Which Generation do you drive/own?

[Jim Oaks]

Hell, the 1994-2011 Ford Ranger basically has the same interior design.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Hell, the 1994-2011 Ford Ranger basically has the same interior design.

95+

The short center console was pretty much the same '89-11.

They played with the armrest material and cup holder insert but the rest is the same.

Cab and bed very similar 93+

"Why aren't these things selling?"

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I always thought they were divided up by front end style.

Hell, look at the F series, 80-86, 87-91, and 92-96/7 are all considered different Gens even though all that changed really was going to EFI, dashes, and noses.

 

[1qaz]

If we ever reach the Zombie Apocalypse I'm so f*cked!

 

[Andy D]

Not knowing a darn thing about Rangers, I found a '94 3rd gen. Extended cab, 4.0 OHV, 5 spd 4x4. I have a love/hate thing going with the Rat. In a way, I think my '47 GMC got melted into the Rat . Except the GMC wasnt as rusty.

 

[don4331]

seriously...there are only 2 generations of rangers....there should at least be 3 generations going from ttb to sla.... but the running cab dimension changes and frame modularising happened on the fly prior to the suspension reconfiguration.

Can you get a modular frame & tib/ttb with '98+ RC?

Wiring changes significantly in '01 - lights, PATS, etc. That's why I divide 4th from 5th generation.

p.s. My son says real men don't drive Rangers; tiny trucks aren't big enough. But then he played line for his high school football team.

 

[racsan]

ive noticed that gen 1/2 tailgates hold up better than the 93-on rangers, its hard to find a good used tailgate arond here (ohio) that isnt all rotted out at the bottom, but most early rangers that are still around here (83-92) have decent tailgates, have only seen 1 really bad rotted out one, and the rest of the truck it was on was in very bad shape.

 

[fyre82]

I have 2, a Gen 1 88' and a Gen 4 '00 steppy. Both supercab, 4x4, lifted.
The '88 is the workhorse, the '00 is the mall crawler, aka cushy cool looking cruiser.
My first love was a Gen 1 88' Custom High Rider, that one is still a sweet little ride 30 years later.

Rich

 

[bobbywalter]

If we ever reach the Zombie Apocalypse I'm so f*cked!

yeah....it runs on a wide array of fuels. will run with no battery or alternator charging if need be... my next setup wont even need a fan belt if push comes to shove.

Can you get a modular frame & tib/ttb with '98+ RC?

Wiring changes significantly in '01 - lights, PATS, etc. That's why I divide 4th from 5th generation.

p.s. My son says real men don't drive Rangers; tiny trucks aren't big enough. But then he played line for his high school football team.

when i say modular i mean the rear section being long bed or short bed...and simply replaceable...as they need to be as the appear to be made out of cardboard....when salt hits em anyway.



yeah....i have had many many guys tell me real men drive fullsize trucks...


they stop that shit after i get them out of trouble.....


usually i have to go back to do that... they were warned not to follow.



and i have not seen any truck that was big enough to haul all my shit to work.

 

[Ranger850]

I currently own a 2001 Gen.4 Ranger Edge. 2wd, swb with a 3.0 v6, looking to do a V8 conversion.

in high school I drove a Gen1 '83 ranger. 2wd, swb with a I4, 2.2 or 2.3, cant remember

also owned a Gen2 '08 Explorer Sport Trac. that's a fun truck to drive.

 

[AgPete139]

1.) 3rd Gen Ranger, 1997 4.0L 2WD Auto -- R.I.P.
2.) 3rd Gen Ranger, 1997 4.0L 4WD Manual
3.) 2nd Gen Explorer, 1996 5.0L 2WD Auto

 

[rusty ol ranger]

This is gonna cause a stir but...

Ive always thought the 1st gens held up the best, when left stock. Obviously the D28 is weak on the 4x4s when turnin larger tires, but after the amounts of pure abuse and general savagery i put rusty #1 thru, i simply cant think any other way.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

This is gonna cause a stir but...

Ive always thought the 1st gens held up the best, when left stock. Obviously the D28 is weak on the 4x4s when turnin larger tires, but after the amounts of pure abuse and general savagery i put rusty #1 thru, i simply cant think any other way.

Engines and trans left a lot to be desired IMO.

The rube goldberg emissions on the 2.8, head cracking 2.9, A4LD and basically what seems like a luck of the draw crapshoot situation as to what manual you get...

The second gens with the 2.3/3.0/4.0 which are all pretty reliable with somewhat improved A4LD and the M5OD and that is it, both the same length... I like that kind of simplicity. And then you get the D35 or D35 hybrid both of which are better than the D28 and an 8.8 floating around in there too.

I love my first gen, I like the styling and interior better but I think the second/third gen was probably overall a "better" truck out of the box.

 

[bobbywalter]

stock i had no problems destroying 7.5 and d28.


89 with d35 and 8.8 otoh is a tank.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

stock i had no problems destroying 7.5 and d28.


89 with d35 and 8.8 otoh is a tank.

I must not be as hard on shit as i think. Jesus im over here keeping the factory friggin water pump at over 300k and you guys are blowin a 7.5 with less then 200 ftlbs.