What is the best wheelbase / cab setup for an off-road Ranger

[Jim Oaks]

What is the best wheelbase / cab setup for an off-road Ranger

I'd really be interested to hear what you guys think on this subject.

Here are the stock wheelbase measurements:

Bronco II - 94-inches
Standard Cab Short Bed - 107.9-inches
Ranger Long Bed - 113.9-inches (1983-1997)
Ranger Long Bed - 117.6-inches (1998+)
Ranger Super Cab Short Bed - 125-inches


As an experienced off-roader, I've wheeled both an extended cab and standard cab long bed Ranger. I've also wheeled with Bronco II's and standard cab short bed Rangers.

My observations have been:

Bronco II - The Bronco II has a good wheelbase for negotiating trails and shorter wheelbases do well on rocks, but they tend to what to lift the front wheel and do wheel stands when climbing hills. Especially ones with rocks. It can be nerver racking wondering if the vehicle is going to roll backwards on rock climbs.

Standard Cab Ranger Short Bed - You don't see a lot of standard cab short bed 4x4 Rangers. I wheeled with a guy at Sparks' in Hazard Kentucky that had this setup. He had a 4-inch lift, 31-inch tires (I can't remember if the back of the bed was bobbed), and this truck went everywhere. I was surprised at how capable it was for such a basic setup.

Standard Cab Ranger Long Bed - I wheeled this setup for a long time. The wheelbase is good for climbing steep rocky trails and is manageable on tight trails.

Extended Cab Ranger Short Bed - This is my current setup. The truck climbs hills really great, but can be a challenge maneuvering on tight trails. It's also easier to high-center on things than a short wheelbase truck. The trade off is the extra room in the cab. I would say it's a great truck for trail rides, trips, overlanding. Not that great for tight trails. Not that great for rock crawling unless you have a lot of lift.

 

[The Jester Race]

Short wheelbase is king out here. Tight, steep, rocky trails. Fordyce, Rubicon, Dusy Ershim. They do tend to feel tippy on steep climbs, but it doesn't help that you are damn near sitting on top of the rear axle in a BII.

-Jester

 

[Rolled Ranger]

My current Ranger is a 91 standard cab short bed. Where I wheel the short wheel base helps a lot. Lots of trees. Very easy to maneuver. But my last Ranger was a 94 extended cab. I really miss the extra storage space in the cab.

 

[Sunk]

I liked my 4 DR Explorer. It was long enough to feel stable, but I could still maneuver tight trails fairly well. I think the wheelbase on those is somewhere around 110".

From what I've seen, most guys shoot for about 105-110" or so.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I liked my 4 DR Explorer. It was long enough to feel stable, but I could still maneuver tight trails fairly well. I think the wheelbase on those is somewhere around 110".

From what I've seen, most guys shoot for about 105-110" or so.

The 4-door is 111.5-inches
The 2-door is 101.7-inches

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I have had no issues squeezing down the tightest trails with my ext cab short bed (bobbed box) I love how stable and predictable the truck is.

The right combination of body armor is the trick!

 

[pillen140]

I prefer short bed reg cab... perfect wheel base imo. I have an extended cab, and sometimes it was too long.... but there is no way I could live without an extended cab, so its way easier to live with.

 

[simonsays]

I prefer short bed reg cab... perfect wheel base imo. I have an extended cab, and sometimes it was too long.... but there is no way I could live without an extended cab, so its way easier to live with.

My solution to that problem was to put an Extra cab on a regular cab long bed frame, gives u the room u need and ends up looking pretty cool with such a tiny bed.

sent by another dumbass using Tapatalk.

 

[86 slo-vo]

I loved the 109" wheelbase of my 94 short cab short bed, it was just about perfect.

Now my expo is probably going to end up in the 115-116 range.

 

[pillen140]

Yeah, that would be good too, but I also need a 6ft bed, lol.

 

[86 slo-vo]

I'm going to have a 3ft bed but room for 4 lol

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have gotten along fine with my std cab and 7' box. I like the length of the box.

It is the only Ranger I have driven so I don't have much to compare it too. It does feel more nimble than the parents old '94 4dr Explorer.

I do like the width of a fullsize though, they are not as violent rocking back and forth over rough terrain.

Most of my wheeling is in open fields, I do like my Ranger for manouvering around tight areas though.

 

[BLOODBANE]

My 84 is a reg. cab/short and does really well. long enough you don't stand it on its end/nose, but short enough to get into tight places. it will turtle if your not paying attention, but not at the point my Explorer does. My Explorer is a 94, 4 door, and I do appreciate the longer wheelbase at times. I think as long as your in those lengths your in good shape. I also have a 87 Zuk and the super short wheelbase (85 inches) on that is gonna be exciting at times.

 

[4x4junkie]

My observations have been:

Bronco II - The Bronco II has a good wheelbase for negotiating trails and shorter wheelbases do well on rocks, but they tend to what to lift the front wheel and do wheel stands when climbing hills. Especially ones with rocks. It can be nerver racking wondering if the vehicle is going to roll backwards on rock climbs.

I don't notice that with mine... Maybe because I pushed the rearend back 3"

Prior to that I had been wheeling my longbed Ranger. It's a great wheeler, though what I always noticed is it's very nose-heavy (the dual batteries under the hood wasn't helping). Whenever I'd turn to go down a steep hill (or even just going down straight sometimes if there's a little rock ledge partway down your tire drops off of), it always felt like it wanted to tip even though it never did (though it did often raise a rear tire way up). Right toward the end I was tossing thoughts around about bobbing the bed on it (it does have a pretty obnoxious overhang), but then I decided to get the BII instead. No regrets, really.

If I was to build a Ranger again though, it would definitely be a reg cab shortbed.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

You still have the ranger correct Junkie?