For this year's special Under Construction issue we wanted to do something a little different and dive into the owner's perspective to hear why they do what they do and have them tell us all about their journey first hand.
Many of us go through good times and bad when building a long-term project, but we don't always get to hear all of the behind the scenes stories that go along with these crazy builds.
We searched far and wide to bring you some of the baddest minis in progress for this issue, and these two Rangers are certainly at the top of their class. These two Rangers share a few similarities that are noticeable; they're both extended- cab body-dropped Rangers sporting 20/22 wheel combos, and both are extremely clean, simple, and smooth! And with help from The Little Shop of Horrors, both Rangers are exactly what we look for in near-completed projects for this issue. Some of the obvious differences are; the open engine bay vs. closed engine bay, the new-school motor vs. old-school motor and the sheetmetal bed vs. the wood bed floor. It just goes to show that even owners that share similar taste, styles, and shops, can be original and create their own works of art! So sit back and read what each owner has to say about their long trip on the road to this Under Construction Special.
Owner: Forrest Warren
Ride: 1996 Ford Ranger
Hometown: Acworth, GA
Club: Relaxed Atmosphere
It's A Long Way To The Top
Every truck has a story that is just as unique as the owner and the project itself. The story of this Ranger begins like many. I purchased my 1996 Ford Ranger in 2002 as the first vehicle I ever owned.
Working through high school and college to earn extra cash, the truck began mildly: a static drop, 17-inch wheels, a few shaved items, and a stereo. After deciding to get serious about building a nice chassis, I met Cris Collins from Seale, Alabama. One night Cris called and informed me that he had decided to cut off the front frame section, and he wanted to build a front frame clip using Toyota spindles, tubular control arms, and a rack and pinion steering setup. I decided to finish the clip off into a full bumper to bumper frame, using 2x3x1/4-inch steel tubing. The chassis now included a triangulated four-link and tubular rack to hold a fuel cell, compressors, and air tanks. All the frame work was done with the help of James Hill and Jason Farnell. Working on the cab during that time, James and I mated up an Explorer front end, frenched a set of Thunderbird vents into the fenders, as well as shaved many of the normal factory annoyances.