Got this '03 Ranger XLT 4.0L 4x4 from my dad last year with < 40k miles on it when he passed away. She's spent most of her life in a heated garage, so she's in top shape mechanically (aside from rubber I've had to replace). I want to upgrade her to be off road ready, but I'm looking for suggestions. Honestly don't know where to start, especially since everything is like new. My thinking is to upgrade parts as things need replacing, especially since I've got to sell my wife on it

 

Welcome to the forum

Sorry for your loss

That's is one nice looking Ranger, well cared for

One thing to do always, is to shift into 4low and back to 2WD once a month, just sitting in the driveway is fine, this keeps the shift motor on the transfer case clean and lubed
What kills these shift motors is only being used a few times a year.

You already have an off-road setup, a 4x4, a winch is a good start to get you out of where you shouldn't have gone in the first place, lol

Bigger tires is always popular but you only get 1/2" of clearance for each 1" in diameter, so hardly worth of off-roading, so mostly for looks

Lifts are also popular, so you can get even bigger tires, lol

 

A winch? I thought those were for pulling Jeeps out? Lol

Thanks, he babied the **** out of it for barely ever driving it. I learned about the shifting through the 4x4 regularly the hard way since the truck was parked for a year before I got it - first time I used 4 low it got stuck in it and I had to do the shifting thing going between reverse and neutral to get her to release. Haven't had that issue since doing this regularly. I also had to get new rubber on her because of the dry rot. Decided to stay with the factory 16" rims and tires and put Bridgestone Revo 3s on it. I love the balance between road noise and off road ability of them so far - also great in the winter with the ShurTrax traction aid in the rear.

Also recently replaced the rotors and brakes on the front and rear, the parking brake cable, and the front wheel bearings (tl;dr my dad had dementia and drove it with the parking brake engaged) and went top of the line on all of them since she's so low mileage.

 

Yup, Jeep owners always go where they shouldn't and get stuck, some kind of "mental issue"

But its still a good off-road unit to have, so YOU can pull out the stuck winchless Jeep blocking your way, lol

 

What size tires you running? It’d probably look good with some 33s or 35s with some offset wheels. I built a flatbed on my ranger best thing I ever done. Exhaust is a must my 2.3 has stock cats with flowmaster super 10 to duals to 5 inch tips at the hitch but straight out the back looks sharp on rangers. Long term think about a SAS (straight axle swap) and/or a manual transfer case swap.