What do you hate about your Ranger?

[Ozuye10]

Here’s mine

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I honestly cant point to anything i hate about any of my vehicles except the cobalt.

 

[RobbieD]

The only thing I hate, is not having more of them.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Pretty much everything I hate about I have ripped off of it...

 

[Ozuye10]

Mine is mostly from the noise

 

[scotts90ranger]

The rear window probably just needs tightened or the 3rd brake light needs sealed. Your passenger door rattle could be the top window guide bar nut being loose, on my '97 the nut was in the bottom of the door, when the passenger window was down there was a horrible clunk, it was the guide bar in the middle of the door for the window, I put the nut back on and it's good to go...

 

[Ozuye10]

How would you tighten a rear window? Not too sure where the bolt is on the door you’re referring to. I’ll try anything once I know how to do it.

 

[JoshT]

Several things.

The '99:

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• I hate that I settled. When I bought it back in 2005 I had the 84 2wd as my daily driver. I wanted a square body 4x4 Ranger for a daily and turn the 84 into a project. I let people talk me into the newer truck because its "more reliable". In a way they were right, but I also had head gasket issues for the entire ownership of the truck.
  
  
• I hate that I kept fixing it. I should have just put in a "new" engine after the second head gasket failure, instead I kept trying to fix what I had. I probably should have V8 swapped it after that second failure, but I daily drove it and keeping the 4.0L was faster. I should have V8 swapped it after I bought by car in 2010, but I kept fixing it. It got to the point I didn't trust it and decided I needed/wanted a full size truck instead.
  
  
• I hate that I put an engine (used) in it two years ago and it's pretty much been parked since I got the F-250 from dad in May '21. I should have sold it as soon as I got the F-250. Now I'm going to have to buy a battery to get it running well enough to sell.

The first gens:

• I hate that I totaled my 84.
  
  
• I hate that I never did anything with the 2.8L after I totaled the 84. It had less than 5K miles.
  
  
• I hate that I butchered the 86 that I bought to replace the 84. Plans were too grand, I bit off more than I could chew, and I lost interest.
  
  
• I hate that I didn't do a better job of inspecting the 85. I wouldn't have bought it if I had seen the floor pan rust.
  
  
• Now that I have this 85 2.3L, I hate that Ford didn't put a 2.3 turbo in them from the factory. Wasted opportunity, but it would probably been strong competition for the Mustang and Thunderbird of the time.

I guess I don't really hate anything about the Rangers in general, mostly what had happened to mine. If I had to pick one thing, it would be that Ford didn't invest in building a SVT/SVO performance version of these like they did for the cars and F-150. A factory turbo 4 banger or V8 would have been a badass compact pickup, competition for the performance S-10s and Dakotas.

 

[JoshT]

How would you tighten a rear window? Not too sure where the bolt is on the door you’re referring to. I’ll try anything once I know how to do it.

I don't know which models in particular, but the rear window bolted in on some Rangers. The glass had studs and the nuts are hidden behind the trim panels on the back wall.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't know which models in particular, but the rear window bolted in on some Rangers. The glass had studs and the nuts are hidden behind the trim panels on the back wall.

I would guess 98+, the f-150 went to that style in '99.

 

[fastpakr]

Just the things I haven't gotten around to fixing yet.

 

[JoshT]

I would guess 98+, the f-150 went to that style in '99.

That might be it. I was also thinking it might be an extended cab vs standard cab thing, but couldn't remember which was which.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That might be it. I was also thinking it might be an extended cab vs standard cab thing, but couldn't remember which was which.

They were always different.

I have a standard cab and have never had to touch it so I am not much of an expert on the nuances of later Rangers.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I hate that my green 00 is still in pieces and it’s presently raining so I can’t work on it.

I hate that I was a dumb kid and pretty well destroyed my blue 00

I hate that all of mine are broken right now

I hate that you can’t get a crew cab with a 6’ bed

I hate that there wasn’t good diesel options except overseas

and I hate that Ford never offered “performance“ factory motors like the 5.0 and turbo 4 cyl

 

[Curious Hound]

Hate is such a strong word. I think I hate the word hate.

seriously? My Ranger isn’t perfect, by far. But I’m pretty fond of it. This truck is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had and it’s really fun to hang out with.