Hello I have a 1996 ford ranger extended cab, 3.0 5spd 2wd. I searched and could not find a issue similar to mine.

I just purchased the truck and it vibrates TERRIBLY from 5mph to 45mph. This is not just a little vibration in the steering wheel the entire truck shakes and vibrates. When turning left the vibration goes away. When you get above 45mph the vibration goes away. The steering the the truck is "loose" you have to move the steering wheel a quarter of a turn before you get a response from the tires. Any ideas on what this could be?

 

Well steering obviously needs attention.

A bad tire will cause a vibration at low speed that will disappear at higher speed.
If you jack up a wheel and spin it you can see the bad spot easily, tire is no longer "round".

When checking the front tires pull out and push in on the top and bottom of the tire, if it moves the Ball Joints need to be replace, these don't cause loose steering.

 

Does it feel like it is in the steering wheel or in the front end? It could be as simple as an air bubble in the steering line or probably is something worse off.