What should I do!?

[The Lone Ranger]

I currently own a 1994 Ford ranger. V6 4.0 with 93,000 miles on it. Extra cab with a canopy. It is a super clean truck, very very minor scratches and tiny dent in it. Not lifted or anything, stock with 30" tires.

Heres my problem, I have taken it off a road a small bit and its fine for the rough dirt roads for hunting and whatnot, but I just cannot justify 4 wheelin it very hard since I really dont wanna put a mark or dent in it. If i was to lift it I would go with a 4" RC lift and 33" ers.

But still I wouldnt want to mess anything up. Here is my other option, possibly find a 1985 Toyota with the solid axel and fuel injected. That way the lift is much simpler and also it would have the 22r motor. A friend has one and it does darn well off road.

ANd when talking to a lift guy in town he recommended a 2.7L Tacoma because the lifts are so cheap and easy.

I am sort of stuck in between the 3, and would really really appreciate some input and advice from everyone on here.

Thank you very much!

Patrick

 

[The Lone Ranger]

Anyone have any words of wisdom?

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

I personally don't like the taco's, but each his own.If you don't wanna add character marks on your exploder don't take it ANYWHERE, even mall cruising, cause someone will ding it for you......... my .02, but if you had to get a second truck a old toyota p/u is simple...

 

[Will]

I don't understand your problem. The truck you have is the toughest compact pickup there ever was. You are afraid to scratch it so you want an '85 Toyota so you can scratch that, or because the little straight-axle is cooler.

An '85 Toyota in reliable shape isn't going to be cheap. A Ranger is a better truck. Just go ahead and scratch the Ranger.

 

[RedneckSTX]

Keep the Ranger, and lift it.

 

[The Lone Ranger]

The Ranger is tougher than the Toyotas?

 

[wahlstrom1]

I beg to differ, but thats besides the point....

Option 1 - Man up, scratch the ranger and learn how to power polish.

Option 2 - Buy a cheap beater for offroad and keep the ranger pristine.

Parts, lifts and everything else are cheap for both. Do whatever works easier for ya. The extra insurance payment as well as fuel and maintenance on a second vehicle may not be worth it.

 

[noog67]

Up to you but as far as reliable i was forced to get ride of my 94 ext. cab ranger less than a month ago ( rolled it ).It had 215000 miles on it and ran great i literally couldn't kill the 4.0 . I did put a traction loc in the rear and lifted it with the ranger explore leaf pack weave with f150 springs up front. I was amazed at how well it did off road with just the l/s rear diff in it . I got a 2000 ranger 4 dr. now and miss that 94. Of course it showed its abuse quite well from the trails but that was what i wanted to do with it and it was my dd.If it was me i would take it wheelin and give it some charecter marks and enjoy it.

 

[The Lone Ranger]

You put f150 coil springs up front?

And I am not sure I understand the lift you did in the rear?

Thanks!

 

[4x4junkie]

The Ranger is tougher than the Toyotas?

Ranger is a much tougher truck stock out of the box, yes.

The Toyota however has more build-up parts available in the aftermarket, although if all Rangers had tiny lightweight 4-cyl engines like those early Toyotas do (and came stock with M5OD/1354/D35/8.8 drivetrains), you'd probably be just as hard-pressed to break something on it as you would a built-up Toyota (you could easily build such a Ranger too with the right parts from the junkyard). That small engine is a big part of why Toyotas "seem" so durable.

Some might argue the Toyota frame is stronger, although I disagree here too. Toyota frames may be more rigid than a Rangers, due to being boxed with welded crossmembers, but they are also thinner, and tend to rust into oblivion rather quickly compared to a Ranger frame. I've seen quite a few Toy frames crack around the shock mounts and what not too.

IMO, if you want to keep your Ranger nice, get another one and use that for your playtoy (or get a BII. I thoroughly enjoy mine )

 

[The Lone Ranger]

Thank you, I beleive since I already have this truck and have always wanted to lift it, I might as well use what I have

 

[zukirider21]

but they are also thinner, and tend to rust into oblivion rather quickly compared to a Ranger frame.

AMEN!

toyota rust simply amazes me!!! (97 4runner)

the body turned to complete swiss cheese a few years back... and the frames on its way.

my 89 ranger, however, has hardly any rust and over twice the mileage in the same relativaley rough enviroment.

 

[noog67]

The springs are f150 front write up from the tech library also the ranger and explore rear leaf pack came from tech library. I just followed what someone else had done already worked great just a lot stiffer.Lots of info and ideas on trs.

 

[Nhaz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrk6vsb77xk

This doesn't mean really want a toyota => I bought a ranger over a toyota for a reason.

 

[tony314]

Might sound dumb , but I would just buy fenders, a hood and front pieces from a junk yard. That way when you go off roading you can put those on so you do not have to worry about dents and scratches to the front end. Use them as your off roading parts. Just a thought. It's what I used to do. Then after I got home. I simply put the original parts back on. It was a little work , but worth it to me.