Best budget mods for 4x4 Ranger

[White_4x4Ranger]

Hello, I’m looking for mods for my 03 ranger XLT 4 x 4 that won’t break the bank. One thing I’ve looked into at this point are light pods from Harbor freight and the accompanying wire kit any more ideas preferably under $100.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Get out and use it, find its shortcoming for your needs and go from there.

Might be light pods, might be a tbar crank, might even be a new radio.

 

[Kira]

find its shortcoming for your needs and go from there.

This was my thought too.

I'd like the "Explorer Center Console" mod to replace the original in my Ranger but I don't think I have an international parts search in me.

 

[Uncle Gump]

The $100 price tag sure limits you options.

Not sure of your mileage... not sure you can classify this as a mod... but I would consider changing the timing chain tensioners. Those are always worth doing if you don't know if they've been replaced.

Typically... the first thing I do is install real gauges. Probably a bit more then a hundo. I chose an a-pillar gauge pod... oil pressure and voltmeter in my 06.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Clarification... Timing chain tensioners... if you have the 4.0L SOHC.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Lights are cool but you can get em anywhere...HF/Wally world/autozone etc will have cheap but usable light bars. I added a really loud air horn from one of those places, its fun and useful.

Id highly suggest a leveling kit for the front and good shocks like bilsteins. Way cheaper than a lift kit, easier to install and really improves stance and handling.

Lastly engine wise Id suggest and exhaust system and maybe electric fan conversion, both which can be done cheap. I bought a muffler and welded it myself...but kits aren't so expensive either. Maybe a tuning chip....I cant mess with engine much being in CA w/ the SMOG checks.

Oh and you might want to look into manual hub conversion if you plan to off road adventure.

 

[Lefty]

I got these two round Hella fog lights for $60 on sale. The Ranger Edge did not come with tow loops on the front end, so I bought these for $30,00 at the Upull. The headlights also cost a little more than $100.00

I got new tail lights for about $60.00. These came with an extra socket and bulb which makes them brighter.

I just had a limited slip installed on the back end, so I bought this new chrome differential cover for about $40.00

When I noticed that the pickup bed was rusting out, I went retro and installed and oak bed for about a hundred. Then a tool box for sixty, then the extra wood trim for the sides for another sixty.

 

[Josh B]

This was my thought too.

I'd like the "Explorer Center Console" mod to replace the original in my Ranger but I don't think I have an international parts search in me.

I have most of one but it may be older than what you want, and maybe not as good of shape.
I was thinking I'd put one in my 96 and picked one up at Picker's, they are rather complicated with all the screws they use, and their locations.
By the time I had it mostly together I had begun liking the home made box they had in it, with a padded top and leather grain vinyl cover. The previous owners liked it better because it could be slid out of the way and she could get in back with the baby easier

 

[Curious Hound]

I second the motion to "get out and use it first". You might find something g that really NEEDS to be done. But if you've spent your budget on frivolous things, you won't have money to do necessary repairs properly with good parts.

 

[Snoranger]

LED lights are not the first thing you should spend your money on. Yeah… they look cool, but you won’t need them 99% of the time. The first mods you should invest in are: (in no particular order.)

Better tires
Recovery points and equipment
Lift or leveling kit

Basically anything that you need to get back on the road at the end of the day.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I got these two round Hella fog lights for $60 on sale. The Ranger Edge did not come with tow loops on the front end, so I bought these for $30,00 at the Upull. The headlights also cost a little more than $100.00

View attachment 103771

I got new tail lights for about $60.00. These came with an extra socket and bulb which makes them brighter.

View attachment 103772

I just had a limited slip installed on the back end, so I bought this new chrome differential cover for about $40.00

View attachment 103774

When I noticed that the pickup bed was rusting out, I went retro and installed and oak bed for about a hundred. Then a tool box for sixty, then the extra wood trim for the sides for another sixty.

View attachment 103775

That's a really cool looking bed. Is it in a build thread here somewhere?

 

[Lefty]

That's a really cool looking bed. Is it in a build thread here somewhere?

I posted a couple fotos last year when I put it in. It was a pretty easy build and rather straight forward so I did not go into a lot of detail. I have a tonneau cover to keep the weather off but most of the time I leave it open.

It seems to have withstood the test of time and worked out pretty well. It has a polyurethane finish which needs to be touched up every once in a while. The rails and the uprights along the sides provide for a number of good tie points to help with securing smaller loads.

A cheaper version could be made with Douglas fir.

 

[Josh B]

I got these two round Hella fog lights for $60 on sale. The Ranger Edge did not come with tow loops on the front end, so I bought these for $30,00 at the Upull. The headlights also cost a little more than $100.00

View attachment 103771

I got new tail lights for about $60.00. These came with an extra socket and bulb which makes them brighter.

View attachment 103772

I just had a limited slip installed on the back end, so I bought this new chrome differential cover for about $40.00

View attachment 103774

When I noticed that the pickup bed was rusting out, I went retro and installed and oak bed for about a hundred. Then a tool box for sixty, then the extra wood trim for the sides for another sixty.

View attachment 103775

Now it needs a ladder/lumber rack

 

[Lefty]

Now it needs a ladder/lumber rack

Oh, good idea!

 

[Josh B]

I was on a job and it was wrapping up, the roofers had a bunch of 1 1/4 inch angles they wanted gone so I load em up and took em home.
The next morning I had a ladder rack built with some of them and said now I'm ready for yall to do some serious tossing!
I had used a company portable bandsaw and on the two top rails they ran well past the main frame and I cut an angle on the ends.
Some laborer after work we were all out front and he asked why I had cut an angle into it, I said "It makes the truck go faster"
I was driving the 87 Ranger then with I guess a 2.9. It would Not pull in 5th (overdrive) unless I was going downhill. After That job we all got layoffs and I rode it out because I wanted to get on a larger project they had starting that fall in downtown Nashville.
Through the summer I got into Ebay and it was cool as hell then. I was buying all sorts of stuff off government auctions, a lot of which were computers coming from Huntsville AL NASA Headquarters.
Driving down there was a long downhill slope which came to be near the only place I could use the OD in it