So here's the deal. I have an Avalon, my dad has a Cadillac SRX. I mow lawns in the summer and I don't like cramming 2 mowers in my Avalon or working around his car schedule to use a nice Cadillac to mow grass with. I want a small truck to use that I'd like to get before grass starts growing, so within the next 2 months probably. When I asked a guy I know who seems to know a good bit about trucks, he recommended a Ranger or a small Toyota (Tacoma I am assuming). And I have a million questions.

1. Are there any other types of little trucks I should consider? Based on craigslist, there aren't many Tacomas in my price range (6k) and there are too many Rangers for me to make any headway by myself without just guessing and hoping for the best.

2. What engines should I look at? The guy I know said I probably only need a 4 cylinder because I don't plan on hauling anything large aside from the occasional trailer loaded with branches when a tree falls in my yard, push lawnmowers, couches or whatever I'm sure I'll be finagled into moving (I'm a big guy too and already get called for moving things frequently, go figure), and maybe, just maybe the trailer we load with Scout things when I go along with my old Scout Troop on campouts. The last one however isn't a big deal and if that's the only reason I would need a more expensive, less fuel-efficient engine I'll just tell them my truck isn't big enough to pull the trailer. My buddy also owns a popup trailer that one day we might take camping or something, though that's also not likely. Those are the only things I could see myself hauling in the near future. I don't have a boat or anything else huge like that nor do I plan on having one in the near future.

3. 4x4 or 2x4? As of now, I only go off the main roads when I go camping with my Troop which is a maximum of once a month. But I'm forced to consider that maybe that's just because I have an Avalon so I can't really go off roads which might be fun to do on weekends or something. Any advice on this would be awesome. Such as gas mileage differences and price differences and stuff.

4. I think I would prefer a manual transmission because I heard they are cheaper to buy, more reliable, more gas-efficient (at least in older models) and cheaper to maintain. I'm only 18 and have only driven automatic cars, but I don't think I'd mind learning how to drive a manual. Plus it adds in a certain amount of "coolness" to a vehicle I think, and a little manliness.

5. I think I want an extended cab (the one with the little jump seats in the back) both for storage and for the odd 3rd/4th passenger which I guess would depend on whether I have a bench seat or buckets. I think I'd prefer a bench, but I'm not really sure there either. A bench just seems cooler.

6. What kind of mileage should I draw the line at? On Craigslist I'm seeing Rangers everywhere from 80k-230k miles and I just don't know what I should aim for. I do however take the appearance of 200k+ trucks to mean that Rangers are designed to last.

7. Lastly, (I think) what years should I look at? I would imagine that over the last 20 years there have been a few years where Rangers have failed the test of time and turned out being unreliable. I've always been really satisfied with my Avalon that I got when I was 16 from my very generous aunt because it only has 108k miles on it, and since I got the car I haven't experienced any issues at all.

I know there are a lot of questions here, but I'm 18 years old, never bought a car before and have exercised a lot of restraint to save the amount of money I have to spend (4k+Avalon's sale which I think will be ~2k) by mowing lawns since I was around 11 so I don't want to buy a dud of a truck or one that costs more in the long run than it's worth. I'm doing by best to research all of this stuff on my own, but it's kind of tough when you know nothing about trucks. Luckily, I stumbled upon this forum and from my past experiences forum people are always very nice and knowledgeable, so this seems like the best place to go for advice, though I'm still going to ask the few people I know in real life for advice too along the way.

Thank you, and my apologies for the wall of text.

EDIT: I knew I'd think of another question.

8. When I think I've found the right truck for me (Ranger or otherwise, though leaning towards a Ranger), what kind of things should I look at when I have the opportunity to inspect the truck before I pay the guy. I'm 99% likely to buy used so I'd like to know what sort of common things people screw up on their trucks that I could bump down the price for, or that they'd be likely not to tell me about and hope I don't notice or anything at all like that. I hope you all know what I am talking about here.

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~Mettelor~

I didn't know purchasing a pickup could stump anyone. Since the 2 vehicles you listed are quite expensive, your family must have serious money. Ask dad to buy you a New 2011 F150 3.7 4x2....you can get a good price on those and their fuel mileage should be around 20 mpg overall.
Don't believe any of the wild claims of fuel mileage on ANY Ranger forum...you will be disappointed.

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get a ranger i use my ranger to pull all my lawn stuff. And when people ask my to move stuff for them i say no or you should have bought a truck not a car.

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2005 Ford Ranger fx4:thrasher 3" BL" T-bar crank,shackles 33x12.50 BFG's
remote start,spray in bedliner,cap, window tint
Kenwood Excelon radio
Rockford P1683 speakers (punch)

Definitely get a Ranger, they are tough reliable trucks, its not unusual to see these trucks go well over 300,000 miles. If gas mileage is real important and you plan to drive mainly on road 2wd will get you a few extra mpg but not enough of a difference to make a decision on. Start looking at trucks in your price range and try to get some test drives to help you make your decision...

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2002 Edge Super Cab 3.0, 2wd, air box mod ,3.73
L/S,Torsion Lift, 31x10.50x15 Tires, Leer Bed Cap

1. Ranger for sure, Tacoma's are quite a bit larger and like you said the Toyota's keep their initial value just because of the name so you'll be paying for the badge essentially.

2. If your looking at fuel efficiency the 4 banger is your best bet. The rear end will also make a difference. If you plan on doing alot of towing a 4.10 would be best but you sacrifice fuel economy. Im not even sure if the 4 cyl were avail with a 4.10. The 3.0 litre V6 was only offered until 2009? i believe and its not the most fuel effecient but it wouldnt have any problem towing small trailers. Then you've got the 4.0 litre V6 which I had one for about a month, didnt get a good enough feel for the fuel economy but i can imagine it was prob similar to the 3 litre.

3. 2x4 in my opinion. If you actually are worried about doing a bit of trail stuff then look into a Limited Slip Diff or installing a locker once you get it. Limited slip only works to a certain degree so if your stuck real bad it wont help you. 4x4= worse fuel economy, more stuff to break, and more expensive. I drive some of the worst storms we get in Ottawa with my 2WD with 200lbs of sand in the box. Not going claim ive never been stuck but id prob need 4WD 2 times a year.

4. Manuals are alot more fun to drive, they are better for off road situations as well as you can limit wheel slip by feathering the clutch. Its not impossible to learn but just keep in mind a new standard driving isnt the nicest thing on a clutch.

5. Extended cab for sure, there isnt any real room for passengers back there but in a bind you can always fit someone back there. It also alows room for a sub, tools, and you can recline your seats.

6. Depends on your budget, I wouldnt want to buy anything over 150,000 just beucase you dont know how hard it was driven and how much is left on it. If you go to a bare bones ranger, 2wd sport with no power options you can easily find one with 80,000k for 10,000 or under.

7. The rangers have been virtually unchanged since 1993 i believe, the motors have went through a few changes but ive read many people talking about their bulletproof 3.0L V6's over the years, The last model change was 2006, so anything from 2006-2012 are identical in terms of transmissions and differentials, I think they messed around with the grills and valences, thats it.

Common probs on the rangers are:

-M5OD transmissions (manual trans on all rangers) have leaked fluid through three plugs up top leading to transmission seizure. So check the trans fluid level by undoing the plug marked FILL on a level surface and the oil should just be to that line

- Ive heard of older transfer cases not wanting to engage but were talking like 1991 Ranger Customs, other than that youll have to cruise the forum and see what others guys have got.

My 2006 ranger has a pinion seal leak due to what im assuming is a blocked vent and it was misfiring at the start but it sorted itself out. And my front caliper sezied and messed one of my rotors up a while ago. Small things that could happen to any vehicle essentially.

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'06 Ranger Sport
3.0L V6, 4.10 Rear End
PIAA 520i On Safari Light Bar

Get a ranger. Specially ext cab. 4x4 is better, but if u can survive with a 2wd go that route, better on fuel. But if u live where u get a snowy winter, u will want 4x4.

People will say stay away from the 3.0l's, because a 4.0l has more power and gets about the same mpgs, but a 4.0 is going to cost more to buy and insure.
A 3.0 will do fine. I tow my trailer with my 2 atvs long distances for trips with no issues.

Definitely go with a manual if u can find one. My first ranger was a manual, now my new one is an automatic, I do miss the feel of driving a stick, but an auto can be relaxing.

Ball park good mileage would be under 150k pending in the year.
Bought my first ranger with 69k. It was a 95 2.3l 2wd 5speed regular cab, i don't mss the reg cab lol, got it in 2001, so it was 6 yrs old.
Got my 99 ranger 3.0 ext cab auto 4x4 with 118k on it back in 2005, it was also 6yrs old.
Paid 6500 for the 95 ranger and 6900 for the 99 ranger, lol.

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1999 Ranger 3.0FFV-ExtCab-4x4-My 99 Build
1998 Ranger 3.0-ExtCab-4x4-PROJECT TRUCK-My 98 Build

I have the 3.0, its a good engine no doubt but theres really no point in buying a 3.0 unless its just an insane deal. like stated above you get more power with the 4.0 and about the same MPG as the 3.0, about 20mpg.
I think the 4 bangers get around 25-26 mpg.

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2002 3.0 Ford Ranger 4x2, Auto, 250k miles

I got lucky getting that Avalon from my aunt because she happened to be getting a new car right around when I turned 16 and could start driving, otherwise I would have had to buy my first car as well as my soon-to-be truck. And the Cadillac is my dad's and he doesn't spoil me, so I'm on my own here. As I said, my budget is 6k of my savings from mowing lawns over the last 8 years. My Avalon currently can get up to 25mpg if I drive solely on the highway and don't screw around too much, and it's more like 19 with regular use around town and such. Would I be able to expect that some sort of modest Ranger would get around that? Or better/worse? Sorry if the first part of that sounded rude, but it's always really gotten on my nerves when people assume that I'm spoiled just because my dad is a lawyer, I wasn't. Also, most of my confusion is arising because it seems like there are so many different Rangers to choose from and they're all so slightly different. I almost wish I had less options, or that the differences between them were more dramatic so that I could have an easier decision or rule out some of them.

I'm not the kind of person to say no when people ask help. Do you think that a Ranger would be large enough to hold all my equipment? All I have right now is 2 push mowers, a weed eater, a blower and then random things like some bush clippers and rakes and brooms. I don't really plan on upgrading to the big stuff that I would need to put on a trailer behind a truck for quite some time because most of the yards I mow are too small for that.

That's pretty similar to what the guys I've talked to irl have said. I think 4x4 would be fun, and 2x4 would be cheaper, so it's pretty up in the air and will probably not be a determining factor in the end.

Strangely enough, on Craigslist for Louisville about 95% of the small trucks are Rangers. There must be a Ford plant around here or something. So I'm most likely looking at a Ranger either way just because statistically a Ranger will be the likeliest truck to fit my needs.

Someone told me today that a 4 cylinder would probably last for less miles because of the increased strain on the engine or something. I don't know how to properly explain it, but the way he explained it is that in his jeep he has a 6cyl, at one point the company decided to try basically just cutting out 2 cylinders to increase gas mileage or cut costs or something and down the road now it's basically unheard of to blow an engine on the 6cyl but you hear/read about problems with the 4cyl all of the time. From what they said, I should lean towards the 4cyl if it has low miles and the V6 if it has higher miles because it probably will have more longevity. I don't know much about the technical terms and numbers you threw at me, but I'm assuming that the higher numbers mean more power. I'm not really concerned with power in general because the main thing I need to be able to move would be mowers and the occasional trailer filled with sticks or someone's TV/couch. The main factors on engine size I think would be fuel efficiency and engine longevity.

In Louisville it doesn't snow all that often, so from what you're saying unless I plan on screwing around off roads I shouldn't need 4wd and should look at 2wd? If it increases the likelihood of problems down the road that would be expensive to fix, I don't think I would want that. I suppose I'll lean towards 2wd at this point. Also, is it 2wd or 2x4 or does it even matter? I've seen both but I don't know if there is some sort of distinction between the 2. Also, what is a Limited Slip Diff or a Locker?

The guy I talked to today said something about worrying about how hard the previous owner worked the clutch if I buy a manual, and it sounds like you're talking about the same general thing unless I misunderstood you. Again, I don't know very much about cars or trucks yet, but I've learned a lot this week since I decided I need a truck and will continue to learn more I hope. If I make sure to keep an eye out for that before I commit to anything, would there be any reason not to get a manual aside from the learning curve? I consider myself decently smart so I'm hoping that I could get the hang of it fairly quickly.

Is there any real drawback to an extended cab that I should consider aside from the extra foot or so that I would lose in bed space? I'm about 6'1" and 200lbs so I don't know how well I might fit into a standard cab, but I heard the extended cabs have about 3" more leg space. I would definitely want to get some nicer speakers or some sort put into it if I can get the truck for enough under my 6k budget, that'd be one of the first things I would invest into.

So generally speaking after 150k things get iffy with Rangers? Should I ask the owner what all he used the truck for to get a feel for whether he was hauling things daily or just driving to and from work in it? Is there any tell-tale signs to look for to see how hard someone has driven a truck?

I don't think I would be getting anything as new as 2006. From what I understand, I'm aiming for somewhere from the mid-90s to maybe 2004.

I'll have to keep that in mind when I start actually getting to the part where I look at the Rangers, that sounds important.

Thank you for the response, I appreciate it a lot.

As I said, I'm in Louisville where it doesn't snow that much. It's humid as can be, and the temperatures swing all over the place, but it's not very frequently that any serious snow comes and when it does the majority of the city gets shut down anyways. I guess we're not far enough North to have any really serious equipment to keep the roads clear when it snows considering the size of the city.

I mainly want a manual because they just seem more fun and cool, plus it's a skill that I want to learn anyways so no better way than to do it, right? It's probably not a dealbreaker though.

Alright, again just subtle differences it seems.


Hopefully I didn't overlook any advice/points that anyone made or anything. I'm trying to be very thorough because whatever I buy I'm probably going to be stuck with for quite some time unless I wreck or something (hopefully not).

Thanks again for all the responses. You all are helping quite a lot in this whole decision-making process.

My post was too long, so I shortened the quotes.

__________________
~Mettelor~

Your signature is very true.....

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Not a F150 sellout? Click HERE

-They are right about the 4 cylinder, the harder a motor has to work the less reliable it will be, that being said there are 3 litres out there that crapped the bed because of mis-maintaining.

- Id say stick with 2WD, the guys on here with 4x4 might disagree but its just my opinion. I havent needed 4WD and we get some pretty nasty weather here in Ottawa at times. 2WD and 4x2 are the exact same thing just different ways of saying it. 4x2 means 4 wheels on the vehicle and 2 are driven by the motor

- A limited slip diff is a diff that transfers the torque from a spinning wheel to the other side to gain traction, to my understanding the problem is if your really stuck its just gonna transfer the power back and your left with an open diff all over again. Its tough to explain diffs via a post, check out this site its vague but might give you a better idea. http://www.howstuffworks.com/differential.htm

- A locker is a device that locks the rear spider gears up and causes both wheels to spin and the same rate no matter what, these are great for offroading but suck on pavement. There are auto lockers that use torque to engage but ive heard mixed feelings on theses systems.

-With any manual transmission youll have to keep an eye on clutch wear and burnt clutches. The best thing to do is drive it, things like if it slips while going uphill, or if the friction point is excessively high on the pedal, best bet is to bring it to a trusted independant mechanic before you sign for it.

- things dont necessarily get iffy at 150,000 its jsut you dont know how it was driven through those km's and if the person kept up on maintenance (oil changes etc) the sooner you get it into your hands, the sooner you can trust its been taken care of.

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'06 Ranger Sport
3.0L V6, 4.10 Rear End
PIAA 520i On Safari Light Bar

Yes you can get all your stuff in a ranger. I used to put my yard stuff in my truck with a cap on it. I had to get a trailer when i got my big mower. But the push mowers will fit fine.

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2005 Ford Ranger fx4:thrasher 3" BL" T-bar crank,shackles 33x12.50 BFG's
remote start,spray in bedliner,cap, window tint
Kenwood Excelon radio
Rockford P1683 speakers (punch)

the pre-tacoma toyota pickups might be in your price range. but out in southern california, the mexicans scoop them up and pay rediculous prices for them.

you could look into the 3.0 as well. they're not the fastest, but are very reliable. decent gas mileage as well. just in case you ever need to haul a heavier load or something.

i vote 2x4, but around here we have no need for a 4wd except to waste money

do it. manual trans are now becoming theft deterrents because no one knows how to drive them.


the extra room is always nicer


i have 100k on my 2005, and other members on here have over 200k. don't be afraid of a high mile motor as long as its been maintained regularly.


i'm partial to the look of the 2001+ trucks, but that's just me.


no major rust on the leaf spring hangers or shackles connecting it to the frame. make sure the e-brake engages and disengages, and it can shift through all the gears and reverse. take it up to freeway speeds for any signs of a speed wobble. look over the engine for any signs of a leak, check the dipstick for discoloration, coolant for signs of rust, and other fluid levels.

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Why does everyone think prerunners just jump stuff?

Please click HERE to watch this video!

okay heres my two cents for this:
1. Get a ranger.
2. i would look at either a 4 banger since you really didnt list anything you need a ton of power for and also i know that the early 2.3l are reliable as hell my friend has one and beats the dog piss out of it and it keeps on trucking. and if you decide to go the v6 route i would look at the 4.0 over a 3.0 honestly because of more power for the same mpg

3. once a month dosent warrant the extra cost of 4x4 in my opinon you only really need 4x4 if your going offroading enough to warrant the cost

4. i would get a manual its easy to learn took me about 2 days to get the hang of it but the only downside is if you live in a very hilly area it could be pain when your new at it

5. extended cab is better im 6'1'' and 170 lbs and i fit just fine in mine its very comfortable.

6+8. for mileage i would shoot somewhere in the 100's tops i mean i have 250k on mine so they are extremly reliable just look for one thats been well maintained look for stuff like broken connections or zip ties in the engine bay that look out of place it probably means that someone has worked on it at some point. check the ball joints look at the tires that are on there if they are worn more on one side of the tire than the other it probably has had bad ball joints and that could lead to problems.

7. depends on what body style you like i know the newer it is more mods you can do.

and i would definatly try and get a limited slip rear end a majority of the newer ones should have it but the older ones i have seen tend to not have limited slip unless its 4wd

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1990 Ranger Extended Cab
2.9L V6 5 Speed Transmission
Planning to put a 347 and a T-5 in it eventually

all the above advice sums up pretty much everything i was gonna say. I love my Ranger to death, im also a teen and rangers are just a great starter truck and a truck for anyone really. sure i could have gotten a nice 2wd f150 for how much my 4x4 sport cost but you have to weigh the circumstances. the only thing that sucks about my sport 4x4 is the mileage but thats because it's a TRUCK!!!!!! I laugh at my buddy with his 96 f150 extended cab 4x4 with the 5.8! He tried peeling wheels (which he did without a problem) in front of some chicks and literally burned about two gallons of gas in less than a minute!

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Rangers (up until December of '11) have been pretty much the surviving "classic style" (in my opinion) truck. That look like a truck and not like a damn spaceship like some of these newer ugly arse trucks and cars plus they are "basic" like a truck should be. dont need no gps, heated seats, blah blah blah blah blah accesories stock. im getting off topic lol

What im saying is get a ranger that best suits your needs and the above suggested info is great. dont really need a 4x4 but it is nice to have sometimes but believe me, 4x4 kills mileage!!!! Get an extended cab if possible and if your going to haul try to get a v6 (3.0 or 4.0) with either 3.73 or 4.10 gears (i have 3.73). I like having an auto for relaxed driving but wish i had a manual at times. Dont forget hitch reciever, if it comes with a factory or even aftermarket thats a plus but wont kill ya if you have to put one on yourself lol

Good luck!

Ps, i also do yard work and plan on getting a trailer soon and a zero-turn

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2009 - Sport 4X4 - 4.0L V6 - Vista Blue
Leer BedCap BedRug ummmmm bedrug
Pioneer DEH-P7200HD HU (Awesome Headunit!)
Pair of DD1510-D4's powered off a RF 1500.1bd
Alpine SPS-517's in the doors and back (soon to be amp'ed)
Everything monitored through a EDGE Insight CTS
More to come!

So I probably want a V6 unless it has an unusually low amount of miles or I know that they drove it easy and that I will too?

I'm kind of leaning towards the 2WD. It doesn't snow enough for me to need 4WD or anything, so I would only be getting it so I could screw around off roads and stuff a little more probably.

Ooh, I looked at that link and it said something about learning how an engine works. I just read it's guide on how 4-stroke and 2-stroke engines work. Very interesting, I'll have to look around there more about how different car parts work. I'll be sure to get into the Limited Slip Diff soon.

So since I don't know how to drive a manual yet, I'll have to be sure to take someone with me that does when I go looking at trucks that have manuals so they can get a feel for it then.

Awesome, that's all I really need to fit in the bed anyways and the main reason I'm getting a truck. That and I just want one.

What are pre-Tacoma Toyota pickups? I'm not very familiar with the different truck models.

I'm pretty heavily leaning towards a manual transmission, I'll try to push for that when I finally pick one.

I'll look at all of that stuff when I get to looking at specific Rangers then.

The 4cyl vs V6 seems to me like I'd get more power from a V6, but I'd lose some gas on it. If a little bit of gas mileage is my only drawback from getting a V6 which has potential to last longer and has more power, I'll probably get a V6.



Thanks for all the advice again everyone. If anyone has anything new to add, or just wants to reinforce a point someone has already made, feel free.

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~Mettelor~