this damn little truck keeps impressing me everyday

[PaleBlue90]

so a friend of mine bought a 81 2wd 1/2 ton GMC regular cab, long box. it has a auto and a 305. he got it for 300$. well he was driveing it home with a friend in the cab and 2 other friends behind him. it started to backfire badly, they pulled over and....FIRE. they got it out, 20 mins from me. i hauled ass in the ranger. i got there and we were gonna tow it to his house. well when they pulled over they went into the damp grass.....i had to yank it out and did so without effort. i towed it about 25 miles total and got to 4th gear (i couldve went to 5th). i have 3.73's,31's, and my 2.9 is tired. it acted like that truck wasnt even there. im so impressed. at frist they bashed me for haveing my "Big Bad Truck". well now i think they have a bit more respect for us RBV guys sorry no pics, the cell wouldnt get clear pics and it was super dark

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

rangers are good trucks. yours isnt the first instance ive heard or seen of a ranger pulling home a fullsize truck.

i remember a few years ago i was working at a local tire shop. i was outside shoveling snow and looked up just in time to see a little, beat-up 2wd gen 1 ranger trucking down mainstreet with a big, lifted, full size, 4x4, 3/4 ton chevy in tow. i watched with pride until the pair dissapeared around the corner of the building.

 

[Jimmeh]

Biggest thing I ever towed was an 87 Beretta. And my truck felt that.

 

[low_five]

my little rusty bastard had to move a full size bronco with rusted brakes. put it in 4 and dragged it about 50 yards.

 

[Twizzler09]

Awhile back I got a call from a friend that was moving from Iowa to KC, MO (where I used to live). The driveshaft had fallen out of his truck ('99 Chevy 1500). He had been towing a trailer with a '97 'Sploder on it. Ended up towing the trailer/sploder the 100 miles from the Iowa/MO border to Kansas City.

The Ranger felt the weight, but not as much as I woulda thought. Did it in 4th the entire way back.

 

[PaleBlue90]

im very happy i own 2 of these little pickups. i was thinking of offing the one thats my DD, but i have got a reason to keep it around

 

[rangerbum]

My ex's dad has an 02 Chev 2500 HD diesel. Needless to say it broke down. She called me to just come give them a ride home. But there were 4 of them and my little regular cab doesnt like that. So her dad pulls out a tow strap and folds it over about six times and straps it to my bumper and frame. I told him im not gonna fry my clutch over his choice in trucks(Big chevy guy, already hates me). Corri hopped into my truck, and the other three climbed into the Chevy. I hit the gas, let off the clutch and barely kept it alive.

I only had to haul it about 4 miles on 35 MPH speed limit road. But when we got there he told me to pop the hood. He shook his head in disgust when he saw that 4-banger that saved his ass.

 

[Captain Ledd]

I towed a Blazer once, with my 2.3L. Definitely felt it back there, and I even managed 5th for a straight and flat stretch.

I do think the 42' bucket lift trailer was at the max though. That thing had to be 6,000lbs at least, had 8 lug axles. Though with the trailer brakes I think it even stopped faster than normal lol. I unfortunately had a guy in some small ghetto ricer put me to the test. Barely managed 4th in that one... Actually 3rd was barely pulling it, and starting was definitely very tricky.

This truck is the reason I won't go bigger, it does everything I've ever asked of it and more, reliable, only now are some of the original parts failing after 198,000 miles.

 

[Shran]

I've pulled a 17' boat, another Ranger, a Mazda 626 and some other cars with mine. Seems to work alright.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

another Ranger

you mean like dis?

 

[Mechanickid]

Me and my dad towed my 86 ex cab home with his 94 4-door explorer once, it was on a car dolly, the type you put the front tires on. He was so afraid, I was like explorers are champ's!

My friends dad pulled a 98 F-350 out of a ditch in his 88 ex-cab ranger. And he was on a gravel driveway.

RBV's are the SHIZ!

 

[Will]

After this thread I'm thinking about selling the drivetrain out of my bus and just using my B2 to tow it. I didn't realize what I had here. To think it was just rusting in the driveway...

Actually, I had to save my big Chevy with my B2. I had the kids in the Chevy coming home from school. The wind had been blowing and I didn't realize the driveway was icing up. I headed up the drive, got most of the way up and suddenly, it wouldn't go anymore. It turns so there was no way I could back down. My oldest was about 6 at the time. It wouldn't hold itself without the front brakes on either, so I was really screwed--I couldn't even get out of the truck. So I got my 6-yo to hold his body on the brake pedal and I gingerly got out and ran for the B2. I was like that scene on Jurrasic Park where the trailer is going off the cliff. I got a strap on the truck and got it held with the B2. Then I got my son to steer instead of brake (he couldn't do both) while I pulled the Chevy the rest of the way up. I've never told my wife about that.

 

[PaleBlue90]

so im glad to see im not the only ones with storys. before my grandpa gave me my 90 he had it loaded with bricks, the bumper was 3 inches from the ground and he manged 4th the whole way. it was a 2.3,5speed with 3.73's and a open diff

 

[RobbieD]

After this thread I'm thinking about selling the drivetrain out of my bus and just using my B2 to tow it. I didn't realize what I had here. To think it was just rusting in the driveway...

Actually, I had to save my big Chevy with my B2. I had the kids in the Chevy coming home from school. The wind had been blowing and I didn't realize the driveway was icing up. I headed up the drive, got most of the way up and suddenly, it wouldn't go anymore. It turns so there was no way I could back down. My oldest was about 6 at the time. It wouldn't hold itself without the front brakes on either, so I was really screwed--I couldn't even get out of the truck. So I got my 6-yo to hold his body on the brake pedal and I gingerly got out and ran for the B2. I was like that scene on Jurrasic Park where the trailer is going off the cliff. I got a strap on the truck and got it held with the B2. Then I got my son to steer instead of brake (he couldn't do both) while I pulled the Chevy the rest of the way up. I've never told my wife about that.

Don't worry, Will. Your secret is safe with us . . . .

 

[Shran]

you mean like dis?

Yes, yes! Mine was 1st gen towing 1st gen though.