I'd like to add cruise control to my 2008 Ranger 3.0 automatic. One dealer says it can't be done. I think people on this forum may have other ideas about how to add such a feature..

 

After a quick search of the internet I found this kit that is supposed to work but will require other parts than just the one kit.

Ford Ranger Cruise Control Kit (97-11) Rostra

 

You can add 3rd party cruise to any vehicle that is not "Drive by wire", and Rangers were never "drive-by wire"
Drive by wire means there is no throttle cable, gas pedal has a sensor connected to the computer and computer operates an electric motor that opens and closes throttle plate.

Adding Factory cruise is all together another matter, and NOT for the faint of heart, lol.

Cruise control consists of 3 parts
Speed sensor
Actuator
Controller

Speed sensor can just be a couple of magnets strapped to drive shaft at transmission end and a sensor that can read each time a magnet passes by, this gives a Pulse count for each pass.

Controller is an on/off switch with Set/resume, decelerate and accelerate
It reads the Pulse Count from sensor
When you press the SET button controller will maintain that pulse count, no cruise control, factory or 3rd party, knows what Miles Per Hour is, not a clue what 65MPH is, it just knows pulse counts.

The controller then uses the actuator to pull on throttle plate to maintain that pulse count, if pulse count is increasing it closes throttle plate a bit, if decreasing pulse count it opens throttle plate a bit.
If you press decelerate it reduces pulse count in memory, accelerate it increases pulse count in memory

So not alot to it

But there does need to be safety features, big one is the Brake Light switch, controller needs a wire to brake lights so if brakes are touched controller turns off Cruise
And Clutch pedal switch if manual, and sometimes Neutral switch on automatic.
Brake light or clutch pedal activation turns off SET pulse but it stays in memory, so you can use Resume button and controller will go back to that pulse count(speed)

What to look for is the interface you will be using in the cab for the cruise control, there are a few options, so find one that best suits your vehicle and needs.

And its 3rd party or factory, no mixing and matching parts, i.e. can I use factory VSS as 3rd party speed sensor, NO!, can I use factory steering wheel cruise buttons with 3rd party controller, NO!

 

I added factory speed control to my 2003 Edge. The truck wasn't pre-wired, so I had to fabricate a wiring harness to connect the servo, change the clock spring and add the pods to the steering wheel. It took a couple of days to get the salvage parts I needed, and a weekend to get the wiring done. That is in addition to the research I had to do before the project. As RonD said, not for the faint of heart, but worth the effort. I would check to see if the truck is pre-wired for cruise... but I am thinking it is not if the dealer said it couldn't be done. But take note: ANYTHING can be done if you want it bad enough! :)