3rd gen Ranger

[p nut]

Well, one of my daughters is turning 16 in a couple months. She wants a midsize truck. Preferably a Tacoma but I don’t want to sink that much cash into a potentially short-lived vehicle.

So I’m thinking a 3rd gen Ranger.

I really want her to learn to drive stick but she’s not interested and mom’s not supporting it. So it might have to be auto. 4WD.

I know my Tacoma’s but Ranger is foreign to me. I do know they’re pretty reliable.

Any particular year range, engine spec, etc I should look for?

I should probably check out the Mazda counterpart as well.

 

[Dougnuts]

My only advice is that I would not get another 3.0L V6 (I've had two). For me, it would be 4.0L or nothing.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

https://www.therangerstation.com/articles/ford-ranger-generations-1983-present/#gsc.tab=0

If you are stuck on a third gen 95-97 for airbags.

Mechanically for an offroader I would rather have a early third gen, the HVAC stuff is much simpler to work on (similar to my '85) and I am also a big fan of the twin traction beam front axle (the front axle in my truck is out of an '95) but when they refreshed the dash in '95 airbags became available which would be huge for a kid car.

If you roll later to a fourth gen they had mediocre vacuum hubs until around 2000. After that they basically went live and were always locked which really simplified the driveline.

For a kid car I would try to find after that so she doesn't have to lock/unlock hubs and I would avoid the 4.0 SOHC. 3.0 is a cockroach, it doesn't do much but generally they will do what they do forever. IMO the pushrod 4.0 is the best V6 they put in the Ranger.

For some weird reason in the mid 90's its like they changed the steel, earlier trucks the bodies rotted but the frames last forever, later the body last forever but the frames rot... so keep an eye on that.

 

[p nut]

Thanks guys. Just for clarification, I am looking for something in the 2000-2011 range. I thought that was the 3rd gen (according to wiki anyway).

I found a few 2010 and 2011’s, ext cab, 4.0 with around 130-180k miles. I’ll check the frames. Thanks.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Wikipedia has been a great annoyance to the Ranger community with their strange generation scheme...

On that new of a truck watch the bedfloor. There is a fiber heat shield above the exhaust glued to the bottom of the bed that traps debris and rots out the bed.

Timing chain tensioners are the issue with the SOHC 4.0. Requires removal of the engine to repair, if left to go too long they can cause piston/valve interference. Once you get past that they are a good engine. They get scarce the newer you go but I would rather have the 3.0.

2010-11 have stability control, rear disk brakes and sit a little lower to aide stability.

 

[p nut]

Thanks. On the timing chain tensioner issue, is there a tell-tale sign? Noise?

 

[Sparse Gray Hackle]

I sold my 2007 4.0L at about 78,000 miles, and still regret it. It was a wonderful vehicle. My 2019 Ranger gets better mileage, and certainly has a metric ******* of pep, but there was nothing wrong with the 2007.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Thanks. On the timing chain tensioner issue, is there a tell-tale sign? Noise?

Mainly a rattle, I guess they are not interference but if you let it go it does cause engine damage.

Ford Ranger 4.0L SOHC V6 - The Ranger Station

The Ford 4.0L SOHC V6 was first introduced in the Explorer in 1997 and in the Ranger in 2001. It makes 207 horsepower in the Ranger.

www.therangerstation.com

 

[ITTOG]

It will sound like change rattling around in a can on a cold start when it begins. When it is advanced, it will be on every start. Definitely get repaired asap if it is every start.

On the manual, tell mom it is safer because she won't be able to be on her phone while driving unless on a long stretch when not having to shift.

 

[CFMGarage]

Try to find a Mazda B4000 4x4. Some might argue it was the superior Ford Ranger of it's time.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Try to find a Mazda B4000 4x4. Some might argue it was the superior Ford Ranger of it's time.

They are the same thing with a different/harder to find front clip and doors.

When new they were a little cheaper and Mazda had a slightly better warranty. They came off the same assembly line with the same parts though.