I recently bought a 2003 xlt fx4 ext cab. It has 18,000 miles and four months left on the warranty so I think it's time for some goodies =].

The day i bought it I had the front windows tinted to match the rear windows and rear windshield. I had the pin stripes removed, had the entire truck and engine detailed. I line-x'd the bed. I installed a nice connex amatuer radio and wilson 4' fiberglass whip. I just installed a pioneer 8600mp as well.

I've been searching for a grey or black 95-01 explorer console(still looking). So as soon as i find one i can mount my big ole cb.

I just ordered a 3" performance accessories body lift. i was wondering if anyone had a picture of a 01-03 ranger 4wd with this lift on stock tires. i was also considering two inch wheel spaces at all four wheels. They're $220 a pair so i definitely want some input before i spend that kinda money on four chunks of aluminum.

Once the tires treads are worn down to the tread markers I'm planning on getting a set of Kuhmo Venture MT's 35x12.5. Any thoughts? I'm going to be using my truck in fields and gamelands mostly playin. Nothing to serious, no rock crawling or anything.

My stock "skid plates" on the fx4 are a joke. My buddy owns a welding shop so I've got the installation covered. My question is how to mount it. it's easy enough on the frame under the engine but where do i mount the front of it at? Do I need to rig something up to the two hooks? That's the only solid thing on the front end. The plastic valance sure isn't gonna hold that lol.

I'm also planning on buying a full manik grill guard/push bumper with matching tail light covers. I wanted to line-x these as well as the fender flares once i get the tires. Any ideas on that?

I've got some funds to put into this truck but i want to make a solid investment. I'm happy with what I've done to the truck so far, I wanna keep it that way. So I'm welcome to the community's ideas on this project.

Pictures to come!

Just keep it clean =]
<!-- / message -->

 

Wow, sounds like you're pretty serious about what you're going to do to your truck. In addition to this area, you might want t check out the 4x4 section. The only place that I'm aware of to secure a skid plate up front would be where the tow hooks are. That's where I was planning on mounting mine. Like you said, the frame should be a good mounting point elsewhere. I'm not sure how you'll mount your brush guard, but you may have to get some longer bolts and make sure that your skid plate won't interfere with the mounting of the brush guard. My wifes VW has a plastic skid plate to keep road debris such as gravel from hitting the underside of the engine, but there is no access hole to drain the oil....just something to consider if your buddy is making it for you.

Just curoius, why do you need an explorer console? Also, I like the idea of line-xing or rhinolining the truck bed. I actually saw a dedicated offroad truck the other day where the entire truck body was rhinolined (hate to think how much that cost). For the grill guard, I think I'd prefer just a black powdercoat finish, but that's up to you.

Post some pics when you get done.

 

I was wondering how to keep my low beams when I turn my high beams on, and also how to keep my fog lights on with the high beams as well. I've tried searching this site and googling it and all I find is either garbage info or how-to's for early 90's rangers. Please help or point me in the right direction

 

On my '94 Ranger the low beams/high beams are the same bulb, so can't really do it, on yours there's probably a wiring change you can make. If you search around on this board you'll find a tutorial someone did on a Ranger of wiring the fog lamps in so they came on with the low beams and stayed on with the high beams.

 

I'm interested in the explorer console b/c I hate the console set-up in my truck. The main middle console came with the armrest broken. The repair kits are $75 plus shipping. There is also a 6"-8" dead space between the main console and the smaller console under the dash. It's wasted space in an already tight environment. Rangers need to utilize every bit of space lol cuz there's limited room to do anything with. The CB I need to mount is pretty big, maybe 12"x3.5"x14". It won't fit inside the stock console, I'd hate to cut the headliner, and there's ultimately nowhere to mount it. I've seen under the seat and on the back of the console but I need to see the display. There's a hundred lil gadgets that constantly need fine tuning. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I've also seen on the explorer console swaps the mounting of different electronics directly under the dash in the space of the very front of the explorer console. Like I said, I'm very open to ideas.

 

not to mention the fact that my truck has six cupholders when it's truly a two seater truck. I'm planning on removing at least one of the two rear jump seats for a sub and amp mount later in the future.

 

I can understand about the wasted space between the console and the arm rest. I don't understand why Ford didn't make use of it. I'm surprised your CB is that big, the one I have is quite a bit smaller, but maybe it's not as good either. As for the high beams, fog lights....I'm pretty sure the high/low beams are the same bulb on my 02. Not sure how you'd make them both stay on, and if they would have any kind of longevity if you could. It seems like both on at the same time would make for a lot of heat. Good luck though

 

Yeah lol i don't think that'd work once i thought about it. but i still wanna be able to have my high beams and fogs on at the same time.

 

You'd need a heavy duty harness to handle the current flowing to the high and low beams, and you'd need bulbs that will last longer than a few days doing that as well.

It's not the most lawful thing to do that or run fogs and highs at once. The highs override the fogs anyway, making the fogs useless. As crummy as most factory fogs are, low beams are more useful than them.

Google for "daniel stern lighting". He can get you the harness you need, plus the relays, but he'd get you if you mentioned any of what you planned on otherwise. He would recommend stuff (good stuff) that make fogs an afterthought, though.

 

Is your truck a green 5 spd?? I just traded mine in;..anyways.....try Britebox w/ fogger. It lets you do what you want with the lights....$100 if my memory serves me right

 

It's patriot blue two-tone and sorry to say all auto =[. The only thing I don't like about the truck lol

 

btw i've scrapped the high/low beam thing. I just wanna be able to have my fogs and highs on at the same time. all the how-to's are for earlier model rangers

 

I plan on doing the hi/low beam on mod in the future. *If* you can get into the multifunction switch and add a diode it's an easy mod (have a look at the schematic). Since no more current is flowing in the headlamp wiring leading to the lamps, (ref: schematic), no upgauging of wire would be required. However, it would be smart to look at the gauge of wire between the lamp and ground. The big question here is how long will a bulb last with all that extra heat.

*I haven't gotten into the schematic yet to see how to perform the fog light mod s.t. they operate with the highs, that will happen down the road.

*If you like eating up and therefore replacing wheel bearings, just go ahead and add those spacers. This occurs because you have altered the wheel offset dramatically.

 

I think i'm gonna hold off on the spacers. come spring time i think i'm gonna order new 4.88 gears and a set of 35x12.5x15 kumho venture mt's. i'm pretty sure once i get those i'll want nothing to do with those spacers

 

So I was looking at plans and instructions for the 3"PA Body lift i just ordered and decided to call and cancel the order. I just had my bed line-x'd and you have to unbolt the bed from the frame in order to put in the spacers. You have to raise the radiator and then the fan doesn't line up with it. You have to extend your fuel hose to your tank. The hell with all that. I'm gonna take that $225 and invest it into my grille guard. I'm glad I found that out before i took half my truck apart lol. I think i can wait til spring for the suspension lift. I'd rather go that route anyway. Just thought I'd sneak in a few inches til then lol. oh well