First Ranger/ is it worth it?

[Ryan_Florida]

Hi, I found a ranger on craigslist, and with the pictures it is looking decent. In this craigslist ad https://gainesville.craigslist.org/cto/5742481942.html the owner mentions a cracked transfer case. With it being a 4x4 auto would it be something that I can do in the garage with only a few jacks + stands, engine hoist and a toolbox of nearly every tool avalible or would it be better (cost less than $500) to take it to the nearest ford dealership and have them fix it? I would like to know because I have a little over $3000 saved for my first vehicle and this is the first ranger younger than a '99 that is a 4x4 and in my price range. The poster said something about a dent, which I plan on fixing with a tub of bondo and some color coded spraypaint. Overall would this ranger make a good first truck, eventhough the transfer case will need to be repaired? Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I don't think it's a good enough deal to jump on right away. Look at it, see what the market is like, then make an offer. The wife and I have been thinking about a light trailer that her jeep liberty can tow. I ran across an ad for what we were looking for after 2 months. There was actually 2 ads came up at the same time for the same brand and size trailer, but one was $1,200.00 more than the other. It was also in immaculate shape. I used the price in the other ad to negotiate the price down to match the cheaper trailer. We bought it today.

 

[pjtoledo]

in the pics that thing has Vermont plates on it!! has a Vermont sticker in the back window too.
Vermont is a rust belt state!!!! and the ad says its in Gainesville

"buyer beware"

 

[DaddysTruck]

It seems worth a look, but there is always more wrong than what is mentioned, and that description leaves a lot to the imagination.

 

[97RangerXLT]

Yep. Why isn't there a pic of the dent in the ad? The dead battery and the amount of tree debris tells me this truck has sat for quite a while. So is the dent/ damage or xfer case damage so bad that it isn't roadworthy?

You can get another xfer case at a junkyard for a couple hundred and change it out, but my concern is the actual transmission. Did the damage to the xfer case go into the tranny? If it did, that was a pretty big hit. Look at it real careful. He did say "for parts" and that is exactly what I would call it...a parts truck. And as such, I would offer him about 800
AJ

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 while sitting in my underwear