Shell is back on the truck -- uglier than ever!

[Brian_B]

Chris will appreciate your efforts!

 

[countryboytn]

LOL

If I had of thought of it I would have put some mud on there to, so he would know what it looks like without having to actually get it dirty!

 

[Brian_B]

We could all get together and buy him a case of fake mud:

[SIZE=+1]Exciting New Fake Mud Product Released[/SIZE]

Owners of expensive off-road vehicles who can't be bothered to actually go off-roading are howling with delight over a new product called Sprayonmud that gives your SUV that authentic off-road look. It makes it look like there actually is mud on your car.

Sprayonmud can be applied to your vehicle in seconds, but just be careful the neighbours don't catch you using it!
Good advice. Sprayonmud should only be applied under stealth conditions. And don't cover up your license plate either, warns sprayonmud.com.

Sprayonmud is NOT to be used to obscure number-plates or the lights on your vehicle. This, of course, is illegal and while it is not an endorsable offence, if your number plates cannot be read at a reasonable distance – or photographed by a speed camera – you could face a hefty fine. Yes, this is the year 2005. We have no cancer cures, robot maids or long-lasting laptop batteries. But at least we have spray on mud!


http://www.pleasantmorningbuzz.com/cgi-bin/buzz.pl?buzz=630051

 

[countryboytn]

Well, I think Chris knows what he's gonna get for Christmas from FTF now!!

 

[Skandocious]

Hey Tyler what tool are you using for that color replacement (assuming your using photoshop). That's a pretty clean job you did.

 

[conanski]

Chris let me assure you... there's nothing ugly about that truck.. topper or not.

There's an old blazer I see parked on main street here in town that defines ugly. I'll have to get a picture of it and post it up.. she's nasty!!

 

[lenny1carl]

I like caps..

 

[1970Custom]

Chris, I'll have my F-250 down after X-Mas since you don't like the shell I'll come pick it up....


I like the looks of it though IMO..

 

[countryboytn]

Hey Tyler what tool are you using for that color replacement (assuming your using photoshop). That's a pretty clean job you did.

I used the polygonal lasso tool, and did the truck in three separate sections, the camper top, from the windows down, and then from the windows up.

I used the brush tool, at 85% opacity, and on luminosity I think (can't remember for sure.) and made a couple passes over the truck.

 

[polarbear]

Chris, I'll have my F-250 down after X-Mas since you don't like the shell I'll come pick it up....


I like the looks of it though IMO..

Yep, had one on the '93 for years. First thing Nick did was take it off.... and get every friggin' thing wet, moldy, and rusty that he threw in back from that point on, until dad stomped his foot down and put it back on.

The Ranger doesn't have one.... and we're back on the wet/moldy/rusty program again.

 

[john112deere]

Yep, had one on the '93 for years. First thing Nick did was take it off.... and get every friggin' thing wet, moldy, and rusty that he threw in back from that point on, until dad stomped his foot down and put it back on.

See, I manage to keep from throwing stuff in the back that can be damaged by weather. I just end up with so much junk in the cab that I can't get to any of it without a 15 minute excavation. (Too dang many tools, but still never have the ones I need. )

Chris...you ever think about a tonneau cover? I had one and hated it, but depending on my living situation whenever I buy another truck (assuming it's not a flareside Ranger), I'll probably buy another one. (Better quality and more easily opened/closed than the last one I had, though.) It was the best-looking of the configurations I've had on that truck (vs. topper or nothing), and had some real pluses for day-to-day use of the truck.

 

[Brian_B]

I had one on my old ranger for a few years. It was an insulated fiberglass one.

It was OK for trips and stuff like that, but lousy for hauling anything. It came off when the wife divorced me. It became a truck I could actually use again. I eventually gave it away to someone.

I would like to have a hard tonneau for the 56. The kind that sits down even with the tailgate, not the ones that sit on top of the "hay bed" rails.

 

[Skandocious]

See, I manage to keep from throwing stuff in the back that can be damaged by weather. I just end up with so much junk in the cab that I can't get to any of it without a 15 minute excavation. (Too dang many tools, but still never have the ones I need. )

Chris...you ever think about a tonneau cover? I had one and hated it, but depending on my living situation whenever I buy another truck (assuming it's not a flareside Ranger), I'll probably buy another one. (Better quality and more easily opened/closed than the last one I had, though.) It was the best-looking of the configurations I've had on that truck (vs. topper or nothing), and had some real pluses for day-to-day use of the truck.

Yeah I do like the look of tonneau covers... But I think I'd be taking it off so often that it wouldn't be worth the purchase ($1000+ for the nice ones). My tools are in tool chest in the bed, so I don't need to worry about keeping them locked under a shell/tonneau... And when I need to keep things dry, I've most often got plenty of room in the cab (crew cab is nice!)

This specific weekend where we're all taking my truck PLUS luggage, doesn't really happen often enough to warrant the purchase of a tonneau... Now if I could TRADE my camper shell for a nice SnugTop tonneau in good shape, that would be awesome.

 

[blackhat620]

Trust me I use my mirrors almost exclusively. But there are times where there's an object behind my tailgate, near the center of the truck, out of the viewing range of my mirrors (yes even with those extensions). It's just nice not to be blind out my rear window, that's what I'm trying to say. Not to mention that it's hard to check over my shoulder when changing lanes at night.

Hmmm.... If you have decent side mirrors and know how to use them, then you never need to look out the back window. My toppers are ordered without any windows in them. I do not want potential thieves looking at what is stored inside. My son has been driving for only one year and he can back my truck into a parking space at the mall with the topper installed. It is all about good mirrors adjusted properly and learning how to use them. I haven't driven very many semi's that have back windows in them, it is all side mirrors and we back up a 40-foot trailer to boot. You need to learn to look ahead to were you are going, and plan, also you can see the whole field of view behind you as you swing around when backing up by using both side mirrors. With a little practice, you can back up to a bumper pull trailer only using side mirrors, get out and hook it up.

Get some slip on mirrors like Tony suggested and adjust them properly then practice using them. Most people have there side mirrors pulled in to tight. If you can see the side of your truck while sitting in the drivers seat without moving your head to the side then your mirrors are pulled in to far. Also don't stick overly large convex (blind spot) mirrors on your big mirrors as they are useless when wet, restrictive at night and block to much of the large mirror. If you cannot install separate convex mirrors then install the very small convex mirrors on your large mirror.

Get your mirrors adjusted properly, get some traffic cones, set up a parking spot in an empty lot and practice backing in until you can do it in your sleep. Practice Practice Practice.

 

[Skandocious]

Hmmm.... If you have decent side mirrors and know how to use them, then you never need to look out the back window. My toppers are ordered without any windows in them. I do not want potential thieves looking at what is stored inside. My son has been driving for only one year and he can back my truck into a parking space at the mall with the topper installed. It is all about good mirrors adjusted properly and learning how to use them. I haven't driven very many semi's that have back windows in them, it is all side mirrors and we back up a 40-foot trailer to boot. You need to learn to look ahead to were you are going, and plan, also you can see the whole field of view behind you as you swing around when backing up by using both side mirrors. With a little practice, you can back up to a bumper pull trailer only using side mirrors, get out and hook it up.

Get some slip on mirrors like Tony suggested and adjust them properly then practice using them. Most people have there side mirrors pulled in to tight. If you can see the side of your truck while sitting in the drivers seat without moving your head to the side then your mirrors are pulled in to far. Also don't stick overly large convex (blind spot) mirrors on your big mirrors as they are useless when wet, restrictive at night and block to much of the large mirror. If you cannot install separate convex mirrors then install the very small convex mirrors on your large mirror.

Get your mirrors adjusted properly, get some traffic cones, set up a parking spot in an empty lot and practice backing in until you can do it in your sleep. Practice Practice Practice.

I didn't mean to give the impression that I'm bad at backing up with the topper on... I drove this truck for over a year with that shell on it and was forced to use only my mirrors ALL THE TIME. Needless to say, I'm quite good at using my mirrors to back into tight spaces-- even with the topper off I still favor the mirrors over looking out the back. But there's just some extraneous occasions when it's nice to be able to see over my shoulder. The topper isn't limited my abilities, it's just making some things more inconvenient.

In fact! At work we drive a big E350 van with minimal windows-- talk about HUGE blind spots. And because I'm the best at maneuvering a large vehicle, out of all the student employees, I was given the task of designing a crash course for the employees (both students and adults). I did it no problem-- other people had a rough time

 

[blackhat620]

I didn't mean to give the impression that I'm bad at backing up with the topper on... I drove this truck for over a year with that shell on it and was forced to use only my mirrors ALL THE TIME. Needless to say, I'm quite good at using my mirrors to back into tight spaces-- even with the topper off I still favor the mirrors over looking out the back. But there's just some extraneous occasions when it's nice to be able to see over my shoulder. The topper isn't limited my abilities, it's just making some things more inconvenient.

In fact! At work we drive a big E350 van with minimal windows-- talk about HUGE blind spots. And because I'm the best at maneuvering a large vehicle, out of all the student employees, I was given the task of designing a crash course for the employees (both students and adults). I did it no problem-- other people had a rough time

Unfortunately with all the sub-compact cars in the world and schools/communities quit teaching drivers ed. The proper use of mirrors and backing up is a lost art. Yes as you say there are alot of cargo & cube vans that have no side or back windows as well. It has been so long since i have driven a vehicle you could see out the back window that i only use side mirrors even in cars that have back windows. Another plus with no back window is when some moron pulls up behind you with their high beams on.

 

[Skandocious]

Another plus with no back window is when some moron pulls up behind you with their high beams on.

Lol, with two sets of heavily tinted glass plus an electronically dimming mirror... I don't ever seem to have that problem

 

[john112deere]

Unfortunately with all the sub-compact cars in the world and schools/communities quit teaching drivers ed. The proper use of mirrors and backing up is a lost art.

When I took driver's ed (through the HS), I was told that if I used my side mirrors to back up on my driving test, I would fail the test and not get my license. Something about not looking in the direction you're driving...

 

[blackhat620]

When I took driver's ed (through the HS), I was told that if I used my side mirrors to back up on my driving test, I would fail the test and not get my license. Something about not looking in the direction you're driving...

Don't you just love studying to "pass a test" and only studying/teaching what is on the test. You just have to love government tests.

That being said, any teacher with the ability to think and teach should teach not only what is on the test, but also what is needed in a real life situation. Unfortunately to many teachers are only called that because of there job description, not because they can acutally teach. If you are never taught how to properly use mirrors, then when you drive a vehicle with no back window you are now in an usafe situation because no one taught you how to handle all the vehicle types you may encounter. I never met a farm or ranch kid that couldn't back up with side mirrors only, as not to many grain, cargo trucks have back windows.

 

[Brian_B]

My drivers ed teacher was the high school coach...who was being fired at the end of the semester. We did everything to that poor car.

I only needed it for the insurance. I had been driving since I was 14. Got my license at 15 (limited to an adult with me). I had my real license at 16 which is before they would let any high school kids take drivers ed (age wise I mean). I would drive to school and at some point during the day I would do the drivers ed mess.

How stupid is that?