Check out these two Rangers for sale (and now a Bronco II)

[Jim Oaks]

If this was a 70-80 Pontiac Trans Am in this condition it would be worth $2k all day. Those cars are going to sell and you're going to get your money out of them. Rangers aren't good investments. They're money pits. If you fall into a really deep pit, you better be happy living there.

 

[Curious Hound]

. If you fall into a really deep pit, you better be happy living there.

I must be ecstatic. I just don't know it.

 

[RobbieD]

Rangers aren't good investments. They're money pits.

I understand where you're coming from, but from the standpoint of basic simple transportation, like a daily driver, I honestly feel that they can be a good investment.

The older ones especially; they're easy to maintain, are readily repairable and economical to operate (especially if the owner can do their own labor), and sound, clean older ones are only increasing in value. All of the RBV's that I've had, and have, were and are reliable.

I haven't had a car/truck monthly payment for 25 years now. I can go wherever I like, and I get a lot of enjoyment out of my little "collection". I'm not a slave to a dealership, or a bank, and most of them are worth more now than what I have in them.

They may not be collector high-status cars, but they are damn good, honest little trucks.

I guess that it depends a lot on what you have 'em for.

Sorry to buck you, Boss.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I understand where you're coming from, but from the standpoint of basic simple transportation, like a daily driver, I honestly feel that they can be a good investment.

The older ones especially; they're easy to maintain, are readily repairable and economical to operate (especially if the owner can do their own labor), and sound, clean older ones are only increasing in value. All of the RBV's that I've had, and have, were and are reliable.

I haven't had a car/truck monthly payment for 25 years now. I can go wherever I like, and I get a lot of enjoyment out of my little "collection". I'm not a slave to a dealership, or a bank, and most of them are worth more now than what I have in them.

They may not be collector high-status cars, but they are damn good, honest little trucks.

I guess that it depends a lot on what you have 'em for.

Sorry to buck you, Boss.

Ya, that's smart. I keep thinking of all the money I'd have id I wasn't making this truck payment. My son-in-law still drives the same 2004 Ford Escape he had in high school.

The other advantage to an older used vehicle is that it would save mileage and wear and tear on the new Ranger. I need to never have a payment again once this truck is paid off.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If this was a 70-80 Pontiac Trans Am in this condition it would be worth $2k all day. Those cars are going to sell and you're going to get your money out of them. Rangers aren't good investments. They're money pits. If you fall into a really deep pit, you better be happy living there.

 

[Brain75]

Apararently if you go in the local county tax office where you get your plates, they'll check the VIN and see if there's going to be a problem before you even bother applying for the title. You couldn't sell a car in Ohio without a title, and couldn't get a title with a bill of sale. Seems fairly common here.

In CO (my mom just did this in oct when she bought the '07 I keep referencing as "not mine, but I have to fix anything with it") they will tell you if the title is good over the phone, but will only tell you about leins if you go in in-person and stand in line - all you need at that point is the VIN but yes, absolutely correct for some states. CO requires both title and bill of sale to complete the change of ownership and issue a new title.

 

[Rick W]

I’m just catching up to this thread. I just skimmed it, but here are a couple thoughts

On the rusty Brown drug truck. A couple options. Maybe they have some extra drugs, and if you took them, it would seem like a better deal. Or maybe you could come with some drugs, and do some horse trading.

Second, some of you guys seem unsure about crazy girlfriends. I’ve got a couple extra if anybody needs one. I can find more, different types, if you give me a little time. At least I’ve always been able to. If you don’t know much about them, PM me, and give me a couple of thoughts, and I can tell you all about them. If you’ve never had one, it’s similar to. “ Hey, hold my beer and watch this!“ I can also provide research material on bipolar, crazy wives/satan.

On a serious note, I just looked on Facebook marketplace. There were 11 different rangers across the years that were under $2000 that were running and had a title according to the ad. There were two that were under 1000 bucks that were parts trucks. I bet 90% of them are southern trucks with little or no rust, certainly no rot.

The last time I checked, there were 22 Rangers in the three “pull a part” brand scrap yards. You can look at them on line. There are another half a dozen scrap yards around Atlanta with trucks.

I know it may seem like a long journey to come here with a trailer and grab one, but when I look at that brown one and the time it will take you to fix it up, even if your time is $10 an hour, you’ll come out better grab one of these that’s already running or rust free if you want a project.

As always, my two cents (except for the crazy girlfriend, wife stuff), and I hope it helps. If anybody ever saw something close to Atlanta that they wanted, checked out, I could do that.

 

[Rick W]

FYI

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There are dozens 1993 and up, but some of those are in the 1500 $2000 range.

 

[Jim Oaks]

​

I've been wanting to do an 80's theme build with a Rancho suspension, and I also like the idea of building something aged with some patina but looks new underneath and inside the cab.

I came across this 1988 Ford Bronco II. White with a red interior. It's pretty rust free with the exception of some surface rust on the rear wheel well where it has a little damage. It's got a few dings but basically, it's in really good shape.

I know, you're waiting for me to say it's solid.

It's really solid.

Its downfall is that it's 2WD and the engine and transmission is gone. It's also missing the spare tire carrier. It's appealing, but I told myself to pass.

But a day later I started thinking, I know where there's a Dana 35, automatic transmission and a transfer case from a 1997 Ford Ranger.

But it's white. I wasn't wanting to do white. I was thinking about more of a tan with red and orange stripes inspired by the GMC Jimmy Desert Fox.

So tonight, I'm sitting here working, I'm distracted thinking about the Bronco, and I start playing with the picture a little to see if it has potential to be cool. I swear the older I get the more I think I have ADHD.

Then I start thinking, what if back in my make-believe 1988 world Ford and Rancho had teamed up and offered a Rancho STX package on the Bronco II (There was a High Rider package on the Ranger in 1988).

Ok. I have a vinyl sign cutter. What if I cleaned up the truck, added gray and red stripes and made a Rancho STX logo for the quarters.

I forgot the radius arms...

​

No, I don't have photoshop. No, I didn't do this in paint. Let's just say that my photo editing software is a little dated. Did I mention that I started this website 26 years ago?

The Bronco II would have a 1980's style grill / brush guard and winch on the front (Warn would be more appropriate on an 80's build) along with some period correct auxiliary lighting.

I'm starting to go down a rabbit hole, but I'm digging what I'm coming up with. The only thing stopping me is money. Ok, the only thing stopping me is that I don't like debt.

I'm picking up some Rancho extended radius arms from @SenorNoob on my way to Ohio next month, but I still need some suspension brackets and 4-inch springs. I could probably make the grill guard (I'll never find an old Warn mount for this). I've been wanting to replace the 4.0 OHV in TRS-2 with either a 5.0 or 4.0 SOHC (I'll probably go 4.0 to keep it all Ranger), so I could freshen up the 4.0 OHV and put it in here.

At first, I was going to call it a 'Rancho Edition', but then I started to ponder 'Rancho STX'.

What do you think? Do you dig it, or do you think I'm losing it?

 

[Rick W]

Beauty is in the eye of the befuddler.

And if we weren’t all losing it, why would we be here?

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

View attachment 125083
​

I've been wanting to do an 80's theme build with a Rancho suspension, and I also like the idea of building something aged with some patina but looks new underneath and inside the cab.

I came across this 1988 Ford Bronco II. White with a red interior. It's pretty rust free with the exception of some surface rust on the rear wheel well where it has a little damage. It's got a few dings but basically, it's in really good shape.

I know, you're waiting for me to say it's solid.

It's really solid.

Its downfall is that it's 2WD and the engine and transmission is gone. It's also missing the spare tire carrier. It's appealing, but I told myself to pass.

But a day later I started thinking, I know where there's a Dana 35, automatic transmission and a transfer case from a 1997 Ford Ranger.

But it's white. I wasn't wanting to do white. I was thinking about more of a tan with red and orange stripes inspired by the GMC Jimmy Desert Fox.

So tonight, I'm sitting here working, I'm distracted thinking about the Bronco, and I start playing with the picture a little to see if it has potential to be cool. I swear the older I get the more I think I have ADHD.

Then I start thinking, what if back in my make-believe 1988 world Ford and Rancho had teamed up and offered a Rancho STX package on the Bronco II (There was a High Rider package on the Ranger in 1988).

Ok. I have a vinyl sign cutter. What if I cleaned up the truck, added gray and red stripes and made a Rancho STX logo for the quarters.

View attachment 125084
View attachment 125085​

I forgot the radius arms...

View attachment 125086
​

No, I don't have photoshop. No, I didn't do this in paint. Let's just say that my photo editing software is a little dated. Did I mention that I started this website 26 years ago?

The Bronco II would have a 1980's style grill / brush guard and winch on the front (Warn would be more appropriate on an 80's build) along with some period correct auxiliary lighting.

I'm starting to go down a rabbit hole, but I'm digging what I'm coming up with. The only thing stopping me is money. Ok, the only thing stopping me is that I don't like debt.

I'm picking up some Rancho extended radius arms from @SenorNoob on my way to Ohio next month, but I still need some suspension brackets and 4-inch springs. I could probably make the grill guard (I'll never find an old Warn mount for this). I've been wanting to replace the 4.0 OHV in TRS-2 with either a 5.0 or 4.0 SOHC (I'll probably go 4.0 to keep it all Ranger), so I could freshen up the 4.0 OHV and put it in here.

At first, I was going to call it a 'Rancho Edition', but then I started to ponder 'Rancho STX'.

What do you think? Do you dig it, or do you think I'm losing it?

Do you need me to pick them up on the way to KY? @SenorNoob only lives few few miles away from me. Plus I could use a reason to go down the MCT haha

 

[Jim Oaks]

Ford Bronco Time Machine.​

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

View attachment 125083
​

I've been wanting to do an 80's theme build with a Rancho suspension, and I also like the idea of building something aged with some patina but looks new underneath and inside the cab.

I came across this 1988 Ford Bronco II. White with a red interior. It's pretty rust free with the exception of some surface rust on the rear wheel well where it has a little damage. It's got a few dings but basically, it's in really good shape.

I know, you're waiting for me to say it's solid.

It's really solid.

Its downfall is that it's 2WD and the engine and transmission is gone. It's also missing the spare tire carrier. It's appealing, but I told myself to pass.

But a day later I started thinking, I know where there's a Dana 35, automatic transmission and a transfer case from a 1997 Ford Ranger.

But it's white. I wasn't wanting to do white. I was thinking about more of a tan with red and orange stripes inspired by the GMC Jimmy Desert Fox.

So tonight, I'm sitting here working, I'm distracted thinking about the Bronco, and I start playing with the picture a little to see if it has potential to be cool. I swear the older I get the more I think I have ADHD.

Then I start thinking, what if back in my make-believe 1988 world Ford and Rancho had teamed up and offered a Rancho STX package on the Bronco II (There was a High Rider package on the Ranger in 1988).

Ok. I have a vinyl sign cutter. What if I cleaned up the truck, added gray and red stripes and made a Rancho STX logo for the quarters.

View attachment 125084
View attachment 125085​

I forgot the radius arms...

View attachment 125086
​

No, I don't have photoshop. No, I didn't do this in paint. Let's just say that my photo editing software is a little dated. Did I mention that I started this website 26 years ago?

The Bronco II would have a 1980's style grill / brush guard and winch on the front (Warn would be more appropriate on an 80's build) along with some period correct auxiliary lighting.

I'm starting to go down a rabbit hole, but I'm digging what I'm coming up with. The only thing stopping me is money. Ok, the only thing stopping me is that I don't like debt.

I'm picking up some Rancho extended radius arms from @SenorNoob on my way to Ohio next month, but I still need some suspension brackets and 4-inch springs. I could probably make the grill guard (I'll never find an old Warn mount for this). I've been wanting to replace the 4.0 OHV in TRS-2 with either a 5.0 or 4.0 SOHC (I'll probably go 4.0 to keep it all Ranger), so I could freshen up the 4.0 OHV and put it in here.

At first, I was going to call it a 'Rancho Edition', but then I started to ponder 'Rancho STX'.

What do you think? Do you dig it, or do you think I'm losing it?

Here is a collection of pictures I made of the Ford winch mount and Warn winch mount that I used for inspiration when I made my grille guard.

Factory Ford first gen winch mount | The Ranger Station

Pretty simple to build something similar. I relocated my bumper because of the bodylift so I made a receiver mount for my winch, it just floats inside of the grille guard.

 

[Jim Oaks]

For a hot second I thought I struck gold on Facebook Marketplace when I saw this Warn winch mount grill guard (Transformer), but then realized it was for a full size.

 

[Jim Oaks]

​

I found this on Facebook Marketplace in Ohio for $50. It says it's from an S-10, but I was looking at the hoops wondering if they're the right width for a Ranger / Bronco II.