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The smaller tires would give the ranger an advantage- gear wise, and its lighter too, (i think that the 4.0s have 160 HP and 220 ft-lbs), but the F150 might win if the 351 can turn the bigger tires (195 HP and 240 ft. lbs I think)- but both would smoke a chebby!!
Gee...Kinda hard to say. Living in desert mountains through 31 winters, I've seen both of these configurations pull off amazing feats. However, I think the F-150 may have a slight edge. Power , torque, clearance and weightwise.
another big thing in who would win is the kind of mud. each truck will do better in different conditions than the other. a lot of it has to do with driver experience too. i have seen guys who dont know what they are doing get stuck, and than an experienced guy gets in the stuck truck and gets it out with no problems.
I have had a 1997 4.0 Ranger and Broncos with a 351W.
If the mud is not like water and has a good surface on it, the Ranger might because it might not sink up to the front axle and float over the top. Otherwise the F-150 because when it gets up to the pumpkin, the 4.0 just will not have the torque to build up wheel speed to throw the mud like the 351. If the mud does not stick to the tires, then the Ranger might do well, if the mud is like clay and weighes a lot, then the F-150.
The 351 does not feel like it is lugging when it is churning through stuff like the 4.0 feels when you have the truck buried.
All things being equal, I would say whichever truck has 300 pounds of extra winch and bumper on the front will probably end up losing.
sorry guys, I'm gonna have to disagree (from experince), unless the 150 has a heavily modded engine, it'll be the ranger all the way (assuming it has a 4.0L in it).
The weight difference is to great for the 150 to win in a stock vs stock comparison (i'm assuming only mods would be tires, and no lifts).
Of course all this is subject to revison once mods are added.
The Ranger wins, and the poor guy who owns the F150 is so upset that the next day he trades in his truck for a Honda rice rocket all lowered with a farting muffler and park bench bolted to the decklid and decals all over the window LOL!
If the ranger had a 302, still wouldn't mean it would win be default
Cuz it could still have crap gearing, or whatever and not be able to turn the tires, or turn them way to fast and just dig its own rut
Originally posted by Andysutt If the ranger had a 302, still wouldn't mean it would win be default
Cuz it could still have crap gearing, or whatever and not be able to turn the tires, or turn them way to fast and just dig its own rut