Why don't we see more Ford Ranger builds

[Thinkofsomethingkwik]

I truly believe the 2019+ ranger is a slept on platform. It gets fantastic gas mileage even with a rooftop tent and rack.

I would buy another in a heart beat.

 

[2025 deleted member]

I truly believe the 2019+ ranger is a slept on platform. It gets fantastic gas mileage even with a rooftop tent and rack.

I would buy another in a heart beat.

The 2024 I think will take a lot of the Tacoma market share. Cheaper to buy, the options and the packaging of options make more sense, payload and towing and back seat room all better than the Tacoma. If Toyota would pull their head out of their rears and let you order a SR5 with e locker and tow package and nothing else then they’d compete.

 

[Thinkofsomethingkwik]

The 2024 I think will take a lot of the Tacoma market share. Cheaper to buy, the options and the packaging of options make more sense, payload and towing and back seat room all better than the Tacoma. If Toyota would pull their head out of their rears and let you order a SR5 with e locker and tow package and nothing else then they’d compete.

I absolutely agree, the 2024 rangers have unbelievable interiors and in my opinion an awesome exterior.

The value you receive compared to the Tacoma (the fact you can get under MSRP in some areas, which you'll never get with Toyota where I live) will make a lot of people make the switch.

I think Toyota really needs to rethink their ordering process

 

[Sparse Gray Hackle]

Have a 2019 super crew that I like, but not sure I’d buy another until Ford puts a 6’ box on the super crew.

 

[Markal]

The 2024 I think will take a lot of the Tacoma market share. Cheaper to buy, the options and the packaging of options make more sense, payload and towing and back seat room all better than the Tacoma. If Toyota would pull their head out of their rears and let you order a SR5 with e locker and tow package and nothing else then they’d compete.

I absolutely agree, the 2024 rangers have unbelievable interiors and in my opinion an awesome exterior.

The value you receive compared to the Tacoma (the fact you can get under MSRP in some areas, which you'll never get with Toyota where I live) will make a lot of people make the switch.

I think Toyota really needs to rethink their ordering process

In March my wife and I tested a couple different Tacomas and pretty quickly put down $500 to get in the queue for a TRD Off Road with the premium package. Price was going to be $53k which definitely made us a bit uncomfortable. As we waited to be allocated a truck, the Rangers started showing up. We found an XLT with the FX4 and tech/towing package available locally, $7k less than the Taco with the key features we really want. We tested it and knew it was the right choice. After two months and 2700 miles over a couple road trips, we love it. Even got our $500 deposit back from Toyota.

We tow a teardrop for our travels and will drive this stock for now, but I plan on suspension upgrades next fall or spring.

 

[MisterNoisy]

In March my wife and I tested a couple different Tacomas and pretty quickly put down $500 to get in the queue for a TRD Off Road with the premium package. Price was going to be $53k which definitely made us a bit uncomfortable. As we waited to be allocated a truck, the Rangers started showing up. We found an XLT with the FX4 and tech/towing package available locally, $7k less than the Taco with the key features we really want. We tested it and knew it was the right choice. After two months and 2700 miles over a couple road trips, we love it. Even got our $500 deposit back from Toyota.

We tow a teardrop for our travels and will drive this stock for now, but I plan on suspension upgrades next fall or spring.

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$53K?! My ZR2 was more than $5K less than that. Toyota dealers are definitely huffing their own farts a bit much where the Taco is concerned. There's a local dealer offering a TRD Off Road for just shy of $60K.

Congrats on the new Ranger! Love the color and it looks like you hit right in the sweet spot re: features vs cost. Also, that color is fantastic.

 

[Markal]

$53K?! My ZR2 was more than $5K less than that. Toyota dealers are definitely huffing their own farts a bit much where the Taco is concerned. There's a local dealer offering a TRD Off Road for just shy of $60K.

Congrats on the new Ranger! Love the color and it looks like you hit right in the sweet spot re: features vs cost. Also, that color is fantastic.

Believe it or not, $53k is msrp for that option package.

 

[nickw]

Something else - I *think* a lot of the Bronco stuff bolts on to the Ranger, which means options for the HD D44 front axles, HD front axle shafts and D60 rear axles and all the other stuff that goes along with it. I really liked my 2019....

 

[Highlander]

Cheaper to buy, the options and the packaging of options make more sense, payload and towing and back seat room all better than the Tacoma

Cheaper to buy yes, but does it really have better room in the bac and better payload?

One thing I like with Ford is that you can get a low trim still get a locker. You don't have to go to higher trims like Toyota or Nissan is making you. I would totally be fine with an XL or XLT with a locker.

@Markal
How does the engine feel when you are loaded and towing?

 

[Markal]

Cheaper to buy yes, but does it really have better room in the bac and better payload?

One thing I like with Ford is that you can get a low trim still get a locker. You don't have to go to higher trims like Toyota or Nissan is making you. I would totally be fine with an XL or XLT with a locker.

@Markal
How does the engine feel when you are loaded and towing?

Yes, the Ranger has more back seat room than the Tacoma. I tested both and could see the difference. But the Ranger back seat is still tight. My neighbor has a really nice Ram 1500 and the Ranger's back seats are nowhere near as nice as that thing. So far the only "person" who rides back there is our 55 pound dog.

Payload is 1,584 lbs on my XLT with the FX4 package. Payload on the Tacoma TRD Off Road I tested was a bit over 1,300 (which is better than the previous Tacoma).

As for the engine's performance, I think it's great. I've taken two trips towing our "square drop" through the Rockies. The trailer weighs around 1700, and we probably have another 400 in the bed. Keep in mind, I was towing and traveling before with a Subaru Outback XT, so the Ranger is quite a bit better. Accelerates just fine going up Loveland pass. No turbo lag and the towing drive mode does a really good job of keeping it in the right gear (especially when descending Loveland Pass).

 

[RealRigsRattle]

I picked up a bush company ax27 a few weekends ago and finally got it setup on the ranger for a short day trip.

I'm currently collecting parts for my solar setup.View attachment 837887View attachment 837888View attachment 837889View attachment 837890

Great looking Ranger! I have a rooftop tent on the way and will be mounting it onto a similar rack. What height did you set your Yakima at to have the tent clear the cab?

 

[RealRigsRattle]

I purchased my 2020 Ranger Lariat FX4 in April of 2024 with approx. 68,000 on the the odometer for $28.5K. I've taken it out on several in state trips (AZ) and have been blown away by the comfort, capability, and useable power. I got my first taste of how well the 10 speed automatic works with the 2.3L ecoboost powerplant on my way to Overland Expo West back in May (less than a month after purchase) on the way up the I-17. My previous adventure vehicle for nearly 6 years was a 2011 Subaru Outback with an anemic 2.5L N/A boxer paired to an in town economy focused 1st gen CVT. This 5,500 foot climb in elevation was a 65 mph max ordeal that required a lot of planning my passing and listening to my engine scream at 5k RPM for miles on end. The Ranger makes the same climb in elevation as if it were flat.

The Ranger is obviously more capable, but the tech is the real star of the show. The FX4 package is more than a rear e-locker and skids. It also includes Ford's terrain management system and trail control (off-road cruise control and hill descent). However the FX4 suspension will rattle your fillings out if you try to take the vehicle unloaded over any significant corrugations.

My only real gripe with the aftermarket support is the lack of variety for rock sliders. Every other mid-size seems to have a dozen plus options but with the Ranger it is maybe 5-10.

Here is how my Ranger sits now. Luckily I was able to remove and sell most of the mods that I had made to the Outback so I had a small budget to start modifying. I was able to source a hard locking tonneau cover with t slot rails for a song thanks to Craiglist. I was able able to source a similarly inexpensive no-name bed rack that had good reviews from a people on a Ranger forum. Added a few effective but inexpensive lights and a shower room plus awning retained from the Outback.

Only real plans are to get the vehicle on 33s, the aforementioned sliders, and swap out to a more compliant suspension. After that it will just be maintaining the vehicle for the long haul.

I do have a rooftop tent on the way and I'm hoping to spread out and explore some of the Four Corners region next year.

 

[Thinkofsomethingkwik]

Great looking Ranger! I have a rooftop tent on the way and will be mounting it onto a similar rack. What height did you set your Yakima at to have the tent clear the cab?

Hey, I'm sorry for my delay in response, I've taken a bit of a hiatus from the Internet for a while. I'm not sure how high I had mine set, I ended up picking up an OVS truck cap for the ranger now. So I disassembled the rack before measuring what I had it at. I had mine just above the cab, I had to order a smaller antenna to make it fit.

I made sure the tent fit above the roof properly by grabbing a piece of plywood and putting it on the rack bars and mocking it up over the cab of the truck

 

[RealRigsRattle]

Hey, I'm sorry for my delay in response, I've taken a bit of a hiatus from the Internet for a while. I'm not sure how high I had mine set, I ended up picking up an OVS truck cap for the ranger now. So I disassembled the rack before measuring what I had it at. I had mine just above the cab, I had to order a smaller antenna to make it fit.

I made sure the tent fit above the roof properly by grabbing a piece of plywood and putting it on the rack bars and mocking it up over the cab of the truck

Thanks for the response! I wound up using an 8' piece of lumber to adjust the height of my rack. Really happy with the results so far. Can't wait to spend some nights in the set up!

 

[DaveInDenver]

I was kicking it around so I went to build a Ranger. Did they drop the extended cab and now only do a four door truck? That's a potential show stopper if so. I don't need seating for more than 2 but I do need 6 feet of bed without a battleship wheel base. The point of a small(er) truck is to fit in a city and on a trail. Don't people who buy truck still sleep in the back or carry stuff?