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  #1  
Old 06-09-2013, 12:10 PM
DaveinMD DaveinMD is offline
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Default New Member Looking For Advice

Hey everyone. Here is my situation. My '98 4 X 4 needs too much work to invest in it, besides I'm done with manual windows. At 157,000 miles I know it had a good life but this still came as a bit of a shock, as little as I drive it now I was expecting another 5 years at least.

But I have to have a truck, my dogs miss their trips to the river. As I said the truck is strictly for weekend jobs and for fun. Probably no more than 5,000 miles/year We have a small pop up that we pull, weight about 1,300 pounds.

This next Ranger has to last but with fuel costs only going up in MD (new gas tax) I am considering a 4 cylinder for the first time. I'm almost positive the 4 will be able to pull our pop up (flat roads) but I'm wondering if I can expect the same longevity out of this new truck. Seems like a 4 cyl will have to work awfully hard and that may take it's toll over time.

Thoughts?

Thanks
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  #2  
Old 06-09-2013, 12:18 PM
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  #3  
Old 06-10-2013, 03:23 PM
DaveinMD DaveinMD is offline
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Default Re: New Member Looking For Advice

Anyone out there? I was hoping to get help with a decision.

My '98 Ranger has a lot of little problems that I've learned to live with. But mechanically it's still pretty sound, of course it could need a transmission at any time too. The issue now is it needs springs (sound familiar?) as well as shocks (I can do that) and a new trailer hitch.

My first thought was this is too much to sink into an old truck. I was going to sell it for $3,000, then buy something newer with an $8,000 budget. K prepared a sign to be put in the window with all the info. I also printed out comparable Rangers from AutoTrader along with the asking prices. Found them to be in the $5,700-$6,000 range. Then I got an estimate to repair the springs for a little over $1,000. This will get the truck on the road, the shocks and hitch are not needed immediately. My sales pitch was that for a little over $4,000 (my price plus the springs) you will have a truck work $5,800. Then I got to thinking: why don't I do that?

So what do you think Ranger Forum? Is this money down a well or a good move? Big factor is I only drive it around 3-4,000 miles a year now and almost all local. I had always planned on this truck lasting another 5 years. But as I said it could need a transmission next week too.
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  #4  
Old 06-10-2013, 03:28 PM
black 06 ranger black 06 ranger is offline
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Default Re: New Member Looking For Advice

If u go with a 4 banger get a 5 speed. I love mine and good gas mileage
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Tri-fold tonneau cover. VHT taillights. Tinted corner lights.
fog lights.black headlights.
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  #5  
Old 06-10-2013, 05:31 PM
DaveinMD DaveinMD is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by black 06 ranger View Post
If u go with a 4 banger get a 5 speed. I love mine and good gas mileage

Yeah that was going to be the plan but they are hard to find. What about my other post, good idea or bad idea to put the money into my existing truck?
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  #6  
Old 06-10-2013, 07:24 PM
black 06 ranger black 06 ranger is offline
can it get any better!
 
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Default Re: New Member Looking For Advice

Its a tough call. If your into 4 wheeling then keep what you got. The 2.3 rangers I think can pull up to 1500 pounds. Since u said you would go with a 5 speed u will get much better mileage and the 2.3 is a long lasting engine. I dont think I'm helping u out here lol. Best of luck with your decision!
__________________
2006 Ranger. 2.3l 5 speed
Air box mod and throttle cable mod.
Tri-fold tonneau cover. VHT taillights. Tinted corner lights.
fog lights.black headlights.
LED driving lights, dome, 3rd breaklight, LED tailgate light bar and LED foot wells. LED tails.
4.10 stock gears[/COLOR]

My Build:

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...ger-build.html
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  #7  
Old 06-11-2013, 03:18 AM
DaveinMD DaveinMD is offline
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I wouldn't say I'm "into 4 wheeling" but I do want it for the snow and to make the climb up the hill from our field where I dump yard waste easier. I'm also finding that nobody is going to buy a truck for $3,000 that is not drivable.

Seems like I'm talking myself into fixing the truck huh?
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  #8  
Old 06-11-2013, 04:44 AM
black 06 ranger black 06 ranger is offline
can it get any better!
 
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Default Re: New Member Looking For Advice

Sounds that way
__________________
2006 Ranger. 2.3l 5 speed
Air box mod and throttle cable mod.
Tri-fold tonneau cover. VHT taillights. Tinted corner lights.
fog lights.black headlights.
LED driving lights, dome, 3rd breaklight, LED tailgate light bar and LED foot wells. LED tails.
4.10 stock gears[/COLOR]

My Build:

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...ger-build.html
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  #9  
Old 06-11-2013, 05:07 AM
Ordinary Biker Ordinary Biker is offline
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I have a 2.5l 4cyl, 5spd that is approaching 230K miles. On the original clutch. It's now my son's. Yeah it's power is down, but we do the maintenance religiously. 3K for a non-drivable truck? Yeah that is a tough sell. Springs would not be too difficult, if you have some wrench time. I wouldn't tell a noob to do them.
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  #10  
Old 06-11-2013, 05:39 AM
modelageek modelageek is offline
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Default Re: New Member Looking For Advice

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveinMD View Post
Anyone out there? I was hoping to get help with a decision.

My '98 Ranger has a lot of little problems that I've learned to live with. But mechanically it's still pretty sound, of course it could need a transmission at any time too. The issue now is it needs springs (sound familiar?) as well as shocks (I can do that) and a new trailer hitch.

My first thought was this is too much to sink into an old truck. I was going to sell it for $3,000, then buy something newer with an $8,000 budget. K prepared a sign to be put in the window with all the info. I also printed out comparable Rangers from AutoTrader along with the asking prices. Found them to be in the $5,700-$6,000 range. Then I got an estimate to repair the springs for a little over $1,000. This will get the truck on the road, the shocks and hitch are not needed immediately. My sales pitch was that for a little over $4,000 (my price plus the springs) you will have a truck work $5,800. Then I got to thinking: why don't I do that?

So what do you think Ranger Forum? Is this money down a well or a good move? Big factor is I only drive it around 3-4,000 miles a year now and almost all local. I had always planned on this truck lasting another 5 years. But as I said it could need a transmission next week too.
When you say it needs springs do you mean rear shackles and hangers?

Does it need other work?

If you go with the 4 banger get the 2001+ 2.3 Duratec.

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveinMD View Post
I wouldn't say I'm "into 4 wheeling" but I do want it for the snow and to make the climb up the hill from our field where I dump yard waste easier. I'm also finding that nobody is going to buy a truck for $3,000 that is not drivable.

Seems like I'm talking myself into fixing the truck huh?
The 2wd sucks in the snow.
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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

Last edited by modelageek; 06-11-2013 at 05:43 AM.
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  #11  
Old 06-11-2013, 06:55 AM
03RangerFX4 03RangerFX4 is offline
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Default Re: New Member Looking For Advice

My old 98 2.5L, I would pull a 1300lb pop up camper and it was alright on flat land....going up hills was another story. I had the 5 speed auto but kept overdrive turned off when pulling it. I bought that truck new and only kept it for 15 months and upgraded to a 4L ranger.
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  #12  
Old 06-12-2013, 05:51 AM
DaveinMD DaveinMD is offline
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Default Re: New Member Looking For Advice

Quote:
Originally Posted by 03RangerFX4 View Post
My old 98 2.5L, I would pull a 1300lb pop up camper and it was alright on flat land....going up hills was another story. I had the 5 speed auto but kept overdrive turned off when pulling it. I bought that truck new and only kept it for 15 months and upgraded to a 4L ranger.
That's good feedback. But I'm thinking that old '98 is nothing like a 2.3 from the mid 2000's. In the future I will entertain the idea of a 4 cyl with a 5 speed. Thanks again everyone.

As for the fixes the old truck needs springs and shackles as well as new shocks and a new hitch. And no this is not something I feel comfortable doing in my driveway. So I've elected to have it done and am cursing myself for wasting $100 and a weekend on an Autotrader ad and a CarFax report. But at least my old truck is free of dog hair, for now.
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  #13  
Old 06-12-2013, 08:14 AM
cvar cvar is offline
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Default Re: New Member Looking For Advice

Dealer quoted me 10+ hours of labor, so well over $1000. Instead, I did it by myself in a weekend. Photos at http://imgur.com/a/WpQR8
Trailer hitch just bolts on, with 6 bolts. Ebay has lots of them.
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  #14  
Old 06-13-2013, 04:12 AM
DaveinMD DaveinMD is offline
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Default Re: New Member Looking For Advice

Quote:
Originally Posted by cvar View Post
Dealer quoted me 10+ hours of labor, so well over $1000. Instead, I did it by myself in a weekend. Photos at http://imgur.com/a/WpQR8
Trailer hitch just bolts on, with 6 bolts. Ebay has lots of them.
Yeah I've already ordered the hitch, no question that's an easy fix. I did pay a little over a grand for the springs and shocks. Ride is much stiffer, too stiff actually, but at least I know it's done.
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