Paul's 2011 Ranger FX4

[Paul]

Usually have to climb elevation to get into snow here in most low-lying areas of the PNW. . .

Not today ! ! !

About 10" in Tacoma so checked out the Ranger's snow prowess on some unplowed streets. Just 4x4 High with the FX4 LS and Cepek Fun Country tires - - also has a pair of 80lb. dumbbells in the bed with recovery gear. Performed like a champion.

Have some more projects planned for the Ranger, but most time and effort of late dedicated to the "Sport". . . Still want to add the heated Corbeaus to this rig, and bought some LEDs to run in the bed for nighttime illumination.

Happy Trails,

Paul

 

[Paul]

Had a buddy figure out a way to turn off the Daytime Running Lights in the Ranger. . . Minor modification, but as "Control Enthusiast", I'll be the decider when the damn lights come on, no offense to our neighbors to the North.

You'll have to trust me that the engine is on . . .

Paul

 

[410Fortune]

I hate drl!!!
My parents, dad is now 80, (he is a great driver) but they are
Always getting new cars and the newer cars with the day time running lights confuses our old people… they think their headlights are on and they just start driving not realizing there are no dash lights or tail lights… I have watched my parents drive away more then once like this trying to yell at them to turn the lights on… dad got pulled over one night, office just gave him a warning. Still I hate drl.
My wife’s FJ cruise had drl! Luckily for me Toyota made a simple plug you remove and they go away… I hate drl

Good job!

 

[Paul]

Minor stuff, but fun to play around with. . .
OEM Fogs:

New "Euro" style:

(Yellow lenses, hint hint)

Also installed a new anti-theft device. . .

Well, the sticker ought to deter a few would-be mopes . . .)

Paul

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Also installed a new anti-theft device. . .

Well, the sticker ought to deter a few would-be mopes . . .)

Paul

it doesnt deter gen z's right if so, im comin up there!!! new set of lights for me jk

 

[Paul]

Been a minute since any significant upgrades - - or 888 days . . . ; have plenty of other hobbies/projects/honey-do's so the Ranger has not been neglected, but hasn't got a whole lot of attention of late.

Had some ideas for some upgrades, and now that Autumn has arrived here in the PNW, finally got a bit of garage time to play around and make a few additions.

Like the idea of a few under bed-rail LED lights to illuminate the cargo area - - and have a tonneau cover on the bed most of the time. Also wanted the option of plugging in my ARB 37L fridge for trips in the Ranger, so a 12V outlet and adding some USB ports made sense. As the fridge would need to run without a keyed ignition, needed a "switched" power port.

Here's the unit:

One of the four under-rail LEDs is forward of the unit, facing down. Power unit is on the driver side about a foot from the tailgate.

Biggest pain was routing the wiring, as usual. . . Had already run wire loom flexible conduit from the front of the engine bay down to the rear bumper for the LED back-up lights, so it was just forcing the wire into the conduit - - just because I can't help it. . .

Wiring:

More to follow,

Paul

 

[Josh P]

That's a sexy red truck. I enjoyed reading the posts.

 

[Josh P]

Son in law brought home a 03 fx4 lvl 2 sohc manual trans manual t case w the tow hooks
This will become my grandsons ranger.. he is 16 going on 17. This truck needs an engine, it is black with tan interior which I thought was interesting. He’s a sucker for an fx4 they have been looking for one for quite some time

Keep up the nice work, these trucks are very rewarding

Next 5.0 conversion?

 

[Fix4Dirt]

I hate drl!!!
My parents, dad is now 80, (he is a great driver) but they are
Always getting new cars and the newer cars with the day time running lights confuses our old people… they think their headlights are on and they just start driving not realizing there are no dash lights or tail lights… I have watched my parents drive away more then once like this trying to yell at them to turn the lights on… dad got pulled over one night, office just gave him a warning. Still I hate drl.
My wife’s FJ cruise had drl! Luckily for me Toyota made a simple plug you remove and they go away… I hate drl

Good job!

Old post, but I now see what you mean. None of our stuff had DRL until recently, so I only now know what you're talking about (I always wrote it off as idiots) but now I see the dash is always illuminated in some way (wherehre digital dash or not), and especially with LED DRL its bright enough where it could be a headlight, and the dash is illuminated. (vs in our trucks, there is no DRL and no lighting on the dash without lights being on... what better a reminder!)

I dunno! He comes across low mile 4.0 all the time, redo the timing drop it in there new
Clutch blamo good to go. Needs new door some Body work full detail

Ss Hooks,16” Alcoa’s and the holy grail dual shifters
I think only 03-04 were avail with the m5od-hd and the 1354m?

View attachment 456898

View attachment 456899

Sweet!

 

[Paul]

I dunno! He comes across low mile 4.0 all the time, redo the timing drop it in there new
Clutch blamo good to go. Needs new door some Body work full detail

Ss Hooks,16” Alcoa’s and the holy grail dual shifters
I think only 03-04 were avail with the m5od-hd and the 1354m?

Hold on D.B. Cooper ! ! ! What gives ? ? ?
Just messin' with you - - great score on the Level II!

Self-Edited: Poor joke went awry / failed to land. . . my initial post saved in perpetuity on post #52 for those interested - - actual info for the Ranger work restarts on post #59. Jamie's great asset to this site. . .

Paul

 

[Paul]

Okay, back on track. . .

Less effort today, but mounted all the lights and did a test fire. . .

Reviewing the thread and noted that I referenced these LEDs in a 2021 post, so obviously, I've been pacing myself. . . Diamond "L" bracket just some leftover scrap I had from when I built my camp trailer.

Two per side:

So here's the rub: Switch in the bed - - or switch in the cab? Makes more sense to have it in the bed, but already have a spot for it on the visor shelf. . .

(second switch from right)

Test fire:

Paul

 

[Josh P]

Hold on D.B. Cooper ! ! !
View attachment 456906

Bad enough you hi-jack your own threads (FJ Cruiser in your son's first Ranger build thread, anyone) . . . ? ? ? But you've got to hi-jack mine too ? ? ?

Went 888 days between posts and you've posted twice on my thread in one day ? ? ? What gives ? ? ?

Here, helping you out: Ranger (Level) II - 410 grandson’s first Ford - - '03 FX4 Level 2 build by 410customs

Just messin' with you - - great score on the Level II!

888 days=100 years

 

[410Fortune]

Not well received no
I won’t clutter your threads with my discussions anymore keep your threads nice and tidy my input not needed here.

 

[Josh P]

Not well received no
I won’t clutter your threads with my discussions anymore keep your threads nice and tidy my input not needed here.

That's the thing about message boards, if we're all in the same room in person we could play around, and everyone might find some humor in it. Online, it's hard to convey the context so something that might be funny in person isn't online.

 

[Paul]

That's the thing about message boards, if we're all in the same room in person we could play around, and everyone might find some humor in it. Online, it's hard to convey the context so something that might be funny in person isn't online.

Yup . . .

Failed attempt at humor ? Check.

Context of the joke lost on message boards aided by my aversion to using "LOLs" or emojis ? Check.

Alienating one of the most knowledgeable guys on the site ? Check.

Quite a bit for a Monday morning. . .


Nothing but respect for Jaime and his dedication to the RBV, skills, knowledge, problem solving, and willingness to share his efforts with the community. While he likely he hasn't forgotten much about the RBV, he's still probably forgotten more than I'll ever know. . .

 

[Josh P]

Yup . . .

Failed attempt at humor ? Check.

Context of the joke lost on message boards aided by my aversion to using "LOLs" or emojis ? Check.

Alienating one of the most knowledgeable guys on the site ? Check.

Quite a bit for a Monday morning. . .


Nothing but respect for Jaime and his dedication to the RBV, skills, knowledge, problem solving, and willingness to share his efforts with the community. While he likely he hasn't forgotten much about the RBV, he's still probably forgotten more than I'll ever know. . .

I joked with project aviator when he was asking if his truetrac might be bad. Same thing, it didn't go as I thought.

 

[410Fortune]

A joke is fine but it’s true I did hi jack this thread so I simply removed myself from it. No hard feelings but I know when to share and when not. Paul’s threads are a not. he likes them clean and organized. I simply treat these Threads like a discussion around a campfire

My bad

I got excited I had something to share about fx4s

It’s not my truck it’s my grandsons
I'm not Building it my stepson and grandson are
It’s not his first ford but it’s the best one yet

Now I’m out

 

[Josh P]

Paul’s threads are a not he likes them clean and organized.

Yet, here I am....

 

[Paul]

In my defense, had hesitated on the installation of the bed lights I had since 2021 because I wanted to make sure there weren't going to be any clearance issues with this:

At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. . . Didn't want to mount the lights or power strip in a place that would interfere with the eventual installation of the improved cover. It's a Diamondback 270, not mounted yet as I have a load to haul in the bed in the next week or so. But it clears the top of the ARB 37L, which was pretty important.

Mounting and removing not difficult, but a bit more time-intensive that the current simple tri-fold tonneau cover.

More to follow,

Paul

 

[Paul]

Semi-flummoxed over the switch location for the bed LED lights - - didn't make sense to have to turn the key "on" just to activate some low amperage LEDs (as the visor shelf switch panel is tied to the ignition), so inside the bed it goes. . .

Where? Due to the short run of wire between the LEDs, I had to place the switch to the 12V plugs and USB ports inboard a bit deeper than I preferred. When I built the switch plate that holds one of the LEDs, didn't think about adding a bed switch for the LEDs, and didn't want to add it after the fact . . .

So, it ended up here:

Works for me.

Will mount the new DiamondBack cover in the next few weeks.

Paul