Looking to get a ranger!

[PapaGeno21]

Alright guys, I currently drive a 90 Stang on the nice days in the summer, but my Daily ride is a heavily modified Jeep Cherokee. Now as far as that is concerned, I am looking to sell that and just get myself a nice daily driver that gets me some good gas mileage and can be practical at the same time.

The ranger fits all my needs, plus its a FORD!

Here is what i was thinking.

93-97 era 3.0 V6, 5 Speed or Auto (Not sure on that yet), ext cab, 4x4.

How good is the mileage on that engine, and is that truck reliable?

Am I better off with the 4.0? IM not looking for a powerhouse just something that can move and hold 70 on the highway while getting good MPG's.

What is an average mpg for the 3.0?

Thanks guys!

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

welcome to TRS!
give the guys a time, and they will answer your ?'s
i cant help much cuz mine is 4 cyl lol

 

[PapaGeno21]

Thanks man! Yeah I am completely open to suggestions as long as its 4x4 and ext cab, everything else is a possible switch.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

my brother has a 00 3.0 2WD
and 5 spd
thats one reliable engine man
some members claim its way more reliable than the 4.0 sohc

 

[88gt]

i have a 99 extended cab 4x4 with a 3.0. great little truck. almost at 230000 miles and hasnt let me down yet except for general maintenance. the motor doesnt have a ton of ass to it and some say it doesnt have any at all. but it gets me down the road just fine. my the only sore spot on my truck is the automatic trans. if at all possible get the 5 speed. the gearing is different, it will be a little faster, and will have better hauling capabilities. the best part is the trucks are very affordable and the engines will last well over 300k if properly maintained! happy truck hunting, hope i helped.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Welcome to TRS!

IIRC it was around the 98 model year that they changed 3.0L motors. The old ones are decent, but the newer ones were flex fuel capable and had a lil more power. Except with an auto trans they can be a bit of a dog.

I loved my '00 extended cab. 3.0L (complete with an attitude problem), 5-speed, 2wd, 3.73 gears. I got it brand new and spent some time breaking in the motor when I first got it. With a cap on the back I was averaging around 19 mpg around town and mid 20's highway. When I went to a tonneau cover in place of the cap and around 200# in the bed, I was around 21-22 around town and with a nearly empty bed I hit 31 mpg highway once, but was usually in the upper 20's.

And I worked that truck like it was an F-250 Super Duty.

One thing you have to keep in mind is that the 3.0L motors like higher rpms, the newer ones make the most power between around 3,000 and 5,000 rpms. Rev limiter should be set around 5,500 and redline is around 6,000, IIRC.

I ran the stock 225/70/15 tires until they wore out then I went to 235/75/15 tires because I couldn't find a tread pattern I liked in the stock size but I could find what I wanted in 235's which also filled out the wheel arches nicely. They fit with no rubbing or modification.

 

[PapaGeno21]

Thanks for the replys guys. I notice a lot of people here are wheeling these things. Im getting out of that, as this is my current daily ride.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

nice heep!!!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Nice Jeep!

I've wheeled my Ranger a lil. I've also towed a Bronco II behind it several times - one time was a roughly 700 mile trip. And I've had over a ton of limestone in the bed. I've had it loaded down quite a few times. It's been shined up and sitting with all the other pavement pounders. And I had nearly 1,000 watts of stereo power in it. It did everything I asked of it and then some, I couldn't ask for a better DD/workhorse.

Now I have an F-150 that I use for my work truck so my Ranger has gone into semi retirement. After almost 90,000 miles of hard use it deserves a bit of a break. Once I get some money and time to fix it up, I'll be using it just for general running around. (Core support is rotted and it needs a new rad plus some misc other stuff, I think while I have the front clip tore apart I'm going to stick some headers on it and do a full stainless exhaust). F'n rust. I live in the rusty steel buckle of the rust belt.

 

[PapaGeno21]

Well I live in Rhode Island so we are no better when it comes to rust. They just LOVE to throw salt basically on top of you at the slightest hint at snow.

Its going to break my heart to sell the Jeep but I havent gone wheeling in over a year and with the spool in the rear and the way its setup with steep gears im getting about an average of 13 mpg with it, and there is really no need.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

as soon u get a flying brick u wont be missing that jeep

 

[PapaGeno21]

SO im going from a lifted vehicle with the aerodynamics of a shoe box to a flying brick? LOL great analogys!

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

they look like a brick, but they do fly lol

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

In a 4x4 extended cab, the 3.0L is going to do probably 0-1 mpg better than a 4.0L OHV and 1-3 mpg better than a 4.0L SOHC.

In a 2wd truck, the smaller V6 ends up being much more fuel efficient than the big V6. The problem with an extended cab 4x4 is that the poor little V6 is working so hard that ends up getting the same mileage.

If I was you, I would look for an OHV 4.0L (made from 1990-2000) rather than a SOHC 4.0L (2001+).

 

[mud390]

I've got an 03 ext cab 4x4 edge with a 4.0L in it and a tonneau cover. In town I average around 20, give or take depending on the weight of my foot. On the highway, unloaded, I get mid to upper 20's. When I was loaded down, cab full, bed full with the cover on, I was getting mid 20's running between 70-85MPH. That said, I test drove a single cab 3.0L 4x4 and that truck had plenty of power to keep it going down the highway all day. Oh, my truck's an auto (5 speed), and I would rather have a manual, but it's all I could find. Either way, I think you'll be happy though.

Kris