BladeRanger
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Bladimir
- Joined
- May 16, 2020
- Threads
- 4
- Messages
- 907
- Reaction score
- 2,267
- Location
- Escondido Ca
- Vehicle(s)
- Ranger 2020 XLT FX4
- Occupation
- Electronic Engineer
- Vehicle Showcase
- 1
Awesome, bro.Howdy y’all,
WARNING: LONG STORY/READ, although a jeep was messing with me
Also sorry for my rough language in the video, I was just relieved from multiple failures and then a success and some adrenaline going through me.
Let me start off by saying “WOW”… the ranger is a beast off-road and the only thing I’ve done are engine upgrades, 31.6 inch Falken Wildpeaks (not even big tires), and rear fox shocks… I was hitting dirt trails(poleline road) with some little bumps and washboard sections anywhere from 30-65mph, mostly 50+ if there were no heavy washboards. It handled flawlessly. First time following only a trucks tail lights as it was a night run too and praying I was on the trail as there was too much dust. Although, I would say airing down is a must. I only aired down to 24 psi. I actually started off at 29 psi but there’s a reason why I switched to 24 psi.
DUNE climbing time, first time doing anything with this much soft sand. Never climbed anything long… let alone soft sand too? My friend brings me to this spot at 10pm and says “this is blow sands hill, dune buggies, Jeep’s and lifted trucks can climb this. There’s a fat dip in the middle which you have to haul butt over and hope you don’t hit your undercarriage then gas that hill. Or gear correctly with big tires” he shows me where the dip is because a few dune buggies are hauling it up. I say “alright ima try it” and he tells me I’m crazy for the first time out here in the dark running up blow sands hill. Screw it isn’t this what a truck is for?
You all know how much I wash my truck and keep it shiny, but it doesn’t mean I’m not afraid to rough it up. I get a good almost quarter mile runway, slap it on 4hi and 29 psi. Try to run it but get stuck midway on the hill. I don’t care about that… BUT HERES THE DANG KICKER. A jeep is relaxing in the middle of the hill, he sees me spin wheels in sand and I have to reverse of course from mid hill.. the ding dong jeep REVS out of his soft sand spot with his huge tires, and follows me down the hill facing me with his headlights as I’m reversing. I get to the bottom and he crawls back up the hill to show off. I’m getting angry this guy is being a d***, I try again with 4hi again 29psi, I fail midway another time. AGAIN, for good measure to be a ding dong, he does it ONE more time follows me down the hill as I reverse again and climbs again in my face.
Now I’m livid with determination. Side note, some dune buggies came up and checked what kind of truck was making those throaty sounds, they were like ”is that a raptor?!? No it’s a freaking ranger!! AIR DOWN BRO!” As they drive off. Okay, jeep is making me angry, it’s really time to air down. My buddy at the bottom told me to go down to 18-20psi but I feel I can power whip it anyways. I air down to 24psi, switch to 4lo, stay around 15 mph until the dip, hit the dip, gassed it to 20-25mph(I know manual says 15mph or lower) held it up 9/10 of the hill, last 10% the truck WAS WHINING hard in 4lo because I lost momentum and was in 5k RPM + but I had to make it I came this far. Held the pedal and made the climbthe jeep and 4Runner at the top congratulated me as I said “I DID ITTT!” with a huge smile on my face. The steep drive down, I guess I should of put it in 2wd as I was braking it didn’t feel nice on whatever was making sounds clunking a little..
My friend said he’s never seen a stock truck with no real suspension or big tires climb that. He’s even seen stock jeeps fail. He kept mentioning how cool it was to see me climb it and the determination I had was sweet to see and on my first time out.
Long story, but I hope it gave you some insight into the beast of the ranger. I mean I’m sure having extra hp/tq helps but dang am I impressed. I learned something very important, don’t be lazy and air down if there’s lots of soft sand and washboards. Oh yeah, BONUS STORY for those who read all the way! My friends wide body lifted Tacoma with 33’s blew his rear differential leading 50mph+ on the trails. Granted he heard a pop when on his first time towing a trailer without re-gearing and he has a lot of miles on the truck already. But wow I got the full experience, broken down truck, dune climbing, Baja-like trail running(for me).
I will try again in the future with 4hi and 24psi again. Should be a breeze, and maybe in the daytime so I can get better views of the area to show you guys
Sorry the video was only the last 10% of the hill where I lost power.. I forgot to push record as I had too much excitement and determination to succeed. But at least you get to see how much soft sand there is and really how steep it is when I go back down it. I have another video my friend took of me but they are still in the desert, will post that video as soon as I get it so you can see different perspectives. It’s a nasty hill.
Miss you all,
Brandon
Videos since they were too large for the forum.
Blow Sands Hill last 10% and decline
Fast(for me and my first time) 4high night trail run
Fast day run by myself with some confidence 2WD
Start of blow sands hill, the darkness is the other 75% of the hill. this lit up part is only before the dip, not even the real blow sands hill start.
Full climb(lower volume some screaming)
After the night run
Camp crew
Poleline road in day time
Poleline road at night time
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