Reader: Do you guys know of anyone that makes a front winch mount for the current generation of Ford Ranger? I just bought an '06 Ranger FX4 and figure it's a pretty decent little truck other than it has IFS, but so far have hit nothing but dead ends with my search. I know that I could use a rear receiver mount, but I want a permanent mount on the front of my truck. Oh, and while I'm at it, I have also been unable to dig up any information on what the front pumpkin is or what transfer case I have. Did I just waste my money?
J.C. Mahan
via fourwheeler.com
Editor: Ranger wizard Sean P. Holman replies: I believe that Warn Industries makes the Trans4mer winch mount for the front of your truck. As for the diffs, you have a 27-spline Dana 35 hybrid front and if your is a Level 2, an awesome 31-spline Ford 8.8-inch in the rear (same as the 1-ton South American Rangers) with a special preloaded Torsen T2 differential. Otherwise, you have the 28-spline 8.8. Your transfer case is an electric Borg-Warner 13-54 with a 2.48:1 low range. It's the same truck that our Project RangeRunner started out as and is a great wheeler out of the box.
Reader: Any lifts out there for the new Toyota FJ Cruiser? I would like to get one and put a 6 1/2-inch lift on it. Any ideas?
David Green
via fourwheeler.com
Editor: So far, we know of a coilover kit for the FJ from Donahoe Racing, but it's only going to get you some 3 inches of lift. But rest assured, there are other aftermarket suspension companies presently working on kits for the FJ, and in the coming year, we imagine you'll have plenty of lift options to choose from.
Reader: Did I miss the Chevy edition of "Weak Links, Strong Fixes"? The other articles in this series have been excellent! I've looked on your Web site but am unable to find anything. Help! I have a '73 K-5, so keep the tech articles coming.
Josh Loshbaugh
Temecula, CA
Editor: The first installment of "Weak Links" ran in the May 2004 issue-and wouldn't ya know, it was all about Chevy trucks like yours. If you want to purchase a back issue, try calling 866/601-5199 or log onto Shop.TruckWeb.com; there may still be some copies around. If not, call Wright's Reprints at 877/652-5295 for a reprint of the story; be sure to specify the article and the issue you're looking for, and they should be able to take care of you.
Reader: I've been looking at a straight-axle conversion from Fabritech, and was hoping to contact them to get further information. Problem is, their Website is bare and has no contact information. Would you have a phone number to call them at, or another way to get some more information from this company?
Curt Thoreson
via the Internet
Editor: You can find Fabritech Motorsports at 540/825-1544, www.setstr8.com.
Reader: This is an open observation to all manufacturers of so-called "off-road" vehicles: If I need a floor jack and jackstands to get under your stock "trail" vehicle to inspect it ... you blew it. You missed the ideal target owner who will keep your vehicle for more than five years and improve on its factory capabilities to the point of insanity. Customer brand loyalty? Ever heard of such a concept? God forbid in this day and age.
Of course, your research departments can't be that stupid. Once your seemingly ideal 21st-century owners break their toys by being stupid on the trail, they will just go out and buy the next over-hyped wonder truck from whomever has the glossiest ad, or whichever one is declared "4x4 of All Time." (Take that last comment with a grain of salt, Four Wheeler. It's not like you have any real good choices, but you do try your best.) Good for you, manufacturers ... but bad for us genuine enthusiasts who have to share the trail with these idiots.
So I can only surmise that I am a dying breed taught by the finest of the Old Guard, and the state of the sport is doomed to fresh-blood wannabes who will overwhelm the trails with clean-shaven, deer-in-headlights newbies who will require the proven time-honored ancient skills of an old-school 'wheeler to get their worthless asses back home. With these empty-headed morons leading the pack, evil liberal land-grabbers will have no problem swaying public opinion to shut it all down. Goodbye, dirt.
Perhaps I should grab my tow strap and go into business excavating idiots from obstacles (such as prairie dog mounds) that are much too extreme for today's crop of soft and cheesy factory crossbreed, hybrid market douchemobiles. I bet I could make a fortune. Nah ... I'll just drive over them and extend a finger as I continue up the mountain. That is, unless the old school is willing to educate the new school properly-but please remember to ruthlessly kick the new school out of school if they refuse to learn the real school.
I really like you guys. I grew up with you. I just don't like that the industry is leading us away from the true essence of four-wheeling just to extend the reach of their markets. I am getting sick and tired of pulling out idiots without skills (who go exploring on a whim) off of high-centers and out of bog-downs. I remember a time when you ran into someone "out there" and you could just assume they knew a little something about it. That's what the friendly "trail wave" meant. Never more . . . damn.
Driver X
via fourwheeler.com
P.S. Print my e-mail address and I'll burn your Primedia offices to the ground with a bazooka-wielding team of lawyers. Thanks for the courtesy.
Editor: Hey, no problem. Anything we can do to help. You just earned yourself a box of Four Wheeler swag-license plates, bumper stickers, and so on. Perhaps you could hand out some of them to the unfortunate souls you extract on the trails-then maybe they'll be tempted to pick up this magazine, where they can learn how to do it right. Thanks for weighing in.