Purchasing help
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,430
Likes: 2
From: NH
Purchasing help
I'm thinking of getting a Ranger in the next few months and have a few questions.
so far I have decided I want an extra cab, 4.0L, 4.10 gears, 4x4.
Was wondering if any year Ranger is better than another. Looking at possibly 01 or 02 up to 07. any year have a better 4x4 system than another year? Are all the Rangers basicly unchanged in drivetrain over the years?
I saw in some of the polls that there are 2 differant 4.0L engines. Is one the old one and the other the new one are are they both available?
Tranny. I don't care either way but it looks as if the auto can tow more on paper. Any input on durability? I'm replacing the $500 toyota in my sig and that is a 2.4L 4banger 5 speed. I do a lot of driving in my personal cars for work. As for milage. The Toyota is getting between 17 and 20 mpg and I am guessing a 4x4 4.0L would get the same or slightly better.
Last question. anything I should look out for in the Rangers when looking for one?
Sorry for so many questions.
Thank you
so far I have decided I want an extra cab, 4.0L, 4.10 gears, 4x4.
Was wondering if any year Ranger is better than another. Looking at possibly 01 or 02 up to 07. any year have a better 4x4 system than another year? Are all the Rangers basicly unchanged in drivetrain over the years?
I saw in some of the polls that there are 2 differant 4.0L engines. Is one the old one and the other the new one are are they both available?
Tranny. I don't care either way but it looks as if the auto can tow more on paper. Any input on durability? I'm replacing the $500 toyota in my sig and that is a 2.4L 4banger 5 speed. I do a lot of driving in my personal cars for work. As for milage. The Toyota is getting between 17 and 20 mpg and I am guessing a 4x4 4.0L would get the same or slightly better.
Last question. anything I should look out for in the Rangers when looking for one?
Sorry for so many questions.
Thank you
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
I'd suggest getting at least an '02...that will give you the 4.0L SOHC engine, which puts out 207 horsepower. The OHV engine is more of a low-down torque engine, so if you plan on offroading a lot, it may be of better benefit.
After '97 you will more than likely have the 5R55E auto tranny for automatics. Good transmission, reliable, 5 speed. The M5OD is the manual tranny, good and reliable as well, not a paticularly low first gear.
I'd expect those mileage numbers...I get around 18-20 city and 21-23 highway with my 4.0L OHV, manual tranny.
I'll let the 4x4 guys fill you in on the 4x4 options.
After '97 you will more than likely have the 5R55E auto tranny for automatics. Good transmission, reliable, 5 speed. The M5OD is the manual tranny, good and reliable as well, not a paticularly low first gear.
I'd expect those mileage numbers...I get around 18-20 city and 21-23 highway with my 4.0L OHV, manual tranny.
I'll let the 4x4 guys fill you in on the 4x4 options.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 771
Likes: 0
From: Aurora
+1 on Rangerpilot's reply. The 4X4 bumps the curb weight up a bit and cuts into the mpg's. But they're great in the greasy stuff. If your lookin' for a new winte beater, a 2wd with sand bags in the back whith some tire chains in the tool box will do fine. For towing on dry pavement, a 2wd with the 4.0 automatic is it. You can play with synthetic lubricants to stetch the lifetime/mpg along with a programer, but stick with a late model( 2002+). They really have improved the Ranger lately. Maintenance on an older vehicle's always an issue, but with the Ranger, it's a good bet.
Just like the song 'Hot Rod Cadillac', with those 4.10 gears you can really get lost. With 500+ posts on FTE, you know the routine. Stick with the forum and you've got the support you need to deal with the few problems your likely to run across. Used Rangers are reasonably priced, but with the price of gas, I think you'll find a lot of full size guys are jumpin on the bandwagon considering that with the 4.0L automatic with 4.10 gears, she'll tow close to 6000lbs(on paper). That's 3 tons including the trailer, plenty for what most guys haul.
Good luck
Just like the song 'Hot Rod Cadillac', with those 4.10 gears you can really get lost. With 500+ posts on FTE, you know the routine. Stick with the forum and you've got the support you need to deal with the few problems your likely to run across. Used Rangers are reasonably priced, but with the price of gas, I think you'll find a lot of full size guys are jumpin on the bandwagon considering that with the 4.0L automatic with 4.10 gears, she'll tow close to 6000lbs(on paper). That's 3 tons including the trailer, plenty for what most guys haul.
Good luck
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,430
Likes: 2
From: NH
Thanks for the replys so far.
Didn't even realize I was over 500 posts....
I hear you with those going into smaller trucks. I sold my 83 F250 before gas here hit $2.00/gal. I had no truck for like 8 months and was completly lost. Found the Toyota and being a 4cyl and cheap I picked it up
(was actually looking for a 4cyl 4x4 for mpg's and unfortunatly that left the Ranger out of the loop). Now I am getting sick of fixing it every month. I was tossing truck ideas between F250/350 V10 and a Ranger 4.0L. The Toyota is doing everything I need to do right now, I don't plan on towing anything too big(like a car) and parallel parking a full-size can get tricky at times. Added everything up and I only really need a Ranger.
Is there any way to easily tell if a Ranger has 4.10 under it? Tag number or VIN didget?
Do the 4.0L look differant than the 3.0L? I know the Focus Duratec 2.0L and 2.3L look identical and we all know that the FE Big blocks all look the same and are all 390's on day of sale.
Didn't even realize I was over 500 posts....
I hear you with those going into smaller trucks. I sold my 83 F250 before gas here hit $2.00/gal. I had no truck for like 8 months and was completly lost. Found the Toyota and being a 4cyl and cheap I picked it up
(was actually looking for a 4cyl 4x4 for mpg's and unfortunatly that left the Ranger out of the loop). Now I am getting sick of fixing it every month. I was tossing truck ideas between F250/350 V10 and a Ranger 4.0L. The Toyota is doing everything I need to do right now, I don't plan on towing anything too big(like a car) and parallel parking a full-size can get tricky at times. Added everything up and I only really need a Ranger.
Is there any way to easily tell if a Ranger has 4.10 under it? Tag number or VIN didget?
Do the 4.0L look differant than the 3.0L? I know the Focus Duratec 2.0L and 2.3L look identical and we all know that the FE Big blocks all look the same and are all 390's on day of sale.
Last edited by 7283-F250; Mar 17, 2007 at 09:33 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 0
From: Maine
The axle ratio can be determined by looking at the door tag. It'll have a two letter code; somewhere on FTE there's a table of which correspondes to which axle. (The 4.0 comes with the 8.8" rear, not the 7.5".) There's also a little tag on the axle, but it's a booger to read and you have to get under the truck to see it, so you'd be better off checking the code, IMO.
4.0 and 3.0 look a bit different; I've found the easiest way to tell by looking is to match the belt routing diagram from the sticker on the radiator support (same sticker for both engines, so shows both diagrams). There may be an easier way, but that's worked for me.
4.0 and 3.0 look a bit different; I've found the easiest way to tell by looking is to match the belt routing diagram from the sticker on the radiator support (same sticker for both engines, so shows both diagrams). There may be an easier way, but that's worked for me.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,147
Likes: 0
The 03 and up 4.0 has the timming chain rattle fixed from the factory, 01 and up has the direct engagment 4x4 system instead of pulse vacume hubs. If you want a 4.0 I would go with an 03 and up just to be sure. Not every earlier 4.0 experienced the timmimg chain rattle, but enough that ford made a fix kit for it, but the installation is pretty pricey. I don't believe they actually did a recall on this, does anyone else know?
