Ranger for winter commuter?

[NickMxW]

I open a farm at 5:30 in the morning alone, my boss really depends on me being in every day on time. I'm looking for a 4x4 truck that will be dependable driving in the winter and I'm on a pretty tight budget.

I've tried doing research to answer this but I'm overwhelmed with people asking "Will a 4x2 ranger work for winter driving" and very few answers about whether a 4x4 ranger is a good choice (for the price range) as a winter vehicle. I currently drive a sedan I got very cheap last fall, its ok in the winter but is too low and regularly bottoms out in deepish snow and is almost impossible to get unstuck without a tow... I've spent hours digging and using salt with no result, even with good winter tires.

Compared to other vehicles in the price range, would a 4x4 ranger with good winter tires and weight in the bed be a good choice? I really want a pickup for the bed but would avoid it if it was a bad choice. My second choice would be a Taco but its outside what I want to spend...

Thanks a lot guys, I'm in a bit of a bind with winter coming so fast.

 

[Stormtrooper]

I don't see why it would be a bad choice. But I live in texas

Sent from my SCH-S968C using Tapatalk

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

As with any or vehicle, it depends on previous maintenance , As far as a ranger 4x4 , they are very capable in the snow

 

[RonD]

For reliability Rangers are great, but.......their electric shift 4WD can fail when you needed it

Couple of things I would do if you really want to count on the 4WD part.
Make sure it has been converted to Manual Locking hubs on the front, the Auto Hubs didn't work very reliably after they were 10 years old, Ford hasn't used them for 14 years, 2001 and up front wheels are always locked, Ford calls it "Live axle", translated to english, "auto hubs don't work", lol.

Next is the electric transfer case shift motor, if you get a 2000 or older Ranger, these did work but...........it is one more thing that can fail when you really need 4WD.
The Shiftster can be used to replace the electric motor on the transfer case.
Look here: http://theshiftster.com/

Yes, you have to get under the truck to shift into or out of, 2high, 4high, or 4lo
But you can leave it in 4high in the winter and unlock the front hubs when 4WD isn't needed, and lock the front hubs when it is.
With manual shift 4WD you will always have it when you need it.

And yes, put a board or ?? across the bed behind the wheel wells, then put bags of sand or salt between tailgate and board, this gives you the extra weight on rear wheels, the board keeps the bags from flying forward in a sudden stop.
If you should get stuck the sand or salt will come in handy

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

With good tires, a Ranger should be quite capable in the snow. Manual hubs and a manual T-case make it pretty bulletproof.

Bronco IIs are pretty awesome in the snow, but you don't have a pickup bed with them.

I've never run a 4x4 Ranger in the snow yet, but I did run a 2wd around near Erie, PA, the land of the lake-effect snow... With good tires (aggressive AT tires) and a couple hundred pounds in the bed, it did well. With a set of V-bar chains on, it was pretty much unstoppable in the snow, a couple times I plowed through snow drifts nearly hood deep running chains. My last year up there, I ran a Bronco II around though.

So basically, yes, a Ranger will suit your needs just fine. Get some aggressive AT tires (take a look at Mastercraft Courser CT tires, that's what I run on my work/plow truck and that's what I mean when I say aggressive AT), and get a set of tire chains for when you really need traction. I buy my tire chains from http://www.tirechains.com because they come from PA, not some imported china crap.

 

[enjr44]

One other option you may want to consider is "all" wheel drive. They don't shift out of 4 wheel drive ever. My wife's SUV has it (along with a low range option) and it just seems to work year in and year out. I don't know where you live: but, with her's, if you don't high center it, it just goes.

But, IMHO, whatever you get, maintenance and using the 4X4 a lot (cycle mine at least once a week) seems to keep the control system working better ignoring it and than hoping it will work when you finally need it.

Ron's idea of manual hubs and putting in 4X4 in December and leaving it there until spring is a great option on a pre-2001. You will lose a couple of MPG with the front axles turning all time; but, that is sort of "so be it".

 

[miller time]

They are great in the snow 98 reg cab 3.0 4x4 with cheap Walmart good years I was pushing snow with the bumper

 

[rathr-b-cruisin]

They are awesome in the snow. I had a 93 supercab with 4.0 v6, manual locking hubs. Just turn the hubs and leave them locked if you want, then hit the 4x4 button when you need it. I had new goodyear wrangler radials on and i went through everything last winter. I had 2 70lb bags of tube sand in the back. I just upgraded from that to an explorer AWD. I only got rid of that ranger bcuz it was a 5spd and was having knee pain issues but it was a great winter ride.