Seems like everyone that had the rangers for awhile have went fullsize lately. Some of you may remember me selling my white 06 that I had, and a course I ended up with another white truck even though I really didn't want to. But I couldn't pass up the deal I got on this.

I know I know, it isn't a ford but I just wasn't happy with what I was finding in the F150 market for the price especially down around me here in KY. It had to be the big v8 they offered, 4 full doors, 4x4, 50-75k miles, no more than 2 owner and no wrecks, etc etc for a max of 19.5 out the door sales tax included. I don't like the trim inside the FX4's, and I don't like the tan leather in the lariats (sorry Scott lol). Plus if I was going to deal with the cam phaser, timing chain issues I just wanted to be totally happy with the truck. Almost pulled the trigger on a King Ranch but I just couldn't accept paying over 20 grand for a truck that is 6 years old and 75,000 miles.

The dodge obviously has its own things like manifolds leaking just like the F150, blend door issues (which isn't hard to fix at all), clutch pack retaining clip problems (which im going to regear and aftermarket rear lsd anyways), and seals on rack and pinion leaking. But both trucks aren't a bad way to go for their issues. Both have their pro's and con's and even though im a die hard Ford fan, im not so naive to think there is no other good trucks out there.

Plus we already have an 06 Dodge 3500 that is used for my horse training and general farm stuff so I was already decently familiar with alot of things on this one to begin with. So I would have been fine with either route for the same money and miles.

I searched for the last 2 months straight and 300 mile radius from me and all I can say is, times sure have changed since I bought my ranger. I got a great deal on mine 2 years ago when gas was still high and 4x4 trucks weren't selling alot and the market was taking a hard hit. Well let me tell you it sure as hell ain't like that anymore. I was told straight up by almost 10 dealers (keep in mind I was willing to pay 19.5 in full right then and there) that thanks for the offer but no thanks. We know we will sell it and make more money and lower mileage, 4 door 4x4's are selling like hot cakes and just as good as they ever have!

But on to pictures.

06 Big Horn, 4x4, Hemi, Quad Cab, with 75,000 miles.
2 owner, was corporate truck for first 10-15k and an old farm lady's truck from 15-75k! Yeah crazy I know but she took real good care of it and it is pretty clean besides a few little things for being on a farm and such. Obviously being 6 years old, your going to have some scratches, fading, etc but the interior was almost spotless. She also added the steps, spray in bed liner, and rear cover.

Crappy cell pictures but you get the idea. Pretty much what you would expect.

 

nice. interior looks better than newer fords i think.

 

sick *** truck i want one of these...

 

Good looking truck!

 

Looks good. Congrats on the purchase.

 

nice truck man, I like those trucks after they did the redesign on the front end. the hemi freakin moves too

 

Nice truck. My only complaint when I drove those models was the dash, it felt too cheap and plasticky. The redesigned model seems to have fixed that but I still wouldn't complain if it was the right price

 

I test drove an 08 before I bought my F150 and wasn't impressed. But congrats.

 

Nice truck. I'd have paid the bit extra for a Ford, but i'm sure that will be a good truck for ya.

 

Thanks. I absolutely hate the new ford interiors. To me they are going to a futuristic "spacey" look and I just can't stand it. Maybe im set in my ways but im only 22 so it's not like im an old man complaining that it aint like it used to be lol. The woman has a 13 focus, and while it gets 40 mpg, the interior has the same futuristic style and I hate it. I drive it to my night job but thats it and strictly for gas purposes.

Thanks. It is a pretty good looking truck. N like I said we already have an 06 3500 so I was really familiar with it from the get go.

Thanks, it gets the job done.

Thanks

The redesign was a big move for them imo and really changed the brand for its time. Mines pretty quick but with the stock 20x9's and 33's that are stock, its pretty heavy and you can def tell they are there. Even with the 3.92 gears. But even with them and small sidewall tires, it rides like a dream compared to a ranger. I specifically purchased an 06-08 as well just for coils and not torsion bars.

That is the major complaint. If you compare it to an 04-08 interior and expect the dodge to win, its just not going to happen. They haven't even came close to Ford until the brand new interiors and laramie longhorn they released.

The new dash design even though it is still plastic, its much thicker and heavier duty and has no dash problems at all. The only good thing about all the hard plastic is it really gives you a sense of a hardworking truck interior, and not as "car" like as the Fords interior. I still like the Ford interior by far, but with us having the 06 3500 it has grown on me over the last few years. Some people when they buy a truck want it to feel like a truck, some just want the features and feature comforts.

If you expect it to impress you vs the 04-08 150 F150, especially the xlt and up models, its not going to happen. But for the price difference I am happy.

Thanks, I expect it to be pretty good but if I could have I would have. But im not exaggerating when I say it was crazy prices for 300 miles around me and ive searched nonstop for the last 2 months so its not like I didn't try. I probably inquired for close to 50 trucks.

Plus like stated the xlt just isn't nice enough to me for the price difference and still having to deal with the 5.4 issues. I dont like the black carbon fiber of the FX4's or the tan leather interior of the lariats, and so I was going to buy a king ranch.

Which in my experience I was looking at 4 grand more for the king ranch atleast and I was just not going to spend over 20 grand for a 6 year old truck or more and 75,000 miles and having to take care of the 5.4 issues. The crew cab FX4's were still going for a few grand more than I got this truck for and like stated I wasn't doing that for an interior I didn't love and still having the things to watch out for.

So while I really really wanted the F150, for me and in my situation at this time, this was a better route for me to go. I couldn't buy this truck again right now for what I paid for it this weekend atleast in my experience around me. They wanted 18,995 for it and I got it for 16,3xx. While Scotts truck is really nice, you could probably never replace it for what he paid for it. He got his for 15 k but it is a supercab and was private party while the dodge is a quad cab and mine was through a dealer. So I feel I got about as good of a deal that I could get, just like he did for his.