Long Distance '85 Ranger Build

[Dougnuts]

There were only five trucks, I was one of them! lol

Were you with them on Monday? I assume that I would have recognized your truck from a mile away, but I was driving (had just pulled out of the parking lot just up the hill) so there's a chance that I saw you and it just didn't register.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Were you with them on Monday? I assume that I would have recognized your truck from a mile away, but I was driving (had just pulled out of the parking lot just up the hill) so there's a chance that I saw you and it just didn't register.

We got to the hiking trailhead and my son decided he needed a bathroom so I did cut out and go down below to the public restrooms by the creek. Another guy had a dog (no dogs on the hiking trails near there) so he tagged along while every body else hiked.

But yeah, I was there.

 

[the deputy]

I've only read the first couple pages...but love the way you roll. Great build!!!

 

[grizzlypath]

Thank you for sharing that trip, looks like it was awesome! So fun that your son was able to join. I have a 4 y.o. and we go camping a lot, but I'm on the cusp of starting to bring him on my "solo" more intense outings. It was fun to see you take him along with you.-

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Thank you for sharing that trip, looks like it was awesome! So fun that your son was able to join. I have a 4 y.o. and we go camping a lot, but I'm on the cusp of starting to bring him on my "solo" more intense outings. It was fun to see you take him along with you.-

I will say campgrounds with playgrounds are awesome. Since I had nothing to really let dew dry off of I was packed up and ready way before everybody else. So we went to the playground to run around and be a little kid. And you also get some sort of bathroom which makes life with a little kid easier.

He travels awesome, has been road tripping in this truck since his mom was 7mo pregnant with him... but eventually they hit a wall where they need to get out and run around though.

And when using a cathole with a little boy, have them pee first...

Bathroom stops... plan for them.

And food, I tried to keep it oriented towards what he would eat. And fruit cups to keep things moving...

 

[Mekcanix]

Thats awesome, every time I read your stuff it makes me miss my old BII. Man that looks like a blast and a memory your son will have for a lifetime
As I have said before I do miss

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Onto the next thing... camping next the next two weekends.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Ok, weekend before last we went to a local county park. Very quiet, neat little pond with a paved walking/biking path.

Got off to a late start Friday night.



Picked out a good looking spot by candlelight, backed in... yeah thats good enough lol.





My wife had to work late, she rolled in around 10. Once she arrived, we secured the door. The plan is an intruder will trip on the bed and fall on the dog which will then turn everybody's world upside down.






Pretty quiet weekend, it was funny 2/3 of the campers there are slide ins



Labs gotta lab...



They had a nice paved path around the pond/lake, my son was all wound up to do a lap first thing on our bikes.







20+ years ago we held many family reunions in this shelter.



Did some fishing



My new to me bike was a trooper on its first camping trip, no complaints on the thing and it made getting around a lot nicer than walking everywhere.



Dogs were just bonkers...



Then it got hot... with hurricane winds. I grilled freaking awesome burgers, mine honest to god blew off the spatula as I was taking it off the grill. My wife said she would just split hers with our son no biggie. We had my son's cut up on a plate and went to get chips and his blew away with the plate. And while we were trying to process that the next gust took her half on a bun on the plate. My son and I split the last surviving one and we ran to town and picked something up for my wife. It also wadded up our patriotic canopy, not sure I will be able to save it.

Followed by more laps around the lake.



And then grilled pizza for supper







That Sunday we wasn't in a huge hurry to get out of there... more bike laps around the lake in between getting things packed up.

And the next weekend, Halloween Spoocatcular at the local State Park campground...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Weekend two of Skamper camping is in the books... and with that we are done camping for the year. Most places will be shutting down the bathrooms this weekend or next weekend.

Rolled in Thursday and got it set up.







It was getting cool and dark so we ate our pork chops in the camper.



After everyone else went to bed I went back out and did some photoshop by the campfire. Really relaxing, makes me wish wood burning fireplaces were more practical.



My FIL came down to tent camp with us Friday. He also brought his canoe which unfortunately we did not secure the correct life jackets until after it was too late to go out.



Surf n turf for Supper



We keep getting this butter braid things for fundraisers for Oliver's daycare... so I had the brainy idea about trying one in a dutch oven. So I broke it half Friday night, put it in the oven and threw the whole works on the floorboard of the Ranger to proof over night.



And finished the night with another fireside photoshop.



Saturday's breakfast proofed nicely overnight.







Just a little too much heat on the bottom, adding to the list for camp breakfast ideas though.

Getting the Halloween Decore set up.



Then they had a chili contest for lunch. You go around and dish it in your cup and put money in the cup of our favorite. How much? Until it feels right. Money goes to improving the park, it is a state park but they help with improvements. Like now they are putting in a new playground etc.



Then we went for a hike around the lake, we only did like a fourth of the trail but it got kinda warm and little legs got kinda tired.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Found raccoon footprints. He loves his $3 Harbor Freight magnifying glass.







They probably have reasons but trick or treating in the daylight seems kind of weird.









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Then after dark we went around and looked at everything again.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Finished off last night with more editing.



Sunday was just pack up and get home, not much for pictures.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

And Jim got the video of Day One up for the Vagabond trip, I am working on one myself, it will be more from our point of view though.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Thanks for posting details of your truck build. Of late few make the effort, they wave a credit card at a supplier and then pick it back up at the end of the day. I came from the Built, Not Bought generation, and have seen "hot rodding" take a huge fall off. There are very few, now.

Made that one awhile ago lol.

It's a lot of fun basically designing your truck, each trip gives me new experiences/testing to hone it into a even better truck.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Video for the event at LBL is done: