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1996 Ford Ranger - The Little Truck That Could, But Almost Didn't.
I named her Darwin, because she was a gift that was supposed to evolve into money. But she ended up actually evolving. I crashed her into a medium sized tree on a muddy road driving back to college one morning a few years back. She took it like a champ. I saw it coming and had just enough time to aim for that sweet spot on the bed of the truck between the rear tire and the back windows. I got really lucky and only dented the box. Although I was a little surprised when the air bag didn't pop out and hit me in the face. I hit the tree hard enough to rip it out of the ground and land on top of it. I thought she was done, but when a farmer pulled my truck off the tree I was able to drive her away. And continued to drive her after replacing the bed for 6 more years and 180,000 miles.
Historia
The first winter I had this truck I had some trouble getting up my driveway. I managed to get myself stuck in a foot deep of snow on a log. I got really mad and started swearing and hitting the gas spinning the tires. I turned the wheel full rotations in both directions faster than would be recommend and ended up bouncing the truck out the woods and off the log back onto my drive way. I then ... (more)
A Favor
This Truck had the most comfortable seats, soft and cushy. Made from fabric, not leather, so you didn't burn your skin on a not day. It was rear wheel drive, she could go anywhere, given that you knew how to handle her. She had great gas mileage for what she was and how old she was, 24MPG.
En Contra
Changing the oil was a challenge. The filter is kind of on the middle front leftist part of the engine about 2/3rds down and to the left and up, I basically had to break my arm to get at it. Other than that, working on the engine was easy and straight forward. This truck is so light that going over bridge connectors on the highway, at normal highway speeds around 60, might send the truck bouncing sideways. I eventually learned to drive off center to avoid this problem. This truck wasn't 4 wheel drive so she got stuck, a lot, but never in snow. Which is odd because where I live it snows 8 ... (more)
2001 Ford Ranger - Great Quality and Lasts Forever
This is an excellent truck. I have been driving it for fourteen years and I have never had a major problem with it. Apart from a couple of minor incidents the only time it has been in the shop is for routine maintenance. It drives just as good today as it did fourteen years ago. If you are looking for a vehicle that you can put a lot of miles on and still maintain quality year in and year out then this truck is definitely for you.
Historia
Driving up to the mountains to go hiking.
A Favor
It is very spacious and can haul a lot. I love to go hiking and I can fit everything I need behind the seat and still have plenty of room to haul whatever I need in the back. It is a very practical vehicle. The reliability is great for everyday commuting. I drive about half an hour to work through the country and I have never once been late. It is also very rugged. I drive across a lot of bad road conditions and I have never suffered any damage or poor performance because of it. It is also very comfortable. It is very roomy and I have never felt cramped while driving it.
En Contra
The only drawback I can really think of is the lousy fuel economy. It was not very good to begin with and has deteriorated with age. Be prepared to hand over a little more for gas.
1990 Ford Ranger - So glad that I purchased this truck!
I have usually owned midsize cars through-out my life mainly focused around American muscle. This was the first truck that I purchased and I got it shortly after I was in a major automobile accident and lost my main vehicle. What I absolutely love about this vehicle is that it is large enough that I can feel safe riding it and the frame is extremely sturdy so I feel like I am safe inside my little tank. But the truck isn't so huge that it is hard to maneuver or anything like that so it isn't a pain to drive which is absolutely perfect. I moved out to an area that gets major snow in the winters and I originally lived in southern California, the land that snow forgot! Making the switch to a four wheel drive truck when I moved there literally made all the difference because even as a nov... (more)
Historia
My first winter in Kansas I had just purchased this truck and was nervous about driving in the snow for the first time, so I was asking my family for tips and everything to be prepared. Literally the second day of snow I got a call from my uncle who lives in the same town and was calling because his car got stuck in the snow and I had to go up there and tow him out! Thank god I had this truck!
A Favor
This truck has absolutely great control, even when driving through more than a foot of snow! I also have used tow chains to pull several other vehicles out of snow drifts during this last winter when I saw them stuck while I was out driving because even 15 years old this truck still manages to have a lot of torque! Plenty of room in the extended cab for whatever you need, I am sure that you could have comfortable seating back there but I only drive with 1 passenger currently, but my mom is currently in a wheelchair after suffering from a stroke, and I love the truck because it has room in ... (more)
En Contra
Because of the age of the vehicle I have been running into several problems now with the vehicles wiring harness, and have had two separate shorts that had to be repaired. Also, the engine has a ton of torque at low speeds but the top speed of the stuck is pretty low, when you are on the highway/freeway you have the pedal all the way to the floor just to try and keep up with traffic.
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Ford’s Ranger is best-known as its compact pickup truck that’s been built for three generations in the U.S. (with a fourth due soon). But the automaker has also used the name for a trim package on the larger F-Series trucks; the name originally appeared as a model under the Edsel brand in the late 1950s. A version of the Ranger was also sold by Mazda as the B Series.
Ranger T6 4th Generation (2019-)
For 2019, the Ranger has been reimagined as a midsize pickup for the North American market, comparable in size to Ford’s Explorer Sport Trac and set to compete against the Toyota Tacoma and Chevy Colorado. The T6 is available in a SuperCab model with 2+2 doors, extended cab and six-foot bed, or SuperCrew with a four-door, crew-size cab and a five-foot bed. It features a new grille and frame-mounted steel bumper as well as an aluminum hood. The aluminum tailgate has a high-mounted handle and a spoiler. Expect a two- or four-wheel-drive and a 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder gas engine mated to a ten-speed automatic transmission.
Ranger 3rd Generation (1998-2012)
Ford gave this generation a significant overhaul including a longer wheelbase and longer cab, though the interior design remained largely unchanged.
The inline four-cylinder engine was increased to 2.5 liters from 2.3 liters and it now made 117 horsepower. A 3.0-liter V6 engine was optional as was a larger 4.0-liter V6.
This generation boasted a larger rear window for better visibility as well as new seats, more legroom and more room to recline. A new short/long-arm front suspension, longer wheelbase and solidified frame top the list of changes for 1998.
2001 saw the addition of a 207-horsepower 4-liter V6 in place of the previous 4.0-liter V6 and the addition of ABS on 2WD Rangers. These changes increased the truck’s towing capacity to over 6,000 pounds. The base engine was changed to a 2.3-liter Duratec inline four-cylinder.
In 2004 Rangers got a new grille, front bumper and hood, plus optional leather upholstery and a CD player.
2007 brought the addition of new standard features ranging from a Personal Safety System and anti-theft system to tire-pressure monitoring and an auxiliary audio jack. The lower anchors and tethers for children system known as LATCH was added in 2008 and a sensing system was added so that airbags would not deploy when small children are on the passenger side.
Ranger 2nd Generation (1993-1997)
In 1993 Ford updated the Ranger, giving the truck’s lines a smoother, more rounded and aerodynamic profile. A new grille was featured on the 4x4 model. Engine choices included a 98-horsepower, 2.3-liter four-cylinder, a 145-horsepower 3.0-liter V6, and 160-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6.
Interior changes included new seats which plus an armrest. The Ranger also got an upgraded instrument panel as well as an improved sound system and a high-mounted third brake light in the rear window.
Ford made a handful of changes to the Ranger for the 1995 model year. The base four-cylinder engine was bumped up to 112 horsepower from 98, a driver’s side airbag was added, as was a double-din stereo unit and the transmissions were upgraded. ABS was optional for the 4x4 and standard on trucks with the 4.0-liter engine. 1996 brought a passenger-side airbag that could be deactivated for using a baby seat.
Ranger (1983-1992)
Launched in 1982 as a 1983 model, the Ranger was the first compact pickup designed by Ford, replacing the Courier that was built with Mazda.
This Ranger was available with rear-wheel-drive or as a 4x4 and there were two wheelbases and bed sizes to choose from: The 108-inch wheelbase truck with a six-foot bed, or the 114-inch wheelbase version with a seven-foot bed.
The 4x4 model could haul up to 1,600 pounds and had independent front suspension.
Four engine options were offered, including a 73-horsepower base 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a 79-horsepower 2.3-liter four-cylinder, and a 115-horsepower 2.8-liter V6. There was also an available 59-horsepower naturally aspirated 2.2-liter diesel, built by Mazda until 1985 when it was replaced by an 86-horsepower, 2.3-liter turbocharged Mitsubishi diesel.
Available transmissions ranged from a four- or five-speed manual to a three-speed automatic.
1986 saw the addition of a 140-horsepower fuel-injected 2.9-liter V6 and the SuperCab, with an extended cab and wheelbase of 125 inches. The rear cab area had space for optional jump seats, which increased the passenger capacity to five on this model.
A 1989 mid-cycle upgrade brought frame improvements as well as interior and exterior styling revisions. A new dashboard and glove box were added and external changes included a new grille, hood and front fenders with flush-mounted halogen headlights and wraparound parking lights. Antilock rear brakes became standard with this update, and the new base engine was a 100-horsepower, 2.3-liter four-cylinder with a standard five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmission.
The 4x4 model could be optioned with a 160-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6 with a standard five-speed manual transmission or optional heavy-duty four-speed automatic.
The SuperCab model got a larger gas tank, going from 16.3 to 20 gallons.
1991 brought a Sport model with aluminum wheels and the option of a 140-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 engine for 2WD trucks. Another new option was a 60/40 split bench seat.
