The “I’m too cheap to buy it so I’ll make it” thread

[Metalmagic]

Please share projects on your Ranger that you have decided to make or build instead of buy. Here’s mine.

I wanted a bed rack for my truck but I find they are way more expensive than I’m willing to spend. I am also a certified and experienced welder and fabricator so I’ll make anything I can if it means saving a buck. So I went on good old craigslist and found a guy selling a roof rack that clamps onto the gutters on a camper. Lucky for me he also had the brackets that are used to adapt them to something like a pop up roof. He had 58” cross bars and 78” so I took both.

As of right now I have welded the brackets to pieces of 1-1/2” angle. The idea is to make the brackets so they clamp to the bedside. This will make more sense when I update this small project

 

[Msfitoy]

Made my own Raptor lights...

And matching rear markers...

Underhood lighting...

 

[THLONE]

I have made my own phone holder out of a belt clip to dash fixture. Made my own key fob cover out of an old leather glove thumb. Over the years i have made hundreds of my own gadgets and mods for house, yards, vehicles, boats, even did surgery on my self. LOL
I find it unimaginable how people who cant even change a bulb survive.

 

[TommyAtomic]

I find it unimaginable how people who cant even change a bulb survive.

WAIT WHAT??? Who told you those people survive? That doesn't sound right. Is that more of that fake news I keep hearing about?

 

[THLONE]

The dems in Iowa are a good example. They do survive even in that frozen wasteland. LOL

 

[RANGER PRIDE]

i know i can buy this, but this is better

 

[AzScorpion]

i know i can buy this, but this is better

Try adding some of those small Hersheys chocolate chips on the top of those. Those really top off a brownie. Darn it now I need to make brownies.

 

[Metalmagic]

fresh update: I had to modify them a little bit and finish them up. Painted and ready to go. Going to put a small piece of neoprene on the inside of the clamp just to protect the bedside a little bit

 

[rausa64]

Greetings,
Anybody buy or "make" some sort of cover to go over the gap between the bed and the gate? Pushing/pulling crap out of the bed seems like a break waiting to happen for the camera cable.

 

[Metalmagic]

After a lot of tweaking and sanding and cutting and remeasuring, I finally was able to get the adapters to clamp on to the bed correctly. Here is the finished product. I have to say it actually came out better than I thought

 

[Fawnbuster]

Greetings,
Anybody buy or "make" some sort of cover to go over the gap between the bed and the gate? Pushing/pulling crap out of the bed seems like a break waiting to happen for the camera cable.

Peragon bed covers makes/sells them I had one for my F150, I saved it and plan to trim it to fit my ranger

 

[Cdveltri]

I also decided to make my own bed rack. I have the diamond back cover so I decided to attach the load bars to the cover its self since it's load rated. I ordered some black anodized extruded aluminum T slot from 8020 pre cut for the tracks and load bars. 8020 has TONS of different cross section options and brackets to make anything you can dream up. I am very happy with how it turned out!

 

[Grimlock]

Made my own bike rack.

 

[Grimlock]

Also, currently working on a bedside rack to maybe utilize that pocket on the inside of the bed.

 

[MTB-BRUH]

Not the greatest pictures but I built my headache rack with side rails right when I got the truck. Very handy for multiple tie down points and mounting lights. I like the look of it as well