If you could do it over again

[Boghog1]

I am hoping to learn by the mistakes of others

Anyway. I am in the market for a truck and looking to make it a class VI runner weekend camper, hunting, fishing, running to the dump and getting supplies for the "honey do" list rig.

So the question is if you could do anything over in building your truck what would it be. I'll give you an example:

on my 88 Cherokee I had I would have stuck with 31" tires instead of cutting the fenders and throwing on 33s. I would have also started with a 5 speed stick instead of the auto.

 

[LearjetMinako]

A 4.0L V-6 and 4x4. Everything else can remain the same.

 

[straycat]

Ok, my turn... on my 99 Ranger lifted 2wd with 33x12.5's

I guess I would have not put on the 3 bl. Maybe 1 or a 2 inch at the most. The 5 inch suspension lift I installed was great with the 33's and it looked great as it was. After I kept looking at it and wondering how it would look with a bit more lift I just wanted to bring it up a bit more. As it was without the bl, nothing rubbed and I took it out trail riding a bunch of times. Maybe I would not have put on the 1 inch rear lift blocks. I still think they cause some vibration...but I could be wrong. Here is some shots with the suspension lift and then later when I added the 3 inch bl.

This is the next summer right after I added the 3 inch bl. The bl makes some creaking and poping noises once in awhile but it is a realy firm setup. Maybe a bit lower it would be real nice and less noisy?

Straycat

 

[Chance]

Woulda got a ttb ranger rather than sla

Oh and a 4.0 instead of the 3.0

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Would have gotten a 4.0L over the 3.0L and 4.10's with L/S would have been nice.

 

[sloth69mustang]

+1 for having a 4.0l. only thing my truck is lacking from stock. manual everything is a plus

 

[crawlin91]

4.0l

 

[Grunizzle]

manual transfer case, installed poly bushings same time as my body lift...

 

[r1hatman]

I wish I had a extra or king cab, I feel claustrophobic in my cab, especially I since I have to lean the seat up a little more for my new speaker box.

 

[hoosier1104]

I love my truck but I would get 4x4 w/ 4.0L. I would get an FX4 and call it a day. There is one on the lot where I bought mine.

http://www.mikespreowned.com/preowned_inventory.php

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

If I could do my Ranger over again?.....

Diesel 4x4 supercab xlt.

Too bad you can't get such a thing in the U.S. except a scattering of early 80's diesel Rangers that are next to impossible to get parts for.

I got a 3.0L 5-speed 2wd xlt supercab with the higher GVWR package and it did a great job. Sometimes it would have been nice to have a lil more go, but it's done everything I asked of it, so I'm not really sure I needed a 4.0L. And I used it like it was an F-250 4x4 most of the time, lol. Ran it for prolly two years then started upgrading. Put a limited slip rear in it, custom leaf packs, custom tint, custom stereo work, headlight blackouts, stainless brake lines (the hard lines on the frame), DOT4 brake fluid, class III hitch, etc. Just kept adding on with things I wanted or needed. There was times it would have been nice if it was a 4x4, but for the most part, 2wd and some driver skill was all that was required.

Now it's semi-retired and my F-150 is my new workhorse. Got to the point where I just really needed that 8' bed, as my work increased and my tool inventory increased, it was just getting too hard to stuff all the gear in the lil 6' Ranger bed. So I have my F-150 with a ladder rack and toolboxes and as soon as I get some money and time, I'll have an F-350 dump with toolboxes too. But I do construction an that's what's needed.

 

[Dweano]

Gotten an XLT with power windows/locks and A/C!! Frick my truck gets hot sometimes. Also...I might've gotten a newer truck with the SOHC...but then you can't have the TTB...so hard to say there...

 

[Original_Ranger84]

OH and I would include the Manual T-case! I hate the turn knob...

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Would have kept the 2.8 in the 85 after the lift and tires,shot it with a coat of paint and sold it.
Find a F-250 or 350 with a 460 and 60 axels,cut down the frame and put an X-cab ranger body on it.
If the right person comes along with the cheese for the 85 I will still do it.

 

[01_ranger_4x4]

if i could do it over again, i would have spent the $2500 i spent on my RCD lift and driveshaft and done a SAS instead. other than that, im happy with mine.