Join Our Ford Truck Forum Today

Document your Ford truck project here and inspire others! Login/Register to view the site with fewer ads.

What Draws A Person To A Ranger?

flareside_thunder

Florida Chapter member
7,812
246
So, what draws a person to wanting to own and daily drive/wheel a ranger? I undertsnad they're small capable little rigs but gawd...A big guy like me would HAVE to have an extended cab to be even remotely comfortable in it. Plus it'd have to have a 4-0 and a 5 speed. But the sound the exhaust has....sorry but it sounds like a Jeep, I'd rather have the V8 sound. Just a wondering thought. Please, don't take any offense.
 

70blue

Georgia Chapter member
1,177
163
Thats why you find yourself an old extended cab and drop a 302 in it.YelloThumbUp I will tell you I have rode in a 1992 4 cylinder ranger that surprised me. My cousin decided to show me what it would do while running from the police.'smiliedoh'
 

smokey

Hitech hillbilly
Staff member
I have had full sized trucks and Rangers. I'm 6'1" and the rangers are comfortable.
I like them because they are a bit smaller and I can get on trails better with it. The 86 I have is locked front and rear and will crawl anywhere a full sized can and many places a full sized can't. For 2 people they are just fine but 3 people they are to small and the extended cabs with jump seats aren't much better unless you really dislike the person you stick in that jump seat. the extended cabs end up as junk catchers or places for speakers.
 

TexasNomad

FTFS Designated DRINKER!
Theres a simple fix for that Jr...
Its called... Stop eating!! :p
 

flareside_thunder

Florida Chapter member
7,812
246
LMAO Tex......I've seriously been looking at the 80's model Rangers (or WAS) but they don't appeal to me unless they've got a 5-0 and a 5 speed dropped in em...eh to each his own I guess. Heck, even my F150 feels too small at times...
 

polarbear

just growing older not up
12,878
607
Boring, Oregon
I can answer that.

1. Son's 6' 2", weighs in just over 200 lbs, and he fits just fine. Yes, it's a Supercab. His buddies ain't exactly small either- they all have Ranger's. Oddly enough, so does little sis's b/f. :p

000_0488.jpg


2. That Ranger went out the door, brand new, for about $17500 in '06. XLT 4X4, 4.0, 5 spd, A/C, Alloys, 4.10 gears... the usual stuff. Can't touch a full-size for anything close to that, equipment for equipment.

3. Those Ranger's get used Off-Road. They can go places a full-size couldn't think about.

cid_Photo-0085.jpg


4. The Ranger comes with a manual, something my son really wanted. You know the full-size story.

5. The 4.0 pulls like Jack-The-Bear in that truck, especially with the 4.10 gears. Equipment trailers, etc tow with ease.

l_e07f4b51d20580a555b5769dd3ee618f.jpg


6. You can get two quads in the bed of a Ranger if you're halfway creative and careful about it.

sandlk1.jpg


7. The doggie fits just fine in a Ranger.

Picture015.jpg


so does one (or two) of these.

l_c4f3e75a027f9f4ac889250e159648-1.jpg


That truck is coming upon 90,000 miles pretty quick, and it's not even three years old yet. Impressive, when you think he commutes less than 10 miles to work everyday, and had a company truck to drive once he's there. :rolleyes:
 
My friend Randy four wheels his all the time. Its a black lifted FX4 Ranger SC with 33" Mud Terrains on it. We make fun of him and his "Mini-Truckin" but since hes a short asian dude, it works for him. :p
 
ive been looking at the ranger, but im worried about me fitting comfy. I'm 6'5" and ~300 pounds...
 

john112deere

caffeine junkie
Staff member
10,807
405
central Vermont
Mine's the 4-banger.

Got over 260k on the original engine with absolutely ZERO engine repairs.

Well past 200k, I could get 27 mpg highway if I kept my foot out of it (~62 mph is best mileage). Never once calculated a tankful below 20, can't think of one below 22. (Combine those numbers with the 20 gallon tank, and it's got a pretty darn good range, too.)

Supercab XLT is big enough for me to be comfortable. Single cab is not, but I can fit if I have to. And the seat fits my butt really well- comfortable all day.

Obviously a 2wd truck doesn't do much off-roading...but the size is nice when it comes to parking, too. Compared to my extended cab Ranger, an extended cab shortbed F-150 feels like a beast in a parking lot.

My number one thing for 'em is the reliability, though- this truck's got loads of miles on it, and I'd still drive it on a pretty long trip without a thought if I had a reason too. (Escort's got A/C, a better CD player and gets mid-30s for mileage, so it IS the preferred highway car, of course.)
 

TazDevil07

Go Ahead and Git Some Boy
JR I take offense! :flipoff: LMAO Just kidding. For me, it was price tag and I really (at the time) didn't want a full size nor afford it. I've had a couple Rangers and they are very dependable and a lil work horse. Those who do O/R love em as well cuz they can squeeze into trails that the bigger trucks can't. My 07 is extremely comfortable and can accommodate a "big" person, easily. Come on up to DE and I'll let ya ride in mine! hahaha
 

5.0

FTF'er
.

Older used Ranger = cheap to buy

Ranger + 5.0 = lot's of cheap fun

.
 

Fellro

Moderator
Staff member
The Ranger we use for a delivery truck at work is a bit on the snug side for me if I had to drive it for long. My back is such that I need to recline a bit, and it doesn't allow me to do that without crowding the dash a bit with my legs. It is ok for the runs around town, but to drive across country I think I would get very unhappy with it. An extended cab would solve that problem. I don't know what motor it has, can't imagine they sprung for the 4.0, but it is peppy by all means. It is likely an 08 model, since they bought it new last year...
 

CowboyBilly9Mile

Charter Member
7,118
442
USA
*Reliable
*Durable
*Easily takes on loads above vehicle ratings.
*Tolerates a whole lot of abuse and never complains.
*Ultra low maintenance and they practically never need work above and beyond normal wear items.
*Captain chair seats are comfy to sit in for long periods of time.
*Takes me to hunting and fishing spots that full sized won't get through, therefore less people I have to share my favorite spots with.
*Cheaper to insure than the competition.
*Owning a Ranger pisses off toyletoda owners since after all, they realize but would never admit that we got a better truck for less money.


Me prefers the supercab with the rear doors that open. IMO, all extended cabs should have doors back there so you can easily access the space. I also like the 4.0 with the 5R55E and prefer that tranny over the manual (M5OD and I had one with that). You may also notice that the 4.0 sounds a whole lot like a Dodge V10.
 
Last edited:
.

Older used Ranger = cheap to buy

Ranger + 5.0 = lot's of cheap fun

.

What he said, and w/ 3-350 hp it'll eat most anything on road and still get 17/18mpg depending on gearing.
 

Off-roadranger04

Delaware Chapter member
they are sexy tough lookin little trucks that can hold their own on and off the road!

Thats just my intake.smilieneenar
 

Ford Truck Articles

Top