anyone own a sport trac?

[JohnnyO]

Just make sure you're looking at a 4x4 if that's what you want. Used 4x2 Sport Tracs sell for considerably less than the 4x4 models. The cheap ones that show up on the Internet are almost invariably 4x2's, although there is a guy in the club who lives in Ohio with a 4x2 that he put a Powertrax No-Slip rear in along with Blizzak tires and he says he goes everywhere in the winter with no problems.

 

[blue83ranger]

yeah i definitely want a 4x4

 

[camodown]

I've thought about taking my ranger lift stuff and putting it into a sport trac to have 4 doors. I like the looks of them lifted.

and if they would of offered the v8 in the first gen, it would already be done

 

[JohnnyO]

While I think about it, in the Sport Trac's first year there are sort of two models. We call them Job 1 and Job 2. The Job 1's are early 2001's and some of the parts are different, such as the oil filter and the emissions hardware, plus the rear window is fixed and doesn't power down like most Sport Tracs and '63 Mercurys. I'd recommend looking for an '03 or newer to get the 4 wheel disc brakes and by then the timing chain issues were fixed.

 

[kossdust]

I just switched to an 02 4x4 sport trac. At first I was not really into it but I have grown to love it. I feel at home in the truck but a much nicer home compared to the old 98 mazda b2500

I have 161k miles on this one with no issues really (grandfather owned it before me). I kind of expected a little more pep when i switched from the 2.5 to the 4.0 when I stomp on the gas. It seems to take the transmission awhile to shift and let the engine rev up but maybe I am just use to a manual. Also braking is not as fast. I take into account both are due to the weight of the sport trac when compared to the ranger.

I drive past my cross dressed ranger every day on my way to work and feel a little heart tug (it was a long 10 year relationship) but then I roll the back window down and open the sunroof and hit the gas and know I just got the rangers cousin.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Sport Tracs are different. The Gen 1 Trac ('01-'05) is based on the older '95-'01 Explorer and uses the same t-case as a Ranger with no AWD. There are 4x2 Sport Tracs in all years also.

The Gen 2 Sport Trac ('07-'10) is based on the '02+ Explorer and most use a 4-Auto, 4-Hi, 4-Lo t-case. 4-Auto is not AWD, rather the computer kicks in the front axle if it detects slippage. '07+ Sport Trac Adrenalins use an AWD t-case with no low range. Gen 2 Tracs also have no limited-slip available and use traction control instead, which in deep snow I hate.

Without really saying that is kind of what I meant, I was refering to the second gen Sport Trac.

 

[jhammel85]

We had an inlaw that one one...one stout truck! However, she had battery issues, (AKA WORN OUT BATTERY!!) and gave it up for a colorado.

 

[blue83ranger]

I have another question, i noticed when people mention the years of sport tracs they don't include '06. Were they not made in '06?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have another question, i noticed when people mention the years of sport tracs they don't include '06. Were they not made in '06?

Kind of - sort of - not really

The '07's were released in early '06. So they were made in '06 but not as an '06.

Ford likes to do that...

 

[strvger]

Don't let the front and rear IRS dissuade you. I know people hate Hondas but our Pilot, which we have had for 5 years now, is such an awesome vehicle that you shouldn't give a single thought to independent suspension. My wife's parents have a cabin on Lake Monroe and it's 5 miles of washboard. In my crewcab diesel the damned rear end of the truck floats back and forth across the road and I can barely do 30mph. The Pilot doesn't even register the washboard and I do 50 on the straight-aways and 35 on the curves. It's amazingly smooth on the rough stuff. It takes the long drive (which we do very often in the summer) and makes it a short one.

Obviously I don't take my wife's car offroad, but one day when she buys a new one, I will. And with a rear locking axle and a short WB I won't be afraid to see what it will traverse.

wow, sounds lust like my Kia Sportage. excellent 4wd, tough enough suspension, etc. i even managed to get taller tires on it! like the Honda, people trash talk them, but they work... and at about $20k with that 100k warranty just makes it all the sweeter!

 

[Ranger Kip]

basically the end result of Ford eating an Exploder and F150, and throwing it up, it may look ugly, but with a little polish, it can be ugly AND shiny!

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Why is it ugly? I think they are rather sharp, but i'm partial to them as I own one.

 

[Frank The Tank]

Stock they are unproportional and uggly as sin one runs around town and it looks like it's on donuts.......... the lifted one looked very nice however.
But eh that's just me.

Frank

 

[JohnnyO]

Stock they are unproportional and uggly as sin one runs around town and it looks like it's on donuts.......... the lifted one looked very nice however.
But eh that's just me.

True, IMO. Here is a pic of my old Sport Trac with a torsion twist, rear shackles, and 265/75-16 tires.

The Gen 2's can't be lifted AFAIK other than a 2" coil spacer kit from Road Bully, which is discontinued.

 

[blue83ranger]

Thanks for everyone's reply's. As of now the plan is to look for an '03-'05 4x4 sport trac. If anything comes up i'll let everyone know but I'm usually pretty slow at getting stuff like this done. thanks again for all the info.