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Best starting upgrades for off-roading 1994 Ranger XLT


Dirtman

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It's up there.
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Round.
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I poop in the furnace.
And here is how it's plumbed. The oem steel line just got moved to the side. I should bend it over a bit more as I just now realized looking at the picture that the one hose is rubbing the radiator lol. It moves quite easily so I think I'll find a way to hold it over farther with some kind of bracket or a zip tie for now.

PXL_20210605_161126526.jpg
 
Last edited:


Dirtman

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It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.

sgtsandman

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Pre-2008 lift/Stock
Tire Size
31X10.5R15/265/65R17
The plate and fin type that Dirtman posted is the best style to get. The tube and fin style gets damaged to easily. One kicked up rock can take them out.
 

sgtsandman

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31X10.5R15/265/65R17
forsure I will look into the u joints, and I did not know that about all terrain tires. I will mostly be driving it on the street but plan to do a small amount of off-roading. My next set of tires I will look into getting some mud tires. For now I will just avoid mud lol, luckily it’s very dry in Colorado from June-September.
Most tires are like that really except for mud tires. A word of caution before you buy. Mud tires can be very loud and they wear faster because of the rubber they are made out of.

If you are going to be the occasional “weekend warrior”, All-Terrains are probably going to be a better match for your needs. They are more quiet, wear better, often times handle better, and can be less of a hit to fuel economy.
 

Dirtman

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The plate and fin type that Dirtman posted is the best style to get. The tube and fin style gets damaged to easily. One kicked up rock can take them out.
I always thought the other style was better... They sure cost alot more. I only got that one because it was dirt cheap.
 

RonD

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On my 1994 4x4 I did ball joints and front axle u-joints and then wheel bearings all at the same time
Then, of course, an alignment
Rotor, calipers and pads were OK
 

sgtsandman

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31X10.5R15/265/65R17
I always thought the other style was better... They sure cost alot more. I only got that one because it was dirt cheap.
Everything I’ve seen on the two types says plates are better. It may be that the wall thickness is bigger on the plate style. Or it’s because of the profile of the tube that the oil runs through.
 

Andy D

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How would I go about installing a second transmission cooler on my Ranger?
The cooler is a loop. You disconnect one line from the existng cooler. Connect the line to the 2nd cooler. Then use some line or hose to run to first cooler
 

RonD

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Actually the easier way is to find a mounting location for the cooler you get, and mount it......and then cut one of the metal transmission cooler lines going to radiator and use rubber hose to and from cooler to the cut metal line, cooler has no "direction" of flow thru it
There is no pressure in either line, but there is FLOW so double hose clamp each connection
 

sgtsandman

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Tire Size
31X10.5R15/265/65R17
My 2019 is the first automatic I’ve owned in a very long time. So, I may be incorrect.

I’ve read the best way to hook up an auxiliary cooler is to hook the output to the auxiliary first then have the plumbing run into the factory cooler.

The stated reasoning behind this is because some vehicles sense transmission temperature and will run the engine differently until the transmission warms up. With two coolers, the transmission oil could get too cool if run through the auxiliary cooler last. If run through the factory last, the engine coolant would warm the oil back up and prevent that from happening.

If that reasoning is incorrect, I’m sure that RonD, 19Walt93, or one of the others more in the know will correct it. I know it was a big issue with Hondas and could cause some long term problems if the oil was not reheated after getting too cool.
 

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Most tires are like that really except for mud tires. A word of caution before you buy. Mud tires can be very loud and they wear faster because of the rubber they are made out of.

If you are going to be the occasional “weekend warrior”, All-Terrains are probably going to be a better match for your needs. They are more quiet, wear better, often times handle better, and can be less of a hit to fuel economy.
I ran MT's on my truck for years, I think I got my first set around 07.

I just went to AT's last year hoping to get a little better mpg since I am driving it all over the country now.

Performance on trail rides is the same, I was the only guy with MT's in our little group in Southington and nobody had a issue. MPG/road manners didn't change. Might be a little quieter but with the windows down it is a wash anyway. Snow performance vastly improved, like no comparison.

I have no inclination to go back to MT's.
 

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ericbphoto

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Uncle Gump

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Watch the sales and I'm sure they can be had cheaper.

4WP has $250 off a set of 4 right now.
 

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