The 2019 'Loan Ranger', and 2019 Ranger Adventure

How I Got It:

As you know, TRS was at the debut of the 2019 Ford Ranger in Detroit (January 2018), the start of production celebration at the Michigan Assembly Plant in October of 2018, and then I attended the Media Drive event out in California in December 2019. 2019 is the 20th anniversary of TheRangerStation.com, and ironically the same year that the Ranger returned. I have been in discussion with Ford about getting a Ranger for the anniversary since the debut, and was blessed that the right people in Ford were willing to work to make it happen.

I do not own this truck. I want to make that clear from the beginning. Ford has graciously loaned this 2019 Ford Ranger FX4 XLT to me until September 30th, 2019. That means that I will have this truck, and TRS-2 (my 1996 Ford Ranger) at the 20th Anniversary Trail Ride on September 7th, 2019. It's also not technically an Anniversary Edition, but wouldn't it be great if Ford offered that? 2-inch lift, mud terrains, grill guard, etc...

Ford has told me that I can modify the Ranger, I just can't drill any holes, or permanently mount anything to it. I have to return it back to stock before returning it.

Window Sticker - https://www.therangerstation.com/resources/pdf_documents/KLA00272_Ranger_SuperCrew_4X4_XLT.pdf

What I'm Going To Do To It:

I drove one of these Rangers off-road last December. They're very capable, and I plan to turn this one in to an adventure vehicle, and show the Ranger's true adventure capability.

Where I'm Going To Take It:

The first stop is the Overland Expo in Flagstaff Arizona May 17-19, 2019. Anybody want to meet there??

I'm planning an adventure for the month of June that will take me across the Trans America Trail from Oklahoma to Port Orford Oregon. From there, I plan to circle down through California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and then back through Texas. I'm planning the route, stops, and time frames so that I can share it here with anyone that might want to meet up along the way. Heck, you can follow along for the whole adventure if you want. I spent 22-days travelling and camping in the northwest with my Super Duty in 2017, so what I'm wanting to do isn't something new.

I want to plan another adventure to the east in either July or August.

The eventual goal will be to end up at the 20th Anniversary Trail Ride in September.

Where's The Tent?

But wait, there's more..... I asked Ford for a Yakima Tent mounted over the bed. I felt that it made more sense to promote the Yakima tent that you can get from your Ford dealer, than to use my tent. Ford didn't have a Ranger available with the tent, so they told me that they would send one to be added to the truck.

Update: The tent was installed on April 29th.

Everything Will Be In This Thread:

This thread will serve to share the plans, modifications to the truck, and trip reports. I will keep the first two posts updated as time goes on so you know what's going on.

Videos:

I will be recording videos of the truck, its features, modifications, as well as all of the adventures I take it on. I will have more on that later.

Please Share!

Please feel free to share any photos and videos that I post either here, youtube, or on Instagram. This helps attract potential sponsors for events such as our 20th Anniversary Trail Ride. That benefits you, because I try to find things to give away to you guys. If companies see that we have a strong presence online, maybe we can work that in to discounts for our members. Anything is possible with a strong presence. The 2019 Ford Ranger sitting in my driveway is a daily reminder.

Walk Around Video:


More Photos:

Current Status:

The 'Loan Ranger' is now riding on 265/70/17 Cooper Discoverer STT PRO tires and is equipped with (2) Nilight 4-Inch 60-watt LED off-road lights.

Update 05/01/2019:

The 'Loan Ranger' now has a Yakima rack and SkyRise tent, as well as a Nilight 20-inch LED light bar above the front bumper.


Truck Stuff:

• 2019 Ford Ranger - Network Connection Needed
• 2019 Ford Ranger - Automatic High Beams
• 2019 Ford Ranger - Driving In Sport Mode!
• 2019 Ford Ranger - Radio Display Frozen (see the end of this post)
• New Discoverer STT PRO 265/70/17 Tires Delivered
• New Discoverer STT PRO 265/70/17 Tires Installed
• Nilight 4-Inch 60-watt LED Lights Installed
• Nilight 20-Inch 288-watt LED Lightbar Installed
• Nilight 4x5 Inch 27-Watt LED Lights Installed (Rear)
• Yakima Rack and SkyRise Tent Installed
• 2019 Ford Ranger - Loan Ranger Walk Around

Trips:

• First Trip Off-Road
• Texas Hill Country Adventure Day #1
• Texas Hill Country Adventure Day #2 (Part 1)
• Texas Hill Country Adventure Day #2 (Part 2)
• 2019 Ranger Adventure - Journey To Overland Expo
• 2019 Ranger Adventure - Overland Expo Friday May 17th
• 2019 Ranger Adventure - Overland Expo Saturday May 18th
• 2019 Ranger Adventure - Journey Home From Overland Expo - Tonto National Forest - Arizona - Day 1
• 2019 Ranger Adventure - Journey Home From Overland Expo - Tonto National Forest - Arizona - Day 2
• 2019 Ranger Adventure - Journey Home From Overland Expo - Mescalero Sands North Dune OHV Area
• 2019 Ranger Adventure - Trans America Trail (Story starts here, and continues for 2-weeks)
• 2019 Ranger Adventure - Getting My Kicks On Route 66!

Sweet ride. look forward to seeing mods.

looks good (the truck)

Hey Jim, what's the last 8 digits of the VIN?

But seriously,
Congrats man. This just goes to show what TRS has grown to be after all these years of work.

BTW @snoranger was the 1st person to figure it out, and pretty damn quick I might add.

pjtoledo said:

looks good (the truck)

Click to expand...

I see what you did there Santa!

Does it have the Black option? Cant tell ,really? Looks good though. Congratulations Jim, this is a BIG deal, and a great accomplishment.

Here is some motivation.

Two things.
1. Wrap it like TRS-2.
2. 20th anniversary banner.
One more. Holler when you're in Oklahoma.

Congratulations! That’s a great showpiece.

Jim Oaks said:

BTW @snoranger was the 1st person to figure it out, and pretty damn quick I might add.

Click to expand...

@don4331 was on the right trail and very close and @RoofHopper also figured it out.

Kind of a fun little game thing we had going this past week.

Ranger850 said:

Does it have the Black option? Cant tell ,really? Looks good though. Congratulations Jim, this is a BIG deal, and a great accomplishment.

Here is some motivation.
View attachment 25877

Click to expand...

I did not know Chevy tow mirrors fit the new Ranger too... they were a bolt on upgrade for my F-150. I wonder what was involved in hanging them on a Ranger.

I think Jim's new truck just has the dark gray trim like a standard FX4.

@Ranger850 it's just the sport appearance package.

@country0001 a wrap is really expensive. I will be putting the logo and address on the door though.

This Ranger needs a name to differentiate it from TRS-2:

TRS-2019
TRS-AV

IDK...

Edit - Thanks to @snoranger I have named this Ranger the 'Loan Ranger'.

Automatic Highbeams:

This Ranger briefly freaked me out last night. The highbeams kept kicking on and off. It has a setting that will allow the highbeams to automatically turn on and off when the headlight switch is in automatic. It senses lights, and dims back to low beam. If you dial the headlight switch to the regular on position, it seems to stop. You have to go in to the menu in the gauge cluster, and deactivate it.



If you turn the headlight knob from 'A' automatic one click left to the on position, the automatic highbeams will stop coming on.

On the steering wheel controls, push the left arrow next to the OK button, and then arrow down (scroll) to 'Settings' and click right.



Then click right on 'Vehicle'..



And then lighting.





You'll see the options for 'Automatic Highbeam' and 'Daytime Lights'. I already unchecked it by pressing OK on it, but this is where you shut the feature off.

Ford Ranger Auto-Stop:

I also found myself using the button on the console to shut off the feature that makes the engine shut off every time you come to a stop.

That's a cool feature to have available. Some of the newer headlamps do similar things for hiking and trail running. I think Petzl calls it 'reactive lighting'. Also glad to hear that you can turn it off as needed.

Wait until you get a light rain and the wipers turn themselves on or as Ford calls it "courtesy wipe". The first time it happens you try to turn the wipers off, but they're already off.
(I assume thats a feature on the Ranger, both my '17 F150 and my wife's '18 Escape do that. It can be turned off in the cluster.)

snoranger said:

Wait until you get a light rain and the wipers turn themselves on or as Ford calls it "courtesy wipe". The first time it happens you try to turn the wipers off, but they're already off.
(I assume thats a feature on the Ranger, both my '17 F150 and my wife's '18 Escape do that. It can be turned off in the cluster.)

Click to expand...

My MIL's car has headlights that turn when you turn, that will freak a person out the first time you drive it.