JaxLax
Bronco Guru
I've got 4 holes on the passenger rear quarter of my 77. (See image attached with arrows). I kept wondering what it was for, but PO didn't have any idea. They are symmetrical and obviously not random.
I threw a pic of the ranch hand latch in here as that's what I thought originally, but they were only an option in 68-69 and this is a 77.
I couldn't seem to find any pictures of them installed up close, but then I stumbled on this 74 with the same trim/paint as mine AND A RANCH HAND SETUP?
Or is the swing away just over there to get it out of the way? ?:? Dunno, but it would put the latch in the right spot.
My Marti doesn't list a ranch hand option (unless it was sub to a package).
Anyone wanna help me out here? Am I crazy? Was this cribbed later or were there some 77s with ranch hands? I thought it was only available from 68-69? Did anyone make aftermarket ones (or still do)? Did a PO pull one off an earlier model and add it later? The history on this one includes time as a hunting camp vehicle, so having the ranch hand makes sense so you could use the tailgate for loading/unloading/staging/etc and drive with the tailgate down and not worry about the tire carrier moving around.
If it's a stock item; I'd be over the moon. I've been debating about leaving off the swing out carrier as I drive a lot with the tailgate down and having a way to do that more securely than than just the wire WOULD BE AMAZING.
Of course, that would also mean I'd have to find a ranch hand latch and a cursory search made it seem like they are fairly rare as a narrow year available option. I have all but a few small parts for the tire carrier in the box of spare parts the PO gave me with Ginger, but I don't recall seeing that latch. I'll dig through my others later too.
I threw a pic of the ranch hand latch in here as that's what I thought originally, but they were only an option in 68-69 and this is a 77.
I couldn't seem to find any pictures of them installed up close, but then I stumbled on this 74 with the same trim/paint as mine AND A RANCH HAND SETUP?
Or is the swing away just over there to get it out of the way? ?:? Dunno, but it would put the latch in the right spot.
My Marti doesn't list a ranch hand option (unless it was sub to a package).
Anyone wanna help me out here? Am I crazy? Was this cribbed later or were there some 77s with ranch hands? I thought it was only available from 68-69? Did anyone make aftermarket ones (or still do)? Did a PO pull one off an earlier model and add it later? The history on this one includes time as a hunting camp vehicle, so having the ranch hand makes sense so you could use the tailgate for loading/unloading/staging/etc and drive with the tailgate down and not worry about the tire carrier moving around.
If it's a stock item; I'd be over the moon. I've been debating about leaving off the swing out carrier as I drive a lot with the tailgate down and having a way to do that more securely than than just the wire WOULD BE AMAZING.
Of course, that would also mean I'd have to find a ranch hand latch and a cursory search made it seem like they are fairly rare as a narrow year available option. I have all but a few small parts for the tire carrier in the box of spare parts the PO gave me with Ginger, but I don't recall seeing that latch. I'll dig through my others later too.
