Educate me on Sport Trac's

[rangerbum]

... If you find the bed too small just get the bed extender for it, makes it much more useful.

...for $250. But, I agree, They are handy as heck.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Yea mine came with it already installed. And the hard Tonneau cover.

 

[JohnnyO]

I can speak with some authority since I'm on my second Sport Trac after having two Rangers.
The price you got sounds good and the miles are low for the year.
In my case it was simply the fact that my kids got too big to fit in the Ranger ext cab.

* Sport Trac seats are vastly more comfortable than Ranger seats.
* If it has 4 wheel disc brakes, they are vastly better than Ranger brakes.
* Buy new shocks immediately if they haven't been replaced already. Stockers are way too soft. Monroe Sensa Trac or Reflex shocks are fine. The '07-up has a different suspension and the shocks are not a problem.
* Change all the fluids, especially the transmission and t-case if you can't be sure it's been done. The manual calls for a tranny flush every 30k in even normal use.
* If it came with a bed extender, the short bed is livable.
* www.zabteck.com has some parts like ignition and CAI and is inexpensive.
* CAI, Gibson exhaust, and a tuner like an XCal2 will help the mpg. Headers will not.
* If it came with 255/70-16 tires it will have 4.10 gears. If it came with 235/70-16 or 235/75-15 tires it will have 3.73 gears.

I love mine.

More info is at www.mysporttrac.com. Also www.explorerforum.com has a Sport Trac section. I am JohnnyO at both of those sites also.

 

[Jspafford]

I checked the code on the door D2, which as far as I can tell is a 4.10 L/S axle. The MPG I am not too sure about. We've put 30 miles on it and it's already dropped down from full. What did you see in MPG? The 2002 model, has drum brakes.. Now I've not been udner it to confirm, it's too snowy and wet. Maybe it is a late 02 model... Maybe...

 

[JohnnyO]

My '05 had a bit of lift and bigger tires, I got about 12 mpg average.
My '08, with the same engine, is stock except for the exhaust, I average about 15 mpg but on a highway trip, if it's flat and I keep it to 70 mph or less, I'll get 22. It is rated at 19 hwy.

A front torsion twist and Warrior rear shackles will get you 1.5" of lift for cheap if you want.
A Sport Trac IS quite heavy, so if you get LT-rated tires they will last longer than P-rated (but it will ride harder).
I installed a backup camera. It is nice because the long cab and high bed makes it hard to see backing up.

 

[Jspafford]

My '05 had a bit of lift and bigger tires, I got about 12 mpg average.
My '08, with the same engine, is stock except for the exhaust, I average about 15 mpg but on a highway trip, if it's flat and I keep it to 70 mph or less, I'll get 22. It is rated at 19 hwy.

A front torsion twist and Warrior rear shackles will get you 1.5" of lift for cheap if you want.
A Sport Trac IS quite heavy, so if you get LT-rated tires they will last longer than P-rated (but it will ride harder).
I installed a backup camera. It is nice because the long cab and high bed makes it hard to see backing up.

You mentioned a tuner... Did it help mpg enough to make it worth the money?