Hood gas struts - recommendation

[mikkelstuff]

I want to add hood gas struts to my 2002 Ranger. Any recommendations for sources to buy?

 

[2011Supercab]

There should be a write up here somewhere about using the hinges and struts from an Explorer

 

[Blmpkn]

I know that there are universal kits available to add struts to hoods and stuff.. probably a little more measuring & work than using the explorer stuff.. but may end up being cheaper.

 

[sgtsandman]

These are the ones I found:

Redline Tuning is the leader in Hood QuickLIFT Systems (gas springs, struts, dampers, lifters) for all vehicles that have an OEM prop rod.

Warrior® - Hood Lift Support

Hood Lift Support by Warrior®. Includes: Struts and Brackets. Our online store is ready to provide you with this 1st-rate Warrior product designed to meet your specific needs and and protect your adventure lifestyle. Warrior HL 21318

www.carid.com

I haven't pulled the trigger on either of them myself but it is a definite want at some point. The 2019 showed me what I was missing.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Dunno about the newer Rangers but the older ones have hinges welded to the firewall... so the swap is kinda involved.

I have a set off an explorer in the barn but I havent been that hard up enough for entertainment to open that can of worms yet.

 

[sgtsandman]

Dunno about the newer Rangers but the older ones have hinges welded to the firewall... so the swap is kinda involved.

I have a set off an explorer in the barn but I havent been that hard up enough for entertainment to open that can of worms yet.

The strut ones bolt to the fender and the hood and don't involve messing with the hinges. I imagine the old coil spring design that can be found in older vehicles would probably have much more longevity but like you mentioned, way more involved to install.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The strut ones bolt to the fender and the hood and don't involve messing with the hinges. I imagine the old coil spring design that can be found in older vehicles would probably have much more longevity but like you mentioned, way more involved to install.

Factory 95+ Explorers have the strut on the hinge and bolt to the firewall. Very clean looking.

Never really thought about it before but I don't know if/when the Ranger went to bolt on hinges. If they did it would be a fairly easy swap.

 

[don4331]

I think it is like the Explorer axle install - you need 2 of the one of the Explorer hinges (either left or right). Let me look in parts bucket this evening.

It is very bolt in swap:

Pull hinges off '95-00 Explorer- 2 bolts on hood, 2 on firewall​

Remove Ranger hinge (for sure works '98 to '11) - same bolts on firewall/hood​

Install Explorer hinge where Ranger hinge was​

 

[sgtsandman]

Factory 95+ Explorers have the strut on the hinge and bolt to the firewall. Very clean looking.

Never really thought about it before but I don't know if/when the Ranger went to bolt on hinges. If they did it would be a fairly easy swap.

I'm guilty of it myself. I know the hinges bolt to the hood on both the 1998 and the 2011 but I never paid much attention to how they fasten to the firewall. Generally the only time I look at them is when I'm spraying white lithium grease on the hing pin and never really looked at how it's mounted.

 

[JoshT]

The explorer struts are doable, but I don't think it's exactly a bolt in swap. Like sgtsandman and 85_Ranger4x4 both said, I haven't paid close enough attemtion to my hinges to see how they are attached tot he firewall. That said my brain is screaming that it isn't a simple bolt on. Maybe a simple bolt off from the Explorer, but not that easy attaching to the Ranger. Ofcourse the idea when I had looked into it previously was to do it on a first gen Ranger.

I was going to recommend Reline like sgtsandman did. If I do struts on a first gen that's the route I've taking. Probably on the 99 as well, but this thread has me wanting to take a closer look at its firewall. I wonder if they would be strong enough to support the heavier fiberglass Edge hood.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The explorer struts are doable, but I don't think it's exactly a bolt in swap. Like sgtsandman and 85_Ranger4x4 both said, I haven't paid close enough attemtion to my hinges to see how they are attached tot he firewall. That said my brain is screaming that it isn't a simple bolt on. Maybe a simple bolt off from the Explorer, but not that easy attaching to the Ranger. Ofcourse the idea when I had looked into it previously was to do it on a first gen Ranger.

I was going to recommend Reline like sgtsandman did. If I do struts on a first gen that's the route I've taking. Probably on the 99 as well, but this thread has me wanting to take a closer look at its firewall. I wonder if they would be strong enough to support the heavier fiberglass Edge hood.

Hinge replacement from the 83 body manual:

 

[Josh B]

When I got the 96 Explorer it had a broken strut that I replaced and made the hood sorta float right up there.
It did not pass me by that the 93 Ranger hood was much more difficult to lift and prop up, not to mention the post always being in the way

I realized it would be an improvement too but never really got much past that thought
I will however be giving it more thought in the future

 

[2Krngr]

The OP has a 2002 so the he has bolted in hinges. I currently have 2 rangers with this hinge swap. It 'bolts' on, but the explorer hinges have a wider bolt pattern. So you have drill new holes, I just crimped nut-serts into the firewall and bolted the hinges right on.

In my 2000 I had to user 2 DRIVER side Explorer Hinges, and on my 2006 (which has the newer hood/grille style I had to use one each of LEFT AND RIGHT from the Explorer to line up with the hood. The firewall locations seemed to be identical so I guess the 04+ hood has different bolt spacing than the prior years). The hood also opens higher than it did with the prop rod now.

Hinges at my junkyard are $5ea and new Monroe gas struts are $7ea (as of Amazon's current price right now), I doubt any aftermarket strut add-on kit is cheaper than a $25 solution that is OEM fit and function..

https://www.amazon.com/Monroe-901340-Max-Lift-Charged-Support/dp/B000COVXDM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KD61ZAMV005X&keywords=Monroe+901340&qid=1676314755&s=automotive&sprefix=monroe+901340%2Cautomotive%2C335&sr=1-1

Here is the 2000

 

[joey74]

The OP has a 2002 so the he has bolted in hinges. I currently have 2 rangers with this hinge swap. It 'bolts' on, but the explorer hinges have a wider bolt pattern. So you have drill new holes, I just crimped nut-serts into the firewall and bolted the hinges right on.

In my 2000 I had to user 2 DRIVER side Explorer Hinges, and on my 2006 (which has the newer hood/grille style I had to use one each of LEFT AND RIGHT from the Explorer to line up with the hood. The firewall locations seemed to be identical so I guess the 04+ hood has different bolt spacing than the prior years). The hood also opens higher than it did with the prop rod now.

Hinges at my junkyard are $5ea and new Monroe gas struts are $7ea (as of Amazon's current price right now), I doubt any aftermarket strut add-on kit is cheaper than a $25 solution that is OEM fit and function..

https://www.amazon.com/Monroe-901340-Max-Lift-Charged-Support/dp/B000COVXDM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KD61ZAMV005X&keywords=Monroe+901340&qid=1676314755&s=automotive&sprefix=monroe+901340%2Cautomotive%2C335&sr=1-1

Here is the 2000

where did you get that bumper

 

[2Krngr]

where did you get that bumper

Ordered it from Godfathers same week I bought the truck way back in 2000...