Tag Archives: sema

Each year as the SEMA Show draws near social media and media outlets have an influx of content with OEs, aftermarket manufacturers and vehicle builders show off their latest creations and newest releases. While video is king a new (old) media is gaining steam in the form of a truck and offroad focused podcast that airs weekly on iTunes and other podcast services. Going by the originally title “The Truck Show Podcast” the show regularly has industry professionals, celebrities, and representatives on to talk truck, Jeep, current trends, upcoming OE news, cover events and more. I’ve personally been a listener of the show since the beginning and have enjoyed the info, the interviews and the commentary. (Mountered Parameters!) its an inside joke you’ll have to listen to get the backstory. I’ve had the chance to be on the show a couple times in some capacity, from a random EJS on…

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Built up and ready for an adventure. With just 5 short weeks, the BDS build team took one of the first 2019 Ford Rangers in existence and overhauled it into a show stopper. Built for capability out on the trail, great looks with a strong stance and plenty of utility with room to haul gear BDS’s Project Ranger X elevates the Ranger to the next level. Starting with a pre-production 2019 Ranger right off the assembly line, this truck was torn down, the frame was extended, service bed and custom rack fitted, a BDS suspension lift installed and larger tires and accessories were added. We documented the build in a 5-part build series that followed the team as they transformed this 2019 Ford Ranger from stock to fully custom, click the links below to check out how it all came together. Build Intro Build Update #1 Build Update #2 Build…

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?? Go Back to Update #3  |  See the Completed Project RangerX  |  Jump Ahead to SEMA 2018 Preview Ranger X – Build Update #4 The SEMA crunch is getting real, with just 2 build days to go until we need to hit the road for Vegas, there is still a lot to get done on this build, from wiring, assembly and final installation and graphics. At this point the shop is operating like a well oiled machine with everyone doing their part to get the job done. The “To Do” list is starting to dwindle down and their’s a light at the end of the tunnel. All the parts are back from paint and powder coat, the Warn winch and Rigid lights are installed in the bumpers and its getting bolted up front for the final time. With the larger wheels and tires we needed some additional tire coverage.…

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? Go Back to Update #2 | Jump Ahead to Update #4 Ranger X – Build Update #3 We’re back again with our latest update on Project Ranger X. The last couple weeks have been controlled chaos around teh shop as the BDS engineering team takes on the 5-week overhaul of our 2019 Ranger along with prototyping suspension kits for all of the other 2019 Ranger that will be on display at the show in Ford’s booth, building up our 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 and prototyping several new lift systems for the Wrangler JL and other new applications to debut at the show. Now nearing the end of our 3rd full week with the 2019 Ranger we’re buttoning up the rear suspension ahead of the service box getting back from paint while its all easily accessible. With the new extended 136″ wheelbase and converted the factory mono leaf setup over…

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? Go Back to Update #1 | Jump Ahead to Update #3 Ranger X – Build Update #2 New 2019 Ford Ranger, check. Complete teardown of suspension and removal of bed, check. Frame cut and extended 10″to accomodate the Knapheide service box with 136″ wheelbase, check. Nearing the end of our second full week with this truck we’ve made a lot of progress prototyping the suspension. Using a mix of CAD sourced from Ford and raw measurement taken off our Ranger we’ve designed the complete IFS system from the ground up to improve this trucks performance with clearance for the larger 35” BFG tires we have planned to go under it. At this point the prototype crossmembers, differential relocation brackets, upper control arms and FOX coilovers have been cut, welded and are test fitted. This setup will correct the suspension geometry at 6” of lift while keeping all driveline angles…

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? Go Back to Intro  |  Jump Ahead to Update #2 Ranger X – Build Update #1 One week in and the build team is diving in head first to tear this truck back down and start laying out the plan of attack. At this point we haven’t had much seat time in the 2019 Ford Ranger, just a short 2hr drive back from Dearborn to Coldwater and some driving around the BDS test course.Despite the limited seat time up to this point we can already tell its going to be a contender going toe-to-toe with the Toyota Tacoma and Chevy Colorado once it hits the market early next year. We like the styling inside and out and the 2.3L EcoBoost backed by the 10-speed automatic transmissions has some pep. While our tight 5 week build timeline is keeping us from doing a full review on this truck it seems…

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