First NEW truck, hell yeah.

[wildbill23c]

I haven’t towed quite the weight you are looking at. With my utility trailer fully loaded, it’s about 1,400 pounds. As long as the trailer is loaded correctly, the truck doesn’t feel like it has a trailer hooked up to it. I’ve towed with it in the winter as well as the summer now and it handles it well.

The truck only has one turbo, not two. The V6s are the ones with a twin turbo.

As far as winter handling, it drives about the same as the SUV it replaced, Granted, I have the Supercrew model and not the Supercab. So, weight distribution is more SUV like than truck like with the short bed.

Like anything else, a good set of tires makes a world of difference. I immediately got another set of rims and winter tires for it. So I can’t tell you how the factory tires handle in the snow. I can tell you that they aren’t worth much in mud but for a street oriented tire, that pretty much goes without saying.

Just keep in mind when you are hauling, you are engaging the turbo and you will get hauling gas mileage. You are not going to get the 24 mpg it’s rated for (when hauling) since you will be in boost. There are people who forget that. Also, if you are going to haul or tow a lot, an ecoboost equipped truck may not for be the best choice for you.

The ecoboost engine is a weekend warrior. It isn’t meant to run in constant boost like a diesel engine is. A bigger naturally aspirated engine would be a better choice.

Thanks for the information. I don't plan on towing much the trailer/tractor would be too much for a Ranger honestly wouldn't feel comfortable with that kind of weight behind a Ranger even though its supposedly capable of towing 7500lbs I'd rather get a larger truck to do that kind of work for sure. Towing my pickup bed utility trailer to the dump occasionally or a small travel trailer in the 3-4k range would be as much as I'd ever want to tow with a Ranger anyway.
Yep, completely understand about the fuel economy LOL. I love how people complain about the fuel economy in their vehicle as they're trying to tow their house behind them LOL.

Also, I didn't know the 2.3L 4 cylinders only had 1 turbo, I thought all the Ecoboost engines were all dual turbo...see learning all the time still. Thanks for the education on that.

I plan on getting a good set of winter tires for my next vehicle for sure. I'm betting a Ranger super cab won't be quite as well balanced as the crew cab model, but not my first truck LOL, but it would do better in snow/ice than my 87 2 wheel drive Ranger for sure LOL.

Going to take my time and wait and save up as much as I can to have a nice big down payment in a year or 2 on a new Ranger, I honestly think its really time for something new. I love my old Bronco 2 and Ranger but I need to get something I can just jump in and drive and not have to worry about what's going to decide to fail next. My 08 Explorer seems fine so I'll keep it as a people hauler when needed...most times its just me or maybe 1 other person so the Ranger would be perfectly fine for most days in the extended cab long bed configuration I want. Even thinking of doing the rear seat delete in it. Don't need anything fancy so thinking the base model XL, maybe have cruise control but other than that I don't really need a fully loaded truck as most of the stuff in the higher trim levels I don't think I'd ever need or use. I think I'd add the rear locker though.

 

[Roert42]

I read a review of a jeep renegade recently that complained the MPGs went down when off-roading. ???

 

[wildbill23c]

I read a review of a jeep renegade recently that complained the MPGs went down when off-roading. ???

Why on earth would that happen LOL. You'd think that by using low range you'd get double the gas miles, you are multiplying the torque of the engine geez the fuel economy should be excellent HAHA!!

 

[sgtsandman]

Even thinking of doing the rear seat delete in it. Don't need anything fancy so thinking the base model XL, maybe have cruise control but other than that I don't really need a fully loaded truck as most of the stuff in the higher trim levels I don't think I'd ever need or use. I think I'd add the rear locker though.

I wish the rear seat delete option was around when I bought the 2011. I never had any realistic expectation that the extended cab would hold anyone bigger than a 10 year old. I got the Supercab for the extra storage room.

If I could have gotten away with just an XL, I would have as well. The FX4 forced the STX package. I did make sure I got the vinyl floor instead of carpet. It is so nice to not worry about the carpet. I just have to wipe it out on occasion. I like it so much I've got the replacement floor from LMC in my sights for the 2011.

 

[Roert42]

I wish the rear seat delete option was around when I bought the 2011. I never had any realistic expectation that the extended cab would hold anyone bigger than a 10 year old. I got the Supercab for the extra storage room.

If I could have gotten away with just an XL, I would have as well. The FX4 forced the STX package. I did make sure I got the vinyl floor instead of carpet. It is so nice to not worry about the carpet. I just have to wipe it out on occasion. I like it so much I've got the replacement floor from LMC in my sights for the 2011.

My 2003 xlt has storage hatches where the seats fold into in my 2011. They are both extended cabs. You may be able to get some hatch doors and replace the fold down seats.

Also in my 2003 the seat slide forward when you fold them forward, which makes the back way easier to access.

 

[sgtsandman]

My 2003 xlt has storage hatches where the seats fold into in my 2011. They are both extended cabs. You may be able to get some hatch doors and replace the fold down seats.

Also in my 2003 the seat slide forward when you fold them forward, which makes the back way easier to access.

I'm just going to remove the seats and build covered storage out of wood that would bolt to where they mounted. Drawers on one side, maybe lift lit storage in the middle, and a larger cubby on thew other side for my packs. Thanks though.

 

[wildbill23c]

I wish the rear seat delete option was around when I bought the 2011. I never had any realistic expectation that the extended cab would hold anyone bigger than a 10 year old. I got the Supercab for the extra storage room.

If I could have gotten away with just an XL, I would have as well. The FX4 forced the STX package. I did make sure I got the vinyl floor instead of carpet. It is so nice to not worry about the carpet. I just have to wipe it out on occasion. I like it so much I've got the replacement floor from LMC in my sights for the 2011.

When I was installing garage doors my service & install truck was a 99 Super Cab XL Ranger 4x2 with the 3L V6. Yep, those rear seats are 100% useless except for small kids, and even at that I don't think really all that safe for them in a collision. The rear seats folded up into the side wall out of the way, and all it got used for was tool and parts storage. That's the only thing with my 87 Ranger I miss is not having any place to store tools. I'd love to find a camper shell for it but apparently the 7 foot bed was so unpopular that finding a camper shell is pretty much impossible or too far away to go get, or too expensive. I've been thinking of one of those cross bed toolboxes here lately though, at least something to keep tools out of the weather if I need to haul a passenger or worse 2 passengers LOL.

 

[Blmpkn]

Vinyl floor is really nice, my 2010 had one.. not this one though. At least it came with the nice rubber mats.

However, the factory rubber mats don't go far enough under the gas pedal.. and leaves room for crud to drip off your boot and onto the carpet. Aftermarket rubber mats go the proper distance.. ill have to snag some. Sucks I have to buy both driver and passenger side.. really just need the driver. Passenger side is fine.

 

[sgtsandman]

The biggest issue for me is the crusted road salt that builds up in the carpet and near impossibility or getting it back out in some places.

Sooner or later it’s going to work it’s way through the carpet and insulation/sound proof mat and eat the floor from the inside out. Fords rust enough as it is by themselves. No need to help the process along.

 

[Blmpkn]

exactly why I wanted the vinyl floor, or at least rubber mats.

From now on my vehicles will either have one or the other.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I am on the fence with the factory mats on our Bronco, we do have the vinyl floor though.

 

[Blmpkn]

Id personally probably skip mats with a vinyl floor. Didn't have any in the '10 and it was fine. I've heard people complain that their floor wore through where the heel of their foot rests but after 140k my truck wasn't even showing wear.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Id personally probably skip mats with a vinyl floor. Didn't have any in the '10 and it was fine. I've heard people complain that their floor wore through where the heel of their foot rests but after 140k my truck wasn't even showing wear.

The first place my '85 floor rotted was right where my foot pivots between the pedals and wore a hole thru the vinyl. It is also nice to have something to contain the rocks and dirt. I can just take the liner and dump it outside the truck rather than dragging out the shopvac or playing with a broom.

 

[Blmpkn]

The first place my '85 floor rotted was right where my foot pivots between the pedals and wore a hole thru the vinyl. It is also nice to have something to contain the rocks and dirt. I can just take the liner and dump it outside the truck rather than dragging out the shopvac or playing with a broom.

How many miles were on it? Mabey they use thicker material nowadays.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I think my 06 was on it's way to wearing a hole in it. It might have had something to do with my size 13 work boots? I bought a set of rubber mats...