My new Ranger for Wood Hauling??

So did you get one of the big V6s? and 4x4? I assume so with the auto trans and the price. I'll never understand why they plan to shut down one of the best mpg trucks available and then keep the gas sucking medium and larger cars.

I think Ford sold off their Mazda division last year.

i have one too a 2004 with 27000 on it i love it mine is bare bones plain stock 4cyl. although it has ac auto trans. no 4wd but i only use it for getting wood and driving my 12 miles to work at 30 miles to the gallon u cant go wrong i cant safely fit a 1/2 cord in the back of this truck. if u have trailer use it.

BE careful about loading too much wood , 1/2 cord of green oak is almost 2500#, I had to replace both leaf springs on my ranger .

Mine is 2wd maybe the 4x4 is heavier duty.

sonnyinbc said:

"... This is a quality product for a really decent price and they are closing that plant in 2010? So, a couple of questions for those in the know?

When the Minn/St.Paul plant closes is that gonna be the end of the Ranger? ..."

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Ford to end Ranger production in 2009

Ford has announced that it will close the doors of its St. Paul, Minnesota plant — which makes the Ford Ranger — at the end of 2009, extending the plant’s life by one year. However, the closure also means the end of the Ford Ranger pickup truck at the end of the 2009.

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http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-rangers-fate-up-in-air.html


Much has been written about the stupidity of letting the venerable Ranger wither on the vine and lose its sales crown to Toyota’s Tacoma. Many writers, editors, and bloggers took it upon themselves to come up with new and innovative ways to call Ford shortsighted and use the Ranger’s demise as a case in point that Ford is in the fast lane to bankruptcy. However, behind the scenes, Ford is readying a duo of new trucks to be released in the wake of the Ranger’s demise, and is also planning an ultimate return of the Ranger to the US market.

Internal sources have recently confirmed that the Ranger will be discontinued after the St. Paul assembly plant is shut down next year. We also had it confirmed that, at least for several months, Ford will not be producing any truck smaller than F-150 in North America, and will be just selling down inventory of already-built Rangers. However, Ford is not to be absent for long in the mid-size segment.

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http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php?topic=57247.0

I am the owner of a 1994 Ford Ranger. It now has 169000k on it and runs very well. I bought it new in upstate NY. It is the short bed but it is the 4x4. I have had zero major problems with it. Normal things like brakes tune ups ext. I used VAlvoline oil sine the day I bought it. I change the automatic fluid every 6000k miles. It has hauled many loads of maple cherry ash and beach out, and starting next week I will be hauling mesquite out with it. I did manage to wear out the ignition switch but that has to be expected.Best small truck for the money, Ken

I like Ford Rangers . . . up here we convert 'em into tracked trucks to groom the snowmobile trails. Pretty tough trucks . . . readily available and relatively easy for the guys to work on them.

sonnyinbc said:

Okay, just bought one with less than 28000K for less than 10 grand, and even brand new, in this country they are selling for less than 16K.. Just stock it comes with the trans cooler so you can hook up a trailer and that combined with the fully lined box ought to be able to haul 1/2 cord of wood home easily?

Only had it for 2 weeks but the wife and I just love it. auto,cd,ac,fog lights. you sit high enough for good visibility, etc. And it is NA made in MInn/St.Paul. This is a quality product for a really decent price and they are closing that plant in 2010? So, a couple of questions for those in the know?

When the Minn/St.Paul plant closes is that gonna be the end of the Ranger?

Which begs the question? What about the Mazda B-Series? that are just Rangers in "disguise:? Where are they produced? And what is the fate of that truck?

Even though I am Canadian and the ranger is made in the USA-it still makes me feel good buying something that is produced in North America. And the people producing it are making decent wages.

I know this belongs in the Can-but there is no ash can!! So maybe some of you can respond with some answers before fossil quickly junks this thread.?? Please..

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I dunno how much the bed will hold but the limiting factor will be the tires. They are probably load-range C. If it's a 6' bed and you are hauling Doug Fir then you'll be fine as long as you don't use side boards.

With my 99, filling the bed with maple rounds loaded it down pretty well. If you have a trailer, put most of the weight in there, but be aware of your stopping distance. They're decent little trucks, but don't have as much capacity as the bed will hold, if that makes sense.

Having said that, I did have a full ton of concrete in there once, but only had to drive it 2 miles to the dump.

Also, this article from June says the plant may stay open past 2009, which I think has since been made official:
http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/21577809.html

You may want to check out www.ranger-forums.com they have oodles of info on the Ranger.

As a side note, I have had 2600lbs ofsand in my ranger 4x4 with out any major problems.

I want the Ford Ranger sold in the UK with the diesel engine that they won't sell here!

Oh well 2010 they are supposed to have a F150 with a V6 diesel. Wonder what kind of mileage it will get?

Billy

A good looking 2008 Ranger for someone that lives on N.S.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Ranger-2008-Ford-Ranger-SPORT-4-by-4-ext-Cab-Automatic_W0QQitemZ280307570890QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item280307570890&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72:64|65:12|39:1|240:1318

With 30k on the odometer guess he's done checking out the island for wood. Probably looking to buy a log truck. :lol:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Dartmouth&state=NS

Cowboy Billy said:

I want the Ford Ranger sold in the UK with the diesel engine that they won't sell here!

Oh well 2010 they are supposed to have a F150 with a V6 diesel. Wonder what kind of mileage it will get?

Billy

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As long as American manufacturers are hell bent on making diesels that match the torque curve (feel like) gas engined vehicles the mileage won't be what it could be.

My '94 Ferd Ranger has about 187,000 miles on it. Had 40,000 when I bought it 10 years ago. It has the original 3.0 liter V6 engine and the third (auto w/ od) transmission. I had my mechanic put a more heavy duty tranny in last time and now, no more tranny troubles - but it shifts kinda clunky. I've had a few other semi-major repairs, but nowhere near what I'd pay for a new vehicle. I've got a lumber rack and toolbox on it now, but before I put the tool box on, I had frequently hauled full loads of firewood (various species and various states of seasoning). I also once hauled an over 1/2 full bed of used bricks. I took surface streets home for about 20 miles. And I once hauled a "half scoop" of sand & gravel. That really sagged the bed down, but I only had to drive it about 3 miles.

Last year, with the rack on, I loaded it pretty heavy with long lumber on top, short lumber in the bed, plus tools and misc. crud. It was a lot of "fun" driving home on the 210 freeway (I had too far to go for surface streets and no direct surface street route). I think my max speed on that trip was 50 mph. Slow and steady didn't win the race, but it got me home safe and with no damage to the truck.

I really like my Ranger and plan on putting at least another 100 K miles on. I sure as heck can't afford a new truck now, anyway.

As for what the manufacturers are making, I'm rather dissappointed that small trucks have basically disappeared. As in the older Toyotas and Nissans, and the original 4-cyl Rangers. There are a lot of working people out there who need a truck, but don't need anything larger than a typical 4 cyl 1980's Toyota or Ranger.

Peace,
- Sequoia

I have a 98 it is the third Ranger I have had. This is the first i have heard of them not making them anymore. I love those trucks. If a four wheeler can go down the trail so can my truck. It needs new leaf springs. I have been looking in to the airbag system that give strength to the bed. does anyone have a system like that. it is a little pricey but it would be great to have it.

Monroe gas coil over shocks, I put them on my 98 and haul a face cord of oak. I caught so much grief that I finally snapped a picture of it full. You should be able to find a thread on it if you search. I think they were 200 bucks for the pair and 2 years later are holding up great! They even have a decent ride for a ranger. I actually found the link. Here it is with a face cord of ash....https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/20718/

My '94 Ferd Ranger just turn over 190,000 miles today while I was bringing home a load of pine and eukie (I posted rather long about that at the Woodshed). My goal used to be 200,000. My new goal is 300,000! Still running strong and driving nicely.

I almost certainly overloaded her today, but I took it slow and easy - surface streets, less than 20 miles door to door, and always left plenty of room to brake. My Ranger fully loaded actually had an easier time getting up and out of the steep (and partially unpaved) driveway than the guy before me, who was driving a later model Jeep Cherokee (or Grand Cherokee) and only had a smaller load of smaller wood. He had wide, low "city" tires. My ranger has standard 15" highway driving radials.

I love my Ferd Ranger.

Peace,
- Sequoia

I just hauled over 1/3 cord of green doug fir rounds in a 1996 ranger, and it hardly complained. Slight groaning around corners. I even took it on and off the freeway with no problem getting up to speed. Great trucks.

I am on my third ranger, a '99 with 250k+ on it, this month it turned 10 yrs old, it is the short bed 4cyl 5spd. I wanted a long bed with the 3.0, but couldn't afford that as I bought this truck new and put almost all of the miles on it. It is sad the ranger will be missed and like others this is the first I knew about it. In the US a ranger or mazda B series are all made at the same factories, (mine was edision NJ) in the rest of the world the ford rangers were made in mazda factories and were a different truck, like the old mazda pickups. The truck ford needs to bring over here is the ranchero looking truck that Ford of australia makes I would almost think of killing my ranger for one of them. (almost)
My worst overload was 1,000# of pellets (4 times), I only had to bring them around the block to my house, the mudflaps were dragging, my trucks way of saying she is overloaded. Never hauled real wood in it, beside sticks and branches to the brush pile.
I get a lot of funy looks when I haul my canoe with this truck, I have one of those reciever hitch mounted load extenders and it is just long enough to have my canoe upside down in the bed, a 12' truck with a 15' and now 17' canoe hanging off the back.
My favorite Ranger was my '88 it was the STX with the aluminum wheels, show bars with lights, push bar with lights and brush guards, the 2.9 6cyl with a 5 speed, it was a long bed, Maroon, it had so much power you didn't have to downshift when passing.

burntime said:

Monroe gas coil over shocks, I put them on my 98 and haul a face cord of oak. I caught so much grief that I finally snapped a picture of it full. You should be able to find a thread on it if you search. I think they were 200 bucks for the pair and 2 years later are holding up great! They even have a decent ride for a ranger. I actually found the link. Here it is with a face cord of ash....https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/20718/

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Thanks burntime did you replace the leafs too or just ad the springs.

The shocks have coil overs. That is all I needed. I was going to add a leaf as well but was told that it would be so bouncy that it would be dangerous to drive. I guess 1 extra leaf really screws it up. Check out the link to the thread in my earlier post. The wood was actually white oak so you know it was heavy

rowerwet said:

My favorite Ranger was my '88 it was the STX with the aluminum wheels, show bars with lights, push bar with lights and brush guards, the 2.9 6cyl with a 5 speed, it was a long bed, Maroon, it had so much power you didn't have to downshift when passing.

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I worked in a construction office once on a project where most of the on-site trucks for the inspectors were Rangers. Started off with late model leased trucks (at the time, that would have been early to mid 1990's). Then the budget got cut and we got some of the Sverdrup company trucks that they had forever and a day. Actually, there were all early to late 1980's trucks, but I think the "newest" ones had well over 200,000 miles on them. They beat the carp of those trucks but they just kept going and going and going. Really tough little trucks; part of the reason I bought my Ranger several years later. I haven't been disappointed.

Peace,
- Sequoia

the only issue with the 2wd trucks, check your trany fluid. the plugs up on top where the sliders for the shift lever are installed (there are three in the back) are plastic and the housing is aluminum, the aluminum will corrode and allow the fluid to leak out (it is splash lubed with ATF fluid) after about 60k miles. then one day you will hear your transmission sound like an air drill and it will melt the gears and bearings together. (don't ask me how I know this, it was expensive)
This is the mazda transmission, not the mitsubishi one, I am not sure if this has been fixed on the new trucks as it is still the same trany, my '99 ranger doesn't leak at all and I am well past 60k.