Well, here's the thing. I've been going over a lot of things lately about what mods I should do to the ranger. Things like a SAS, adding more power are fine, but it will still be a 2-3 seat Truck. With me getting closer and closer to starting a family, would there be something better?

I guess the short answer is, there's always something better, but need something I can get into now without spending much, if any more money. The Ranger is paid off, so that's basically the money I can work with.

Here's what I've come up with.... A BRONCO. I've always loved them, had one for 4 years while I was in college, but sold it when it started rusting out. If I bought a '95 or '96, I could easily get one for the value of the Ranger and here are the benefits I've come up with: (some items are for a specific one I'm looking at)

Pros:
-5.8 ltr engine (I can almost hear the new exhaust system)
-Dana 44 front axle (can upgrade to a solid 44 or 60 REALLY easy)
-space for kids when needed
-less money than a newer exploder or expedition
-easier to mod than a newer exploder or expedition
-still really good off road
-about the same MPG as the Ranger (well, ranger with 33 or 35 Muds)

Cons:
-It's a 11 y/o vehicle
-already has 60k miles on it
-Maybe a problem with reliability

I've always heard good things about the 5.8ltr. Does anyone have any negatives about them.
I only use my Ranger to pull trailers, or play on the weekends/vacations, so I figure any vehical should last a while.



So what do you think. Am I completely crazy here? If I find a good Bronco, with low miles, no rust, and a sounding engine, is there really any negatives here?

For reference, this is the one that I'm looking at right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...85562928QQrdZ1

Thanks for any help, advice.

Don

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lol@ "premium" new tires haha

Me likey Broncos!

I've been thinking about getting one as a backup vehicle. I'm more fond of 78-86's though =]

I say go for it!

 

i say stick to the ranger. i'm not a big fan of the broncos.

 

You'll regret it! ask me how I know?

 

Broncos are the "flavor of the moment", lol. James (Rangerless on here), my son-in-law, has a 1978 he bought (already solid front axle). He loves it.

They have good and bad about them -- heavier and lower mileage for instance -- but they have a lot of positives also. Tough, powerful, and not too long a wheelbase so they are still wheelable in the woods to some extent.

I don't think you can lose either way.

How's the garage coming, Don? Are you still willing to "host" my SAS in 2 or 3 months? I have money now and I've been ordering parts for things.

 

Well, I actually started the thought process with getting a '79 and fixing it up. The problem is I've already been that route:



I spent so much time and money getting it nice, that I couldn't drive it and get it dirty any more. Besides, as much as I liked it, I don't think it would work well as a primary truck, and on long distances (vacations).

Oh yeah, I asked you to talk me out of it!! :o) I can always find reasons to buy things, it's finding reasons not to buy things I have a problem with.

Don

 

I know they're heavier, but for towing, that's good. Milage like I said won't be much, if any lower than the ranger, I only get 12-15 right now.

As far as the garage, I'm definately still willing, we'll just have to see if the finish date agrees with when you want to start. I can't do much until things get a little warmer. I'm think an early April re-start date. This deal would give me some extra money to spend towards a 2-post lift.. :o) Or my wife reminded me that we could use it to pay off other debts. :o(

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Keep the ranger and buy a Minvan for the Mrs's. problem solved!

Or buy one of these:



You think you hate it now, but wait til you drive it!

~HJ

 

The problem, Don, as I see it is that none of us really know your financial and "family political" situation (read as: what your wife has in mind). There's so many factors I'm not sure even how to approach it, lol.

The thing to do would be to get a much later Bronco, as you originally proposed, so you don't have to do so much work to it to get it where you want it.

I have seen lots of guys do so much to a truck they could work it anymore. I don't understand it really -- it's built to perform, so it should be used even if it messes it up some. You do some really nice work and pay a lot of attention to detail from what I've seen, so I can imagine your pride in the result would be even more paralyzing. Would this happen in this case also?

Oh well. Just one of those things I guess...

 

That's cool. I may need to wait until June to do it anyway. The hold up is having another vehicle to use while doing it. I don't want to rent, and I don't want to have to buy something. My daughter has her Ranger which is often "free" to be used, but my other son-in-law is using it because his car is down for the count and I can see it's possible he may have it for months.

 

Alright... How do you know? What did you buy to replace it? The truck in your sig? I DO want to know the negatives...

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Well I guess you caught me, other than I got rid of a Cool truck for a lame explorer, for me there has been few neagatives. I bought my Dad's 2000 explorer for cash and other than I hate driving it, and I had to put a tranny in it, it has been a good vehicle. I just love my Level II. It was fun to drive looked, good and banging trough those gears on the way into work made it so much fun.

Now I spent the morning Digging my GMC out of a snow bank that my Ranger would have plowed through. I also don't really have a Reliable cross country vehicle anymore. The Expedition has about 100K on it and other than that alll of my vehicles are 150K+ (Except the gmc and caddy, but there 30+ years old so they don't count) now. It is nerve racking to head out more than 50 miles from home in a ten year old car that in reality could go anytime anywhere. I still do, but I never worried about this stuff when I had the Ranger.

 

i'd hit that!!!

 

Don,

You may have to sell the ranger when a family comes, but unless the baby is in its 3rd trimester there really is no reason to sell now. You have put plenty of money int your truck that will be very difficult to get back. Do you really need to sell the truck once the child comes? Is there another vehicle that your wife drives incapable of handle the child transport needs?

Shoud you decide that you need to upgrade I would suggest going with a new/newer vehicle, that way you have the more modern conveniences and safety features which will be more important in coming years then the ability to modify the vehicle.

You may not be able to lift an explorer, but there are other suv's out there that you can. GM, Toyota, and Nissan all have quad cab pick ups and suv's in the full or medium size that can be lifted.

 

I say keep the ranger!

 

just dont get rid of the ranger.. BTW sweet *** ford.. i'd love to have a truck like that

 

Only losers sell their Rangers. All the cool kids are keeping them.






...Peer pressure always worked on me

 

That's a CLEAN bronco..even has an OHC! lol.. i'd almost be afraid to do anything major to it because it's in such good shape..

 

cmon man dont sell it. buy the son-in-law a moped and give wifey that car.

 

sell the ranger and get BOTH vehicles:
1.) commuter/family vehicle (could even be a car)
2.) the backup bronco for fun

 

unless the ranger is your daily driver i would keep it but if its a weekend truck then i would sell it and get a FSB

 

Thanks for all the input guys.... The one I was looking at yesterday sold last night, so it's out. I think I've decided to keep the truck for the time being. I have another DD, and my wife has a nice car ('04 2 door Honda) thats almost paid off. When that's paid off, we're getting her another car that will work better for kids, and will be our main car, and I'm taking the Honda for a DD. So we'll have no problem toteing the kids around on a day to day basis, but if we want to pull a trailer, or something else that needs a truck, we'd be out of luck if the kids needed to go.

I think I'm just going to keep an eye out for a really nice bronco, I know they're out there, but I won't settle for a POS. There is a nice '83 for sale right now, only 13k miles, but it's poo brown. I don't think I could deal with it. :o)

Thanks again for all your help...

Don

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