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Old 02-01-2017, 06:10 AM
Brad95 Brad95 is offline
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Default Newer ranger? Or no?

Hello everyone,
I need convincing in either direction. I've got a 95 ranger regular cab long bed 3.0 4x4 5 speed and I love it. I've put alot of work into it, but it keeps needing more and I'm to the point where I'm not sure how much more is worth it. It's got 150k on it and honestly the engine feels like it's dogging. I know these engines run forever but I'm not convinced mine will. It's got cooling problems, it's got an oil leak, and it needs work that I don't know I want to put into it. Plus the truck is a regular cab and that drives me bananas because I don't have room inside the cab, and the truck has been broken into before.
Ideally I would love a second generation tacoma. But funds are tight, and that won't happen for a while. What I want is and ext cab. 4x4 5 speed. Either 4.0l or 3.0l(I seem to think my 3.0's mpg overrides the extra power) but I'm not sure if I want to buyour a new truck all together or if a cab and bed swap would be a better way to go? My frame is solid. No rust or anything. And I've put all new suspension parts and wheel bearing and all that jazz into this truck already. So idk what the best option is. Please give me your opinions, I'm welcome to all ideas. If I sold my ranger I could probably get around 2500-3000 with the right buyer. And I've got a Hyundai Santa fe I would want to sell and the blue book value is almost 5000 on that. So if I spent like 6 or 7k what would be the best option. Recommend me years of rangers to look at too. Thank you.
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  #2  
Old 02-01-2017, 06:47 AM
mrmoerder mrmoerder is offline
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Well honestly, 95-97 are some of the best Rangers. My 2008 seems cheaper in a lot of ways over my 96. I didnt get rid of my 96 when i got my new truck because its worth alot more to me. Plus its long paid for so it just costs me insurance and registration. If it makes u feel anybetter about your cooling problem, the 3.0 in my 96, the cooling system is totally rusted out. Its like gravy antifreez. Previous owners didnt maintain it too well. But i have no problems with it overheating. Ive been daily driving it for over 2 years like that
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Old 02-01-2017, 07:06 AM
Brad95 Brad95 is offline
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Default Re: Newer ranger? Or no?

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Originally Posted by mrmoerder View Post
If it makes u feel anybetter about your cooling problem, the 3.0 in my 96, the cooling system is totally rusted out. Its like gravy antifreez. Previous owners didnt maintain it too well. But i have no problems with it overheating. Ive been daily driving it for over 2 years like that
I know what you mean. Personally my insurance on the ranger is like 500$ a year, so its really like nothing. But my timing cover leaks, and it allows oil into the antifreeze which is probably the same as your coolant because mine looks like mud. And in fixing this, I would end up replacing a lot of other things as well. water pump, thermostat, fan clutch, timing chain and sprockets, and all that. What really bothers me is not having an extended cab. I can deal with fixing it, and if my engine or tans ever blows I know there's replacements out there. But the space I don't have kills me. I would love to do a cab swap but I'm not sure what all would go into the swap. I love the look of the truck and I love all of my features, and the trucks are pretty much the same from 95 until 2011.
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Last edited by Brad95; 02-01-2017 at 07:18 AM.
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Old 02-01-2017, 07:20 AM
tnoutdoors tnoutdoors is offline
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Default Re: Newer ranger? Or no?

I love my 07. 4.0 4x4 and I get around 20 mpg. Coming from an f150 that got 12, it seems pretty nice
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  #5  
Old 02-01-2017, 07:30 AM
Brad95 Brad95 is offline
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Default Re: Newer ranger? Or no?

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Originally Posted by tnoutdoors View Post
I love my 07. 4.0 4x4 and I get around 20 mpg. Coming from an f150 that got 12, it seems pretty nice
See I get around 25 highway, 19 city, in a 3.0 4x4 5 speed and that sounds incredible from a 4.0.
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Old 02-01-2017, 07:49 AM
Brad95 Brad95 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tnoutdoors View Post
I love my 07. 4.0 4x4 and I get around 20 mpg. Coming from an f150 that got 12, it seems pretty nice
And love the look of the newer ones. I would love an 05 or something similar.
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  #7  
Old 02-01-2017, 10:33 AM
dvrich dvrich is offline
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Default Re: Newer ranger? Or no?

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Originally Posted by Brad95 View Post
See I get around 25 highway, 19 city, in a 3.0 4x4 5 speed and that sounds incredible from a 4.0.

When 4.0 4x4 owners are claiming 20 mpg, you know they are kidding.
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Old 02-01-2017, 12:14 PM
tnoutdoors tnoutdoors is offline
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Default Re: Newer ranger? Or no?

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When 4.0 4x4 owners are claiming 20 mpg, you know they are kidding.
The numbers don't lie. Believe what you wish, but I'm happy with what I've got.
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Last edited by tnoutdoors; 02-01-2017 at 12:14 PM. Reason: Typo
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  #9  
Old 02-01-2017, 03:12 PM
Brad95 Brad95 is offline
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Default Re: Newer ranger? Or no?

well heres the question to see if they're lying, 3.73 or 4.10?
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  #10  
Old 02-01-2017, 03:22 PM
Kealel Kealel is offline
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Default Re: Newer ranger? Or no?

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Originally Posted by Brad95 View Post
well heres the question to see if they're lying, 3.73 or 4.10?
He has a L2 and also says what he's got in his signature
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Old 02-01-2017, 03:38 PM
aroundincircles aroundincircles is offline
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Default Re: Newer ranger? Or no?

Quote:
Originally Posted by dvrich View Post
When 4.0 4x4 owners are claiming 20 mpg, you know they are kidding.
I regularly get 19.5mpg in mine (after doing a tune up, and replacing the intake gaskets, before doing which I was getting MAYBE 16mpg). I drive to work in pretty heavy stop and go traffic, but not terrible. if I were to slow down, and be more conservative, I probably would get better. Stock gearing (3.75) on 31" tires. I keep my RPMs under 2500, and use cruise control as much as possible. My commute is ~25 miles, 22 of which are all freeway. if I drove mostly city, it would be lower I'm sure.
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  #12  
Old 02-01-2017, 03:43 PM
Brad95 Brad95 is offline
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Default Re: Newer ranger? Or no?

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Originally Posted by aroundincircles View Post
I regularly get 19.5mpg in mine (after doing a tune up, and replacing the intake gaskets, before doing which I was getting MAYBE 16mpg). I drive to work in pretty heavy stop and go traffic, but not terrible. if I were to slow down, and be more conservative, I probably would get better. Stock gearing (3.75) on 31" tires. I keep my RPMs under 2500, and use cruise control as much as possible. My commute is ~25 miles, 22 of which are all freeway. if I drove mostly city, it would be lower I'm sure.
down hill both ways right just kidding! no I believe you man! I drove my bosses duramax 3500 crew cab long bed to work one day, I was getting like 25 on the highway at some points and I was blown away.
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  #13  
Old 02-01-2017, 04:44 PM
aroundincircles aroundincircles is offline
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Default Re: Newer ranger? Or no?

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Originally Posted by Brad95 View Post
down hill both ways right just kidding! no I believe you man! I drove my bosses duramax 3500 crew cab long bed to work one day, I was getting like 25 on the highway at some points and I was blown away.
Haha, no, but I am in Arizona, so it is pretty flat. It's also been awesome weather, so I haven't had to run my a/c or defrost which runs the a/c compressor.

It's all about maintaining speed, not using your brakes, and keeping the rpms down. I do very little surface Street driving which helps as well.

Sent from my R1 HD using Tapatalk
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  #14  
Old 02-01-2017, 04:49 PM
mrmoerder mrmoerder is offline
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I havnt driven my 2008 much yet, i live on an Air Force base and its very small. When my mom drove it down from PA to Texas she averaged like 19-20 mpg, all highway. Its a 4.0 auto extended cab 4x4 on stock, worn out 235-75-15r Goodyears. When i was back home for a few days, i think i got 17 combined highway and 4x4 crawling in snow(about 30 miles in it). As soon as you put bigger tires or lift it, your mpg will drop retarded low for a Ranger
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  #15  
Old 02-02-2017, 07:19 AM
Brad95 Brad95 is offline
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Default Re: Newer ranger? Or no?

well my current Ranger has been broken into once, and I lost my laptop, all my school supplies(this was perfect right before finals). If I'm going away to college next year and probably taking my ranger, id like to have something a little newer, safer, and with more room inside. since 2005 I've dreamed of owning a tacoma, but they're so damn expensive... so either I settle with a newer ranger or I fix what I've got and risk losing my stuff again and not feeling safe when I'm not near it.
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