New ranger owner and new to the forum

[atomsquirrel96]

Greetings from LA (not Los Angeles). Just got my “new” Ranger. Fresh off a used car lot. Doesn’t even have the plate yet. Very cleanish 2011. XL model with the 4 cylinder and a manual. Traded a 2017 Jeep for it and got money back. Probably the worst deal ever to someone out there, but it made sense in my head. Just kinda looking for some fun modification ideas for it (already researched adding cruise control, does not look fun)

 

[dvdswan]

Welcome to the site.

 

[Lefty]

Welcome to the Forum!

There are some things common to forum members. You can look up the threads if you like. I joined because the information here has been rock solid and so has been the advice.

Here's a short list of modifications popular with the members if this is what you are looking for:

Upgraded wheels and tires: INHO the very best and most visible upgrade
Electric fan to improve mileage and horsepower
Raising/lowering the truck
Adding dual exhausts
K&N Performance intake filter

I put a winch on mine....just behind the front valance, totally superfluous except I live in snow country
I added Fender flares because I bought oversize tires. I got them at the junkyard
I found a read sliding window at the junkyard and installed it.

I highly recommend a tonneau cover. A lot of Ford tail gates retain water and rust out

Some of us have painted our frames. It turns out that Ford did not do use good paint on them

Others have swapped rear axels and installed disc brakes in back, maybe if yours is 2WD, a differential with a locker or limited slip

I had over 100,000 on mine. I did the Seafoam treatment in the gas (Cleans out the injectors), in the crank case, and directly into the engine

A few have bought brush guards or bull bars or maybe side step rails along with fog lights.

Enjoy your Ranger. It's a good truck!

 

[atomsquirrel96]

Welcome to the Forum!

There are some things common to forum members. You can look up the threads if you like. I joined because the information here has been rock solid and so has been the advice.

Here's a short list of modifications popular with the members if this is what you are looking for:

Upgraded wheels and tires: INHO the very best and most visible upgrade
Electric fan to improve mileage and horsepower
Raising/lowering the truck
Adding dual exhausts
K&N Performance intake filter

I put a winch on mine....just behind the front valance, totally superfluous except I live in snow country
I added Fender flares because I bought oversize tires. I got them at the junkyard
I found a read sliding window at the junkyard and installed it.

I highly recommend a tonneau cover. A lot of Ford tail gates retain water and rust out

Some of us have painted our frames. It turns out that Ford did not do use good paint on them

Others have swapped rear axels and installed disc brakes in back, maybe if yours is 2WD, a differential with a locker or limited slip

I had over 100,000 on mine. I did the Seafoam treatment in the gas (Cleans out the injectors), in the crank case, and directly into the engine

A few have bought brush guards or bull bars or maybe side step rails along with fog lights.

Enjoy your Ranger. It's a good truck!

I did buy some LEDs for the headlights. Waiting on those to arrive. Also, I upgraded the stock head unit to a Kenwood and the stock speakers to some brand I’ve never heard of. I do need to modify the driver door dome light switch because it got damaged somehow. It does have a spray in bed liner from the previous owner. I thought about some suspension upgrades because it does beat you up driving down the road. Air ride? Off-road? It’s rear wheel, but I bet that could be changed. Anyway, thank you for the tips!

 

[Lefty]

I did buy some LEDs for the headlights. Waiting on those to arrive. Also, I upgraded the stock head unit to a Kenwood and the stock speakers to some brand I’ve never heard of. I do need to modify the driver door dome light switch because it got damaged somehow. It does have a spray in bed liner from the previous owner. I thought about some suspension upgrades because it does beat you up driving down the road. Air ride? Off-road? It’s rear wheel, but I bet that could be changed. Anyway, thank you for the tips!

That's a very clean looking Ranger! A small thing to consider is pinstripes. It may not be much, but it makes the truck look like it just rolled off the show room floor: something fun to do before you wax it up.

 

[Lefty]

A lot of members swear by Bilstein shocks. I dunno. I tend to think a shock is just a shock, but I'm not a mechanic. Yes, and some members have air lifts.

 

[Craig0320]

Welcome.

 

[racsan]

Welcome to t.r.s. You really cant go wrong with a ranger. Lots of great ideas/information and inspiration here. Id consider going from a jeep to a ranger a good upgrade in itself. Im on my 5th ranger myself, all but 2 of them were 4 cyl trucks. My current ranger is a (mostly) ‘94 with many parts from other rangers. My best “bang for the buck” modification was changing out the stock 3.45 rear axle for a ‘98 4.10 geared rear end. A hurst shifter is a close 2nd.

 

[superj]

welcome!! my grandma had a 2010 she bought brand new and it rode like a wagon. i don't know why it did but she got rid of it really quickly because of that

 

[Blmpkn]

Welcome.

I had a 2010 just like yours before I got my 2021, and loved it.

I swapped the gears to 4.10s and added a Yukon Duragrip limited slip diff, put it on 30x9.5 mud terrains, and built a flat bed for it. Put bilstiens on it when the shocks that came in it blew out.

Lifting 2wds of that era is a potential pain in the ass. When I had the truck, none of the available lift spindles played well with the abs/trac/stability systems, you'd get a menagerie of dash lights on and I wouldn't of been able to get an inspection sticker.

Coil spacers work, but don't offer as much lift and affect ride quality. 1" spacers won't affect the ride quality THAT much.. but 2" definitely would.

(I have a pair of 1" spacers and camber bolts for sale if you want them lol)


Don't bother with dual exhausts, cold air intakes, chips, or even the k&n drop in filters.. at best they won't do anything for performance and at worst they'll award you with less performance. If your after form over function... go for it. It's your truck after all.

 

[atomsquirrel96]

Welcome.

I had a 2010 just like yours before I got my 2021, and loved it.

I swapped the gears to 4.10s and added a Yukon Duragrip limited slip diff, put it on 30x9.5 mud terrains, and built a flat bed for it. Put bilstiens on it when the shocks that came in it blew out.

View attachment 86223

Lifting 2wds of that era is a potential pain in the ass. When I had the truck, none of the available lift spindles played well with the abs/trac/stability systems, you'd get a menagerie of dash lights on and I wouldn't of been able to get an inspection sticker.

Coil spacers work, but don't offer as much lift and affect ride quality. 1" spacers won't affect the ride quality THAT much.. but 2" definitely would.

(I have a pair of 1" spacers and camber bolts for sale if you want them lol)


Don't bother with dual exhausts, cold air intakes, chips, or even the k&n drop in filters.. at best they won't do anything for performance and at worst they'll award you with less performance. If your after form over function... go for it. It's your truck after all.

I don’t plan on doing any cosmetic mods. What’s the 2021 Ranger like? I like your 2010 one. I thought for like 2 minutes about getting wheels and tires that would fill in the panel gap a little and make it look sleeker, but I wouldn’t even know where to start with that. I just like that the truck offers a good platform for doing things considering how simple it is. Doesn’t look like there are a lot of macguffins to go wrong. My Jeep I traded was full of electric stuff that could go wrong in the future and be nearly impossible to replace without taking it to a dealership

 

[Blmpkn]

I don’t plan on doing any cosmetic mods. What’s the 2021 Ranger like? I like your 2010 one. I thought for like 2 minutes about getting wheels and tires that would fill in the panel gap a little and make it look sleeker, but I wouldn’t even know where to start with that. I just like that the truck offers a good platform for doing things considering how simple it is. Doesn’t look like there are a lot of macguffins to go wrong. My Jeep I traded was full of electric stuff that could go wrong in the future and be nearly impossible to replace without taking it to a dealership

I just rolled over 33k miles on the 21 and it's been flawless so far. It's taken me places my old 2wd couldn't even dream of AND let's me haul around 30+ year old GMs like it's nobody's business lol.

I love the truck. Wouldn't hesitate to purchase again.

 

[DrWho42]

welcome to the forums!