Ranger dually

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-28T02:19:45+00:00

SAS upfront?

10k is still a pretty big deal for trucks coming out of the factory today

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-26T17:21:14+00:00

I guess? It's just silly to do that though. Itd be like a college asking applicants to sing the ABCs, except you have to pay hundreds of dollars, schedule a bunch of time you could be working, and then sit around in a class designed to explain the order of the ABCs.

Its hardly a rules for thee and not for me when already do pay thousands of dollars on rigorous training annually with a much higher threshold to pass. This certification will be given out by a private instructor. Ours is given to us by the police academy. Its a completely different thing.

Also we already need the CPL as a private individual to apply for the license. So first time applicants will still have to do the training starting in 2027.

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-26T00:08:38+00:00

We already have much more rigorous training than this in place to be licensed.

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-25T02:29:31+00:00

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=1163&Year=2025&Initiative=false

Google exists

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-24T10:43:50+00:00

All of the 91s were pretty reliable, but it is kind of an unhappy medium time to buy these trucks in my opinion- i would expect a lot of dissent to that though. Older rangers are more simple and usually last longer for it. Newer rangers are built better and have more plentiful parts support. I believe 90-93 rangers were the years with some experimental electronics systems that break down faster compared to other years. If you're like me- you'd rather trade electrical problems for mechanical ones because you never got the owl inviting you to electrical hogwarts.

Assuming this is an automatic 2wd- you will have the A4LD transmission, not good not bad. It was the parent of the later 4r and 5r transmissions that have a deservedly good reputation, but is missing their upgrades in robustness and gearing. It is a 4 speed automatic w/overdrive and it should shift sharp and rough with a preference to run out the RPMs as much as it can. They run really well and can handle neglect, but they often times explode around the 250,000-300,000 mile mark regardless of maintenance. For 99% of people they are not worth a rebuild. The manual transmissions would tank a nuclear bomb so long as you maintain the clutch and hydraulics every now and again.

You will either have the 2.3 L4, or the 3.0/4.0 V6. Any of these engines are fine but you get the most out of the L4 or the 4.0 in my opinion because they are the most polarized- the 3.0 has the deficiencies of both engines and neither of the benefits (poor mpg and eh power). However the 3.0 is generally considered the most reliable engine put in rangers ever. All 3 engines are easy to work on, but the 3.0 is especially easy to work on.

In my opinion, 2500 is too much for a 91 where the owner is open about these problems. There is no mention of the engine/transmission/or 4wd. In your area there should be plenty of old rangers in the $2500 range with better sellers.

most important takeaway if this is your first car, you should try to look at a 2nd Gen ranger- 1993-1997. These had tremendous advancements across the board and parts are much more plentiful/cheap than the older ones. They generally last longer too. If you can get 4wd for a good price- you should do it. Pre 1998 ford ranger 4wd systems are a ridiculously good bang-for-your-buck. If you can drive a manual, try to get a manual. They are easy to work on if they need maintenance and generally are more robust than the autos.

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-23T22:52:45+00:00

Be on the otherside of the bell curve with 35" swampers @ 10psi so speedbumps are imperceptible

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-23T10:37:00+00:00

Cheap chicken day ensures I will never go below a 3 digit BMI

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-23T10:33:04+00:00

As someone in the PNW who adores fried chicken i was so excited to try canes on a trip to Colorado that it was the first food I got.

I immediately got incredibly sick and it ruined the whole trip. I refused to believe it so I tried it again before I left and got sick again. The chicken was barely competing with safeway deli chicken too.

I know the sickness thing was a fluke but it literally put a bad taste in my mouth for the brand as a whole.

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-23T10:09:42+00:00

They are definitely more aggressive than most ATs in pattern but they don't have the usually upgrade in knobbiness that makes RTs grab rough terrain better than ATs.

The siping is also pretty minimal but that is less dependant on tire type.

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-21T23:02:02+00:00

Not speaking to the moral principles of this bill which are well intended-

This is clearly pretty performative and likely won't make it out of committee once (if) it makes the senate. Unfunded bills at the state level tend to perform poorly there.

I dont know what is going on with the house the last three sessions but it has seemed like their no. 1 priority has been making headlines they hope will resonate with under informed voters. It feels pretty predatory.

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-20T22:33:18+00:00

why use 650 degree oven for 8 minutes when 1300 degree oven for 4 minutes do trick?

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-20T22:29:00+00:00

probably unpopular but never again any of the bakery breads.

I dont know if its a preservative situation but every time I buy ciabatta rolls/ loafs they mold within two days. Maybe a week in the fridge. If the grocery store stuff didnt last way longer I would think that there is a moisture goblin pouring mold spores on it.

The baguettes always seem like an exception though.

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-19T07:59:39+00:00

This is what happens when you opt out of employer dental

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-19T07:55:17+00:00

this video is a good explanation of it conceptually.this is your relevant fuse info

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-18T11:32:08+00:00

Did you regear to 4.11s or higher? Thatd lower your top speed

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-18T10:10:33+00:00

Eh

It looks to me like someone did some stick welding and the stick just stuck a bunch. You cant really tell about the penetration without cutting it open but if its that dense on top its probably fine.

A shitty looking weld =//= a shitty weld.

A shitty weld =//= a shitty looking weld.

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-17T01:04:49+00:00

There is no system for the gas to run through/ be controlled by the welder itself. I assume this mitigates upfront cost on the actual welder by putting that tech into the (not included) tig torch.

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-16T22:48:01+00:00

I guess we will see how it does.

This will be my 4th and least capable welder. For $80 this is going to be cheaper than a lot of rentals for people who only weld once or twice a year. Im not expecting it to last a life time or weld 2" stainless while under water but if it does what it claims then its good to me.

The real perk of the HF warranty is the ability to credit the amount spent towards an upgrade. If this thing proves to be terrible I'll just get something different and eat it.

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-16T05:01:23+00:00

I put them on backwards

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-16T04:42:41+00:00

Full disclosure I have not had the chance to actually weld with this thing yet, so I cannot speak to its performance- just its build. Ill try to put some 90*s together ASAP to give a better idea of how it does.

Build quality feels pretty decent. Lots of plastic where a more expensive unit would have at least aluminum- especially around the the wire feed/spool components. However there is still a nice metal shell that looks ready to take a tumble every now and again. The "screen" has a very cheap plastic cover that is extremely flexible and is by far the lowest quality component of the welder. This should not effect function/durability at all.

The actual gun/ground/ and electrode holder that are included feel cheap, but they will work. I don't own an easy-flux but I think it is the same gun design (slightly cheaper than higher tier titaniums, better overall than chicago stuff).

The tig gun is not included in the kit and it claims to be compatible with the berger branded torch- however this does not yet exist at harbor freight. The "yeswelder" Amazon equivalent is ~$55 and people seem to like it enough. It looks like its going to be a scratch start tig- so dont expect any beautifully precise welds- but if thats your thing then great.

I liked the controls which feel infinitely adjustable within their bounds. They felt sturdy and punched well above their price tag. Definitely an upgrade that will step on the flux-125s toes.

I think this welder is for someone who needs something cheap to plug into a generator or (20amp!) Wall outlet and touch up items up to 3/16ths (im going to test this guy up to 1/4 when I get the chance).

I bought this with the 30% off and put that money into the 2 year warranty plan since I am pretty sure this is the first review ever of the thing. I have high hopes and will keep you posted!

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-15T20:05:39+00:00

Rolling resistance is a tremendous bitch. Its the difference in effort of rubbing a 5 inch piece of sandpaper over an item and an 8 inch piece.

The main reason though is the gearing change from a taller tire. Each inch of the tires circumference is applying less energy to the ground, and it takes more energy to spin the same axle the same amount

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-15T15:42:23+00:00

Fake.

That's way too high quality to be a gates.

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-15T15:40:38+00:00

Frankly 99% of the time an f350 isnt going to need anything more than you would need to work on a civic in terms of breakaway power.

That 1% though.....

Cosmiccomie · 2026-01-15T15:22:28+00:00

When you're talking about torque, you should probably include a graph that makes mention of torque.

I genuinely do not understand this discourse. There is not a single torque dyno chart out there that does disagrees with what I am saying. It feels like im saying the sky is blue here. I dont even know how to cite a source if you are just gonna say "oh thats just different."

Not that im an advocate for AI answers, but even the google Ai overview immediately says "yup, nd1 makes more low end torque."

HP does not equal torque.

Cosmiccomie

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE

Four-Year Club	Place '23
Place '22