okay im in the market for a ranger and someone told me the 3rd gen ranger where the best for off road can someone please give me a gen chart... like which ranger belong in what generation..? thanks!

 

3rd gen is probably the best overall. They are 93-97.

 

X2

 

so what makes them better then newer models?

 

The front suspension.

The 3rd Generation has the TTB where 98+ is an IFS suspension. Basically the IFS has less travel which therefore decreases flex. Great for driving on smooth roads, not so great of the beaten path.

Also I know the 3rd Generations its easier to swap to manual locking hubs, over the automatics that tend to blow up when you need them the most. I am not so sure about the 98+. I know for a while they had vacuum hubs that would suck pretty bad, but i think they have a kit to fix that. As far as the rest of the truck is concerned, they are all pretty much the same. Except around 2001 they changed the 4.0 to SOHC motor instead of the OHV. The new 4.0's have more HP & Torque, but also at a higher RPM (not what you necessarily need for off roading)

 

so how much should i pay around for a stock 95-97 ranger with 80-120k miles 4wd?

 

I actually like the 2nd gen better!

 

so what would second gen be... can someone do a gen time line for me?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranger
There ya go.

 

thanks... learned something new... chicken tax eh

 

I like the 4th gens the best. even though they are IFS, you can do quite a bit with them in terms of long travel suspension set ups (although stock, they are not as good as the TTB).

 

Go with a second gen and be different! Everyone sports the 92-97 body style and the suspension is the same in the gen 3 and gen 2 ranger. Plus the square bodies are awesome looking!

Heres mine even though shes not really a offroad beast but i still beat on her!

 

after rebuilding a TTB **** that i'll take 98+ SLA....


technically none... it would be any with a SFA