What year make the best offroad ranger ??

[cowboy701]

Hi all, I am having a lot of trouble with my 02 xlt going into 4 wheel drive, new shift motor,not rebuilt,new comand module, all fuses are good, but motor just won't spin.I did loosen up on the end bolt, didn't help,ran old motor on bench. put it back in, won't work on truck. I have read all the trouble shooting threads. lights on dash come on, I hear click of module on right side, also motor click but DON'T work. must be my transfer case. however that not my real question, what year Ranger do you guys think,would make the overall best offroad truck, say 85% offroad, 15 % onroad( still have to go onroad to get gas)!!
My 02 certainly isn't the one, too many things hanging down t-bars and exhaust, and no real way to cover them, and I am sitting on 33's. your thoughts would be appreaciated, as I really don't want to go back to wranglers

 

[legoms013]

93-97 TTB years. with the 4.0L and a manny tranny and transfercase. switch to manual hubs.

Regear 4.88's or 5.13's. Swap in a disc 8.8 from an explorer, run lockers, fab sliders, trim fenders, roll 35's and you'll have quite the capable off road machine.

Start with a Skyjacker Class II 6" lift kit, that will set you in the right direction.

That or ditch the torsion bars for coilover conversion to gain the clearance back. Look over at Rangerforums.com, there are a few write ups over there.

 

[Bennybooster]

97-97 is the best of the best, with a 4.0 4x4 5-speed

 

[RavoHimself]

97-97? that gives him a wide variety of years. lol
93-7 though. basically what legoms said

 

[Boggin]

91-94 ranger. 4.0 without the obdII and the ttb dana 35 which is easier and cheaper to lift. i like the 91-92 body style but newer ones arent bad either

 

[cowboy701]

Thanks Guys I will be on the lookout for a 97 or about, now the job of selling mine, after I get this 4x4 to work !!! Thanks Chuck

 

[Bennybooster]

97-97? that gives him a wide variety of years. lol
93-7 though. basically what legoms said

I meant 95-97, they fixed some bugs in 95

 

[kirk3000]

93-97, with 4.0, m5od, bw1354, 8.8. Thats a pretty tough powertrain or is you were looking for a newer ranger id say 2003 fx4 level 2.

 

[Sunk]

95-97. You get OBDII which is nice for diagnosis, an updated interior and in 97 the front brakes were upgraded.

 

[tanbuddy]

Didnt obd2 start in 96?

 

[hondaxr650]

Didnt obd2 start in 96?

For most cars. I believe that's when it became federal law but the Rangers started in 95.

 

[Beef52751]

id say 95-97 would be the easiest. you could lift it and go plus have the nicer interior for cruzin. but im hard headed so im rockin a first gen

 

[legoms013]

95-97. You get OBDII which is nice for diagnosis, an updated interior and in 97 the front brakes were upgraded.

What did they change about the front brakes for the 97's?

 

[kirk3000]

dual piston calipers I believe, and they ditched the split pin design and went to bolts for mounting.

 

[legoms013]

dual piston calipers I believe, and they ditched the split pin design and went to bolts for mounting.

I have dual piston calipers on my 96, and they are original.