This might be a stupid question but I just got my 1975 Custom and I would like to know what the difference between Custom, Ranger, and Explorer packages for 1973-79 ford trucks?

 

Congratulations Is it an F100 or F150? Or F250 or F350?
Custom was the entry level package, and at one point, you couldn't get an F150 which wasn't a Custom, unless you sprung for the Ranger or Lariat package. But I think F100s could be had without the Custom package. Not sure about the larger trucks.

The Ranger and Lariat packages got you more luxury stuff like carpet and bright trim and cloth seats.

 

Its a F-250

 

^ Y'all missed the Ranger XLT

1973/79 Custom, Ranger, Ranger XLT and 1978/79 Lariat. ALL F100/350's could be one of these models.

The Explorer package was available as an option for Customs. I don't recall if Rangers and Ranger XLT's were available with the Explorer package or not.

Customs were the "price leader" aka "stripper" in other words the cheapest entry level trucks available.

Most have no body side mouldings, have a "plain jane" vinyl interior with a rubber floor mat. 1978's have round headlamps, all the other 1978's and 1979's have rectangular headlamps.

 

Really? My truck had carpet in it before I removed it and it has body side mouldings.

 

Was the carpet the original or was it installed by an upholstery shop?

Were the body side mouldings factory or dealer installed?

Or did someone buy the mouldings at the parts counter, then either install the mouldings themselves or have someone else do it?

You could order a Marti Report to find out if these features were original or not. And then even if you do, Marti may not have all the info.

It never fails, when I list info, someone comes along and either says 'my truck does' or 'my truck doesn't' have this jazz.

These trucks are at least 39 years old and some have had at least 2 owners. Most have had many more owners than 2.

How many members of this forum bought their truck new? I only know of two and one is myself. I cannot recall the other members complete user name, but it's ranger then ?

If you didn't buy it new, you are "flying blind" because you don't know what is original and what ain't.

Since people love to swap parts around and their trucks have had multiple owners, who really knows how their truck was equipped when it drove off the assembly line?

 

But couldn't some of those trucks be none of those models? I think I read that the F100 could be had as just an F100. No custom, no Lariat, no Ranger or Ranger XLT, and no Explorer, nomenclature.

 

This might help?

Ranger 429 says...Here are the differences between these models. I also have found out that for the 78/79 Bronco it was available as a Custom or Ranger XLT model only. They did not offer the Ranger package only on the Bronco.

Custom:
Pretty much your stripped down version although it could have been ordered with just about any individual option you wanted to put on it. A Custom model included: low back bucket seats, vinyl floor mat for the front only, 25 gallon gas tank, manual steering, 4 speed trans with the 351 motor and the 205 case.
Exterior features were:
hub caps, black painted bumpers and the stainless mirrors.
Ranger:
Not offered on the Bronco, only available in the F-series lineup. Those upgrades were:
The bench seat had a chain mail vinyl seat upholstery, it also included a color matching vinyl floormat, sunvisors, seat back covers in the regular cab model and white headliner with chrome trim.
Ranger XLT:
The front seat used a combination of cloth and vinyl, insulated woodgrain door panels, carpeted flooring, woodgrain around instrument cluster, passenger dash and the glove box, woodtone on the steering wheel horn button, chrome trim around taillights and halogen headlights. The XLT also got the body side trim.
Exterior:
Chrome bumpers, chrome molding around the windshield and side windows in the top, chrome molding around the drip rail by door, chrome wheel well lip molding, rear T-gate chrome pieces, and the body side trim.
Lariat:
Not offered on the Bronco, only available in the F-series lineup. Those upgrades were:
Full cloth seat trimmed in super soft vinyl, door trim panels that included padded inserts, map pockets on the lower door, button quilted padded headliner and extra insulation.
Options available:
These are the only options that I have prices on. Below are some additional options.
400 engine............................................ .....................$165.00
included 12 inch diameter clutch and 53 amp/hr battery
Traction lock front axle.............................................. ...$175.00
Traction lock rear axle.............................................. ....$175.00
Automatic trans............................................. .............$197.00
came with oil cooler and 53 amp/hr battery
Power steering.......................................... ..................$211.00
Heavy duty suspension........................................ .........$104.50
Forged aluminum wheels............................................ ... $218.30
Forged aluminum polished wheels....................................$304.30
When combined with the free wheeling package................$129.10
White painted styled steel wheels...................................$175.20
when combined with the free wheeling package.................$43.20
Rear seat.............................................. .....................$287.20
Quad front shocks............................................ ............$74.00
Swing away tire carrier Ranger XLT..................................$60.60
Swing away tire carrier Custom.......................................$81.6 0
Skid plates............................................ ......................$123.10
Rear stabilzer bar............................................... ...........$25.00
Tilt steering.......................................... ........................$72.00
Free Wheeling pacakge on a Custom................................$558.45
Free Wheeling Package XLT...........................................$385 .05
Ranger XLT package........................................... ...........$668.90

Additional options:
Appearance:
Chrome bumpers
Wheel well molding
Body side trim
GT bar with foam padding
Grilles. There were 3 different options for the front grille. Black, Silver or Argent with chrome accent. I have seen Black on an XLT and the Argent with chrome on an XLT. I am not sure how they decided what grille to put on what truck.
Audio:
AM radio
AM/FM mono radio (1 speaker in dash)
AM/FM stereo (speakers in door panels)
AM/digital clock radio
40 channel CB radio with antenna. This was available on all radio options. A simple way to tell if it had a CB originally if all wiring is gone look for an ash tray on the driver side cargo panel. If there is no ash tray it originally had a CB.
Comfort/convenience:
A/C
Comfort vent heater ( I think this was also the HI-LO option)
Insulation package
Rear floor mat (Custom only)
Front captain chairs (available in 79 only)
Front bench seat
Rear seat
Center console ( only available with buckets)
Convenience group ( intermittent wipers, map paockets and 12 inch day/night mirror)
Lighted visor mirror passenger side only
Privacy glass for top
sliding windows for top
tinted glass all
Western mirror, low mount(normal folding style mirror)
Recreation mirrors (towing mirrors)
GT sport steering wheel with simulated leather wrap ( not available with cruise)
Simulated leather wrapped steering wheel
Cruise control
Light group (ash tray, glovebox, underhood, instrument panel courtesy lights and dome light with map lights)
Swing away spare tire carrier ( stock when ordered with (5) 10x15 tires) with vinly tire cover
Performance:
Quad shocks (gas filled)
Handling package (rear sway bar, quad shocks up front and dual gas filled rear shocks)
Automatic trans
600 watt engine heater
Heavy duty suspension (HD front springs, HD rear springs and front sway bar)
Rear sway bar
Gauges (oil and amp)
32 gallon gas tank with skid plate
Skid plates for 25 gallon tank and T-case
Trailer towing package
Protection:
Tow hooks (front)
Locking hood release
Exterior protection group. Consists of door edge guards, front bumper guards and front bumper rubber strip.
Security lock group. Consisted of locking gas cap, locking hood release, spare tire lock and locking glove box.
Free Wheelin:
Standard features were:
Black bumpers front and rear, Dual black low mount western style mirrors, (5) 15x6 painted steel wheels in either white or chrome yellow with L78x15 raised white letter tires and of course the custom chromatic tape stripe found on the black Bronco. There were also 2 other stripe color combinations, Orange/Tan/Creme or Blue/White/Green.
Trailer Special:
Now according to my book the 1st year for the Trailer Special was 79. I have seen a few members here that have 78 Trailer Special's. There were 2 categories for the Trailer Special.
Light duty trailer towing package:
Good for towing up to 2,000lbs.
This package included a heavy duty radiator, external oil cooler, seven lead trailer harness, heavy duty turn signal flasher and the Trailer Special emblem on the T-gate.
Heavy duty trailer towing package:
Good for towing up to 6,000lbs.
This package included a heavy duty alternator, heavy duty battery, HD rear shocks, bigger radiator, rear sway bar, swing out recreational mirrors, amp meter, oil pressure gauge, HD front springs, external oil cooler and the Trailer Special emblem on the T-gate.
Transfer Cases
The T-case on an NP 203 (full time case) will have a shift pattern like this.
4 low lock
N
4 high lock
The NP 205 (part time case) will have this shift pattern
4 low
N
2 high
4 high

 

It all has to do if the trucks have emblems or nameplates designating the models. Some do, some don't.

There is no emblem/nameplate for 1953/54, no emblem or nameplate for 1955/56 if they weren't Custom Cabs. No emblem or nameplate for 1957/69 Standard Cabs.

After 1969, the Standard Cab designation was replaced by "Custom," but only on F100/350's. 1970 and later F500/880's could be Standard (no nameplate) or Custom Cabs.

All 1970 and later F100/350's have emblems/nameplates designation which models they are.

1978/79 Bronco nameplates/emblems: Bronco Custom; XLT; Bronco Ranger. The XLT emblem is "stand alone," as it not attached to another emblem/nameplate.

 

Was the toolbox on the passenger's side of the bed a stand alone option or part of a package? I've seen some people post that it was part of the camper special package, but I kind of doubt it. Also, what was the difference between a camper special and a trailer special? My truck is a '79 F350 Supercab 4X4 Lariat, 400/auto. My Marti report says mine was a trailer special, but since it had a flatbed on it when I bought it, I don't know for sure, because I never saw the original tailgate. I know not to trust the Marti report 100%. My report says my truck has the California emissions package, but it is a non-catalyst engine and the fuel gauge does not say "unleaded fuel only," so I'm pretty sure my truck was NOT a California emissions truck. Another thing I'm wondering about: my truck is a Lariat. You would think a Lariat would include all the bells and whistles, but there are no map pouches on the doors and there is no cargo light above the back window. My previous truck ('79 F250 Custom 4X4 regular cab) had map pouches on the doors and a cargo light, although I know you could order just about anything on a Custom. Actually, now that I think about it, that truck was a Custom with the Explorer decal stripes and hood emblem. That truck did not have a toolbox on the side of the bed, nor did it have any camper special or trailer special emblems.
Number Dummy, I know you were a parts manager in the L.A. area. In the 80's, I used to buy parts from Peyton-Cramer Ford in Torrance (or maybe it was in Redondo Beach, I'm not sure where the border was between the 2 cities along the Pacific Coast Hwy). Before that, my parents had a '66 F250, and I used to ride with my dad to Vel's Parnelli Jones Ford in Torrance to buy parts. I would love to find a Vel's Parnelli Jones Ford license plate frame to put on my truck! Would you happen to know where I might be able to find one?

 

[QUOTE=NorthwestX360;17504241]Was the toolbox on the passenger's side of the bed a stand alone option or part of a package?My previous truck ('79 F250 Custom 4X4 regular cab) had map pouches on the doors and a cargo light, although I know you could order just about anything on a Custom. Actually, now that I think about it, that truck was a Custom with the Explorer decal stripes and hood emblem.
I'm not an expert but my custom has a tool box on the passenger side as well and most customs I've seen have a tool box.

My truck also has orange stripes but I'm not sure if they are Explorer stripes.

 

Rangers were available with the Explorer package. I have two of them and saw another in the JY last weekend.

 

Sure enough you can.