I had just finished lunch with a buddy the other day and walked outside to get into my truck when a BLM Ranger pulled up and parked next to me. After the Ranger went inside the restaurant, my buddy and I started looking at his truck. First of all it was a brand new Chevy Tahoe. That was cool but then noticed that it had an aftermarket lift and custom wheels and tires. This just pissed me off! Why does a Ranger need a lift and custom tires and wheels for? About this time the Ranger stepped out side and asked us what we were doing. We told him we were checking out all of the wasted TAX money that was on his vehicle. He didn't like that comment very much and started telling us it was none of our business. His tone changed dramaticaly when we started taking down numbers off the vihicle and informed him that we were going to start making some phone calls to see why all of this equipment was needed. He stated that his bosses bosses in DENVER? had approved it so that he could cross the desert easier? :? Why does he need a lift and tires and wheels to cross the desert when your not sopposed to leave the trail :x . Why is someone in Denver making decisions on trucks in California? :shock: And why the aftermarket equipment? I mean come on custom wheels!? :dozey: Talk about wasting our tax dollars! Anyways we made a few calls to the local BLM office and the referred us to Riverside and then to someones voicemail. Still haven't recieved an answer, but I'll keep ya posted!


LIVE FREE OR DIE!

Good man. That BS if you ask me. Definitely keep us informed.

I bet it had a $2400.00 Hammer in the back as well!

Give em Hell Joe!

My buddy almost blew a gasket when he went to the SSSS and saw the BLM's (I think it was blm's) new "Much Needed" Funco long travel car. $60,000-70,000 car that we paid for >:< . One of the guys manning the both came over and was all grins starting to talk to my buddy, until my buddy laid into him a little. The snotty reply that he got when he ask, Why do they need such an expensive car? Well all of you guys out there have these fast cars now, we needed something that could catch you. >:< Whatever.....

Tax Payers Money at its best.

Either way it helps out the Dunes. Maybe one day you'll crash and that "useless" $60,000-$70,000 dollar Funco rail will have to get your busted a$$ out the dunes.

Andy

Considering that they paid as much for the Funco fully equipped as they do for their fully equiped Broncos I'd MUCH rather have them out there in the Funco since it's actually designed for use in that terrain. Remember they got a hell of a deal on that Funco and didn't pay the regular consumer price. It was closer to $50k than 60 or 70 and that price included all the special LEO equipment like lights radios and that kind of stuff that isn't included on a normal car.

Not to mention if I'm hurt and in need of rescue I'd MUCH rather have a ride out in the rescue Funco than in the back of a Bronco!

I agree with Jason.. Funco is more needed than the bronco parts.. We met up with the Area Director of BLM at the cooling spot a few trips ago.. We commented on the CHROME Warn hitch.. He told us the Green sticker money only pays for the medical supplies in his truck. Everything else is budget from the department. I also stated that I was glad he had a hitch incase we needed to get pulled out.. He stated back that it was against the rules to use the equiptment unless there was an emergency. The wench was to keep his truck out of harms way.. OH.. Then he smiled and said he uses it all the time to get peeps out and the decision is all ATTITUDE based. I thought that was cool of him..

Coming from a COP family, I am used to them blowing their wads(budgets) for one reason. If they don't use it, they lose it and some other department will use it. I say if they can get it, GREAT! I assure you the BLM is not out duning these cars with girlfriends and drinking etc..
Hell, I would apply for the buggy driver position.. wouldnt you?

Often I don't get the anger at these guys.. sure there are a few nasty ones but like its their fault they got a 6" lift with 44" mud hawgs etc.. Yelling at him and talking smack will only piss him off and put him in defense mode.. If most peeps would think before they speak I think we would read far less posts about how BAD THEY are!
Why does the Highway patrol need show cars and Z28s? They are not practical for the "JOB"?? Why to local PDs need BMW motorcycles?

Just my opinion..

I had my old 2wd tacoma stuck at Buttercup one trip. A border patrol blazer pulled up and told me to put it in 4wd. I told him it was only 2wd and he said I shouldn't drive around unless I have 4wd. He was actually pretty cool until he did a donut around me and took off. I was pretty pissed after that.. >:<
Kinda funny when I look back at it. :mrgreen:

When I broke my back, I was taken out to the road backboarded in the back of a rescue Ford F250 pickup. I sure would have preferred that funco. It was hell bouncing around in the bed of that truck!

emergency vehicles are allowed to drive off the trail.

it's called bureaucracy.

Thanks for the info now shut your pie hole

I second that sh!t..... :shock: :burn:

Chummin, I'm surprised by your post? We never raised our voices to this Ranger! >:< I simply asked him a question about the equipment he was using and as a TAX PAYING CITIZEN I have the right to do, "he" was the one who copped the attitude! :x My point is, I can take my STOCK Z-71(after market tires, but no lift) pretty much anywhere! So why does his newer equally equipped vehicle need a 6 INCH lift and polished aluminum wheels???? Do they help him perform his job? NO! They are totally not needed and a total waste of "TAX" money! If they needed a more desert worthy tire to to the job, I have no objections at all to that. But the rest of it is absolutly uncalled for! There is no way to justify it! And to clarify a point, I have no problem with the FUNCO! It is a needed and justifiable piece of equipment!



Total wrong attitude! >:< These guys need to understand that they work for us! Not the other way around! :x



Hello, this question is directed to those of us whom it impacts! You don't need anything other than your 2wd 81 Datson, so you obviously don't go into the desert. Therefore you can go hug a gopher or something! As you have no idea what it is we are speaking of! >:< >:< TROLL! >:< >:<


LIVE FREE OR DIE!

this must be the same logic that "proves" that off-roading doesn't damage the environment

Ya, whatever Lorne, But your still a [b] >:< >:< TROLL! >:< >:<


LIVE FREE OR DIE!

GET A LIFE....who cares if they got lifts. Tax payer money??? Yeah right. I would gladly let my tax mula go to trucks, buggies, lifts, etc. Pennys on the million buddy.
Funny how everyone wants to give the rangers a hard time, at any angle they can.
Then cry how they're pricks to everyone.
How would you like it if you were driving the Company car and some jerkoff at a stoplight started rousing you about the $$ spent on the company car.
Sometimes its awfully hard to keep the pistole holstered.....
jerkoff.....

BLM just want's to look good at the dunes baby! No harm in that.

I say right on w/ the lift and tires....No skin off my richard.

I DO!!!!!!!!!!! It would be different if they were in a company car(privately owned) but they were in a publicly owed vehicle! Would it be OK to have a custom paint job and stereo too?



Like I said, we only asked him a question, HE copped the attitude! Last time I checked, a BLM ranger was still a "PUBLIC" employee! That means he works for the public. Would you want an employee of yours treating a customer like trash???




Only you would know! >:< :dis:


LIVE FREE OR DIE!

I hear stuff like that and I think of the stereotypical a$$-hole cop. We are automatically all criminals. All the people that can afford those 50,000 to 70,000 dollar cars have a real history of trouble making and running from the police. My first thought is eff* you, oinker!

Big Had,
Government is NOT business, so they should not be driving around in trucks with aftermarket lifts and wheels.

And another thing. If you cant keep your pistol holstered in an argument, you should sell it and take anger management classes(not to mention a business class) then you dsee Government is not business.

RoostKing...