Truck shopping

[vbrad511]

Hey all, I need a little educating. I've got a '97, 4wd, 4.0, 5-speed, with about 285k on it, and she's begun showing her age (rusting). I got it with about 60k, so I've had it a good, long while. It sits up a bit, and has Wrangler RT/S tires on it, and it shows nicely with the ride-height. It's what I'm hoping to find again. So for the education...I'm in the market for a newer Ranger. Same basic specs, but I'm not sure about the sub-models, and suspension options. It'll be a daily-driver, and a work truck. It'll have a box in the back, haul buckets of paint and mud, step-ladders, and whatever else I need. It won't likely be doing much towing, but I would like to be able to pull my small trailer when needed. So from the experienced, and better versed folks on TRS, should I be watching for specific options, packages, or suspension packages? TIA

 

[RonD]

I would skip over the 2001 to 2004 Rangers with 4.0l SOHC engines for timing chain reasons, unless you see one that advertises "new timing chains".
2005 and up Rangers with 4.0l SOHC are a safer bet
2000 was the last year your current 4.0l OHV engine was used, these were very reliable

The 2.3l DOHC Duratec 4cyl Rangers, 2001.5 and up, only came in 2WD and Regular cab, but could push 21+MPG on the highway, drops quite a bit around town

The 3.0l Vulcan V6 Rangers were reliable but under powered in the 4WD extended cab versions, avoid the 2004-2006 3.0l Rangers, exhaust valve seat issues

Unfortunately, manual transmissions got scarce after 1998 or so, automatics became the "standard transmission" and manual trans was a "pay extra" option, people still ordered them but not as much.
So you will mostly find automatics

Go here: http://www.therangerstation.com/articles/

Look at "History of Rangers" article

"Buying a used Ranger"

Look around at the other articles as well

The "trims" like XL, XLT, Custom, FX4, EDGE, can be different by Year, so look up years you are interested in then look at the Trim levels
Ford still has on-line Brochures for these by model year that compare trim levels and options for that year


Also when shopping for a Ranger look at the Mazda B-series trucks, these are Rangers with Mazda badges, and often found at a lesser price than "Ranger" of the same year
Mazda B4000 means it has 4.0l engine, B3000 = 3.0l engine, B2300 = 2.3l engine

 

[Plum Ranger XLT]

I have the 2.3L DOHC 4 cylinder in my 2008 and I have the extended cab.

 

[pjtoledo]

I would skip over the 2001 to 2004 Rangers with 4.0l SOHC engines for timing chain reasons, unless you see one that advertises "new timing chains".
2005 and up Rangers with 4.0l SOHC are a safer bet
2000 was the last year your current 4.0l OHV engine was used, these were very reliable

The 2.3l DOHC Duratec 4cyl Rangers, 2001.5 and up, only came in 2WD and Regular cab, but could push 21+MPG on the highway, drops quite a bit around town

my 2005 averaged 27-29 on the highway, 22-25 around town. was always loaded with 500 lbs of work stuff, had a cap on it. manual tranny.

currently at 344,500 miles, has some issues but it's still running.

 

[Otis413]

Climb under and check the frame for rust, and the leaf spring hangers front and rear, they're prone to rust as well. If all it has is surface rust I'd recommend a coating of rust converter and some good undercoating.

 

[vbrad511]

Great info everybody. I'm looking at a few different Rangers, between 2008 and 2011. All I have to compare to is my '97, so I was hoping to get pointed in the right direction.
Thanks, all