Couple questions...

long story short -

I've been a Ranger owner for 12 years (1999 and a 2004)

I'd like to get a new tow vehicle for my boat - a 2009 Moomba Outback V, which weighs ~4000 lbs when the gas tank is full.

I totally love the 2011 F150's - especially with the new 5L V8.

My problem is, I've grown accustomed to the supercab and I want to keep my new vehicle in my garage - which is only 224" long with the door rolled down.

my questions

1. Does ayone know if I can order the F150 with Supercab with the 5.5 bed?

this would actually be a stripped down version of the Raptor - which is way more truck than I need. The length of this configuration would be 220" - perfect for me.

2. Any truth to a new F100? This also would probably be the perfect truck for me.

The Ranger pulls my boat great with it's 5800 lb towing capacity, but I'd really like to start taking the boat out of the local area. Hauling with the Ranger on a 6 hour drive would be a little over the top.

Thanks!

(moderators, if I posted this in the wrong forum, please feel free to move and let me aware of a redirect - which is okay with me if it's only one day - I'll keep an eye on this thread (I'm a moderator for Supra and Moomba Tournament Ski Boats))

 

The Scab with the 5.5' bed is no more. You may consider a used one. Sadly, I think the F-100 will not see fruition considering the demise of the Ranger after 2011-2012.

The 2011 F-150 reg cab 6.5' bed and the 3.7L V-6 will get better MPG's than the 4.0L ranger.

So your options. A Reg cab 6.5" bed F-150, a new Ranger or a competitor's product such as a Tacoma or a Durango.

 

What bugs me is that it is available on the Raptor.

Durango? Oh please.

I'd rather get hung by my....ah....thumbs

The competitors with their ext cab's are also too long for my garage.

The closest is the Titan, which comes in at 224.6".

That extra 1/2" will give a body shop some business

 

Agreed, but you were looking for info.

 

IMO, there is a very limited market for a truck like you describe. Ford would sell a tiny number of them.
The far larger market is the 6.5 bed, or the SuperCrew configurations.
The 2004 ranger and the 2010 F150 are rated at the same MPG, so there's no advantage there.

I understand your frustrations with the garage though. My 2000 expedition fit in my garage. My 2005 F150 Does not. That's a real hassle when it's cold out and I have to scrape the ice off my windows every morning.

 

Tim you say the Ranger will be no more, I wonder what they will replace it with & I agree the 3.5L EBoost will have better milage than the 5.0L

 

Honestly, you sound like a good candidate for a [second generation] Nissan Frontier. Larger than the Ranger and with a 6100-6500lb. towing capacity, depending on body style. It is almost identical in construction to the Titan (fully boxed frame, etc.), and it will fit in your garage. However, I would not expect better fuel economy than a 5.0 F-150, especially while towing. I suspect the latter is one of the reasons why Ford decided against bringing a new compact or mid-size truck to market in North America, though I'm not sure that's a smart move long term.

The Nissan Titan is a very good truck, but fuel economy (along with the 5.7L Tundra) is worst in class. However, depending on how much driving you do, I'm not sure how much that matters. All of the full size trucks seem to be within 1-2mpg of each other, regardless of engine selection.


JKG

 

go get a ranger from australia and have it shipped here thay have crew cabs and diesels and all sorts of options you'll like and wance it ships and gets here it will be the same price as a new f150 screw 4X4 King Ranch or platinum

 

Ed G what about a Ford Sport Trac with a V6

 

I'm not real keen on a V6 engine. I'm more concerned about towing capacity than I am MPG.

My Ranger hasn't been that spectacular as far as mechanical durability (two transmissions, parts falling off the the A/C compressor, both front hubs replaced, something up there keeps clunking and cupping the tires (local Ford dealer says the front end is perfect and has blamed every tire manufacturer I have used).

It goes into the dealer for major service every 30,000 miles. The truck has not been neglected. I'm a maintenance freak.

Sport track I understand is built on the Ranger frame. I'm over the Ranger.

Thanks for the tip on the Frontier. I'll look into that - especially if it has the towing capacity you describe.

Edit: Unfortunately, the Frontier only sports a 4.0L V6. That's what my Ranger has.

 

Your Ranger sounds like every Ford Truck I've ever owned.

I wish their longterm reliability would increase 10 fold.

 

The V6 in the Frontier produces quite a bit more HP and (especially) torque than the V6 engine in the Ranger.

However, if you're in search of impressive towing performance, you're probably going to be forced into a full size. The question is, what do you define as "impressive" and how much of an issue is size of the vehicle?


JKG

 

The 2006 to current Sport Trac is not on Ranger chassis any more and has V8 option. Might be just what you are looking for.

 

I understand how frustrating the garage issue is!! One side of my garage is 300'' and the other is 230'' and you can only get one truck in there it sucks.

 

^^ Thanks for that info!

I will give the Sport Trac a look.

As far as towing capacity, if it doesn't state on paper that it's around 7000 lbs, I'm of the midset (probably a wrong mindset) that I'm not gonna be happy.

I know one guy who keeps telling me that although the Honda Ridgeline states that it's max towing capacity is 5000 lbs, it will tow as well as a V8 F150.

One thing I love about the newer F150 is it can be considered "best bang for the buck".

Hell, if I had a ton of money to burn on a small tow vehicle, I'd be driving around in a V8 Volkswagen Toureg.