New to Forum, Looking at Rangers
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Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Crestview, FL
New to Forum, Looking at Rangers
Well, the automatically generated PM said to introduce myself. I'm new to the forum, don't own a Ranger *yet*, but looking for more information on what generations and options would suite me best.
Right now, I currently own a '96 Nissan 240SX, but I want a truck as well due to they have so many uses. I really enjoy rock-crawling, and being from Northern California I had plenty of time to go out when camping and such. I would use my dads T100 and go with friends in their Toyota's. Now that I relocated to Florida, dads truck is a bit out of my reach. Not wanting what everyone else has, and being that they are way out of my price range (Toyota's and Nissan's), I'm looking at Rangers since they are pretty cheap and VERY capable wheelers.
Although I come from a car background, I'm not unfamiliar with trucks and such being that I helped many friends with their rigs. I'm also a Certified Toyota technician and hold 7 of 8 ASE's. You won't hear much from me on the site until I own a Ranger myself, but I will be on hear searching for information and looking up peoples builds to gain more knowledge. Anyway, I'm Phil and nice to meet you all. If you'd like to post links that may be helpful, please do. Thanks.
Right now, I currently own a '96 Nissan 240SX, but I want a truck as well due to they have so many uses. I really enjoy rock-crawling, and being from Northern California I had plenty of time to go out when camping and such. I would use my dads T100 and go with friends in their Toyota's. Now that I relocated to Florida, dads truck is a bit out of my reach. Not wanting what everyone else has, and being that they are way out of my price range (Toyota's and Nissan's), I'm looking at Rangers since they are pretty cheap and VERY capable wheelers.
Although I come from a car background, I'm not unfamiliar with trucks and such being that I helped many friends with their rigs. I'm also a Certified Toyota technician and hold 7 of 8 ASE's. You won't hear much from me on the site until I own a Ranger myself, but I will be on hear searching for information and looking up peoples builds to gain more knowledge. Anyway, I'm Phil and nice to meet you all. If you'd like to post links that may be helpful, please do. Thanks.
Welcome, Phil. Definitely a good choice to look at a Ranger.
A little advice on engines: if you're at all interested in the performance of your truck (towing power, accelleration, etc), stay away from the 3.0 and go for a 4.0 in either form (OHV or SOHC).
On the other hand, the 3.0 is a very durable, long-lasting engine. A lot of us guys on there with 3.0's have over 2 and 3 hundred thousand miles on them with minimal maintainence and they're still running strong.
Just a matter of what's important to you, but I figured I'd throw it out there.
A little advice on engines: if you're at all interested in the performance of your truck (towing power, accelleration, etc), stay away from the 3.0 and go for a 4.0 in either form (OHV or SOHC).
On the other hand, the 3.0 is a very durable, long-lasting engine. A lot of us guys on there with 3.0's have over 2 and 3 hundred thousand miles on them with minimal maintainence and they're still running strong.
Just a matter of what's important to you, but I figured I'd throw it out there.
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Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Peculiar, Missouri
Hello Pac-Man
Welcome to the forum. I trained as a tech, then spent 32 years at Ford, mostly building F Series Trucks in Kansas City.
I've owned several full size Ford trucks, and a 71 Toyota Hilux. I recently joined here as well, having gotten fed up supporting the oil companies and purchasing a 99 4x4 Ranger. The Ranger build quality is much better than Toyota was achieving in 71, and I'm quite happy with the truck. The 4.0 produces more than enough power for me.
I've owned several full size Ford trucks, and a 71 Toyota Hilux. I recently joined here as well, having gotten fed up supporting the oil companies and purchasing a 99 4x4 Ranger. The Ranger build quality is much better than Toyota was achieving in 71, and I'm quite happy with the truck. The 4.0 produces more than enough power for me.
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Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Crestview, FL
Welcome, Phil. Definitely a good choice to look at a Ranger.
A little advice on engines: if you're at all interested in the performance of your truck (towing power, accelleration, etc), stay away from the 3.0 and go for a 4.0 in either form (OHV or SOHC).
On the other hand, the 3.0 is a very durable, long-lasting engine. A lot of us guys on there with 3.0's have over 2 and 3 hundred thousand miles on them with minimal maintainence and they're still running strong.
Just a matter of what's important to you, but I figured I'd throw it out there.
A little advice on engines: if you're at all interested in the performance of your truck (towing power, accelleration, etc), stay away from the 3.0 and go for a 4.0 in either form (OHV or SOHC).
On the other hand, the 3.0 is a very durable, long-lasting engine. A lot of us guys on there with 3.0's have over 2 and 3 hundred thousand miles on them with minimal maintainence and they're still running strong.
Just a matter of what's important to you, but I figured I'd throw it out there.
Been lurking around daily while I play the waiting game on jobs. I've done done some 3.0 work (heads, water pump, radiator, and thermostat). They are quite easy to work on, a definite plus. I remember watching my old team leader replace the noisy timing chain tensioners in his '04-'06 SOHC 4.0 Explorer, and the engine looked much more complex compared to the 3.0 (remember, I'm used to the Toyota realm, although that can include three timing chains, multiple timing marks on one gear, etc on the new stuff, lol; can be very easy to mess up). I unfortunately haven't had a chance to drive a 4.0.
I know this isn't important when the plan is to build a mild crawler (once I own a truck, lol), but whats the fuel economy between the two engines? I also know that there are major variables to that question, just kinda wondering what people are getting. I have more searching to do...
Welcome to the forum... I also think you´re engine choice for that rock crawiling purposes should be a 4.0 but If your priority changes and the MPG raises up... then you can´t go wrong with the long-lasting-reliable-affordable-fuel efficient 2.3L.
I´ve owned two rangers with this little 4 bangers since 2005 and had proven their point.. best MPG from all compact pickup trucks in the US.
Regards
I´ve owned two rangers with this little 4 bangers since 2005 and had proven their point.. best MPG from all compact pickup trucks in the US.
Regards
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Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Crestview, FL
I know that I'm gonna look for the V6, just which one will give the better compromise of low-end torque and fuel efficiency (girlfriend lives in OH). I'm not too worried about the fuel mileage, that's what the 240SX is for, and that car is not going anywhere unless totaled. There's always the 4BT swap for economy and torque, tho...
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