2005 ford ranger

[4xFoorOffroad]

Nice, being 4x4 your truck is basically the FoMoCo equivalent to mine.

Here's a super simple through the bed shock tower the same friend that I mentioned talked me into the cantilever put on his 1st gen Tacoma with a removeable cross-bar. Since then he's fully caged his truck and it's still in his truck.




https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/anthonys-99-tacoma.175933/page-21

 

[the bodj]

Your bed floor isn’t limiting you, the shock angle/max size shock you can fit is. You’ll be able to get the axle to bump at frame with whatever shocks (sized within reason) and without the pumpkin hitting the bed floor. You won’t be able to stuff longer shocks like 16s into the wheel well, which is what you’d need to get close to the travel you’re trying to get, at the angle the shocks would be at. There are ways to get they I’ve shocks through the bed and still have a very usable bed space. When I have time to look through my pictures I’ll show you what I’ve done with the same setup you’ll be running.

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

Is it of that blue one you did? Loved seeing that thing on your thread.

 

[the bodj]

Is it of that blue one you did? Loved seeing that thing on your thread.

Yeah, Bobby’s old truck. It was really clean! Looking back at it now, I probably could have mounted the shocks a little wider on the housing. I know there’s a reason I didn’t go wider, I just can’t remember right now. This was almost 4 years ago lol

 

[Rosie the Ranger]

Your bed floor isn’t limiting you, the shock angle/max size shock you can fit is. You’ll be able to get the axle to bump at frame with whatever shocks (sized within reason) and without the pumpkin hitting the bed floor. You won’t be able to stuff longer shocks like 16s into the wheel well, which is what you’d need to get close to the travel you’re trying to get, at the angle the shocks would be at. There are ways to get they I’ve shocks through the bed and still have a very usable bed space. When I have time to look through my pictures I’ll show you what I’ve done with the same setup you’ll be running.

Your bed floor isn’t limiting you, the shock angle/max size shock you can fit is. You’ll be able to get the axle to bump at frame with whatever shocks (sized within reason) and without the pumpkin hitting the bed floor. You won’t be able to stuff longer shocks like 16s into the wheel well, which is what you’d need to get close to the travel you’re trying to get, at the angle the shocks would be at. There are ways to get they I’ve shocks through the bed and still have a very usable bed space. When I have time to look through my pictures I’ll show you what I’ve done with the same setup you’ll be running.

Ok that makes sense, the bed cage were you just cut the bed is what im trying to avoid because ill load my truck bed with wood, quad, tools, gravel, ect so i cant really do holes i think what ill probably end up doing is waiting to buy my bronco 8.8 and swap the axle and put the tower in the wheel well like on the tacomas it looks pretty nice and will make is 10x easier than a full tube bed cage

 

[the bodj]

Ok that makes sense, the bed cage were you just cut the bed is what im trying to avoid because ill load my truck bed with wood, quad, tools, gravel, ect so i cant really do holes i think what ill probably end up doing is waiting to buy my bronco 8.8 and swap the axle and put the tower in the wheel well like on the tacomas it looks pretty nice and will make is 10x easier than a full tube bed cage

Yes and no. You’ll still have to do everything like a normal bedcage, just less tubes. Spring pack needs to be broken down, spring perches set up and burned in, I welded the spring and shackle hangers on as they like to crack when bolted on. If you actually use the truck you may fight issues with the shock hoops cracking. Everything is gonna be a bit of a compromise. Leaf springs need weight in the back to work well, like tubes, spare tires… so keeping a fully open bed will still be a bit limiting. It’s hard having it all, something’s gotta give.

 

[Rosie the Ranger]

Yes and no. You’ll still have to do everything like a normal bedcage, just less tubes. Spring pack needs to be broken down, spring perches set up and burned in, I welded the spring and shackle hangers on as they like to crack when bolted on. If you actually use the truck you may fight issues with the shock hoops cracking. Everything is gonna be a bit of a compromise. Leaf springs need weight in the back to work well, like tubes, spare tires… so keeping a fully open bed will still be a bit limiting. It’s hard having it all, something’s gotta give.

thank you that makes sense i plan to make a fuel cell in place of my old spare location to help with the weight. I am curious does the cage have to go through the bed or can i basically cage under the bed with tubes and help with frame support? Why is the cage so necessary i think there is a lot im missing

 

[the bodj]

thank you that makes sense i plan to make a fuel cell in place of my old spare location to help with the weight. I am curious does the cage have to go through the bed or can i basically cage under the bed with tubes and help with frame support? Why is the cage so necessary i think there is a lot im missing

Imagine your shock hoop is your arm while arm wrestling. Someone comes along (your shock) and pushes your arm inward towards the center of the bed (in physics this is called a torque). Sure, you can hold your own for a while, but over time you get weary and fatigued, and start losing and bending towards the center of the bed. So along comes a buddy with a stiff arm (a cross brace), who helps push your hand toward the outside of the bed. Strong. Trying to support from under the bed is like your buddy pushing your forearm just above the elbow. Is it helpful? Sure, a bit. Can it be better? Definitely.

 

[Mullen]

I have since caged my truck and run down tubes to the bed cage, but here is my setup. I still run the same bed cage and can fit my dirt bike and gear in the bed with the tailgate closed. My shocks are outside of the frame rails and it’s worth noting that Toyota frame rails are wider than Ford in general, plus my truck is a Tundra. Either way, a setup like this was the best of both worlds for me - I could pack my truck for a weekend in the desert, beat on it, and drive it back home.

For what it’s worth, I ran the same setup without down tubes or a cage for 6 years with zero issues, though I’d argue that Toyota frames are stronger than Rangers so that point may be moot.

 

[Exploder_M]

I have since caged my truck and run down tubes to the bed cage, but here is my setup. I still run the same bed cage and can fit my dirt bike and gear in the bed with the tailgate closed. My shocks are outside of the frame rails and it’s worth noting that Toyota frame rails are wider than Ford in general, plus my truck is a Tundra. Either way, a setup like this was the best of both worlds for me - I could pack my truck for a weekend in the desert, beat on it, and drive it back home.

For what it’s worth, I ran the same setup without down tubes or a cage for 6 years with zero issues, though I’d argue that Toyota frames are stronger than Rangers so that point may be moot.

Oh my gosh this tundra is so nice!!! You did a great job with it back then! Super clean, simple, yet very creative out back. I don't know how I have never seen this build. Great job sir.

 

[Mullen]

Oh my gosh this tundra is so nice!!! You did a great job with it back then! Super clean, simple, yet very creative out back. I don't know how I have never seen this build. Great job sir.

Thanks! I still have the truck and here is the build thread in case you haven’t seen it: https://forum.badlinesgoodtimes.com/threads/mfing-tundra.73/page-4#post-42883

 

[Rosie the Ranger]

I have since caged my truck and run down tubes to the bed cage, but here is my setup. I still run the same bed cage and can fit my dirt bike and gear in the bed with the tailgate closed. My shocks are outside of the frame rails and it’s worth noting that Toyota frame rails are wider than Ford in general, plus my truck is a Tundra. Either way, a setup like this was the best of both worlds for me - I could pack my truck for a weekend in the desert, beat on it, and drive it back home.

For what it’s worth, I ran the same setup without down tubes or a cage for 6 years with zero issues, though I’d argue that Toyota frames are stronger than Rangers so that point may be moot.
View attachment 47498View attachment 47497

Wow that looks amazing any chance you could send me some more pictures on th bed whenever you get the chance?

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

I have since caged my truck and run down tubes to the bed cage, but here is my setup. I still run the same bed cage and can fit my dirt bike and gear in the bed with the tailgate closed. My shocks are outside of the frame rails and it’s worth noting that Toyota frame rails are wider than Ford in general, plus my truck is a Tundra. Either way, a setup like this was the best of both worlds for me - I could pack my truck for a weekend in the desert, beat on it, and drive it back home.

For what it’s worth, I ran the same setup without down tubes or a cage for 6 years with zero issues, though I’d argue that Toyota frames are stronger than Rangers so that point may be moot.
View attachment 47498View attachment 47497

Where did you get the cupholders for your fiberglass?

I think that kind of cage can help stiffen up a frame with the tie-ins via the bolts that hold the bed to the frame (if that's how the Ranger bed is held on - I only worked on one and can't remember beyond it having Torx bolts.)

This is another similar style bed cage either built by BTF or DMZ for a guy that worked (works?) for Icon on his 1st Gen Tacoma. I don't have any other pictures of it unfortunately.