If you could trade your Ranger for this - would you?

[westtntrucker]

Maybe some use their ranger for work and play/commute. I use my ranger for commuting, and m,aybe a few grocerie bags here and there. To haul with, I have a F350 Dually to handle the work load when needed. I am in the camp of, When do we trade keys?? Falcon Ute towing capacity is 5070lbs, the ranger max towing is 4780. You can put an extra fat chick in the ute safely!

[bigrigfixer]

Would I trade my Ranger for a UTE? Probably not. My Bronco II? In a heartbeat. That thing was a piece of crap.

I might have skipped over some specs, does the UTE come in 4x4? If it does, I probably would consider trading my Ranger then.

[FTE Ken]

It's available with:

- 4x4
- 1 ton chassis
- High ride option (great for those mud pits mentioned earlier)
- And.... a 5.4L V8!
- Cab-chassis
- A mini dump truck bed!

They threw everything at this but the kitchen sink. Makes sense, in a country where people want the capabilities of larger trucks but fuel costs much more.

[bigrigfixer]

4x4 and a 5.4? Where do I sign?

[freirefishing]

what about the crew cab? not another ranger or cousin of the ranger without 4 doors!lol

[Jonas1022]

Originally Posted by Benaghetto

Definately unibody on the UTE. But I do know that the G8 ST will have a partial frame grafted into the rear to better handle loads, maybe Ford's doing the same with this UTE?



Given the fact that the UTE is unibody and not body on frame it'll probably under cut the Sport-Trac by 1000 lbs. That's a huge plus in my book! Physically the Sport-Trac is bigger than either the Ranger or the UTE also, so there wouldnt be an apples to apples comparo there.

Sport Trac=F150 narrow chassis.

Old ST=Ranger/Explorer chassis.

[jason867]

Despite what I said earlier, I would sell my 88' 2.0L carbed & broken ranger for that truck. Then I would promptly turn around and sell it, and use the money to fix up my 78' f250.

[Rockledge]

Originally Posted by westtntrucker

Falcon Ute towing capacity is 5070lbs, the ranger max towing is 4780. You can put an extra fat chick in the ute safely!

My '98 Ranger 4.0L 4x4 has a max tow capacity of 5,640 lbs. It has a max GCWR rating of 9,500 lbs.

Oh, and I can also fit 4'x8' sheets of plywood in the bed.

[BSmitty]

Originally Posted by FTE Ken

If I had to make the choice between the UTE and my Ranger as a sole work/hauling/towing vehicle I'd take the UTE.

It has more features, more power, better towing, more payload, better mileage, better safety.

- Traction control
- Intelligent safety system
- Variable cam timing.
- V8 available!
- Manual control with automatic transmission
- Turbo available
- LPG engine available
- Braking load distribution
- Available with a 1 ton suspension
- Available with a "heavy duty" 1 ton suspension
- Available with a sport suspension
- Higher tow capacity

Why wouldn't you want a Ranger to have those features?

Comparing it to the Ranger is an apples to apples comparison. Compariing it to a larger 1 ton or 3/4 ton truck isn't.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Ranger. Its a great truck and does everything our family bought it for. But that doesn't mean I'm so model blind that I won't acknowledge something better from an engineering point of view. The only thing I can see as a legitimate gripe with anyone is styling... but from a technical standpoint its a more advanced truck (and should be since its a new design and the Ranger is 20+ years old).

I'm gonna start by saying, I would consider buying one, possibly in place of a Ranger, but not because I think it is a viable substitute to a Ranger. That being said, I'm going to have to take issue with almost everything you said. First off, who on earth said they didn't want some of those features offered on a Ranger? I'd love a factory e-locker, and some of the other options available on the UTE, you bet! Comparing the UTE to a Ranger is in no way apples to apples however, aside from the fact that they appear similar in overall size. The UTE has more payload, it's smallest engine is a 6 cylinder, and it comes with lockers, sounds more like a replacement to the F-series to me! The I-6 is an option I wish both the Ranger and F150 had, but it will never be as efficient as the 2.3l Duratec, don't try to sell me on that. The only cab I see available is the one shown, similar to the half-cab that replaced the regular cab on the F150's, sorry no sale, not as useful as a 4door extended cab. Although the ground clearance is deicent with the high ride suspesion, the 2wd version sits at about passenger car height, unlike the Ranger which has respectable ground clearance even in 2wd form. It does have a factory flatbed though, one of the many options I wish we had here. I would consider buying one if I had that choice, but I'm not pining for one because I think it's so superior to my current truck that I feel slighted by my current choices in transportation in this country! I like it, give me a diesel version, I might bite, but I'd miss my Ranger! OTOH, I can't say I wouldn't trade my gas hog F150 for it, now there's a vehichle that has disappointed me! Oh, and as for the ranger being severely outdated, although many people are bored with the design, it's still a great truck, and over the years the Ranger has been one of the most consistent workhorses on the road. I'll get rid of my Ranger for a UTE as soon as I'm disappointed in how it stacks up, but for now, I see them as 2 totally different types of vehichles! Sorry for the rant, but I resent being called "model blind" just because I don't immediately agree with your opinion!

[Nighteyez]

I agree with Bsmitty regarding the rant against Ranger owners who have stated they would not trade their Rangers in on a Ute. You asked if we would, and you are disappointed that most of us wouldn't. That should be it. Sure, the Ute has a lot of features that the Ranger doesn't and has engines available that puts the Ranger to shame. Still, a lot of Ranger owners would not trade, and that is fine. Look at all the F series owners who still drive their old trucks even though there are newer more modern versions available.

Not everyone changes for the sake of change. Not everyone wants several more years of truck payments. If I was offered a straight up trade for my Ranger, with no money involved, then yes I would do it, but it would have to be a 4x4 version of the Ute. That is just me though. I like the styling of the 1st and 2nd generation Rangers. I don't care too much for the smoother styling of the newer ones. However, that is just my opinion. Everyone has their own opinion, and you are entitled to yours, but don't get mad at us if our opinions don't match it.
Even though the Ranger has not improved much over its 20+ years of existance it is interesting to note that even though Ford has chosen to spend its money upgrading other models in its lineup, the Ranger is still ranked number 8 in all time sales. Pretty good for a truck that has basically stayed the same its entire life.

[FTE Ken]

Originally Posted by BSmitty

Sorry for the rant, but I resent being called "model blind" just because I don't immediately agree with your opinion!

I never pointed to anyone as model blind. I said I wasn't model blind.

[FTE Ken]

Originally Posted by Nighteyez

Everyone has their own opinion, and you are entitled to yours, but don't get mad at us if our opinions don't match it.

I'm not mad. Frankly, this topic and most people the Internet site aren't important enough to impact my feelings. You give me too much credit if you think it impacts my mood that way. The only feeling I've had out of this thread is mild amusement (isn't that the point of light conversation).

Even though the Ranger has not improved much over its 20+ years of existance it is interesting to note that even though Ford has chosen to spend its money upgrading other models in its lineup, the Ranger is still ranked number 8 in all time sales.

Ranger is least expensive truck out there, and has the best fuel economy - I think those are the likely reasons. Stripped down fleet Rangers are a also a huge market because its the cheapest small truck.

[Bdox]

It is the cheapest, which is a great virtue in itself, but the main thing is it does most truck duties that most people need done. It just makes perfect sense evaluated on purely pragmatic terms.

[Nighteyez]

FTE Ken, my bad I did not specify who I was referring to. Greywolf was the one who started this thread and asked if we would trade or not. Then when the responses came in, he got mad and left. I was referring to him, not you.

[BSmitty]

Ken, I must have read more into that remark than was there, I assumed you were calling loyal Ranger die hards "model blind", I prefer to think I'm a Ranger fan for completely practical reasons (I prefer to, but I know I just love 'em). All I'm saying is, practical or not, I don't feel that you can assert that the UTE can or should in any way replace or supercede the Ranger, I repeat it is not an apples to apples comparison. That being said, given a crack at one equipped with a factory diesel, I'd hop on the bandwagon!