What to do with a banged up 2004 Ranger

[rangerrider]

We are in South Florida and have a 2004 Ranger that we love but that was involved in a fender bender possibly some frame damage. It has a new engine that runs great with only around 50,000 miles on it. Other than the recent damage to left front, it's in pretty good shape. We'd like to sell it or part it out to others but we're not sure how to go about doing that. Any advice?

 

[smokey]

Post a picture it might not be as bad as you think it is.

 

[rangerrider]

Good suggestion

Thanks, Randy. Good suggestion. Here are a couple of pictures. We removed the hood (which got creased a little) in order to get at the engine.

 

[smokey]

Doesn't look that bad really. A new front clip and a few hours unless the frame is damaged you could patch it back up as good as new. I would have a body shop check it out to see if the frame is tweaked or not.

If they say the frame is good hit the salvage yard for parts. Put it together and run it or sell it. You will get more for a running vehicle than for parts with a lot less hassle dealing with shipping and removing the parts.

 

[taxreliever]

We are in South Florida and have a 2004 Ranger that we love but that was involved in a fender bender possibly some frame damage. It has a new engine that runs great with only around 50,000 miles on it. Other than the recent damage to left front, it's in pretty good shape. We'd like to sell it or part it out to others but we're not sure how to go about doing that. Any advice?

I'm not a mechanic, but I've heard the frame damage is what'll turn a good parts car or possible fixer upper into a scrap car......way too much labor involved in trying to fix the frame.

 

[kiwi f150]

mark out on the garage floor where the wheels are sitting then move the truck and measure diagonally from the front left to the right rear and then from front right to the left rear .... if the measurements are out more than 1/2 inch i'd start looking at the suspension components to see if they have been bent out of alignment.
How does it drive - does it pull heavily to one side?
If it does all of the above take it in to a wheel alignment centre and ask them to check it out for you on the 4way laser alignment machine ...... lightly damaged frames aren't too hard to pull back into line on a "car-o-liner"machine.

 

[rangerrider]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Kiwi F150, we appreciate the helpful ideas to determine the extent of possible frame damage and way to (maybe) pull the frame out. Love the truck and hate to give up on it.