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Hello! After months and months of searching I finally found the ranger I have always wanted, like the title says I am the new proud (2nd) owner of a 2003 FX4 lvl 2 with 200k for 5k. I purchased this from the original owner who bought it new and kept this truck immaculate! This site helped me a lot in researching all the different options, models in the Ranger line up! I’m curious as to what some of you have done to mod your FX4’s, this will be a killer camping rig this upcoming summer and a winter warrior through the bad times we all know are coming!
Congratulations. I can assure you it is a great off-road vehicle. I called mine a twin stick too, but have been informed that a true twin stick has dual transfer cases to get very low gears for rock climbing. I still think when you have two sticks shifts you can call them a twin stick whether it is technically correct or not. IMO
A true "Twin Stick" is a transfer case that has 2 sticks,
1 for high/low
1 for 2 or 4 wheel drive
That way they can run in 2 wheel drive low range.
Originally Posted by IN2 FX4
Congratulations. I can assure you it is a great off-road vehicle. I called mine a twin stick too, but have been informed that a true twin stick has dual transfer cases to get very low gears for rock climbing. I still think when you have two sticks shifts you can call them a twin stick whether it is technically correct or not. IMO
haha I knew someone would bring that up after I posted it, twin stick just sounds so much cooler!
People make a big deal out of the Level II trucks, but they're really just a trim package rather than a true performance package. lol.
Good luck with it and be sure to check out our mod section in case you decide to customize.
The Level II trucks are more than just a trim package. They came with 31" AT tires and good Alcoa wheels. They also came with Bilstein shocks. In 02 and 03 they also came with a manual shift transfer case if it had a manual transmission. The Torsen differential with 4.10 gears help make it work off-road too. They also had more substantial skid plates on the bottom. I would not call it heavy duty armor but are more than you get without the Level II. The tow hooks are also upgraded. They also have some nice features that can be considered trim but the Level II Ranger is the most off-road capable Ranger Ford ever built for the USA.
Yes, you can make it more off-road capable but it doesn't take much to get it to a very good off-road machine. The only things I have done is go to 33" tires, switch to 4.56 gears and added a Torsen differential to the front axle. I have been through some pretty rough stuff with only minor scrapes on the bottom. I recently lead four well prepped Landcruisers (FJ40, FJ80s (2) and a FZJ-73) and one very well prepped 4Runner into The Maze in Canyonlands. One of the FJ80s and the 4Runner were more capable but none of us including me had a problem with some vey rough conditions.
You forgot to mention that the 2002 Lvl II and the 2003 FX4 had a HD rear differential, Large tube housing and 31 spline axles, and larger axles bearing.
The main things on those trucks were the Manual shift Transfer Case and the Rear Axle setup.
AND the Black interior, special seat covers, and a BLACK Console.
The full black interior were like gold a few years back.
Good find, keep it up, it is becoming one of ITS kind !
