What type of Ranger package do you want Ford to make?

[Jim Oaks]

After my April fools joke about a TRS Edition Ford Ranger, and seeing the attention it received here and on facebook, I started to wonder what you guys would really like to see Ford create. Let's be realistic though. No pipe dreams about a solid front axle. It has to be something that could really be produced, that consumers would buy, and would meet government safety standards.

I personally don't want a mini-me Ford Raptor. I want a true off-road truck. Maybe starting with the FX4, but finishing where Ford left off.

The Ford Ranger FX4s competition is the Chevy Colorado ZR2, Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison, and Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road.

Supposedly the 2,000 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bisons built for 2019 were spoken for by February:

Build a high-performance model, especially for a pickup, and the buyers will come. The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison is already sold out for 2019.

Chevrolet trucks marketing director, Sandor Piszar, told GM Authority in a Sunday report that all 2,000 units for the 2019 model year are spoken for.

Chevrolet spokesman Monte Doran confirmed the report to Motor Authority, and said production for the ZR2 Bison is expected to remain at around 2,000 units for 2020. Customer demand will be monitored and production can be adjusted as necessary.

The Colorado ZR2 Bison builds upon the standard ZR2's off-road chops with extra equipment from American Expedition Vehicles (AEV). The company is responsible for outfitting the mid-size pickup with new skid plates made of Boron steel, stamped steel bumpers, and an optional snorkel. Chevrolet adds a flow-through grille and 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac off-road tires on 17-inch alloy wheels. The usual standard gear from the ZR2 is present, including the Multimatic DSSV dampers and electronic-locking differentials.

The price for a Colorado ZR2 Bison is $48,045 for an extended cab model and it climbs to $49,645 for a crew cab. The price reflects a $5,750 upcharge over a standard Colorado ZR2. However, at its launch, Chevrolet was keen to point out that owners would have to spend much more if they sought out their own aftermarket parts and installed them.

So let's here your ideas. I know people like to complain about truck offerings. What would your ideal 2019 Ford Ranger be??

 

[rusty ol ranger]

If this is to pipe dreamy tell me but...

1- A regular cab/7ft box.
2- A *real" manual trans.
3- A *real* manual transfer case.
4- Vinyl seats (bench)/rubber floors.
5- Crank windows/manual locks.
6- A regular, knob type radio.
7- A factory 2 or 3 in lift with suitable tires (BFG KO2s my personal prefernce)
8- The XL decor package.
9- A/C and Cruise only 2 options.
(This next one is optional, but would be nice)
10- A 3.5EB or (preferably) a 5.0 coyote, even if it is tuned down a bit.

Package it all up in some sort of "heritage" or "Classic" package and price it right. Id be all over it.

 

[adsm08]

I'd like to see it with an over-bore 2.7L EB, punch it out to be a 2.9L, and offer it in the colors the 1st gens had available, and call it a classic edition.

I think a Coyote 5.0 would be wicked in there, but I also don't think it would fit. It barely fits in a n F-150.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I'd like to see it with an over-bore 2.7L EB, punch it out to be a 2.9L, and offer it in the colors the 1st gens had available, and call it a classic edition.

Best idea ever.

 

[Jim Oaks]

3.5 is definitely the engine choice if going bigger. I'd like to see them lower a Ranger, put in a 3.5, and create a modern day Ford lightning. Maybe call it Lightning Bolt or Storm.

 

[Dirtman]

I just wanna see a GOOD trail package. Locking diffs, sway bar disconnect, winch, good tires, suspension upgrade, extra recovery points ect. Maybe throw in some of the electronic gizmos like the rubicons have, the offroad cams, roll/pitch display, offroad cruise and what not.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I just wanna see a GOOD trail package. Locking diffs, sway bar disconnect, winch, good tires, suspension upgrade, extra recovery points ect. Maybe throw in some of the electronic gizmos like the rubicons have, the offroad cams, roll/pitch display, offroad cruise and what not.

FX4 already has the display, offroad cruise and rear locker.

I think better tires (ZR2 has Duratracs) and front locker are required to even be close to the same plane as the ZR2 and TRD Pro. More front suspension travel would really help. Right now IMO FX4 is in line with the Z71 and TRD Off Road.

 

[Ranger850]

I really liked the hooks that were on the bed of the Sport Trac.
Limited slip AWD.
wider tires and a lower ride height on 2wd models, because not everybody wants their 2wd to look like a 4wd.
But I would really like to see a stripped down "custom" trim, like they had in the 80's

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I really liked the hooks that were on the bed of the Sport Trac.
Limited slip AWD.
wider tires and a lower ride height on 2wd models, because not everybody wants their 2wd to look like a 4wd.
But I would really like to see a stripped down "custom" trim, like they had in the 80's

Actually "Custom" replaced the "XL" for a few years in the late 80's and early 90's according to a book I just read.

I was initially in doubt but now that I have been paying attention I haven't seen any XL's from that time frame...

On that subject I would like a rubber floor as an option in more than just the XL too.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I like that the Bison has a spot in the front bumper for a winch, and dual lockers. The engineers definitely had the needs of the offroader in mind.

It use to be that you bought a truck and modified it to your off-road needs. There's a huge market there. But manufacturers are realizing that people will buy a true off-road package truck. It's easier to go buy an offroad truck and make one payment versus buying a new truck and taking on additional debt modifying it.

There's more to an offroad package than stickers and skid plates. It should have front and rear electric lockers, beefy bumpers, recovery points in the front AND rear, a spot in the front bumper to add a winch, and come prewired with switches in the dash to wire up accessories. They should be like the upfitter switches used in the Super Duties that have wires that run through the firewall for you to wire accessories to.

I think if the engineers designing trucks actually had experience off-road, they'd have a better idea what to build. Maybe the problem is higher up.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

and come prewired with switches in the dash to wire up accessories. They should be like the upfitter switches used in the Super Duties that have wires that run through the firewall for you to wire accessories to.

The Gladiator has those too

 

[Shran]

I would like to have a real single cab truck with no options except AC, cruise, at least one locker if not two, rubber floors and cloth seats.

 

[Jim Oaks]

It looks like the gladiator is killing it in all categories, but I don't like the look of it.

It shouldn't be about what the competition is doing though, it should be about knowing the off-road truck consumer, and building the product they're looking for.

And I don't like the mentality that the truck is designed to get you to the adventure. Uber can probably do that. I want a truck that can be part of the adventure.

 

[Ranger850]

Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet here in Tallahassee has one ZR2 Bison for sale. It's a nice truck for a Chevy. All the upgrades from regular ZR2 to bison are mostly all external except the seats have *Bison* embroidered in the headrest. You could almost get a Raptor for the price. I know Raptors are too wide, hell they're like almost a foot wider than a regular 150. But the Raptor is not a trail truck, it's a desert runner that people take on trails.

 

[Ranger850]

Actually "Custom" replaced the "XL" for a few years in the late 80's and early 90's according to a book I just read.

I was initially in doubt but now that I have been paying attention I haven't seen any XL's from that time frame...

On that subject I would like a rubber floor as an option in more than just the XL too.

I thought the CUSTOM was the bare bones option. My 83 was just Ranger, no "custom" or "xl" and it only came with am/fm radio