Full size or another ranger? Desire or logic?

[seh6183]

So I have a huge dilema. I want a full size truck but cant live with the 15 MPG.

I currently have a 96 4x4 ranger that gets about 16 around town and was looking to get something bigger. When I found out that I would actually be getting less with a 2 wheel drive full size, I just couldn't go through with it. Now I'm looking at 4 cylinder 2 wheel drive rangers

Are these good motors and is there any reason I shouldn't get one?

I have to get something that gets decent MPGs because I have to daily drive it. I will get my PSD later in life.

The thing that I am most drawn to with a full size is of course the space, and the ability to tow something if I need to. Too bad I have to daily drive it though.


Can someone chime in and let me know if the loss in MPGs outweighs the benefits that come with a full size?

 

[Heavyfire14]

um if you want a 4 banger try to get one with 4.10s if you can. and if its manual it feels like it has a little more power. you can get a ext cab to fit a couple more people. i like my little 4 cylinder i get about 20 city (big tires bring down the mpg)

 

[seh6183]

um if you want a 4 banger try to get one with 4.10s if you can. and if its manual it feels like it has a little more power. you can get a ext cab to fit a couple more people. i like my little 4 cylinder i get about 20 city (big tires bring down the mpg)

Yea I wouldn't do any mods that would hurt MPG. I would just level it out and throw some newer ranger edge 16's on it. Maybe an intake and efan if it didn't have it. I would definitely get an extended cab but im over shifting my DD. Would get an auto for sure. Im done trying to make my DD fun or fast haha I just need reliable and functional.

What can be said about the little 4 bangers though? I would probably get an 03 - 05.

 

[Hagan]

Why not just buy a cheap 2wd Ranger then you can buy your Powerjoke?

All kidding aside but my diesel gets anywhere from 17-19mpg.

 

[straycat]

Just by a gas sipper car and don't worry about it. Gas might be back up to over inflated prices in three months. $6.00 + a gallon is comming due to the gas mongors controlling the stock market. Wait until the end of Sept to make your move and see how bad the price of gas is then. I am hoping they will really drop more like they were a few years ago. $2.23 a gallon back then was fine compared to this $4:49+ we are paying for right now!!! Don't be in a rush to buy anything yet. Take your time.

 

[3hokies]

EcoBoost

Go test drive the New EcoBoost V6, power and Fuel economy both

 

[wahlstrom1]

My 97' 4.6l 2wd F150 would consistantly put down 18mpg.... my buddies 04' crewshort 4wd 4.6L F150 would get 22hwy, to the point we planned road trips around his schedule to save on gas $$$. Driving a fullsize with a V8 nicely will get you decent mileage, just have to keep a light right foot.

 

[seh6183]

Why not just buy a cheap 2wd Ranger then you can buy your Powerjoke?

All kidding aside but my diesel gets anywhere from 17-19mpg.

You don't happen to have a 6.0 powerstroke do you? I've read up on those and they get 14 in the city.

 

[seh6183]

Go test drive the New EcoBoost V6, power and Fuel economy both

They are awesome but I can't afford that

 

[seh6183]

My 97' 4.6l 2wd F150 would consistantly put down 18mpg.... my buddies 04' crewshort 4wd 4.6L F150 would get 22hwy, to the point we planned road trips around his schedule to save on gas $$$. Driving a fullsize with a V8 nicely will get you decent mileage, just have to keep a light right foot.

I've was looking at 5.3 silverados and spent a lot of time in their forums. Those guys would get 16 MPG around town and that's driving like an 80 year old man. This was with only gas saving mods.

A 4 Banger ranger gets 22 around the city with mild gas mods. By my calculations, that's an addition NINE round trips to work for me. This is huge.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have an '02 F-150 4wd 5.4 scab shortbox, had it for 6 years.

I love it, it is as reliable as a hammer and paid for so I am hard pressed to get rid of it as a dd over such a petty thing as milage. I drive 2 miles to work, if I behave and don't leave town I can get a month out of a tank so it isn't a big deal. Much of what I tow is too much for a Ranger, and a Ranger cab is pretty small. On the highway it gets in the 17-18mpg neighborhood, but in the city it is closer to 10mpg. It is starting and stopping 2.5 tons of iron and plastic, that takes energy.

IMO I think if you are going to tow much weight at all and need room, a newer car for a dd and an older fullsize of whatever flavor strikes your fancy waiting in the wings for snow or towing would be good setup. The car would easily beat the pants off of a Ranger for milage, and the fullsize would be better at towing, more room for long trips and the weight is handy in snow (it is a double edged sword for stopping/turning though)

If something happened to my '150 I think I would replace it with a newer Mustang GT and a 80-86 F-2/350 4wd SRW. The F-2/350 could sit in the weeds unless I need to tow something, snow flies or there is a chance of hail, otherwise the 'stang would be great.

 

[seh6183]

I have an '02 F-150 4wd 5.4 scab shortbox, had it for 6 years.

I love it, it is as reliable as a hammer and paid for so I am hard pressed to get rid of it as a dd over such a petty thing as milage. I drive 2 miles to work, if I behave and don't leave town I can get a month out of a tank so it isn't a big deal. Much of what I tow is too much for a Ranger, and a Ranger cab is pretty small. On the highway it gets in the 17-18mpg neighborhood, but in the city it is closer to 10mpg. It is starting and stopping 2.5 tons of iron and plastic, that takes energy.

IMO I think if you are going to tow much weight at all and need room, a newer car for a dd and an older fullsize of whatever flavor strikes your fancy waiting in the wings for snow or towing would be good setup. The car would easily beat the pants off of a Ranger for milage, and the fullsize would be better at towing, more room for long trips and the weight is handy in snow (it is a double edged sword for stopping/turning though)

If something happened to my '150 I think I would replace it with a newer Mustang GT and a 80-86 F-2/350 4wd SRW. The F-2/350 could sit in the weeds unless I need to tow something, snow flies or there is a chance of hail, otherwise the 'stang would be great.

See I originally was upset when I bought my current ranger because I found out I couldn't tow much and the cab and bed is rather small. I would love the extra space of a full size. Then I started to think about it and I wouldn't have much to tow anyway. Maybe my buddy's boat 6 times a summer and that's it. I ride dirtbikes and as long as I can get 2 bikes in the bed ill be happy.

Ill be starting school soon and 5 days a week ill be making a 150 mile round trip each day. This is where the MPG comes in. Yes I could get a full size AND a cheap gas saver, but then I have 3 cars at my house. And I would only end up driving my truck when I go riding. Seems like a waste of a truck to just sit there.

My other car is a fully built and blown mustang, I obviously don't drive that too often.

 

[lneidlinger]

If I were to get a fullsize I would have to get a 96 or older f150 with a 300 I6 and manual trans. They don't get very good gas mileage (my friend gets 16-17 with his 300 I6 auto), but they always get the same no matter how you drive it. Not to mention you have all the reliability you need right there.

 

[seh6183]

If I were to get a fullsize I would have to get a 96 or older f150 with a 300 I6 and manual trans. They don't get very good gas mileage (my friend gets 16-17 with his 300 I6 auto), but they always get the same no matter how you drive it. Not to mention you have all the reliability you need right there.

Well if I were to get a full size I would want a fair amount of displacement (or a Turbo lol) because I would have to convince myself I bought the thing for towing.

And I would have to have an auto, I am so sick of daily driving a stick shift haha. I want to jump in my truck and drive the thing with my big toe.

I was just in stop and go freeway traffic for 2 hours over the weekend and I was so frustrated with having to clutch it every 3 seconds.

 

[gjm4l]

my .02, I had an 06' ranger 4cyl with 4.10's, ex cab, manual and it got 30mpg (60% highway in mountains of NC) Even when I tossed my atv in the back(honda trx450r) buddy in the front seat and gear in the back seat (you can put someone back there but they usually sit on the floor those jump seats are for midgets) it would still get right at 30mpg but if I went over 70mph mileage would start dropping noticibly. It would pull a small trailer with a second atv on it just fine but would drop to low 20's for mileage.