Ranger
- Thread starter jgallo1
- Start date
Wallygator
Adventurer
Searched the forums for you.
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/the-trans-america-trail-in-a-2019-ford-ranger.206761/
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/2017-ford-ranger-wildtrak.208366/
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/comparison-shopping-colorado-gladiator-tacoma.207738/
I am sure there are more but it's on you to search for it.
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/the-trans-america-trail-in-a-2019-ford-ranger.206761/
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/2017-ford-ranger-wildtrak.208366/
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/comparison-shopping-colorado-gladiator-tacoma.207738/
I am sure there are more but it's on you to search for it.
Last edited:
tanuki.himself
Active member
I have a 2018 wildtrak supercab 3.2 I5 in europe, It drives OK on road, but i find the front seats uncomfortable for long distances, headlights are worthless, instrumentation is stupidly crammed into 1/3 of the available dash while the rest of it pointlessly duplicates the centre screen badly, and the build quality is typical ford cheap and nasty and i'm just waiting for stuff to start falling apart. If anyone else had made a 1.8m loadbed without a small overboosted turbo engine with no torque I would have bought that instead.....
85_Ranger4x4
Well-known member
Searched the forums for you.
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/the-trans-america-trail-in-a-2019-ford-ranger.206761/
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/2017-ford-ranger-wildtrak.208366/
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/comparison-shopping-colorado-gladiator-tacoma.207738/
I am sure there are more but it's on you to search for it.
I am friends with Jim in the TAT one, if you follow the "Loan Ranger" link in his sig it takes you to the adventures of the truck as he had it for 6mo/26k miles and what he thought of it. I got to see it in September, it was pretty cool.
Being able to finance the rack and RTT with the truck is nice if you are into that (we are ground tent people)
I have sat in them and IMO they have the best cockpit on the market. I haven't gotten to drive one yet though.
Interesting, This is what I was most curious about.
A good friend of mine works in the auto industry. He is the global director for a company based out of Germany. He has a good bit of knowledge and sees whats happening . He told me that the new ranger for the american market is a real solid choice. He said its basically a done up version of the T6, which gets great reviews across the world. He was also telling me that the petrol engine is a really solid engine, and I should get one before they messing with it.
I am friends with Jim in the TAT one, if you follow the "Loan Ranger" link in his sig it takes you to the adventures of the truck as he had it for 6mo/26k miles and what he thought of it. I got to see it in September, it was pretty cool.
Being able to finance the rack and RTT with the truck is nice if you are into that (we are ground tent people)
I have sat in them and IMO they have the best cockpit on the market. I haven't gotten to drive one yet though.
I started going through Jims thread a few days back. What an amazing journey that guy is having. I am glad you and him are giving it the thumbs up. As far as the cockpit is concerned, how is the visibility out of the windscreen? This is one of the the top reasons i sold my 2017 tacoma. If I drove over a bridge I could not see anymore.
85_Ranger4x4
Well-known member
I sat in both back to back actually, I don't remember a huge difference. I know I liked the Taco's console/shifter a little better than the Ranger but everything else about the cab (seating postion, door shape/size etc) the Ranger won. I am kind of taller so maybe that changed my view point? F-150 had pitiful forward visibility however, I felt like a little kid trying to peek over the hood on that thing... and I dd a older F-150 so it isn't like I am used to a Miata or something really tiny.
In the winter all the car dealers in the area put on an autoshow at the local event center, for $12 you can go play with just about anything on the market without salespeople hounding you. Of course you can't test drive but it is still fun to look over the new stuff and as a bonus they do it in the dead of winter when I am hard up for entertainment anyway. Might see if you can find something similar if you are not ready for a test drive?
JD Anderson
Member
I have about 12k on my XLT FX4 crew can since Memorial Day mostly highway with some light off-roading and so far I love it. Sure I wish a 6 foot bed was available but when it really comes down to it I haul everything on a trailer so outside of a large impulse purchase it doesn’t really matter. The 2.3 has plenty of power I haven’t seen the advertised mileage but I have a heavy right foot and like boost. I traded a 2016 2500 tradesman for this and my company truck is a 2011 GMC crank window work truck so the interior is super comfortable to me. My parents have a 17 and 18 TRD Offroad Tacos and my 15 year old says my back seat is far more comfortable. Almost forgot I am not a fan of the 18 gal tank it seems like I’m always stopping for gas.
D
Deleted member 9101
Guest
I have test driven them when we were shopping for new fleet vehicles. It destroys the other midsized trucks when it comes to power, especially when towing.
The baby ecoboost comes with forged internals and can take hundreds more horsepower than stock, with out flinching. They are only a 500.00 tune away from being a tire scorching beast.
The baby ecoboost comes with forged internals and can take hundreds more horsepower than stock, with out flinching. They are only a 500.00 tune away from being a tire scorching beast.
nickw
Adventurer
Totally agree!
nickw
Adventurer
I'm just over 12k miles on my XLT too. Realy like the truck. I've owned Tacomas in the past and have a close friend with a newer Tacoma and much prefer the Ranger. He got his Taco tuned and it's still really lethargic, we've been on many trips in both rigs.
My two biggest gripes too, short bed and tank. The tank isnt a big issue day to day, but now that we have a travel trailer, it can be a bit limiting. Nothings perfect, for me, my life, how I drive, I think the Ranger strikes the best balance.
I'm not on here very often, but I bought my Ranger at the end of July, XL (base) with E-locker. I've taken it on several 'off road' trips so far, and it's been great. it is also my daily driver.
I absolutely love the truck, and wouldn't have any other. I have several friends that have tacomas and colorados, both of which are great trucks, but the ranger just feels right to me.
Also, the engine/transmission are phenomenal. Every time I hear someone say "I wish it had a v6 instead of the 2.3" I just laugh. The 2.3 has so much torque, especially as you start to get into higher altitude. There's absolutely no way I would trade this turbo 4 for a V6.
fuel mileage is great if you can keep your foot off the gas but it can start to suck down fuel if you're not careful.
there are some minor complaints, biggest being the fuel tank size, although it actually generally has better range than my 08' FJ cruiser. power window switches are too far towards the back of the arm rest, no mirrors in the sun visors, that's really about all I can think of. I think most other complaints generally come from the interior functions of the higher end models, but I'm super impressed with the quality and functionality of the base model interior.
As I start to modify it a little maybe I'll post on here more. Also feel free to ask any questions you might have about it.
I absolutely love the truck, and wouldn't have any other. I have several friends that have tacomas and colorados, both of which are great trucks, but the ranger just feels right to me.
Also, the engine/transmission are phenomenal. Every time I hear someone say "I wish it had a v6 instead of the 2.3" I just laugh. The 2.3 has so much torque, especially as you start to get into higher altitude. There's absolutely no way I would trade this turbo 4 for a V6.
fuel mileage is great if you can keep your foot off the gas but it can start to suck down fuel if you're not careful.
there are some minor complaints, biggest being the fuel tank size, although it actually generally has better range than my 08' FJ cruiser. power window switches are too far towards the back of the arm rest, no mirrors in the sun visors, that's really about all I can think of. I think most other complaints generally come from the interior functions of the higher end models, but I'm super impressed with the quality and functionality of the base model interior.
As I start to modify it a little maybe I'll post on here more. Also feel free to ask any questions you might have about it.
Thank you for the update.
The fuel issue does seem annoying. I am weighing the options of the a new ranger build or a chevy bison diesel. I first wrote the bison off, but after 2 test drives, I like the truck more and more. I might just keep my current truck as well. I have had 2 people offer me money for it. It's hard to say no to cash money. Will we see how the new years deals on trucks goes. Also, my dad did some work at GMC dealer awhile back and he got friendly with the manager. I guess the manager got 2 of my dads foreman's really good deals on their last trucks. I am also seeing if this an option.
The fuel issue does seem annoying. I am weighing the options of the a new ranger build or a chevy bison diesel. I first wrote the bison off, but after 2 test drives, I like the truck more and more. I might just keep my current truck as well. I have had 2 people offer me money for it. It's hard to say no to cash money. Will we see how the new years deals on trucks goes. Also, my dad did some work at GMC dealer awhile back and he got friendly with the manager. I guess the manager got 2 of my dads foreman's really good deals on their last trucks. I am also seeing if this an option.
huntsonora
Explorer
What kind of mileage are you guys seeing with the 2.3 and how big is the tank?