My son is 17 and wants a Ranger in the worst way. He worked all summer with me saved his money and bought my brothers 2000 Explorer. Is it his dream truck, no. He realized the expense of 2007 and newer Rangers and figured he would buy the Explorer with cash and save his money for a huge down payment for his Ranger and trade in the Explorer. I think he made a good choice. When its all said and done he will have what he wants with a very small monthly payment. Of course some parental advice helped him in his decision but he listened to it. There is a lot of good advice for you, listen to us who have made dumb mistakes and learn from us. We know that's not always easy to do.

 

high school / college years are great years

if the man wants a superduty...not going to rain on his parade.

I bought each of my three kids the car of their choice during their junior high school year so that they could have a car thru college.

oldest picked a new mustang

middle child picked a new kia spectra sport edition

youngest picked a series 3 Z/28. Took me a few weeks to find one with 30K miles and drove a few states to pick it up.

had any of them picked a superduty, there would be two trucks in the family right now.

 

Seems your son has a good head on his shoulders, and a great Dad. My son drove a few beaters to start, and his Mom and I helped along the way, but he's 24 now, driving a 2014 Ram 1500 4X4, (get's that from his Mama!!) Is a paramedic and working his way thru Medical school. Still lives with us, but he will have no loans or anything folllowing him around. If have gave in and purchased something he couldn't afford early on, I don't think the position he's in now would've been possible.

 

Be-live it or not I find myself waking up from a dream from one of my former Rangers from time to time. OK TMI, but still I wish I would of kept one of them. Good trucks that can get in some places that a big truck can not. Hauled lots of brush from yards that I would of not been able to get a full size into. I notice you have removed the spoiler from the bottom of the front bumper. I did that on all 3 of my Rangers as well.

 

"You only live once" is what some say and I agree but that also means don't "F" it up either. Your choice as you pay the consequences.

 

Dont over extend yourself. Big trucks are not cheap. I applaud your interest in working full time, but I have 2 big regrets from highschool. One, not playing football all 4 years, and two, not taking my academics more seriously. Keep in mind, I am only 21 and already feel that way. Take things easy, get through school, they worry about toys. If you really want a truck, get something cheap, that you dont plan of keeping more than 5 years.

Diesel will give you more love, but gas is generally easier on the wallet.

As for off roading, what kind of off roading are you talking about. Many people shy away from SuperDuties for off roading becasue they prefer a fourrunner or jeep. Personally, I love my truck off road. But that said I know its limits and dont go rock crawling or mudding. Its more of an expedition vehicle. I've never been stuck without planning on it, (yet) and hardly ever need 4x4. Its all how you play the game off road. Dont go somewhere you cant get out of. Still, recovery equipment is a must. When something heavy gets stuck... Its stuck.

As far as price, cheaper the better at this point. Screw condition and reliability (if price is right). In high school get an old beater that is cheap and is mostly in good shape, but not perfect. It WILL get damaged in high school between your stupidity and the stupidity of your friends. No offense, we've all been there. Its how kids are.

Overall, we need more info, what you want to do with the truck, etc. Personally, I recommend focusing on school, figuring out what you want to do in life, and pick a job you like. Having a job you hate sucks, and if you live at home and dont need a job, dont work where you are unhappy. You are at a point in life where you can be choosy because you still have your parents. Be thankful for that. Find the job you want. Get everything settled and if there is anything left over at the end of the day, go get some cool truck toys.

According to a recent survey, 9 out of 10 doctors do not recommend perusing the career.

 

9-10 Lawyers will probably say the same thing.

 

Yeah that's true about stupidity. ..when I was in highsxhool some kid overshot abd drove into my vumper while trying to park. Luckily my truck was fine...can't say tge same for his headlight lol.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess he's not headed down the pre-med route anyhow...

 

Every time I read this comic, I agree with it more and more....



I got a degree in engineering..... I haven't got to drive one f-in train yet

 

You know how many engineers hate it when people crack that joke lol. Some really freakin flip out sometimes!

 

I bought my 15yr old a 99 F250 ccsb 4x4, he's a good kid with a part time job and I needed a good boat puller. We bought a bigger boat and it was killing my F-150, I'm on here researching lifts, gear swap etc.. Thanks to the forum the power windows and locks and the mileage/compass in the roof console both work and I didn't spend a dime. IF you want one, think you can afford it go for it.

 

Im in high school I work part time do alot of off roadin and like to go fast I have a 2000 f250 v10 it goes fast and great off road (beacuse it winds up to 5200 rpm unlike a deisel) its easy and not too expensive to fix ive always wanted a diesel beacuse mine gets terrible gas milage id say get a diesel bacause itll last you longer and you save on fuel cost but regular maintenance is higher its your personal preferance

 

I wouldve agreed suoerdutys are turds off road until I sacked up and bought good mud tires now it will hold its own against my buddys jeep with mud tires

 

Just make sure you don't get stuck, youll need a tractor to pull out a buried 8,000 pound truck.