• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

An observation....


rusty ol ranger

Im a Jeep guy now.
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,267
Reaction score
7,274
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
It can be done:



Actually while it takes a beating for not having as much "bed volume" as its competitors the Tacoma has a very nice bed rail height, just eyeballing it I would say it is similar to my '85 for depth and ease of access.
Im not a yota guy at all...but id drive the piss out of that
 


85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,206
Reaction score
17,520
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
That makes me drool. Such a shame we never really got the pickup Landcruisers here.
We didn't really get much of anything in that series.

I would be all over one, pretty much everything I want in in a truck in one pretty decent looking package.
 

Grumpaw

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Mar 20, 2019
Messages
2,189
Reaction score
1,504
Points
113
Location
Virginia
Vehicle Year
2009
Make / Model
Ford Ranger XL
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
Stock
Total Drop
Stock
Tire Size
Stock 225/70/15
My credo
I don't count birthday's anymore...just happy to be looking down at the ground instead of looking up
Just for info, I measured my 2009 2 wd Ranger and center of bed was right at 45 inches, ground to top of bed rail. Thats with stock tires.
Soooo, earlier pick up's beds weren't much higher than our stock Rangers...it'll give you some perspective.
Here's a pic of a totally stock 59 Ford F-100...look at how low the bed sits.
Grumpaw
 

Attachments

Last edited:

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,206
Reaction score
17,520
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
Just for info, I measured my 2009 2 wd Ranger and center of bed was right at 45 inches, ground to top of bed rail. Thats with stock tires.
Soooo, earlier pick up's beds weren't much higher than our stock Rangers...it'll give you some perspective.
Grumpaw
People put Ranger chassis's under older pickup bodies too. Doorgunner had a 2wd second gen Ranger frame/axles with a 350 under a 1936? reproduction Ford pickup body, it came out really nice.
 

fastpakr

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
U.S. Military - Veteran
V8 Engine Swap
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
7,991
Reaction score
2,792
Points
113
Location
Roanoke, VA
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
285/75-16
We didn't really get much of anything in that series.

I would be all over one, pretty much everything I want in in a truck in one pretty decent looking package.
We didn't get much, but there are a few floating around from most of the generations. A fair number of FJ-40's, but good luck finding an FJ-45 pickup. I can only remember seeing one over the years. All over South America, though. Beautiful rigs.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,206
Reaction score
17,520
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
We didn't get much, but there are a few floating around from most of the generations. A fair number of FJ-40's, but good luck finding an FJ-45 pickup. I can only remember seeing one over the years. All over South America, though. Beautiful rigs.
In middle school one of my friend's dads had an FJ-40, I thought it was just a Jeep knockoff at the time.

I have seen one 80 series in real life and it was in Omaha. I was following it, I think it was a troop carrier. The kids in the back were sitting along the sides looking at each other and they had a table set up in the middle.

It kinda stinks, even if I was able to sneak up on one (ha!) nobody would know anything about it locally and nobody would have any parts in stock for it.
 

fastpakr

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
U.S. Military - Veteran
V8 Engine Swap
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
7,991
Reaction score
2,792
Points
113
Location
Roanoke, VA
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
285/75-16
I'm surprised you haven't seen more of the recent models. They are far from common here, but not exactly rare either. There's one around the corner from my house actually. Between those and the Lexus LX derivative, I probably see one at least weekly.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,206
Reaction score
17,520
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
I'm surprised you haven't seen more of the recent models. They are far from common here, but not exactly rare either. There's one around the corner from my house actually. Between those and the Lexus LX derivative, I probably see one at least weekly.
4Runners and their Lexus GX relatives are pretty common in Omaha.

On the website there are two new Land Cruisers for sale between the two Toyota dealers in Omaha...

The nearest dealer is over an hour away, Toyota doesn't have a real strong following out here in the sticks.
 

sgtsandman

Aircraft Fuel Tank Diver
TRS Forum Moderator
U.S. Military - Active
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Ham Radio Operator
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Mar 11, 2017
Messages
12,695
Reaction score
12,388
Points
113
Location
Aliquippa, PA
Vehicle Year
2011/2019
Make / Model
Ranger XLT/FX4
Engine Size
4.0 SOHC/2.3 Ecoboost
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Pre-2008 lift/Stock
Tire Size
31X10.5R15/265/65R17
Im not a yota guy at all...but id drive the piss out of that
They don't meet the Safety Nazi's crash and emission standards, so Toyota won't bring them here. They have their down sides, like anything, but we have to be "better" than the rest of the world and Toyota doesn't want to invest the money to make them U.S. compliant. I can't really blame Toyota for that.
 

rusty ol ranger

Im a Jeep guy now.
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,267
Reaction score
7,274
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
They don't meet the Safety Nazi's crash and emission standards, so Toyota won't bring them here. They have their down sides, like anything, but we have to be "better" than the rest of the world and Toyota doesn't want to invest the money to make them U.S. compliant. I can't really blame Toyota for that.
Thats like state farm...charging me 10 dollars less for PLPD on my 77 then they were charging for full coverage on my wifes at the time 3 year old escape.

"It doesnt have air bags or ABS" they said...

And i said...

"Exactly how i like it".
 

19Walt93

Well-Known Member
Ford Technician
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Nov 13, 2018
Messages
4,475
Reaction score
4,412
Points
113
Location
Canaan,NH
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
351
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Drop
3"
Tire Size
235/55R16
My credo
If you don't have time to do it right will you have time to do it over?
Before the last body style change on the Super Duties the F150 bed was 4-5" higher than an F250, when I stood beside one the bed rail was even with my shoulder making the truck useless in my opinion. I had an 89 F150 4x4 for a decade that was actually useful, I could reach over the bed rail and grab a bag of trash, for example, without a ladder. One of my former techs had a Land Cruiser that he thought was the greatest 4x4 ever, our old Body Shop manager got sick of listening to him. They chained the Yota to the rear bumper of his 429 swapped 70 F150 and had a pull off. He was dragging the Land Cruiser backwards so fast around the back yard at the shop that I thought it was going to roll over. The bragging stopped.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,206
Reaction score
17,520
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
Tug of wars are a worthless way to measure a vehicle...

They are not "the best" 4wd, they are pretty incredible though. A Jeep would tear one apart on a technical trail but the LC will take a pounding better.

I like them because they are built how I would build a truck.
 

rusty ol ranger

Im a Jeep guy now.
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,267
Reaction score
7,274
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
Tug of wars are a worthless way to measure a vehicle...

They are not "the best" 4wd, they are pretty incredible though. A Jeep would tear one apart on a technical trail but the LC will take a pounding better.

I like them because they are built how I would build a truck.
Better then an old CJ? Thatd be interesting to see.

If we are talking about anything post chrysler...then yes i could see it.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
Chrysler sucks.
 

97RangerXLT

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
6,738
Reaction score
3,841
Points
113
Location
Fishers, IN
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2"
Tire Size
31"
The only thing that Chrysler could make that wouldn't suck is a vacuum cleaner...

although I gotta say I do like their Charger/ Challenger/ LX series cars, but the reliability is for crap. I could probably overlook that reliability if Chrysler would drop a Hellcat Charger in my driveway tho

AJ
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top