Something I've noticed about people's opinions on the new Ford Ranger

[planeflyer21]

That's funny bill.

My '99 has a 6' bed. I was walking by a friend in his crew cab Silverado as he was leaving, he stopped to say "Hi."

I said "Yours is fatter but mine's longer."

"Okay. WTH are you talking about?" Truck beds. What else? His is 5'7" or so.

I'm amazed at how big an actual full-length bed looks now days.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

IMO , a truck only qualifys as a truck if the bed is longer then the cab. If the cab is bigger then the bed its obvious why you purchased the truck.

 

[planeflyer21]

Crew cab trucks are industry's answer to vehicle luxury tax of x-amount over $30,000.

More profit for the manufacturer, more vehicle for the consumer. Last time I checked (a few years ago) the difference between a consumer market pickup and the same company's fleet truck was 1/4 to 1/3 in price.

 

[wildbill23c]

That's funny bill.

My '99 has a 6' bed. I was walking by a friend in his crew cab Silverado as he was leaving, he stopped to say "Hi."

I said "Yours is fatter but mine's longer."

"Okay. WTH are you talking about?" Truck beds. What else? His is 5'7" or so.

I'm amazed at how big an actual full-length bed looks now days.

If I buy a truck its for hauling and towing. A short bed is pretty dumb for hauling needs...if someone buys a new truck with a bed shorter than 6 feet its not being used as a truck, its nothing more than a luxury car with an open trunk...I assume because their purse won't fit in the trunk of a luxury car LOL.

Anyhow, when I had my 08 Toyota Tundra I thought the 6-1/2' bed would be fine, but not really, trying to haul stuff was a PITA...course I downsized from a 1988 F250 super cab 4x4 with the 8' bed...yeah there's a reason my 88 F250 is still around and the Toyota Tundra isn't. When I want to haul something I know it'll fit in the F250 much better.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If I buy a truck its for hauling and towing. A short bed is pretty dumb for hauling needs...if someone buys a new truck with a bed shorter than 6 feet its not being used as a truck, its nothing more than a luxury car with an open trunk...I assume because their purse won't fit in the trunk of a luxury car LOL.

Anyhow, when I had my 08 Toyota Tundra I thought the 6-1/2' bed would be fine, but not really, trying to haul stuff was a PITA...course I downsized from a 1988 F250 super cab 4x4 with the 8' bed...yeah there's a reason my 88 F250 is still around and the Toyota Tundra isn't. When I want to haul something I know it'll fit in the F250 much better.

You know what they say about assuming right?

Guess what? In addition to owning an '85 Ranger with a 7' bed I also own a pickup box trailer made from yet another longbed Ranger. How many longbeds should a guy own?



I don't haul a lot of big stuff like plywood in the back of a pickup. I do tow a fair amount but that is still up in the air yet as Ford has not released any numbers on the new Ranger. As for towing stability the new Ranger (either cab/bed configuration) has over a foot and a half more wheelbase than my '85.

 

[2002edgeplussupercab]

IMO , a truck only qualifys as a truck if the bed is longer then the cab. If the cab is bigger then the bed its obvious why you purchased the truck.

We agree.

 

[2002edgeplussupercab]

Crew cab trucks are industry's answer to vehicle luxury tax of x-amount over $30,000.

More profit for the manufacturer, more vehicle for the consumer. Last time I checked (a few years ago) the difference between a consumer market pickup and the same company's fleet truck was 1/4 to 1/3 in price.

I've never had to pay a so-called luxury tax on my work trucks that cost $30000 or more. Sales tax on the sale amount, just like anything else. I've never heard of it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I've never had to pay a so-called luxury tax on my work trucks that cost $30000 or more. Sales tax on the sale amount, just like anything else. I've never heard of it.

The other edge to that sword is they rake you over the coals for an SUV or pickup in a lot of states for plates.

My '02 was grandfathered in at $65/year for a long time. Shortly after I bought it in 2005 they started going off of list price.

http://www.iowataxandtags.org/vehicle-registration/registration-fees-by-vehicle-type/

 

[rusty ol ranger]

65 a year would be great.

My 97 is 125/yr, the 77 is 85/yr Ranger is 68/yr.

Not to mention the 300 bucks a month i pay in insurance, and thats AFTER dropping the 77, and a clean driving record.

 

[Craig0320]

My tag is 23 bux a year. After 25 years I can buy and antique tag and never have to buy another one.

 

[planeflyer21]

I've never had to pay a so-called luxury tax on my work trucks that cost $30000 or more. Sales tax on the sale amount, just like anything else. I've never heard of it.

Exactly my point.

When Congress passed the "luxury tax," it was on pleasure boats, personal aircraft, and passenger cars over $30k.

A pickup isn't a passenger car...or wasn't then.

So everything over $30k is for the dealer/manufacturer with a crew cab "pickup truck."

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Exactly my point.

When Congress passed the "luxury tax," it was on pleasure boats, personal aircraft, and passenger cars over $30k.

A pickup isn't a passenger car...or wasn't then.

So everything over $30k is for the dealer/manufacturer with a crew cab "pickup truck."

It died in 2002.

http://www.autos.com/car-buying/understanding-luxury-car-tax-and-why-the-rate-is-different

https://finance.zacks.com/luxury-car-tax-2219.html

65 a year would be great.

My 97 is 125/yr, the 77 is 85/yr Ranger is 68/yr.

Not to mention the 300 bucks a month i pay in insurance, and thats AFTER dropping the 77, and a clean driving record.

I just got my renewal thing in the mail tonight. My F-150 which is apparently still on the old scale is $36/yr. My Ranger which is on the new one (with vanity plates for an extra $5) is $56/yr. I need to check into registering it as an antique. Not that $56 is bad but it is irritating an '85 is $20 more a year than an '02.

 

[Will]

A pallet of Quikrete fits in a 5' bed with room to spare. Heck, you could get 2 in there.

Truck or not a truck--the answer, to me, is in the rear axle. If you have a full-floating axle, you worry about the tires because you aren't going to break anything else.

If you have a semi-floater...it isn't really meant to carry that much...weight.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

A pallet of Quikrete fits in a 5' bed with room to spare. Heck, you could get 2 in there.

Truck or not a truck--the answer, to me, is in the rear axle. If you have a full-floating axle, you worry about the tires because you aren't going to break anything else.

If you have a semi-floater...it isn't really meant to carry that much...weight.

I agree with you on the axles, although i have (over) loaded the royal piss out of many semi floats and never had an issue. I loaded Rusty #1 once up with 27 bundles of ashphalt shingles, IIRC they are 70-90lbs a bundle...

That being said though, i just couldnt live with a bed that short. I haul hay, firewood, dirt, stuff like that. A rangers 7 ft bed is the shortest id ever wanna go. No way id buy a fullsize with a shortbox, be further ahead with a expediton/suburban with a 10ft trailer.

 

[planeflyer21]

Most people bulk-out a load well before getting declared gross payload.