Solution
This is a how-to restore a esxRanger Pro 3.1 tvzc backup by hand

Download this file from vizoncore.com
http://www.vizioncore.com/Downloads/ProductSupport/vcbrestore.zip
Extract and Copy vcbrestore to /tmp on the Vi3 host (note you can not run this binary from a VMFS)
Note: if you’re going to use WinScp make sure to “disable transfer resume” in preferences. This will remove any errors when sending large files to the VMFS3.
Run chmod 777 /tmp/vcbrestore
Create a directory on the VMFS3 where the VM will be contained.
Copy *.tvzc to the folder you just created on the VMFS.

List the files in the tvzc
/tmp/vcbrestore -D -I ./test_4.tvzc -O /dev/stdout | tar tvf – -O

Extract each file needed in the directory
/tmp/vcbrestore -D -I ./test_4.tvzc -O /dev/stdout | tar xvf – “each fie needed”
(If the vzc files are not on the VMFS where the VM will be created just use a path in the output file name)

Repeat for each file needed and remove .vzsnap off each file name
Register the VMX file the esx host
vmware-cmd -s register <full- path to the VMX>
You might still have to edit the VM in the Vi3 client to fix any issues.
Once the VM is up and running rm tvzc to remove the files from the VMFS.