my 4.0 4x4 is a super awesome commuter. i wouldnt trade it for anything!

but it depends how much you wanna spend on gas haha. i spend around $400-$500 a month on gas. depending on the price of gas (its way more up here, $4.60/gal is what it is right now, and thats cheap)

but really, just get a 4x4 no matter what. sure 2wd works if you're smart about it, but you arent the only driver on the road. other people can put you in a bad position. also, with a 2wd there will be times you wish you had a 4x4.

if you get a 4x4, there will never be a time you wish it was a 2wd only.

If you go with a RWD four cylinder, make sure you get one with limited slip. Just keep in mind that a four cylinder truck is a compromise. It won't get the mileage of a car and power is going to be on the low side when it comes to hauling. You have to make sure that compromise will work for you.

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Sgtsandman's Work in Progress
2011 Ranger XLT, 4X4, 4 door Super Cab. 4.0L, 5 Speed M50D-R1HD, 3.73:1, 8.8" open differential, Jason Pace cap
2019 Ford Ranger STX FX4, Super Crew, 2.3L Ecoboost, 10 speed automatic, 3.73:1 with rear locker, Leer 100XR cap

I have had experiece with three diffferent rangers, a 4cyl 5speed, a 3.0L 2wd 5 speed, and my 3.0L 4wd Auto. The 4cyl 5 speed had the best gas milage, around 27mpg. It was decent in the snow with blizzaks all the way around and 250lbs in the bed. The 2wd 3.0L was about the same in snow, and got around 22mpg. My current truck is a beast in the snow, I have not been able to get it stuck. period. Which is good, considering I drive in the worst of it. It handles snow better than the F450 4x4 I drive for work. The only downside with it is it gets around 17mpg typically, which can get expensive if you're like me and drive ~500 miles a week. That being said its my only vehicle and it works fine.

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1998 Ranger XLT, Ext Cab - SOLD
1999 F150 XLT, Supercab, Longbed

I manage fine with OEM tires in the winter with 300 lbs in the bed. Gotta love Canada for its snow

I love my 2WD

lol yea ive been told with 2wd you need a tug, and 4wd you need a wrecker! haha but yea driving smart is the best, its not how fast you can go but rather how fast you can stop. i like an open diff, it seems to me that a limited slip would suck when you arent trying to mess around (offroading,drifting) because say you hit a slick spot, you can easily kick the ass end out. but i wouldnt turn one down haha

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'99 Ranger XLT Reg. Cab Stepside
2.5L
2WD
5spd
K&N Filter
Air Box Mod
Explorer OHC
2/3 Drop
Join!! FRF no-lifers Clan

I had a 1999 4x4 4.0 liter for a while and it was very capable. I never ised it in snow, but a foot deep of sugar sand going up hills, mud, anything was no match for it and I had highway tires on it. I only used 4 low one time ever. Only complaint is the horribly high stall point on the TC; around 2800 rpm. Plus, it was slow as balls over like 30 mph. It did 17 mpg. My old 1994 4.0 manual 5 sp was pretty fast; low end was amazing too. 1500 rpm would exceed normal traffic accelleration, lol. I guess what Im saying is that the OHV 5 sp autos were dumb...manual is better because you can keep the revs down like 1500 lower. I now have a the 2011 as seen in my profile. With the new one, I slid the back out a couple times in heavy rain because I wasnt used to the extra torque there. With the 4.0 I would think you would want 4x4 to be safe. 2.3 2x4 might be okay due to a lot less rear wheel torque though.

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Maybe a 2 wheel drive 4cyl with a lockin diff. I've heards a good set of tires and a locker is almost as good as 4wd

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2001 Ford Ranger EDGE 3.0 V6 5 speed
OEM front tow hooks
Class 3 tow bar
Rugged Liner Bedliner
3.73 gears
Stock size tires 235/75/R-15 Michalen LTX M/s2

No.

a guy i know recently bought a 2011 XLT ext. cab, 2.3 5 speed. i get the same highway fuel mileage as him with my '00 3.0 4x4 auto regular cab. the newer 2.3 trucks run REALLY good (probibly better than my 3.0), but i would rather have the 4x4.

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2000 XLT 4X4, 3.0, Auto, regular cab - throttle cable mod, K&N drop in filter, taylor thundervolt 8.2 plug wires, autolite sparkplugs, Accel coil pack, AVS Ventshades, Rampage LED tailgate light bar, BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A tires, Trail F/X toolbox, cruse control pod light fix, Cobra 19 ultra II CB, lil wil antenna, pioneer door speakers, expo woodgrain radio bezal, 06+ mirrors & tails, powerdome hood

2000 XLT 4X4 Offroad, 4.0 / auto, supercab - the project truck!

Damn are you serious 4.60 for gas? It recently dropped to 2.89 or so here

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96 Xlt 2wd
4in rough country lift
31's

Having owned both 2WD and 4x4 here in New England, I'd go with 4x4 for snow! Love it! I used to put weight in the back of my 2WD in winter and still did some slipping around. My 4x4 don't need this and its never not done anything short of what's asked of it in winter. Love it! Some good tires helps too!

I'm dead serious. It makes for an expensive commute. 75 miles to work, 75 miles back. 3 days a week. At 17 mpg. But I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I wouldn't get a locker for a road truck. Limited slip maybe but not a locker. With that, a good set of tires, and some weight in the winter, one could go just fine most times. Now if Mother Nature dumps twp feet of snow all at one time, only a 4X4 is the answer and even then, one should probably not be out in it.

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Sgtsandman's Work in Progress
2011 Ranger XLT, 4X4, 4 door Super Cab. 4.0L, 5 Speed M50D-R1HD, 3.73:1, 8.8" open differential, Jason Pace cap
2019 Ford Ranger STX FX4, Super Crew, 2.3L Ecoboost, 10 speed automatic, 3.73:1 with rear locker, Leer 100XR cap

Two feet and you think we shouldn't be out in it? That's like a mild storm lmao. that's nothing.

Ok, If you really have 12K to spend then you're golden.
You should get a 2001-2006 extented cab Ranger(4-door if you can find one with the 4.0 SOHC. 2WD or 4X4 If you want a 2WD then you're going to be looking for a needle in a hay stack but it'll be worth the wait. The 4X4 trucks with the 4.0 will be a lot easier to find but they'll be a little harder on gas and not as fun to drive on dry pavement.

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2004 black Ranger XLT- Sold
2004 Vista blue 2WD(custom paint job)Ranger XLT 4-door ext. cab with the 3.slow and auto trans black and blue FX4 Level II bucket seats with shorty console
2004 DSG FX4 with a 5R55E auto trans and 4:10 gears-Sold
2010 Redfire Metallic 2WD Ranger XLT,4-door ext. cab, 4.0 SOHC with auto trans, SLA front sus. traction control, Sirius Satellite radio and 3:55 gears
2003 red Ranger Edge 4X4, 4-door ext. cab -4.0 SOHC with a 5R55E auto trans