aerodynamic when stuff is up there, though. Not that its aerodynamic to begin with lol, the extra wind drag is noticable.
The rockbars and rear bumper I also made.
I think I spent a whopping $100 in steel on the rack, bars and bumper (this was before steel prices shot up though :)
Over time the BFGs got replaced with Goodyear MT/Rs, the rear ARB with a Detroit Locker (after shattering it's side gear) and the stock transfercase with an Atlas 4.3.
Overall, this Ranger has proven itself quite well offroad and still has some manners onroad (although the Detroit Locker did have a good impact on them).
Now if I could only figure out why it is those Jeep and Toyota guys act so surprised when they see a Ranger runnin' up their butt... :D
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