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

[-Nathan-]

Having wheeled my ext cab short bed 94, and my reg cab short bed 93, the reg cab short bed is far superior. It is long enough to be stable on climbs, yet short enough to whip around the trails. I miss the extra space of the ext cab, but the truck itself is funner.

 

[4x4junkie]

You still have the ranger correct Junkie?

I do. It's mostly my DD rig now (but would be my backup wheeler should my BII be down for some reason)

I actually had it out wheeling on a semi-real trail for the first time in several years about 6 months ago. Really reminded me about how different the two trucks are even though they're almost identical underneath aside from their weight balance and length.

I s'pose the stiff TTB springs I still have under the Ranger are likely a big contributing factor too though.

 

[wahlstrom1]

I like my 125" (now 129") because of the stability on steep climbs and off camber situations.... But if I was to go out and buy a ranger for a wheeler it would be a regular cab long bed, then I'd bob the box to regain lost daparture angle.

115" seems to be a good number.....

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Yea mine is around 128 now, we'll see if I notice the difference.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Any other feedback?

 

[Nate W.]

On our build, we're bobbing the bed on an extra cab. It's origonally around 125" or so. Right now it's about 115". Still a bit longer than a stock Toyota, and about 5 inches longer than a couple of our friends' Toyota wheelers.

Here is the current progess on the double bobbed bed and the rest of the truck: Still need to bob the back half of the bed.

 

[simonsays]

On our build, we're bobbing the bed on an extra cab. It's origonally around 125" or so. Right now it's about 115". Still a bit longer than a stock Toyota, and about 5 inches longer than a couple of our friends' Toyota wheelers.

Here is the current progess on the double bobbed bed and the rest of the truck: Still need to bob the back half of the bed.

Jesus, I thought mine at 117 looked tiny, what size tires are those ?

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.

I lied, layed it out last night and it looks like minimum I could do 123" but I really like the axle placement at 129" though I know I won't be happy at that length around here.

 

[Will]

I've had the 108" Ranger and the 94" B2--same drivetrain, tires, suspension on both. Generally, I like the B2 better because it hits the bottom less with the tires being closer together. Also, with the weight a 50/50 balance it steers more smoothly on the trail and the suspension works better as well. The Ranger seemed to do all of it's flexing with the rear suspension. I really like the tight turn of the B2--even that 14" makes a huge difference maneuvering through the woods. Both were used for firewood so it wasn't a matter of following a trail, it's going where no truck has been before and sneaking through trees.

I would agree that the longer wheelbase of the 108" Ranger, plus that the weight is more on the front, make the Ranger a better climber. But it's not enough of a deal to me that I would want to trade to a longer wheelbase. I really like the short truck.