What did you do to your Ranger today?

[Doc]

Today I washed a million bugs off the Ranger. Got home from Charleston & Florida yesterday and it was a mess up front, the rest not so bad. I used the one-bucket, wash-it-in-the-sun method but it got the job done. Comments from the trip:

1. "Your mileage may vary" - The trip was 2184 miles round trip, mostly north-south on I-95 or I-81 with a little I-10 in Florida thrown in, plus the backroads. The dash said 25.2 mpg overall but my actual calcs were 23.3 for the 93.86 gallons. Drive time was 35 hours and the math works out to about 62 mph, so you know it was mostly highway. It's flat in FL, right, we were west of Gainesville, near the Gulf with trips to Dunellen and Cedar Key, then the Ranger rested and we toured in a Silverado.

2. The Adaptive Cruise Control is a bit wonky for me. Yes, it works with the ss mesh Mountains 2 Metal lower grill insert, but still I think it is too conservative, and it searches for the right speed too much when tailgating, seems to clunk up and down, not smooth. And if you turn it off, every time you start cruise, you get an annoying warning that ACC is off! Collision avoidance still works, but that too alarms when I'm doing "normal" tailgating Lots of idiots out there, traffic backups due to a couple accidents, and just heavy traffic. Waze helps but sometimes there's no avoiding it.

3. Overall the truck drove great, the ride was also very nice. Wife said is was truck-like compared to her Escape, but she was going to say that regardless since she wanted to take her car. I will say I think the transmission seems to clunk around, mainly at lower speeds. Maybe 10 speeds is too many or maybe the trans has issues, or maybe I'm just sensing things that aren't there. I was glad to have the "old man step" and Gator bed cover since the bed was full of stuff. It did rain down there, but nothing really got wet. Did get a bit of sand on the Husky floor liners.

4. Saw more Rangers in FL than we've experienced in PA for some reason. A few Hot Peppers, which was unusual since they only made them in 2019, some White, Rapid Red, Silver, Blue, and a Saber.

5. I'm at a little over 8,259 miles and should do an oil change (I did the first at 3,000).

6. I guess I'll keep it!

Right in my neighbor hood ..
Regards

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[TVRangerSTX]

Figured out how to make my own soft shackles for the truck!

Boy Scout Show Off!!

 

[TVRangerSTX]

Right in my neighbor hood ..
Regards

Yeah, Doc...it was 91 when we got there last Tuesday, but our plans to boat down the Suwannee River were canned because it was supposed to rain Friday, so we went to Cedar Key instead (didn't rain anyway). Dinner at Steamers overlooking the bay. Would have gone to the key Saturday but there was an Art Festival scheduled and it would have been crazy. Did some plant shoppin' at Grumbles (nice stuff) and lunched at Swampys. Great Mexican food at Elle Cocina in Trenton and good buffet and tunes outdoors at Putnam Lodge in Shamrock.

It was frikkin' c-c-c-cold here when we got home. Right now, 2 shirts and a pair of LONG pants, plus the forecast is a freeze warning tonight. So sorry we came home ? 2 sisters there in Levy County FL, most people say it's in the middle of nowhere, they are looking for MIckey. But it's called the Nature Coast for a reason, lots of stuff to do IMHO.

 

[Skeletor]

Installed Bilstein 6112 struts on the front and Bilstein 5160 reservoir shocks on the rear. The truck feels like a totally different truck now. No more jouncing, diving when braking and pretty much no body roll now. Able to take 20mph turn at 50mph without slipping or any oh crap feeling(I am a professional driver and was on a closed course). Set my ring on the 6112's, 3 down to level the front at 2.4" lift on 2wd. Potholes, tight turns, normal driving, high speeds, hills and jumps, everything is so much better now. This is the way the truck should have been from the factory. I highly recommend everyone to change out their shocks and struts to this setup as it is much cheaper than most of the other options out there. Can't go wrong with Bilstein the front struts are significantly larger diameter than stock. Watched a YouTube video for our rangers on the install. Very easy if you are somewhat mechanically inclined. Shop rates were $600-$860 with 5 1/2 hour labor quote. I was able to install in 4 hours with a harbour freight spring compressor for the front struts. The rear 5160's were very easy to install.

 

[Skeletor]

I'm in AZ too!

That's my home too, but my Ranger pulls my 30' house across all the states traveling seeing old military buddies.

 

[WxNerd2015]

Boy Scout Show Off!!

I wish! I am pretty proud! I suck at tying knots! Finally starting to learn that! And needing some new hobbies! Haha!

 

[Lost19Ranger]

New kicker door speakers come in, will be installing those.

 

[Doc]

Yeah, Doc...it was 91 when we got there last Tuesday, but our plans to boat down the Suwannee River were canned because it was supposed to rain Friday, so we went to Cedar Key instead (didn't rain anyway). Dinner at Steamers overlooking the bay. Would have gone to the key Saturday but there was an Art Festival scheduled and it would have been crazy. Did some plant shoppin' at Grumbles (nice stuff) and lunched at Swampys. Great Mexican food at Elle Cocina in Trenton and good buffet and tunes outdoors at Putnam Lodge in Shamrock.

It was frikkin' c-c-c-cold here when we got home. Right now, 2 shirts and a pair of LONG pants, plus the forecast is a freeze warning tonight. So sorry we came home ? 2 sisters there in Levy County FL, most people say it's in the middle of nowhere, they are looking for MIckey. But it's called the Nature Coast for a reason, lots of stuff to do IMHO.

 

[Doc]

I was a charter captain out of steinhatchee, we would venture towards cedar key a lot, my sea legs are shot but we can still drive down there for some Soft shell Crabs..
Regards

 

[Skeletor]

New kicker door speakers come in, will be installing those.

Please let us know how they sound. Did you get the KS Series? Thanks

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

I just had to watch that twice.

Me too. The characters in this show are not-so-loosely based on the folks in a certain rural area in mid-western Ontario, here in Canada. As someone from that area, I can tell you, any one of those guys are carbon copies of my cousins and neighbours. And.....

 

[Lost19Ranger]

Please let us know how they sound. Did you get the KS Series? Thanks

I believe they are the DS

 

[NewEra1311]

Got the wireless Carplay panel installed, I am a happy camper--works perfectly, looks like it was always there.

Where did you get this?

 

[BigHen0213]

About 3 months ago, someone backed into me at a local home improvement store. I remember the barely road worthy looking truck and the beat up red flatbed trailer they were towing, because flecks of red paint scraped into the lower part of the front end near the parking sensors. There is some damage (all cosmetic) and of course, they did it when I was inside and took off with no notes or anything. The blue fiberglass near the sensors has been creased, but the sensors are intact.
I hate South Florida drivers and being a northern transplant, I can say it with absolute immunity.

Since my insurance deduct is high and I truly didn't have time, I stockpiled $ to save up and buy the items I needed to fix it myself. I've decided to go ahead and get started, but I ordered the Putco grille insert today so it'll be here next week. Will tackle this in early May once I have everything.

 

[BigHen0213]

I bought some take off XLT tire to replace my XL steel wheels.
Before

After

I have an XLT but the standard chrome finish rims. Thanks to this forum I grew envious quite rapidly when I saw the smoke/darkened rims like yours. I've done enough customizing to my truck, but not this...... that these would be my next wish. Maybe when I get new tires in 5K miles.....

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