Is a Ranger a Good Truck For Me???

[Toolbox]

I assume this is the right place to post this. I am currently driving a 98 Jeep Wrangler. I do a good bit of offroading with it however it is also my daily driver. I have recently been thinking of selling it and getting a cheaper/older jeep to wheel in and a small pickup or car for daily driving. I would much rather have a small pick up than a car personally, so I started looking at the Ford Ranger. It looks like it might fit my needs but I thought I would get some opinions first.

- First off it has to be at least a 95 with under 130,000 miles ish. Must have airbags, and it must have fuel injection (what year were fuel injection and airbags added to rangers?)
- Second, I want something with a semi comfortable ride. I don't want to feel like I am riding in a brand new honda or anything ( I am used to my jeep) but want something more comfortable than my jeep for daily driving.
- Has to be fairly reliable, I am not afraid to work on stuff as I wrench on my jeep all the time but I don't what to have to do a whole lot.
- I want something that will get okay gas mileage (around 20 mpg is fine)
- Even though I don't plan on getting a trailer in the near future, I want to know whatever I get can pull a trailer with about a 94 wrangler on it built for wheeling, and not have too many issues. Speed isn't an issue as long as I can hit 60mph with a trailer and not lose too much momentum going through the mountains.


My price range I am looking around $2000-$2500 or cheaper if possible. I have been doing some reserach but if you all would just give me some input that would be great. I am looking into probably a 98 with a 6 cylinder. Any input/comments is highly appreciated.

Also, any years to stay away from with rangers? Any common problems I should know about that I can watch for while I am looking for one?

 

[adsm08]

Good luck finding all that for that price.

Fuel injection has been mandated as standard equipment on all new vehicles, by the federal government since the late 80s. Air bags can be found in a lot of trucks from 96 on up, so those two things aren't gonna be much of an issue.

Most rangers I have been in have had a nice ride. Get some BFG A/Ts, they will smooth it out a lot while giving you great traction in all conditions.



The 4.0 will give you the reliability and towing capacity that you are looking for. They rarely break down, and its usually not something major. I have also heard of people towing another ranger on a flatbed trailer with their 4.0 ranger, so towing your wrangler shouldn't be a problem.

Now for the BUT

But it will likely average 16 to 17 MPG.
I also somewhat doubt you'll five something in that age range, with all those options, and in good condition for that price. You are probably looking at 4-5K for that price. It will also probably be hard to find one with <130K for that price. A lot of guys DD their rangers and so they rack up the miles fast. On the other hand 200K is the end of the break-in period for a 4.0.

But 97 4.0 stick 4x4 would be my suggestion for what you want.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

- First off it has to be at least a 95 with under 130,000 miles ish. Must have airbags, and it must have fuel injection (what year were fuel injection and airbags added to rangers?)

Fuel injection started in 85/86 (depending on engine)

- Second, I want something with a semi comfortable ride. I don't want to feel like I am riding in a brand new honda or anything ( I am used to my jeep) but want something more comfortable than my jeep for daily driving.

Most any Ranger will ride nicer than a Wrangler. I'd especially look at a 2wd Ranger. You only need one 4wd, and the 2wd Rangers are cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain (less drive train parts to break), better gas mileage, and ride more comfortably.

- Has to be fairly reliable, I am not afraid to work on stuff as I wrench on my jeep all the time but I don't what to have to do a whole lot.

I think you'll find it at least as reliable as your Jeep. Rangers are very reliable vehicles. Any engine available around 95 should go 250,000 miles pretty easily. Look for a manual transmission. They are usually more trouble-free than the autos past 150,000.

- I want something that will get okay gas mileage (around 20 mpg is fine)

Any 2wd Ranger will do at least 20. A 2.3L or 3.0L 2wd with a manual should actually do somewhat better than 20.

- Even though I don't plan on getting a trailer in the near future, I want to know whatever I get can pull a trailer with about a 94 wrangler on it built for wheeling, and not have too many issues. Speed isn't an issue as long as I can hit 60mph with a trailer and not lose too much momentum going through the mountains.

Definitely look for a 4.0L V6 with a manual transmission and at least 3.73 rear end gears. Contrary to popular opinion, the 4wd option does not make it any better at pulling a trailer. What you need for large trailers is the heavier 4wd rear springs. But it's a simple matter to increase the rear spring rate on a 2wd. On the other hand, the heavy (4wd) rear springs were on option on 2wd trucks from Ford. Last I looked it was a $75 upgrade on a new Ranger, so you may very well find a truck that already has them. That trailer is about the safe limit for a Ranger. If you want to tow that much often, I'd look at a 4.9L inline six F150. Equipped with a 5-spd, those 4.9s can get close to 20 mpg unloaded and they will handle a big trailer a lot better than a Ranger.

My price range I am looking around $2000-$2500 or cheaper if possible. I have been doing some reserach but if you all would just give me some input that would be great. I am looking into probably a 98 with a 6 cylinder. Any input/comments is highly appreciated.

The big front suspension change came in 98. In a 2wd, it's not really a big deal, but if you're looking for a 4wd, the 97-down front suspension is tougher and less prone to breaking. I would put more much emphasis on condition of the body, frame, and interior than I would model year. Rangers have changed so little over the years that a 2010 is barely any different than a 1993, save for the front suspension.

Also, any years to stay away from with rangers? Any common problems I should know about that I can watch for while I am looking for one?

Automatic transmissions give some people problems. The manuals are more bulletproof. The 2.9l V6 engine (used 1992 down) has a spotty reliability record with issues with cracked heads and losing oil pressure. But if you find one that runs good now, it'll probably continue to run good for many more miles. That's really all I can think of.

Anyways, my $0.02.

 

[TheTopher]

+1 on the 4.9 f150


I don't think anybody has made a more capable (for it's size) or reliable and bulletproof motor than the 300ci straight six unless it was a diesel. On the off chance I ever replace my ranger, that's what it's going to be with.

 

[adsm08]

Same here. The only thing that might convince me to get rid of the ranger is a 4.9 Supercab manual 4x4 150.

 

[snomaker321]

he should be able to find one in that price range

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/ctd/1634229914.html

i see late gen III for prices like that allll the time

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

It's mostly all been covered...

If you plan on towing often, start looking at an F-150 with the 300 straight six (4.9L to those metrically inclined). They got airbags in '95, but it was driver only for '95. Air bags are not all that big of a deal for an older F-150 though - up until '95 or so the F-150, -250 and -350 all had the same cabs. My old boss was driving his '89 F-350 dump with half a ton on it and towing a trailer and skid steer (~7k lbs or so) and had a girl in a car try to zip across in front of him. Clipped the rear of the car behind the back wheels and watched the entire truck of the car disintegrate. Car? Totalled. Truck? $500 damage (fender, headlight, bumper, grill). Boss said there was no need for an airbag with all of that steel in front of him, lol.

A 2wd Ranger with a 5-speed and 3.0L would be adequate though as long as you run 3.73 or 4.10 gears and up to a 30" tire with those. I pulled a BII on a tow bar and on a tow dolly behind my Ranger (3.0L, 5-speed, 3.73 gears, 235/75/15 tires) several times with no problems. If you want an auto trans, get a 4.0L, the 3.0L is a bit gutless with an auto trans. You may want a locker or limited slip in the rear axle though of a 2wd.

You will want a class III hitch and to upgrade the rear suspension. My Ranger came factory with the heavier GVW package, but I still killed the rear springs in short order. I custom built a spring pack for it (I intend on re-doing it now that I have a better idea what I'm working with). I took two sets of Ranger leafs and made one set. Since the leafs I had were pretty wore out, I used the other Ranger main, then whacked the eyes off my mains and used it as a LONG leaf under the main. Then I picked the next longest leaf, and kept working down (each one slightly shorter to make a 4-leaf pack). It worked well, but now I want to start over with a main from a 4-door Explorer and make a 5-leaf pack. The ride was still really good, if anything the handling was slightly improved. The key is to use the longest leafs possible to increase your load capacity without killing the ride. I did have to switch to longer shocks though because it raised the back around 2" or so after the springs settled in. But that was ok, I just got a set of shocks for a 4x4 Ranger since they are 2" longer (4x4s have 2" lift blocks in the rear).

My Ranger with a soft bedcover and about 250 lbs in the bed would get 21-22 mpg around town and up to 31 mpg highway. Towing a BII I usually got 12-15 mpg. With a cap and 500 lbs in the bed I was getting 19-20 around town.

My F-150 with 3.08 gears and a 4.9L with a 5-speed is getting around 15 mpg around town. I think going to 3.55 gears might help my fuel economy though. I don't think it likes the 31" tires and 500 lbs of gear on a daily basis with those gears. On the 235/75/15s and pretty much empty bed I was more around 17/18 around town.