Why did you choose a Ranger?

[Saddle Tramp]

Just curious.

My previous truck was a gas hog (12 mpg) and we needed something more economical yet able to do truck things. (I had an S-10 two trucks earlier that was so light duty, I had the frame on the axle way too many times.) Add the fact that I preferred the looks of the Ranger over the S-10 in the 80's when I was a teen in Detroit and that's why I chose a Ranger.

How about you?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It had four wheels, four wheel drive and a interesting color.

Little did I know that my parents saw it as a underpowered two seater with no back seat that probably couldn't get far from town.

19 years later it took me and my pregnant wife to Eastern Ohio...

 

[Rick W]

New prices are insane. My 96 F250 was only $3,000 less than my first house, and that was 25 years ago.

You’re in Florida, right? If you get away from the coast, there are a lot of 10 year old cherry short cab F150s for little money, you just have to watch Craigslist 3x per day and be ready with cash. extended cabs are more, but there are a bunch out there. I always liked 250s. If you find a 6 or small v8 and keep your foot out of it....

Alternative, can you get a nice Ranger and buy a beater full size for when you need it? Or make a heavy Ranger trailer like I’m doing?

 

[Uncle Gump]

I fixed the title for you Mr. Saddle Tramp

I chose a Ranger back in 1988... Had a need for something a bit more reliable and better gas mileage then I was getting with my 76 Bronco... and the body was falling apart. Haven't been without one or two in the driveway ever since.

 

[97RangerXLT]

I didn't choose the Ranger life, the Ranger life chose me.

Mom and Dad bought mine new in 97 primarily for Mom to use on the rural mail route that she worked on in the winter. Mom retired in 99, the truck then went to third vehicle status for several years and in 2005 after sitting in the yard for a while they asked me if I wanted it. since I was looking at a truck to use for hauling light stuff and helping with fixing up an over 100 year old house, I said heck yes. it also gave me a second vehicle at the time. got married 5 months later, so I have technically had my ranger longer than I have had my wife.

in 2005 when I got the truck, it had 106,000 miles on it and was 8 years old. it now has 194,000 miles on it and is 24 years old. still looks pretty decent, runs great and is very helpful around the new house that is actually younger than the Ranger.

Out of all of the cars I have owned in the last 30 years or so, I would say that I have enjoyed the Ranger the most.

AJ

 

[Rick W]

So I have technically had my ranger longer than I have had my wige

&

still looks pretty decent, runs great and is very helpful around the new house that is actually younger than the Ranger.
still looks pretty decent, runs great and is very helpful around the new house that is actually younger than the Ranger.

Ranger is obviously the wise choice over the wife. They look good, work well and you can shut them off, even trade them without giving all your stuff away. Get the truck you want, date the women only.

my 2 cents from Singed Rick

afterthought, but I spent 1/3 of my day driving for probably 40 years in the middle, home 30% of the time. Of course you need something reliable that will do what you needed to do, but if you’re going to be in it for 1/3 of your waking hours, you should get what you want and what’s comfortable.

 

[ThatOneGuy]

My first 83 2.8 4x4 was my first truck, i had so much fun with it, used during the winter while i worked roadside assistance. Took my wife on our first date in it, it was the getaway vehical from our wedding. Later i bought an 85 2x4 2.8, and it got us through some very financially rough years, without a complaint, still own both trucks, they have both given the best parts between them to put my current 83 2.3 4x4 together, its soon to be a 4.0 manual 4x4. I will do my damndest to keep this truck alive long enough to form more memories with my wife and son, and hope to give it to him someday, i just love these old rangers, ive got and had many newer faster, more efficient, vehicals, but i still prefer to take the old truck first.

 

[sgtsandman]

The price was right on the first and second one. Also, the second one I bought from a dealer where a friend of mine worked. I bought the third one because of said friend, the price between it and the competition not being much different, and I needed a four door to replace the SUV I sold to another friend.

 

[Dirtman]

I was drunk.

 

[Roert42]

Boss said I was not allowed to drive the F-150 to customers facilities because it looked like a giant pos. He was right, and since he paid me $550 a month to use my personal car for work travel he had a little say.

I spun a bearing in my Monte Carlo I was driving, and the same day I found my 2011 for sale near by with 23,000miles in 2017. that dark blue with a little bit of metal flake, always loved that color. I always liked smaller car/trucks. I had actually been looking for a ranger when I bought the F150. Jumped on it.

Love that truck.

 

[Bgunner]

I was planning on swapping the motor in my Honda in to a good shell but I got offered a Rust free 94 Ranger for $600. It needed about $1500 in parts and I now have a dependable truck for cheap that I don't need to weld new metal into to pass inspections. It was a sweet deal and I couldn't pass up a solid vehicle that I'll have for years that I can pass on to kid when she graduates if she wants it.

 

[Alan_nc]

Wanted a small older truck. In NC a 25 year old vehicle doesn't get emissions tested which saves a bunch of head aches. $400 price tag helped.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

I fixed the title for you Mr. Saddle Tramp

I chose a Ranger back in 1988... Had a need for something a bit more reliable and better gas mileage then I was getting with my 76 Bronco... and the body was falling apart. Haven't been without one or two in the driveway ever since.

Thanks. I wrote it just before going to bed.

Thanks for the replies everyone!
Keep em coming.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Ranger chose me.

 

[racsan]

A frend of mine wanted to check out some vehicles, I knew of this ‘88 supercab ranger Id seen the week before but it had a “hold” tag on a wiper blade, well when we went there the tag was gone. He couldn’t get financing for anything he liked but I was able to. I had been thinking about a reg cab longbed but this was in excellent shape and half the $ of what I wanted new. I ended up with it and had it a good 8 years. My next ranger was a green 93 4.0 4x4. My favorite vehicle out of everything Ive ever owned. had it over 10 years. My current truck is a 94 2wd longbed, built (or rebuilt you might say) from several different trucks. Its got a little bit of every ranger Ive ever had in it. 2 other rangers Ive had were a 92 2.3 longbed and a 97 3.0 longbed. Id like another 4.0 again, preferably a 97 with 4x4. The newest stuff is too pricey for me, I have seen some 2011’s in reg cab with the 4cyl that are reasonably priced. At some point the 94 will need replaced, Ive done it in a theme of the 70’s full-size fords. Would love one of those too.