I've been off-roading more often lately and it pisses me off when I can't go certain places those with lifted 4x4's can. I want to be lifted with huge honkin tires but it's sort of pointless with a 2WD...which is why I've stayed away from off-road mods so far.

Should I go look for a 4x4 Ranger, try and trade it in and pay the difference? Look for a private sale and sell my 2WD. Get a jeep? Bronco? Any other options?

I can't decide which route to go to achieve my 4x4ness.

Right now I'm leaning towards sticking with the Ranger with 4x4..and paying the difference from the money I get on my 2WD. I hate buying used cars/trucks...ya never know if you're picking up a turd lemon or something that's going to last you 10+ years.

I would love to be able to do this soon, maybe this summer.

 

You've got a nice truck and wouldn't get the money you'd like out of it. I'd say buy a weekend warrior to have fun with and keep your 2wd for the commutes.*money permitting*

 

^^ 100% agree. Get something you don't have to drive to work everyday for really cheap. The lift kits for the 97 and earlier rangers are much cheaper as well.

 

Bronco + 6" lift + 35" M/T's = sweetness.

Keep your Ranger for the gas mileage you get to enjoy with 2wd, and the ability to have a reliable truck as a daily driver and for whenever you need it for cargo/whatnot.

I'm guessing the trip to Wharton didn't work out too well?

 

Get something that already has a solid front unless you want to do a swap. Big tires ind IFS don't mix well. Is this going to be your DD or an additional vehicle? Most trail vehicles don’t make good DDs.

Honestly I’d say keep your truck and find a cheap Zuk or Jeep for a project vehicle.

 

Do you find the Bronco too big sometimes? Last Sunday at Wharton we were squeezing through some pretty narrow trails that I know a bigger truck wouldn't have made.

 

like said before.....get a '97 or older Ranger.....lifts are cheap, easy to install, and allow for some serious flex/offroading.........

 

Yeah... but I've made it fit a few times... Just takes a bit of experienced driving, and sometimes a handsaw.

 

I agree get something you can beat on that you dont rely on to get to work.

 

keep your truck its a nice daily driver. and look for an old F-150 with a nice v8 there cheap to lift and have nice HP and us it as a wheeling mechine

 

I like the way you guys think...cause I wouldn't like seeing my Ranger go, the first vehicle I've ever felt worthwhile to learn anything about and mod.

Trail rig seems the best way to go. Now to decide between an older Ranger, F-150, Bronco, Jeep, or a Suzuki.

 

heheh, I almost had to use an axe on Sunday, but I made it through. Truck sports a lot more scratches because of it.

 

That is Wharton for ya.

As for the next vehicle, keep in mind you plans for the future... dogs, kids, camping gear, what will you be hauling on the trails with you?

I thought about getting an older ranger or a jeep, but it just didn't work out when we thought about hauling the dogs and camping gear...

 

What years?

 

If you're going the full size Ford route, you might as well look into the Bronco anyhow. You can't beat the turning radius on them, and that works well for the trails.

 

What's the recommended years for the Bronco?

 

A bronco would make a mighty fine trail ****.... Good luck with whatever you decide Matt.

 

Pretty much anything I would think. I've never lifted a vehicle with a SFA like the earlier Broncos, but I think it would be pretty easy. As for the later models with the TTB, it isn't very hard to lift them either.

 

yea get an older gen ranger those are sweet trail trucks

manual FTW!

 

Where I did this a Jeep Cherokee hardly fit and was having trouble.


IMO, find a Bronco, like stated above, throw a Skyjacker 6" lift under it, and have fun! Keep the Ranger as a DD, use the Bronco as a weekend warrior, and just cover the Bronco under collision on insurance. I pay $64 a year to insure my Bronco with collision. I was originally going to sell my Bronco, but it does so good on the trails, I'm not getting rid of it. BTW, I did Carnage Canyon (where that picture was taken) with all lifted rigs coming down and going up... I'm running 31X10.50 BFG ATKO's, Open diffs, and stock suspension, and made it with no problems and a little damage.

 

Buy my truck I'll sell it to you for dirt cheap.

 

78-79 preferably but an 80-86 will do

87-92 have that nasty front end like John's

 

If you are going fullsize get a bronco. But don't count out a Jeep. If you love ford that much get a BroncoII they are great in the trails and can just turn on a dime.

 

what about the 92-96's like mine? New enough that there's still aftermarket
for them.

 

They're expensive as hell too. I see ones around me go for $7k+ with over 100/150k miles. That's lame.

Damn nice looking trucks though!