Sell my ranger for a 4WD Ranger

[mdmarble]

Right now I have an 02 Super Cab 4 door, xlt, 3.0L automatic, with all the normal options. I love my truck. It only has 40,000 miles now, no problems except for squeaky breaks which I have yet to resolve and a squeaking fan belt now. Everything on it is stock, its paid off. I bought it in May or June last year, knowing I needed something newer than what I had. I love my truck. Its dependable, gets me where I want to go, and its practical as hell. I love going to the beach and being able to throw board and wetsuit in the back, and watch my friends stuggle with their crap in their audi and carolla.

What I hate about my truck, for one, is the enginge. Sure, it'll last for ever if I keep up on it, but it dosent have much power at all. Towing a small trailer with just a couple of couches was a fair amount for it. For as small of an engine I have, I figure that I should be getting better gas mileage than I do. I'm only averaging about 15 mpg out of it, where as my brother gets about 17-18 with his 4.0 manual. Faster truck and better gas mileage than mine, kind of sucks having a 3.0. He's got 150K miles on it now and now problems with his engine.
Another thing about my truck is its only 2WD. I live in souther california, so yes, ofcourse I dont need 4WD, but when I want to go mudding I can and dont have to worry, if I want to go offroading, I can. Also keep in mind, I'm 16 years old, and anything with 4WD is awesome to me. I want to get rid of my truck, and get a newer ranger with a 4.0 and 4WD, preferably one of the edge models, I like the plastic floor they put in it, seems realy practical.

I want to take my truck offroading, but I know I shouldant because it dosent have the suspension and I'm going to screw something up eventually. I could do all sorts of stuff to the susspension to make it tuffer, but why bother when its not 4WD? These are the things going through my head right now. I want a bigger stronger better Ranger than what I have, but is it worth it making the hassle and the payments. My friend just baught a tacoma and he's got a 220 dollar payment every month for a couple of years.

Basically I've got an 02 3.0L automatic 2WD XLT all stock low miles, and I want 04 or newer, 4.0 atomatic, 4WD Edge. Would it be worth the hasstle of selling my truck and geting a newer one thats better suit for offroading, or should I just deal and be happy with what I have?

Please give me your opinions, older guys that want to give a dumb 16 year old advice.

 

[Danger FX4 Ranger]

You should be happy with what you have now, BUT, if aren't happy with what you are currently driving, go for it. I sold my F150 last spring for my FX4 ranger, and haven't regretted it a day since. The 4.0 V6 is an excellent engine, but sucks on gas. Both of my rangers have the 4.0 and I wouldn't own one that didn't, unless it had a 302.

 

[c_note]

if your not happy with what you have, then go for the better ranger. i had a 99 ranger 3.0 4wd and it was cool but i couldnt do shit since the lack of power and it had had the electric shift t-case. now im pretty happy with my 02 fx4 and i dont need to make any crazy changes to it to get where i want.

with the kind of mileage you have, you might be able to make a decent trade at the dealer but just take your time. you might find a great deal somewhere. btw, where do u live?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

You specified the problem in the first post... you have an auto transmission.

My Ranger likes to eat parts. I bought it brand new when I was 17. I have pretty much the same setup, except mine is a manual transmission. When it hasn't eaten something important to fuel economy, I've seen 15-17mpg towing a BII behind it, 18-20 with a cap and 500# of tools (city), 20-22 with a tonneau cover and 250-500# of tools (city), and 25-31mpg highway.

Still, the only way I'd part with my lil Ranger is if you could get a new Ranger with a Diesel in this country. That's the only way I'd consider selling 'er. When I wanted a 4x4, I bought my first Bronco II. Cost me $340 to purchase it, plus renting a car dolly and money for gas to fetch it. Put another $160 into it and had it on the road until the motor ate a valve. Then I bought my second BII for $160.... and my third for $250.....and my fourth (now sold) for $250..... and another Ranger for $200....

I built the second BII I got up myself, it started out as a 2wd, I now have about $1,500 into it including what I paid for it. That covered a conversion to 4x4, a custom 5" suspension lift (3" used James Duff front, home-fab extended arms, f-150 spring perches, explorer leafs, AAL, belltech shackles), 2" bodylift with bodymounts, fender flares, and a replacement 2.9 along with some misc other stuff. Did I mention it has 4.10 gears and lockers on 33's? It's not done yet, I need to go to a D-35 front, I'm thinking of changing the gear ratio, possibly going 8.8" rear, and probably 35" tires (I have two in the garage already). Registration around here it cost me about $30 a year, and insurance it costs me about $300 a year.

Having a second vehicle isn't always a bad thing....

 

[mikhail]

blue ford is right, if you had a manual on that 3.0 itd be alot different. and i wouldnt get a newer truck for offroad, save some cash and buy an older ranger, b2, explorer. you dont want to wheel your DD if you dont have to.

Im 16 and my b2 is great off road but i can hardly even get it on the highway to go a few miles. its slow and drinks gas. so if you live in or around the city id get a second older truck for wheeling and keep the '02 as a DD. watch that automatic though, they tend to go out on fords. probably not for a while on yours though but when you get around 100k on it.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

blue ford is right, if you had a manual on that 3.0 itd be alot different. and i wouldnt get a newer truck for offroad, save some cash and buy an older ranger, b2, explorer. you dont want to wheel your DD if you dont have to.

Im 16 and my b2 is great off road but i can hardly even get it on the highway to go a few miles. its slow and drinks gas. so if you live in or around the city id get a second older truck for wheeling and keep the '02 as a DD. watch that automatic though, they tend to go out on fords. probably not for a while on yours though but when you get around 100k on it.

The newer autos are better than the older ones that they used in the Bronco IIs and stuff (the infamous A4LD, aka A4ohHELLd).

If you have 3.73 or 4.10 gears in the Ranger, and get some 10x2.5" drums out the back (all 8.8 rears have those drums, 7.5's on trucks with the heavy spring package also have them), you could even use it to tow a Bronco II around on a towbar or tow dolly. If you're careful of course.

Besides, I went through it firsthand, I used my Ranger to tow my choptop out to a place to wheel. Ended up cracking both heads on the trail when the POS developed a coolant leak that I had trouble finding, plus a ground wire gave up the ghost. I just limped it back to camp, hooked it up and dragged it off to somewhere that I could work on it. Drove my Ranger around for a week or two while I worked on fixing up the choptop again. Way nicer than just relying on one vehicle for both offroading and DD'ing.


Oh, yea, a locker and mud tires on your 2wd Ranger and a lil driver skill can get you in plenty of trouble... I've been there and done that with mine.

 

[Capt Jay]

For the old guys, we need some facts. Where is the money coming from? Are you still in school and do you plan on going to collage?

If money is tight and you have the typical Mcjob stay with what you have and enjoy it. You have years to get what you want, stick with what you can afford. If your planning on going to collage, save your money for tuition. A good career will buy you what ever truck or car or girl you want. A crappy job with no future will keep you in the truck you have now until the wheels rust off. If daddy is paying for the truck then hell yes get the 4x4.

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

 

[Destroyer000]

well you said your truck is going to be paid off here in a little while correct? your 16... if you trade the truck in towards a newer one are you going to be able to afford the payments an want to deal with paying every month for the new few years all over again ?

 

[mdmarble]

if your not happy with what you have, then go for the better ranger. i had a 99 ranger 3.0 4wd and it was cool but i couldnt do shit since the lack of power and it had had the electric shift t-case. now im pretty happy with my 02 fx4 and i dont need to make any crazy changes to it to get where i want.

with the kind of mileage you have, you might be able to make a decent trade at the dealer but just take your time. you might find a great deal somewhere. btw, where do u live?

Theres low miles for now. I think finding what I really want is just a waiting game and I'll find it. I live in San Clemente, souther orange county.

By the way, whats bad about the electric shift transfer case. It seems easier and less crap in the way. Does it not last as long or is less durrable?

 

[MAKG]

By the way, whats bad about the electric shift transfer case. It seems easier and less crap in the way. Does it not last as long or is less durrable?

The motors can stick. Less likely in OC. No road salt within 1000 miles....

Also, occasional users F up. The transfer case will only shift under conditions that won't make a loud CLANG, with a few fun extras thrown in that people sometimes miss. You must be stopped, with your foot ON the brake, the clutch must be DOWN if you have one (it's not enough to be in neutral, for reasons that escape me), and automatic transmissions must be in park or neutral.

 

[mdmarble]

For the old guys, we need some facts. Where is the money coming from? Are you still in school and do you plan on going to collage?

If money is tight and you have the typical Mcjob stay with what you have and enjoy it. You have years to get what you want, stick with what you can afford. If your planning on going to collage, save your money for tuition. A good career will buy you what ever truck or car or girl you want. A crappy job with no future will keep you in the truck you have now until the wheels rust off. If daddy is paying for the truck then hell yes get the 4x4.

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I'm still in school. I plan on going to college. I want to go to a community college and study fire science, and get my EMT license. Next two years go to a Cal State and get a degree in business or something better suited for firefighting. After that I want to be a fire fighter. I'll proably end up being an EMT for a while, living with my parents until I can get hired as a fire fighter.

Getting a new truck I will have to pay for it myself. If I could sell my truck I wouold probably end up spending an extra 6-7 thousand on a new one. That means a car payment for a while, but to me, it seems worth it.

 

[Mac]

This last Oct I picked up an '05' 4.0, manual 4x4, ext cab with the 4.10 gears for around $14,000 with 27,000 miles on it. Had to look for awhile to find what I wanted. In good weather can get 21 mpg on the interstate. In Sept I found an STX 2x4, 3.73 gears, manual for $13,000 with only 17,000 miles on it, can get 23 mpg with it. Yes, not much power. Be aware that your insurance with go up with a newer truck and one with 4x4.
Dave

 

[PaleBlue90]

Be aware that your insurance with go up with a newer truck and one with 4x4.

and it will also go up beacuse of you beaing so young and any tickets/wrecks.

im 18 1/2 and on my 89 4x4 my inshurence is 255 a month with no wrecks/tickets

 

[c_note]

Theres low miles for now. I think finding what I really want is just a waiting game and I'll find it. I live in San Clemente, souther orange county.

By the way, whats bad about the electric shift transfer case. It seems easier and less crap in the way. Does it not last as long or is less durrable?

i just like knowing that when i shift into 4wd....its in 4wd. i used to live on a 12,000 acre ranch where the conditions could get bad. didnt really like getting stranded 5 miles away from HQ.

just to let u know, i waited 8 months to find my truck. its exacly what i was looking for and the perfect price as well. btw im in SD.

 

[Capt Jay]

Stay with what you have, concentrate on school and enjoy being young with little responsibility. "Paid for" is a beautiful thing. You'll have bills for the rest of your life, enjoy being debt free.