Howdy. Im a first year carpentry apprentice and have been driving a 99 honda accord which is good for gas, buut definitely i need to make a size upgrade. I have been trying to decide between a Ford Ranger or an F150. As i am just a first year apprentice i dont neccesarrily need a full size truck as i dont need to bring all of my own tools. But if i want to do anything on the side my table saw doesnt fit in my accord so i need something bigger but just have been trying to rationalize and figure out what suits me best right now. Also I live in Canada so idealy id like to find something 4x4 for the snow so that is something else ive been trying to take into account. Ultimately it comes down to fuel economy for me because i do have to drive half an hour highway to work everyday. So i figured a Ranger would be the natural best option, but as ive researched, in some cases they dont do a whoole lot better then an f150. So i was just wondering if I could get some input as to what you guys would think the better option would be for me. I dont necesarrily need a full size for a couple years or so, but i figure if it isnt going to be that much worse on gas then a Ranger, I might as well. So id appreciate the input as to the fuel economy to help me make a decision. id be looking in the 93-03 area on either of the trucks. thanks
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I've had both. I like both. For the mileage I've got out of both (in the 4x4 arena), I'd get the F150. You'll get ok mileage as long as you're sweet to it, and I think it'll probably hold up longer hauling a perpetual load of tools.... and I'd go 99 and up....

 

Alrighty thanks for the opinion. Still thinking about some stuff but thanks for the help sir.

 

And I'd stay away from tiny motors in big trucks. It's not going to save you any money on fuel. If you get the 150, get the v8....

 

We run two Rangers ('01 and '04) and I have over a decade of mileage records on my F150, they are pretty much the same. Only Rangers I know of that get better are 2wd and 3.0L's.

 

Got an '04 ext cab ranger with the 3.0, 5-speed, and 4.01 gears(2wd) and it gets 24mpg mixed being used as light duty work truck for a landscaping company. I wasn't expecting that much when I found out what gearing it had so we're pleasantly surprised. All those guys that tell you the same can be done with a fullsize V8 are dreaming in technicolor, around town in stop and go traffic weight is your enemy so it will be lucky to see anything in the teens and even that will be with a small truck like a reg cab 2wd, add 2 more doors and 4wd and it only goes down from there. Strictly highways is a different story even a crew cab can manage low 20s but once you hit town it's gonna drink all those gains so overall you may only get mid teens out of it. But if you need the cargo space then there is no substitute for a fullsize, I'd love to have a Ranger for the milage but as a contractor it simply can't carry enough, when my current F150 dies I'm getting a fullsize van for it's ability to carry 12-14' lumber with the doors closed.

 

thanks thats some interesting info. not the first time ive heard that either. So im assuming those rangers were 4.0L 4x4? And assuming your F150 is a 4x4 aswell? Would you happen to know how much better the 2wd, 3.0L rangers do roughly? because i realise there is rated fuel economy but alot of the time that differs greatly from what the real world economy. thanks

 

ok thanks. Alot to think about. I was just figuring. since i feel i need a 4x4 and alot of them ive seen are 4.0L and since some of the info id been hearing about the fuel economy of those trucks i figured it might just be worth it to just get a full size since i will need the cargo space eventually. just dont need as much space right now. So you figure with weight factored in even a 4.0L 4x4 ranger would still be more worth it for the fuel economy compared to an f150? also is your 04 ranger a 4x4? if not, id be interested to know how it does in the snow. thanks

 

2wd vs 4wd won't have a big impact on fuel milage all else being equal, the added weight of the front drivetrain is the big factor.. more mass to accelerate from a stop, but it's not a lot more weight on a Ranger so I don't see it having a dramatic effect on fuel consumption. The 4.0L Rangers do not get real great milage especially with an auto trans, they can manage low 20s on the highway but fall to low teens around town which is pretty similar to a current fullsize truck, if that's all you have to pick from then you may as well buy an F150 and get the extra space, just don't get too carried away.. the heavier the vehicle the more fuel it'll burn overall.

 

thanks. And ya thats what i was thinking. How does your ranger do in the snow? Because maybe I could just forget about the 4wd then that would make it alot easier decision. Idealy it would probably be good to find a 3.0L 4wd ranger I guess. Also id probably get a 4wd f150 so that would sort of make even the 4.0L ranger a little more worth my while since the added weight of the 4wd on a fullsize would probably expand that gap in fuel economy between the ranger and f150.

 

I love Rangers. I have had three (or was it four) of them. Berniece was the best with almost 300,000 miles before I sold her. All of my ranger had the 4-banger with fives speed trans. That combination is bullet proof. You are going to think this is stupid, but I once took Berniece some 60,000 miles without an oil change. No engine trouble ever. She ran like a top when I sold her.
I now have a '98 F150 4WD (which I treat much better) She hasn't earned a name yet, but runs very well, and reminds me a lot of my Berniece. She has the small 4.6 V8 with the five speed (OD) trans.
The thing is, gas mileage in the F150 is not that much different, and around here (western North Texas) you have to drive 30 miles one way to do anything.
So here's what I would suggest: Man-up and send the Honda to where it belongs, the parking spot of a teenage girl. You say that you will someday need a full size pickup, so go ahead and get a full size. Buy something with a standard trans. and if you go with a 4WD, make sure it has the shifter in the floor. Push-button 4WD is more likely to fail. Whatever you do, don't buy a half-ton Dodge.

 

haha thanks. So what year was berniece? And ya i definitely want to get something a little more manly then a honda for sure. But at the same time dont want to have to pay alllll of my paycheck for gas. I realise it will be a big difference from my other car anyways but just going for damage control. But I wouldnt neccesarily need the full size pretty much until i get my carpentry lisence and id be looking for older trucks anyways in the 93-03 range, so I guess what im asking is do you think itd be worth my while to go for the ranger even just for the couple of years? Or is the milage thaaat close that theres no point?

 

Berniece was a '95. She now resides in Old Mexico. (Mexicans used to come through this part of Texas and buy up pickups to take back and resale.) According to fuel economy.gov, '98 F150 4x4 4.6L 5-speed (mine) gets estimated 17mpg on highway. Ranger 4x4 6 cal 4.0L gets 19. Four cylinder 2.5L Ranger, five-speed, two-wheel drive is estimated at 23mpg.

 

I have a F150 CrewCab 4 x 4. I drive 80% of the time on state highways, limited stops. I get right at 18 MPG in the summer. I have a crew cab to haul things i want INSIDE. The bed is shorter, but with the tail gate down you can haul 8-10 ft stuff east. Tools i want in the back seat !

 

When I bought my 01 5.4L 4x4 Screw, a co worker had an extended cab 4.0 4x4 Ranger. He only got 1-2 more MPG than my truck that has a V8 and can carry 5 adults in it.