I'm Scott. I'm 42. I just bought an '04 Ranger so I can relive the 90's and own a mini truck again....

[paosgravity]

Hey guys, ran across an '04 XLT, 3.0, manual with just 110,000 miles on it last week on Facebook Marketplace. I went to take a look today, brought it home - still has the damn plastic stuck to the carpet that the factory put on it to ship out to dealers. I'm the 3rd owner. I became a mini trucker in '93 or so, ran around with a good group of guys for years. A wife, 2 kids, divorce, new wife and 3 step kids later, here I am, at 42 and ready to have some fun again. I miss trucks being this size, I miss manual transmissions, I miss how they drove - good to have one again.

I'm still browsing the forums, but if anybody reads this and would be willing to post a few links on places to get air-ride kids like what suicidedoors (thorbros.com) did for S-10's, that would be great. I'd love a one-stop shop that has everything I need to lay-frame, both front and rear kits. I had a hard time getting my '91 down because of those damn i-beams, I'm excited to have one with control arms.

.....also, anybody interested in a set of '91 crossmembers from rangerpowersports? They tuck just above the bottom of the frame so you can lay without having issues.

I attached pics of my 2 minis from the 90's, long bed '88 Dakota with a 318V8 (did the swap when I was 17), and my '91 Ranger convertible on juice, so you guys can see, but also so I can remember being a teenager again. Damn the 90's were fun.

ITB in the late 90's? Yessir.

 

[Roert42]

I don’t know anything about getting “dirt nasty low” as they say, but there is a tubbed ranger bed for sale on Craigslist near me, on the Allentown Pa Craigslist. If that interests you.

Also, I remember someone on the classifieds advertising a set of pre cut frame knotches for the axel to go over the frame.

Hope you have fun with your new ranger.

 

[Ranger850]

@paosgravity Explorers have the leaf springs under the axle so a simple swap will lower the rear 3"-4".
More info in the tech section

 

[Ranger850]

Copied from " Suspension and Body Lifts " section : The Explorer axle mounts with the springs under the axle and the Ranger mounts in spring over configuration.

 

[89Twincharge]

Welcome...

 

[paosgravity]

@paosgravity Explorers have the leaf springs under the axle so a simple swap will lower the rear 3"-4".
More info in the tech section

Thanks, appreciate it, but I would like a full on back-half that takes care of all clearances, notch, and bad mounts - thorbros kill it, but Jason doesn't mess with Rangers apparently - I bought their kit for my S-10 years ago, simple, easy to weld up and install, and it laid out perfectly. I can't believe there isn't anybody out there that doesn't do that for Rangers.

 

[paosgravity]

Here is what I'd love to find my guys.....plus something like this for the front.

Thorbecke Brothers S-10 5-Link Back Half with Poly Bushings | thorbros.com

thorbros.com

 

[Ranger850]

Thanks, appreciate it, but I would like a full on back-half that takes care of all clearances, notch, and bad mounts - thorbros kill it, but Jason doesn't mess with Rangers apparently - I bought their kit for my S-10 years ago, simple, easy to weld up and install, and it laid out perfectly. I can't believe there isn't anybody out there that doesn't do that for Rangers.

The aftermarket never was too kind to the old Rangers. There's not much out there. Idk the measurements of the rears, but maybe that S10 rear you posted from Thorbros can be welded to a ranger.

 

[89Twincharge]

You can get universal 4links that work pretty well but require knowledge and fab skills... not much for going low on rangers but ingenuity!!! Pics??

 

[55trucker]

If you're wanting to *bag* the truck the only supplier I know of that supplies a complete custom kit is Airbagit.com
it's not cheap, in the area of 5G's.

 

[paosgravity]

I don’t know anything about getting “dirt nasty low” as they say, but there is a tubbed ranger bed for sale on Craigslist near me, on the Allentown Pa Craigslist. If that interests you.

Also, I remember someone on the classifieds advertising a set of pre cut frame knotches for the axel to go over the frame.

Hope you have fun with your new ranger.

I AM having fun with it. I bought it mostly for a 2nd car for us - I run my own business from home, rarely leave, but it'll be nice to have a 2nd vehicle for me to run to town or something in. I also have been searching (in secret) for a mini truck deal. And lastly, I've always had a sweet spot for Ford and especially Rangers, just did NOT want to deal with the damn i-beams again. It has AC, but I drove to get my wife a drink tonight, rolled the windows down, back sliding window cracked, arm on the top of the door hanging out, shifting the manual transmission, FEELING the truck. Man I forgot how great that was, and still is. I feel like I'm 20 again.....even thought I'm not

 

[paosgravity]

Partial update for you guys, something like this is what I bought from thorbros.com years ago for my S-10 - thing couldn't have been easier to install. This seems pretty overpriced though.

Trust The Air Suspension Ride Pros; Find Exclusive Deals on Hot Rod Suspension, Lift Kits, Lowering Kits, Lambo Doors, air springs, air bags, Billet Wheel Adapters, Towing Kits, Air Shocks, Air suspension Lift Kits

Trust The Air Suspension Ride Pros; Find Exclusive Deals on Hot Rod Suspension, Lift Kits, Lowering Kits, Lambo Doors, air springs, air bags, Billet Wheel Adapters, Towing Kits, Air Shocks, Air suspension Lift Kits

www.airbagit.com

Trust The Air Suspension Ride Pros; Find Exclusive Deals on Hot Rod Suspension, Lift Kits, Lowering Kits, Lambo Doors, air springs, air bags, Billet Wheel Adapters, Towing Kits, Air Shocks, Air suspension Lift Kits

Trust The Air Suspension Ride Pros; Find Exclusive Deals on Hot Rod Suspension, Lift Kits, Lowering Kits, Lambo Doors, air springs, air bags, Billet Wheel Adapters, Towing Kits, Air Shocks, Air suspension Lift Kits

www.airbagit.com

 

[paosgravity]

UPDATE:

I'm now knocking on 45, but still feel like I'm 25.

DJM 4/5 kit, but I swapped the 2" drop coils for 3" drop coils, for a 5/5 total. 215/45/18 tires.

I miss being a kid....

 

[DrWho42]

henlo scott! welcome to the forums!

 

[bobbywalter]

Looks good. Very subdued.