New to rangers...

[Lil red wagon]

I'm looking to get a new(to me) camping and excursion rig. Thinking that a ext. cab ranger would be a good direction. I signed up on here to see if I could get some answers as to what years of rangers would be a good candidate. Like what year did they have the TTb / 4litre? Also what would have solid drive train and power options in the interior. Also a standard is a must and a manual t case most likely!!!
Any advise on what to look for and especially what to watch out for would be much appreciated !!

 

[doorgunner]

Welcome! But I'm a 2WD auto-trans. Ranger driver....maybe some members who are out running the roads will post later with some good advice.

 

[509lifted]

so far my 92 explorer has been bullet proof and i have put 1500 miles on it with bad ujoints and its still pushin thru, mine doesnt have a manual tcase but i will be swapin one in here soon, the earlier 4.0's are more reliable in my opinion. If u wanna make it an expo rig and have a 4.0 i would take and get a fuelsalage since rangers only have a 10-12 gallon tank i beleive. and what u look for on a ranger when buying is pretty much the same but for sure check the oil cause the heads crack just as easy as the 2.9 but since it has a bigger radiator for it.

 

[pjtoledo]

so far my 92 explorer has been bullet proof and i have put 1500 miles on it with bad ujoints and its still pushin thru, mine doesnt have a manual tcase but i will be swapin one in here soon, the earlier 4.0's are more reliable in my opinion. If u wanna make it an expo rig and have a 4.0 i would take and get a fuelsalage since rangers only have a 10-12 gallon tank i beleive. and what u look for on a ranger when buying is pretty much the same but for sure check the oil cause the heads crack just as easy as the 2.9 but since it has a bigger radiator for it.

will a fuel salage yield better mileage?????




Perry

 

[509lifted]

no it gives u more so u dont run out as fast. i have an 18 on my expo and i can make it to seattle washington on a half a tank from chelan and its about 200 plus miles and thats going up hills and doing 85-90

 

[theAntihero]

My extra cab 91 ranger has something like a 20 gallon tank.

 

[509lifted]

im sorry but unless its aftermarket u dont have a 20 somethin tank unless the info i have been given by members on here is wrong

 

[Lil red wagon]

so far my 92 explorer has been bullet proof and i have put 1500 miles on it with bad ujoints and its still pushin thru, mine doesnt have a manual tcase but i will be swapin one in here soon, the earlier 4.0's are more reliable in my opinion. If u wanna make it an expo rig and have a 4.0 i would take and get a fuelsalage since rangers only have a 10-12 gallon tank i beleive. and what u look for on a ranger when buying is pretty much the same but for sure check the oil cause the heads crack just as easy as the 2.9 but since it has a bigger radiator for it.

So what years were the earlier 4.0 made up till,
Also do u know if they made manual tcases all along or did they cut it out at a certain point..??

 

[509lifted]

the older 4.0's were made up until late 2000 i beleive i think they cut it out all together but dont know when for sure. mine is push button but im switching to a manual tcase that im getting out of my b2.

 

[luke]

I believe it it was after 1989 that the 4.0s became available. I have a 1991 ranger, and it has everything you're talking about. It's an XLT 4.0 ext-cab, has a 5 speed and manual t-case, manual hubs and power windows and such. I think 1989-1992 are the best looking rangers too

 

[87anger]

Welcome! Be sure to check out the tech library and resources sections. They have great info for buying a Ranger. And if you have any more questions try out the search function at the top of the page.

 

[David88]

If you just want a camping truck, the 80 models would do. The 4.0 is the same block as a 2.9L. Just slightly more HP. I think someone said 40 more. Swap in the Explorer Radiator and it should cool fine. My Dad's 88 has dual tanks so it can go a longer distance.

I think someone said that they only get abou 3mpg difference between the 4.0 and 2.9.

Mine runs pretty cool. I ran it for 85 miles at 71mph yesterday to pick up chicken feed and never got to the M in Normal. It seems to run cooler now that I did the bodylift.

I'm thinking the two large openings that used to sit over the frame in my front lower trim panel are acting like ram tunnels and forcing the air into the engine compartment, down the transmission tunnel and out the back in addition to what the cooling fan pulls through.

 

[scotts90ranger]

im sorry but unless its aftermarket u dont have a 20 somethin tank unless the info i have been given by members on here is wrong

in '89 the standard tank was a 16 gallon, there was a large tank option for some models (some of the extended cab trucks) that was in the 20-21 gallon range. 4.0's started in '90 (only 2.3 and 2.9L engine options for '89)

TTB was '83-97

 

[theAntihero]

I believe it it was after 1989 that the 4.0s became available. I have a 1991 ranger, and it has everything you're talking about. It's an XLT 4.0 ext-cab, has a 5 speed and manual t-case, manual hubs and power windows and such. I think 1989-1992 are the best looking rangers too

Mine is a mechanical match to yours and i agree about the 89-92 being the best looking. IMHO the next incarnation was too soft looking and afterwards they didnt use the OHV.

Im not a fan of the SOHC 4.0, my mother bought an Explorer with it and when it ran it was gutless and got terrible gas mileage. Also the whole we-gots-timing-chains-o'plenty thing is annoying to me.

As for how long the OHV was in Rangers and such ive read anywhere for 97 to 01 was the last years of it but it definatley was in 91-97 rangers as the SOHC wasnt available yet. I know that when i took my Explorer in they were suprised that it had a OHV in it and its a 2000 technically 2001. I was told that it was actually a special order as it was made in Nov of 2000. Whether or not thats true i dont know.

 

[mk42gunner]

I'm looking to get a new(to me) camping and excursion rig. Thinking that a ext. cab ranger would be a good direction. I signed up on here to see if I could get some answers as to what years of rangers would be a good candidate. Like what year did they have the TTb / 4litre? Also what would have solid drive train and power options in the interior. Also a standard is a must and a manual t case most likely!!!
Any advise on what to look for and especially what to watch out for would be much appreciated !!

4.0 first appeared in the 90 model year, I believe. That's not to say they can't be swapped into the earlier trucks; but for what you are wanting a 90-92 Supercab sounds best to me.

The manual t-case seems to be less common than the electic one, at least that I have noticed.

I have had or put extensive seat time in several RBV, from the first generation up until about the 96 model year. For my money, the second gen supercab is the most comfortable while still having a pickup bed. The Explorers have gotten less fuel mileage, but the ones I was around were autoimatics not manuals. I don't relally like the styling of the 93-96, they felt more cramped to me than an 88.

Automatic hubs are nice, until they don't work; and they will quit just when St Murphy can get the biggest laugh.

I have had at least two 91-92 two wheel drive Supercabs, the gas tank was somewhere around 18-19 gallons. It was enough that I could drive home on leave from San Diego to Missouri and go ~400 miles on a tank of gas, one fillup per state.

Good Luck,

Robert