How many here own a 2002 ranger fx4 off road or 4x4 off road =)

[Gary DuBois]

I would like to talk to other owners

 

[mikkelstuff]

I own a 2002 Ranger XLT 4WD, 3.0L if that is of interest. PM me anytime.

 

[Gary DuBois]

I own a 2002 Ranger XLT 4WD, 3.0L if that is of interest. PM me anytime.

Your ranger is of interest to me =) i have never owned a 3.0 v6 but i heard they are good engines. Please tell me when you bought your ranger and everything about your ranger do you have pictures on your truck.

 

[mikkelstuff]

The truck:

My home built rear bumper

 

[mikkelstuff]

This 2002 Ranger was owned by the Missouri Motor Vehicle Department until November of 2004 when offered for sale with 43K miles on the odometer. My older brother and I bought this truck for our Dad who drove it until he died in 2015. My brothers then offered the truck to me with 111K miles on the odometer.

I now have some 149K miles on the truck. I have had no real problems so far with the truck, just the usual - tires, shock absorbers, battery, starter, spark plugs, plug wires, head lights, and one fuel injector.

I did wisely do the Mustang rear disk brake conversion as documented on this website.

The drivers seat was slowly collapsing when I got the truck so I had a great auto upholstery shop redo the interior - seats, head liner, and sun visors. All well worth it.

Also, over time, have had both front fenders replaced. The left was clipped in the Home Depot parking lot - another Colorado hit and run. Then I discovered a previously patched rust hole in the right front fender which was replaced rather than patch again.

The 3.0L has been fine save for being a slow dog. Oh it will run 80 mph all day on the interstate. Just takes a time to get up to speed. This engine also had no end of leaks which I finally paid to have fixed - valve cover gaskets, oil pan gasket, and engine front timing chain cover.

The latest issue is an ignition lock cylinder failure as posted on this website.

Compared to what? $50K for a new Ranger, I consider every buck invested in this 2002 Ranger to be a true bargin.

 

[Gary DuBois]

The truck:

View attachment 104088
My home built rear bumper
View attachment 104089

Thank You for sending me those 2 pictures of your 02 ranger 4x4 off road =) I love the gold color its one of my favorite colors on the rangers.... I think step side bed rangers look the best with no fender flares on..... I would put a chrome rear bumper on your ranger...... and take that anderson badge off.... I would take the primer black side steps off.... I would also remove the trailer tow hitch plug end.

 

[Gary DuBois]

This 2002 Ranger was owned by the Missouri Motor Vehicle Department until November of 2004 when offered for sale with 43K miles on the odometer. My older brother and I bought this truck for our Dad who drove it until he died in 2015. My brothers then offered the truck to me with 111K miles on the odometer.

I now have some 149K miles on the truck. I have had no real problems so far with the truck, just the usual - tires, shock absorbers, battery, starter, spark plugs, plug wires, head lights, and one fuel injector.

I did wisely do the Mustang rear disk brake conversion as documented on this website.

The drivers seat was slowly collapsing when I got the truck so I had a great auto upholstery shop redo the interior - seats, head liner, and sun visors. All well worth it.

Also, over time, have had both front fenders replaced. The left was clipped in the Home Depot parking lot - another Colorado hit and run. Then I discovered a previously patched rust hole in the right front fender which was replaced rather than patch again.

The 3.0L has been fine save for being a slow dog. Oh it will run 80 mph all day on the interstate. Just takes a time to get up to speed. This engine also had no end of leaks which I finally paid to have fixed - valve cover gaskets, oil pan gasket, and engine front timing chain cover.

The latest issue is an ignition lock cylinder failure as posted on this website.

Compared to what? $50K for a new Ranger, I consider every buck invested in this 2002 Ranger to be a true bargin.

What did the Missouri motor vehicle department use that ranger for ? How much did you and your olde brother buy that ranger for ? My condolences about your dad passing away. 149,000 is still low miles for a ranger even with the 3.0 v6. Thats good that you have had no real problems. When did you replace the tires, shock absorbers, battery, starter, spark plugs, plug wires, head lights, and one fuel injector and how much did all of those individual parts cost for you.

Why did you do the mustang rear disc brake conversion ? I would of personaly left the rangers rear brakes on like how they came from the factory. Im a stock truck type of guy.

How was the drivers side seat slowly collapsing and how did that all cost.

Thats sad that both of your front fenders were ran into.

I have heard the 3.0 v6 is a fun engine and is a good engine too like the 4.0 v6. In what ways do you think your 3.0 v6 is slow. how did your engine get all those leaks. What cubic inch is your 3.0 v6 ? do you wish you had the 4.0 v6 sohc ? I was talking to a craigslist seller for a few days in 2022 on buying his silver supercab 01 ranger 4x4 off road but then he found out his truck had the 3.0 v6 so i decided not to buy that ranger.

I would never pay $50,000 for a new ranger because the new rangers look and body style is not my favorite they can look nice in some ways though.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You may find this interesting:

The Ford FX4 and Wheeling With Ford - The Ranger Station

On September 7 2001, The Ranger Station and its members got the opportunity to get a first hand look at the Ford Ranger FX4 that was slated to be introduced later in the fall. Although you’ll find other Ranger sites … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road and Level II - By The Years - The Ranger Station

The Ford Ranger FX4 was introduced in 2002. Here is a year-by-year description of the FX4's offered from 2002 to 2009.

www.therangerstation.com

 

[mikkelstuff]

No idea what Missouri did with this truck.

The foam disintegrated under the driver's seat. Probably a $1,000 for the interior rework and very well done.

Replace the tires, shock absorbers, battery, starter, spark plugs, plug wires, head lights and cam synchronizer when I got the truck. Dad, 95, had let things go. No record of what all that cost but no big deal.

The rear drum brakes were a mess of rust and grime. It was easier and just fun to convert to the Mustang disk brakes.

A few years back I upgraded the front brakes to the larger 2004 Ranger disks. More of a job since the steering knuckles must be replaced with those from a 2004 4WD Ranger. While at it, I replaced all the ball joints since I had it all disassembled.

Those original chrome rear bumpers are easy to bend and expensive. My homemade replacement will not bend!

 

[Gary DuBois]

You may find this interesting:

The Ford FX4 and Wheeling With Ford - The Ranger Station

On September 7 2001, The Ranger Station and its members got the opportunity to get a first hand look at the Ford Ranger FX4 that was slated to be introduced later in the fall. Although you’ll find other Ranger sites … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road and Level II - By The Years - The Ranger Station

The Ford Ranger FX4 was introduced in 2002. Here is a year-by-year description of the FX4's offered from 2002 to 2009.

www.therangerstation.com

I found those 2 different articles interesting =) My dad forwarded me the second article ford ranger fx4 off road and level ii by the years in late part of 2022 after i bought my 02 ranger fx4 off road with my own money i made from working im 32 years old with mild autism and i bought my 02 ranger fx4 off road for $10,500 four hundred dollars less than what the seller was asking so i got a good price =)

 

[86_FX4]

This 2002 Ranger was owned by the Missouri Motor Vehicle Department until November of 2004 when offered for sale with 43K miles on the odometer. My older brother and I bought this truck for our Dad who drove it until he died in 2015. My brothers then offered the truck to me with 111K miles on the odometer.

I now have some 149K miles on the truck. I have had no real problems so far with the truck, just the usual - tires, shock absorbers, battery, starter, spark plugs, plug wires, head lights, and one fuel injector.

I did wisely do the Mustang rear disk brake conversion as documented on this website.

The drivers seat was slowly collapsing when I got the truck so I had a great auto upholstery shop redo the interior - seats, head liner, and sun visors. All well worth it.

Also, over time, have had both front fenders replaced. The left was clipped in the Home Depot parking lot - another Colorado hit and run. Then I discovered a previously patched rust hole in the right front fender which was replaced rather than patch again.

The 3.0L has been fine save for being a slow dog. Oh it will run 80 mph all day on the interstate. Just takes a time to get up to speed. This engine also had no end of leaks which I finally paid to have fixed - valve cover gaskets, oil pan gasket, and engine front timing chain cover.

The latest issue is an ignition lock cylinder failure as posted on this website.

Compared to what? $50K for a new Ranger, I consider every buck invested in this 2002 Ranger to be a true bargin.

Oh, nice. I need rear discs in my life! Not only are the drums old tech and a pain to replace springs/shoes, I always thought they were woefully underpowered for a loaded ranger. This is awesome, I need to look into this.

 

[JoshT]

Oh, nice. I need rear discs in my life! Not only are the drums old tech and a pain to replace springs/shoes, I always thought they were woefully underpowered for a loaded ranger. This is awesome, I need to look into this.

For a Ranger pulling/carrying a load, you might be better served by upgrading to an Explorer disc brake axle. Been a while since I looked, but I think the explorer's rear brake setup is more powerful than the mustang stuff. Larger rotor size and/or stronger calipers. Explorer rotor is vented while mustang is solid, meaning that Explorer brakes run cooler and less brake fatigue. It also has a drum style parking brake which I think is probably better for holding more weight when applied than the typical caliper style parking brake.

I don't think you can easily swap these to a Ranger axle, but the whole axle can be swapped relatively easily. That will also give stronger 31 spline axle shafts, and likely a limited slip differential. Just needs welding to relocate the spring perches and add shock mounts.

 

[gw33gp]

I used to want to install disc brake in the rear because of the difficulty of doing a brake job with brake shoes. However, I upgraded my rear brake shoes at around 50K miles to get better braking. I had planned install disc brakes when those needed to be replaced again. I now have 283K miles on my Ranger and have never had to do another brake job on the rear and the shoes still have many miles left on them. So, the problem of having to do another rear shoe brakes never became a problem.

I tow a lot too and after upgrading both the front and rear brake materials, I have not felt I needed better brakes. I can't say that for the OEM brake pads and shoes though. The 02 Rangers had smaller front discs than the later model years and were very marginally safe. I had a couple times when they faded on me and nearly caused an accident. It happened both with and without towing. It is amazing how much improvement you can get with high quality brake pads and shoes. It is also much less expensive than upgrading rotors, calipers, etc.

 

[JoshT]

I used to want to install disc brake in the rear because of the difficulty of doing a brake job with brake shoes. However, I upgraded my rear brake shoes at around 50K miles to get better braking. I had planned install disc brakes when those needed to be replaced again. I now have 283K miles on my Ranger and have never had to do another brake job on the rear and the shoes still have many miles left on them. So, the problem of having to do another rear shoe brakes never became a problem.

I tow a lot too and after upgrading both the front and rear brake materials, I have not felt I needed better brakes. I can't say that for the OEM brake pads and shoes though. The 02 Rangers had smaller front discs than the later model years and were very marginally safe. I had a couple times when they faded on me and nearly caused an accident. It happened both with and without towing. It is amazing how much improvement you can get with high quality brake pads and shoes. It is also much less expensive than upgrading rotors, calipers, etc.

I think I agree with you, but...

If 86_FX4 is going to swap anyway, then I think he might be better served with the Explorer stuff. For my particular situation I'm going to swap anyway, but not going to cost me much extra since I already have the complete axle. If I didn't want to use that axle I probably wouldn't swap from disc, but for my plans using that axle is a good choice.

 

[00t444e]

I used to want to install disc brake in the rear because of the difficulty of doing a brake job with brake shoes. However, I upgraded my rear brake shoes at around 50K miles to get better braking. I had planned install disc brakes when those needed to be replaced again. I now have 283K miles on my Ranger and have never had to do another brake job on the rear and the shoes still have many miles left on them. So, the problem of having to do another rear shoe brakes never became a problem.

I tow a lot too and after upgrading both the front and rear brake materials, I have not felt I needed better brakes. I can't say that for the OEM brake pads and shoes though. The 02 Rangers had smaller front discs than the later model years and were very marginally safe. I had a couple times when they faded on me and nearly caused an accident. It happened both with and without towing. It is amazing how much improvement you can get with high quality brake pads and shoes. It is also much less expensive than upgrading rotors, calipers, etc.

How heavy do you tow with it? I have a bass boat that weighs 3500-3800 lbs and I thought about pulling it with my Ranger once just to see how it does.