Big rigs thats a must, In a Ranger its not. Brakes are cheap and we dont suffer from brake fade and overheating from heavy brake use like big rigs do. Brakes are there for braking.

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This is true its just a habit that got into been doing since I been driving in every manual that I owned big or small.

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97 ranger reg cab 2.3 5 speed. 2 wd no ac. Mods after market jvc head unit & throttle cable. 06 mirror upgrade.

I downshift....I like to have some control if I need it.

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96 Ranger 4x4
5 speed
Good Year Duratrac 33x12.50 R 15 LT
6 in Skyjacker lift
Muddy Girl Camo (www.camoskinz.com)
Tire Gate (www.truckcandy.com)
Front and back bumpers by RLC Welding (www.rlcweldfab.com)
Steps www.carr.com

Both depends on my mood and the situation.

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I was always taught to downshift. Saves your brakes by letting the engine do the braking.

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2000 Ranger XLT 4x4 Flareside
3.0 Auto 3.73 gears
31x10.5r15 Mastercraft Courser AXTs
Manual mirrors, door locks and windows

lol i love these threads!

i've never hauled enough weight with my ranger to warrant using the tranny/engine to slow down. my front disks work perdy darned good for my little orange bastard.

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1999 xlt 2.5l 5-speed Supercab 159k
83 diesel 2.2l na
06 F250 6.0l psd
{click for lol}

What component is cheaper to replace?

Brakes?
Engine?
Transmission/ Clutch?

I understand this is how its used to be back in the day of 4 wheel drum brakes and the early days of disc brakes but modern braking systems on passenger cars and trucks are very efficient and effective and also cheap to maintain. If you like to downshift when you slow down thats fine and dandy but if youre doing it for the purpose of saving your brakes than youre doing it for the wrong reason IMO.

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I use brakes till about 25-30 then shift to 2nd or 3'rd and use the brakes with it, just helps slow down. But I drive a little faster then normal.

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1999 Ford Ranger reg cab 4x4 add-a-leaf 32'' hankook dynapro or 265/75/15 winterforce for winter 3.0 FFV 5 speed, throttle cable mod, torsion bar cranked, tint.

hmmm thinking about it... i coast & use brakes when slowing down a lot or actually stopping. but i simply let off the gas if i need to slow down just a tad lol

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1999 xlt 2.5l 5-speed Supercab 159k
83 diesel 2.2l na
06 F250 6.0l psd
{click for lol}

Thats what I do as well.

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I grew up driving grain truck on the farm. I was taught to drive standard on a split 5. I was told that brakes are for emergency use only, or coming to a complete stop once the truck is in 1st gear. Even though the theory doesn't apply to my ranger and saving the brakes, I'm a creature of habit.

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2006 Dark Shadow Grey Sport Extended Cab 4x4 - 4.0L V6 - 5 Speed - 4.10 gears
31x10.5 Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac's (Summer) - 265/75 Cooper Discoverer M+S (Winter) - 15" Dick Cepek DC-2's
Toolbox and Access Tonneau Cover - Lightforce Striker 170 Lights - Level II Tow Hooks
Build Thread
Previous Vehicles: 2002 Red Ford Ranger Edge 4x4 - 1997 Arctic Green Ford Thunderbird LX

a load of grain most certainly warrants that though lol

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1999 xlt 2.5l 5-speed Supercab 159k
83 diesel 2.2l na
06 F250 6.0l psd
{click for lol}

This. Brakes are far cheaper to replace. Downshifting is more fun, but not needed. Big hauler trucks need runaway truck ramps in case of brake failure, but I've never heard of a runaway Ranger.

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1997 4x4 Mazda B4000 SE, Ext.Cab

Im a downshifter. Always have been. Match the RPMs and downshift.

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Most people don't even match the revs.

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2000 Ranger XLT 4x4 Flareside
3.0 Auto 3.73 gears
31x10.5r15 Mastercraft Courser AXTs
Manual mirrors, door locks and windows