I have a 1997 3.0L Ford Ranger 4x4 Auto, Stock. The truck started life as a commercial truck for a gas company in Indiana, was wrecked and sold at auction to a private buyer, then wrecked and auctioned again and bough by a previous co-worker, he repaired it and then sold it to me for $1500 in almost perfect condition with around 175,000 miles on the clock almost 3 years ago, since then its had 7,000 miles put on it. I have totaled the truck once bringing the "totaled" count up to 3 times. Last week I did a manual locking front hub conversion and replaced a universal joint.

When I totaled it, I had the throttle stick and had to swerve to avoid plowing a row of cars at a stop sign, hit wet grass and slid into a concrete pylon. Pics from wreck:


Truck was completely rebuild from the doors forward with new parts, and painted by me and my grandfather in the shop.

MissRockstar04 (Dawnn) showing off the rebuilt axle. This came out, was wire brushed and sand blasted, then painted. Looks better then OEM and the stronger universal joint makes this a small durability upgrade :


Once I find a job in DeKalb I plan on getting a new bumper for the truck and a nice wench. I am going to whip up a set of new radius arms in Solidworks and put them on and I am going to start looking for the parts for a long leaf swap in the rear of the truck. I am not planning anything big, or anything specific, I want to keep it a good handy and fun truck.

Nice story... the experiences this truck has provided you will pay dividends for life!

Wow, that truck sure has gone through alot. dh2

But I have to ask, what does your current significant other/girlfriend/spouse think of you going and getting a new "wench"?

Spell check fail

Ya obviously meant one of these :



9500Lbs pull should be enough for my little truck.

9500lbs would probably pull the frame out from underneath LOL.

Yea I knew what you meant, but I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up as a siggy. Right Todd?

Wench? did someone saw wench? Like a bar wench?