Built Ford Tough (rear ended)

[Indy650]

Sitting at a stoplight minding my own business and got rear-ended by a 2018 Honda Civic. Only damaged the bumper of the Ranger, nearly destroyed the Civic, I have attached a short dashcam video. The other driver was cited and has insurance so no big deal but all were impressed by the sturdiness of the Ranger.

UGH such a good song too I bet that ruined your mood. Hope it all works out.

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[Indy650]

How is it google has no pictures of RangerZilla? this is blasphemy!

 

[BobDP]

Sitting at a stoplight minding my own business and got rear-ended by a 2018 Honda Civic. Only damaged the bumper of the Ranger, nearly destroyed the Civic, I have attached a short dashcam video. The other driver was cited and has insurance so no big deal but all were impressed by the sturdiness of the Ranger.

I got rear ended too back in November! I had the trailer hitch on and it went right through the Hondas radiator! My bumper was toast and it put a scratch on my paint. A complete Ford bumper was close to 1K but so was a after market steel Stealth Fighter! The insurance didn't care what I put on. Sweet! Free upgrade!

 

[MannyS]

I feel so young. Lol. Graduated in 2004.

 

[Indy650]

Hi DBR,

Here is a back story with me and ZZ Top. Ford Marketing was sponsoring the bands tour and they were slated for two night performances at the Joe Lewis Arena. My secretary, Carol, got a call about quitting time from someone in Marketing...Carol came into to my office and asked if I wanted to take the call...Something about RangerZilla. I picked up the phone and this lady from Ford Marketing asked me for help as RangerZilla had been damaged while loading into its transporter in Chicago...Ford Marketing wanted the Ranger on display for the two nights and the first night was the next evening.... Why me? Well, they said you could get almost anything done was the answer...Okay, lets see if we can get this done. The Ford Marketing lady told me the transporter was on its way to the Engineering Center and asked for directions to park the transporter. I told her to head to PDC, the Product Development Center. First thing I did was call Livernoise Vehicle and asked if they were game for an all nighter...Show up at PDC with a two car trailer asap. I then had Bill C. my vehicle coordinator round up a Ranger 4x4 of the same flavor as RangerZilla, after learning it was front end damage...I had no idea of how bad the damage was and was hoping a part change would fix it but if paint was involved...probably not going to work. Phone rang again and was told the transporter was on Ford property, so headed downstairs and out into the parking lot...I spotted the transporter and waved it down...explained to the driver where to park. Driver was named Ted LeDane. Livernoise had already shown up and had the Ford Ranger loaded onto the trailer. Ted dropped the tailgate to the transporter and then raised it to the top level...I climbed up and RangerZilla was at the back, right behind HogZilla and I could see CadZilla ahead of HogZilla... Checked the damage on RangerZilla and breathed a sigh of relief as it was all replaceable by the Ford Ranger on the trailer...easy parts swap...mostly a broken fog light an crinkled facia...no painting required. Climbed down as Ted pushed RangerZilla onto the platform and lowered it to the ground. We then pushed it up onto the Livernoise Trailer and I noticed a black limo show up. Out pops Billy Gibbons, one of the ZZTop guitarists...full beard and all. Billy walks up to Ted and me and looks me straight in the eyes and asks if I can get it fixed. I told him we had it handled. Be done tonight and on display tomorrow at the Joe. He shook my hand and asked me if I was hungry Umm well Umm, kind of thirsty, Billy said, "where to man?" I suggested the Dearborn Inn and so led the limo to the Dearborn Inn and Billy and I shared a couple beers. Kinda cool to have a one on one with a Star. Billy was going to stay for dinner, but I had to head to Livernoise and check on RangerZilla and then home.

Next day, we delivered the repaired RangerZilla to the Joe for display. I was happy to be able to help and to have time with Billy. About two weeks later, I got a package at work...a ZZTop Tee shirt....Still have it today... Interesting memory....

Best,
Phil Schike
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

What did RangerZilla look like? I can only find CadZilla and the two HogZilla's. Can't believe that google has not one pic of RangerZilla.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

What did RangerZilla look like? I can only find CadZilla and the two HogZilla's. Can't believe that google has not one pic of RangerZilla.

Hi John,

It was tricked out with big tires on 15 inch aluminum wheels that stuck out a couple inches beyond the bolt on flares, Poor Ranger with those huge tires had almost no turning radius..All show, no function. Had a light bar over the bed in chrome with huge Cibbe Rally lights. Paint was Ford Chrome Yellow. Interior was done in yellow and black All sort of sparkly doodads Decals that said ZZilla Tour. It had a very large hood scoop...fake...all show. I suspect Ford Marketing created it more than the band did as the sponsors, but It was on the bands transporter, so Ford probably gave it to them and who knows what happened at the end of the tour. This is in the days before cell phone cameras and we were not allowed to have cameras in the engineering complex, so I did not get any photos of the truck. I looked through my archives and found a Christmas card from Ted LaDane and the transporter, but nothing more. I believe also that the RangerZZilla did the Eliminator Tour as well, but memory is a bit hazy on if it was that tour that Billy mentioned over a couple beers.

Fortunately The valence with the fog lights which were blue by the way...swapped over as a bolt in...Fogs required a minor mod for attachment brackets but easily accomplished by the Livernios Mechanics. Livernois delivered the repaired vehicle to Ted at The Joe...I only saw the repaired vehicle for about 15 minutes on my way into work the next morning....

I seemed to get these weird one off emergency projects...guess it was because I could get things done... Anyway...neat experience..

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[rang19ca]

PHIL, You Rock. You should document these back stories, because they could live forever. Thank you for letting us be a witness to your experiences.

 

[Indy650]

Hi John,

It was tricked out with big tires on 15 inch aluminum wheels that stuck out a couple inches beyond the bolt on flares, Poor Ranger with those huge tires had almost no turning radius..All show, no function. Had a light bar over the bed in chrome with huge Cibbe Rally lights. Paint was Ford Chrome Yellow. Interior was done in yellow and black All sort of sparkly doodads Decals that said ZZilla Tour. It had a very large hood scoop...fake...all show. I suspect Ford Marketing created it more than the band did as the sponsors, but It was on the bands transporter, so Ford probably gave it to them and who knows what happened at the end of the tour. This is in the days before cell phone cameras and we were not allowed to have cameras in the engineering complex, so I did not get any photos of the truck. I looked through my archives and found a Christmas card from Ted LaDane and the transporter, but nothing more. I believe also that the RangerZZilla did the Eliminator Tour as well, but memory is a bit hazy on if it was that tour that Billy mentioned over a couple beers.

Fortunately The valence with the fog lights which were blue by the way...swapped over as a bolt in...Fogs required a minor mod for attachment brackets but easily accomplished by the Livernios Mechanics. Livernois delivered the repaired vehicle to Ted at The Joe...I only saw the repaired vehicle for about 15 minutes on my way into work the next morning....

I seemed to get these weird one off emergency projects...guess it was because I could get things done... Anyway...neat experience..

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Thanks for the reply

 

[dano's ranger]

Ouch!...maybe one of these for them to eat first?

Like the looks of the Tyger hitch step. Did you have to cut the receiver tube off to get it to fit so close to your bumper? Do you have any issues with rust on the hitch step? Thanks in advance.......Dano

 

[Msfitoy]

Like the looks of the Tyger hitch step. Did you have to cut the receiver tube off to get it to fit so close to your bumper? Do you have any issues with rust on the hitch step? Thanks in advance.......Dano

No modification...it comes with a locking pin and a U clamp to lock down the step to keep it from tilting

 

[Indy650]

I have no idea what it looks like but this comes up in one of their videos

hmm not sure what that is. looks kinda like 70's ford tail lights but not long enough.

 

[Rene Michaels]

Yep! Pink Floyd, Led Zeplin, ELO, Jeff Beck....

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Hate it when we show our age!

 

[Rene Michaels]

Dating ourselves...Sounds like we're all in the old fart club...I graduated high school 1976

AH, so that's why you need all those lights on your Ranger! I ain't too far behind you brother, 1980!

 

[Rene Michaels]

This Weathertech bump step may be my next purchase


https://www.weathertech.com/bumpstepxl/

Have to see if it would work better on a dropped receiver for those of us with a little lift.

 

[FoD]

Dating ourselves...Sounds like we're all in the old fart club...I graduated high school 1976

I was a bi-centennial high school grad also. There are a lot of old guys here but a good mixture of young guys too. This is a fun forum.

Hey punks, get of my lawn!!..1969 here

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