I just wanted to decloak and say "hi". I owned a FWC Ranger II from 1994 to about 2000, on a 95 Tacoma Tundra. Liked it a lot, did a number of mods but finally sold it when circumstances changed. I now have a 07 Tacoma, and have been considering returning to those good old days. I am just stunned at the amount of modification info now available for these campers on the Internets. That wasn't the case in the 1990's!
And now I offer up something from my experience with turnbuckles from those days. Yeah, I know the factory says they seldom come loose, but with enthusiastic 4wheeling, I experienced otherwise. My fix was simple and cheap. On each turnbuckle I drilled about a 1/16" dia hole though one of the two threaded pieces, near the end. I had to be cautious not to damage the threading. I then went ahead and installed the turnbuckle until it was tight, and the hole was pointing out between the sides of the turnbuckle frame. I then slipped a "hairpin cotter pin" (Google it) through the hole in the thread. These things just snap in and out. But they stick out enough to prevent the threaded portion from turning. If it starts to do so, the clip hits the turnbuckle frame and stops the rotation.
I drilled the holes in the threaded portion in the same plane as the hooks, so it had the added benefit of letting me know, by feel, where the hooks were pointing when I was attaching the turnbuckles to the eyebolts.
It was such a simple and positive safety, I never could figure out why it wasn't done at the factory.
Tom
And now I offer up something from my experience with turnbuckles from those days. Yeah, I know the factory says they seldom come loose, but with enthusiastic 4wheeling, I experienced otherwise. My fix was simple and cheap. On each turnbuckle I drilled about a 1/16" dia hole though one of the two threaded pieces, near the end. I had to be cautious not to damage the threading. I then went ahead and installed the turnbuckle until it was tight, and the hole was pointing out between the sides of the turnbuckle frame. I then slipped a "hairpin cotter pin" (Google it) through the hole in the thread. These things just snap in and out. But they stick out enough to prevent the threaded portion from turning. If it starts to do so, the clip hits the turnbuckle frame and stops the rotation.
I drilled the holes in the threaded portion in the same plane as the hooks, so it had the added benefit of letting me know, by feel, where the hooks were pointing when I was attaching the turnbuckles to the eyebolts.
It was such a simple and positive safety, I never could figure out why it wasn't done at the factory.
Tom
