Do mirrors from a 10th gen f150 fit a 4th gen ranger?

[I support common sense]

I was at a pull a part yard recently when I noticed it seemed the 4th gen rangers (1998-2003) share the same mirror base dimensions with the 10th gen f150s (1997-2004). The triangle bases appear to be the same size. Unfortunately I did not have my tape measure with me, and I didn’t have time to test it, but it sure looks the same. If I get a chance I will for sure try to determine if it’s true, has anyone else tried this already?

The main reason this matters would be for applying a larger mirror to a ranger potentially even a tow mirror.

 

[franklin2]

Not sure on those years. But I do know a 1989 F150 mirror will fit on a 1984 BII and 1986 ranger. Take those stupid little car mirrors off that won't stay adjusted, and the F150 mirror top bolts will bolt right in place. You just have to drill two more holes in the middle of the door for the 2 bottom f150 mirror arm holes.

If Ford kept this theme going, they later ones may fit.

 

[Blmpkn]

I can't even imagine how scary it would be to haul a trailer with a ranger that's big enough to necessitate full size truck tow mirrors lol.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I can't even imagine how scary it would be to haul a trailer with a ranger that's big enough to necessitate full size truck tow mirrors lol.

They would be nice with my slide in camper.

GM tow mirrors do bolt onto a 97-03 F-150.

 

[SenorNoob]

Sounds like we may have another standard from the company that manufactures the mirrors for US models...

 

[Rick W]

I can't even imagine how scary it would be to haul a trailer with a ranger that's big enough to necessitate full size truck tow mirrors lol.

Amen. I know a guy who pulled his bed and made a little semi and pulls a 16 foot trailer with it with the original plastic mirrors! Can’t see any of it!

I’ve been looking at converting the Road Ranger the way @I support common sense is talking about. I have a 96 F250, and the 87 square body. The brackets look identical, but if you measure them, the 96 are about 20% larger.

I picked up a couple mirror heads that are on the mounts that goes straight up and then angle into the mirror, so you can flip them in and over for just driving around local, or you can flip them outwards and over for when I have the long trailer.

My plan is to pick up a couple of the 87 square body brackets. I think the 96 brackets would be too big for the look of the truck. If the mirrors won’t sit in the right place with the smaller brackets, I plan to just make an Aluminum bar 2-3” long to put horizontal on top of the bracket,to extend them out just a little bit.

I expect to be doing that in the next month or so, and I’ll either post it here or on my belt thread for the Road Ranger.

 

[JoshT]

I was at a pull a part yard recently when I noticed it seemed the 4th gen rangers (1998-2003) share the same mirror base dimensions with the 10th gen f150s (1997-2004). The triangle bases appear to be the same size. Unfortunately I did not have my tape measure with me, and I didn’t have time to test it, but it sure looks the same. If I get a chance I will for sure try to determine if it’s true, has anyone else tried this already?

The main reason this matters would be for applying a larger mirror to a ranger potentially even a tow mirror.

Doubtful. Even the 2004/6+ mirrors aren't a direct bolt-on and the doors are practically the same. They changes the mirror mounting area of the door just enough that you ahve to modify the mirror to make it fit. On those it's a simple matter of removing the stud and trimming the post doen, but I can't imagine the F-150 units being close enough for that to work.

Amen. I know a guy who pulled his bed and made a little semi and pulls a 16 foot trailer with it with the original plastic mirrors! Can’t see any of it!

For an more practical example...

Back in the early 2000s my parently had a small light weight 5th wheel camper. He had two trucks at the time, his 2002 Ranger and his 1968 F-100 (now mine), and it would be a few years before he bought the 2000 F-250 (recently mine). The camper was well within the weight limits of the Ranger but definitely wider. When pulling locally on relatively flat ground, he'd be pulling it with the Ranger. Only using the F-100 when going places with more elevation change, not wanting to put the strain on the Ranger's automatic transmission. When pulling with the Ranger he had a set of removable tow mirror extensions.

One can definitely get a towed load that needs wider mirrors without exceeding the rated capabilities of the Ranger. Now if it exceeds the capabilities of the driver is an entirely different matter.

 

[Blmpkn]

They would be nice with my slide in camper.

GM tow mirrors do bolt onto a 97-03 F-150.

Ah.. yeah fair enough. Never thought of a slide in. I'd probably want some too with one, just for peace of mind.

My experience growing up, is that tow mirrors are kinda unnecessary provided the captain knows what he's doing.

My father for the last 10 years he was with us hauled around a 35' 5th wheel on a truck sans tow mirrors.. backing it into sites at campgrounds that even the staff swore he wouldn't be able to fit the thing. Never a ding or a scratch on any of the campers.. and he insisted on doing it for the most part without a spotter. "I'm a professional kid, I know what im doing" (full disclosure for fairness sake.. he drove big rigs)

 

[Blmpkn]

Amen. I know a guy who pulled his bed and made a little semi and pulls a 16 foot trailer with it with the original plastic mirrors! Can’t see any of it!

Real odd duck, that one. Totally unfit to eat for Sunday dinner

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Ah.. yeah fair enough. Never thought of a slide in. I'd probably want some too with one, just for peace of mind.

My experience growing up, is that tow mirrors are kinda unnecessary provided the captain knows what he's doing.

My father for the last 10 years he was with us hauled around a 35' 5th wheel on a truck sans tow mirrors.. backing it into sites at campgrounds that even the staff swore he wouldn't be able to fit the thing. Never a ding or a scratch on any of the campers.. and he insisted on doing it for the most part without a spotter. "I'm a professional kid, I know what im doing" (full disclosure for fairness sake.. he drove big rigs)

Captain will always enjoy being able to see more.

I snagged a set of the GM style ones at the JY a few years ago for my '02. I fell in love.



I hit a deer with my '16 about a year ago and the jerk broke my mirror, I happily paid to upgrade to tow mirrors and love them as well.



Having more mirror is nice day to day, its nice to keep track of what your trailer is doing and I have even used them to watch tires for vibrations at speed. Also... I pull a lot of weird crap. (non tow mirror pictured)

 

[arse_sidewards]

I can't even imagine how scary it would be to haul a trailer with a ranger that's big enough to necessitate full size truck tow mirrors lol.

Are you from the Tacoma forums or something? It's not scary if you know what you're doing and work your way up to it.

About 8k overall (i.e. trailer plus cargo) is where it starts getting sketchy because these trucks tolerate about 500lb of tongue weight before they start getting sketchy and you don't really have a lot of wiggle room to reduce tongue weight before handling becomes unacceptable and with the trailer outweighing the truck 2:1 you can't really let it sway at all because once it starts you're basically along for the ride.

Someone who has a heavier truck than me (i.e. not a SCSB) and/or is willing to set up one of those fancy weight distributing hitches could probably do far more. Someday I'll probably put a gooseneck in. That would really help.

The limiting factor in practice is what you can do a hill start with if manual. I find myself starting out in low range a lot at the upper end and then shifting it into high at a several mph roll. Deeper gears would help too.

 

[Rick W]

Real odd duck, that one. Totally unfit to eat for Sunday dinner

In my own defense, not that one should have to justify actions coming from mental illness, the way I mounted my spare tire up high right behind the passenger door makes it almost impossible to see that side of the trailer as you’re just driving down the road. If I make a small turn to the right, then I can see it, but I’d like to see it before I make any turn to the right. I can see the driver side, but just barely.

I think if the mirrors were bumped out about 10 inches, it would vastly improve the visibility of the trailer, and of course road safety. But I don’t want big wings on that truck ruining my careful design and aesthetics. That’s why the flip in and flip out appealed to me.

I’m also planning for when I build the converter dolly and add the second trailer……

 

[I support common sense]

Are you from the Tacoma forums or something? It's not scary if you know what you're doing and work your way up to it.

About 8k overall (i.e. trailer plus cargo) is where it starts getting sketchy because these trucks tolerate about 500lb of tongue weight before they start getting sketchy and you don't really have a lot of wiggle room to reduce tongue weight before handling becomes unacceptable and with the trailer outweighing the truck 2:1 you can't really let it sway at all because once it starts you're basically along for the ride.

Someone who has a heavier truck than me (i.e. not a SCSB) and/or is willing to set up one of those fancy weight distributing hitches could probably do far more. Someday I'll probably put a gooseneck in. That would really help.

The limiting factor in practice is what you can do a hill start with if manual. I find myself starting out in low range a lot at the upper end and then shifting it into high at a several mph roll. Deeper gears would help too.

Not to get too far off subject, but after 7,000 pounds aren’t you at risk of stripping the splines in the rear differential? Look I’m all about pushing your equipment to the limit, and I do it all the time but when the trailer weighs twice the truck, your brakes become the limiting factor, your brakes are about the size of car brakes, so they really aren’t that great. If you have trailer brakes that will definitely be an improvement though.

I was going to talk more about tongue weight, but I think I’ll just start a new thread for that.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Not to get too far off subject, but after 7,000 pounds aren’t you at risk of stripping the splines in the rear differential?

I think you greatly overestimate the power levels of the engines they put in a Ford Ranger...

 

[I support common sense]

I think you greatly overestimate the power levels of the engines they put in a Ford Ranger...

I am, but I’m assuming you’re sitting behind a 4.0l with 8.8” axles and 410. Differential. With 4 wheel drive so you have a low range too.