Thinking Ford Ranger

[Turbo Piston Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Turbo Piston]

Hi everyone!

Just got a new boat and weighs a fair bit. Over 2T but need to go weigh bridge to check it out. Previous owner had a prado but did small trips. I like to do long trips with the boat.

The prado sags a little at the back and up steep hills it struggles a bit but I am not flooring it as I dont want to push it that hard.

I am thinking the Ford ranger might be better with the bigger motor, power and torque? Maybe better balance on the back too?

Has anyone here gone to a Ford Ranger? Just thinking thinking lightly at the moment. I love my Prado, maybe i just need to adjust the rear suspension a little. Dont want to do a chip though.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

I have nothing but praise for the current Ranger. They are a pretty good vehicle. I know many people who have them and swear by them.
They look the goods when you put an ARB bar on the front too!

Be careful with towing capacities. My parents were/are looking to upgrade, and I told them to check out the Ranger - I didnt think they could go wrong. THIS was then brought to my attention.
Now, read everything you find on the interweb with a grain of salt, but it does make for good reading.

I think I'd look to spend a few $ on a decent, reliable and trusted performance chip (I know you said this wasn't an option - but it is worth the research I think) and better rear end suspension and use the Prado - provided the boat is less than 2500kg of course.

[Turbo Piston Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Turbo Piston]

I read that article and thats why it got me thinking if the Prado meets the spec I require. Once I go to the weigh bridge I guess I will have a better idea.

[Guest Close Guest]

What the author failed to account for in his calculations is the towball weight when towing the full 3.5T. So quoting from this point on:

If we take the Ranger then that’s a 6000kg GCM, and let’s say we want to tow 3500kg. That means 6000 – 3500 = 2500kg, the maximum the Ranger can weigh if it is to tow 3500kg.
The Ranger’s tare weight is 2200kg, so 2500-2200 = 300kg of payload.

Now remove the towball weight from that 300kg payload. I couldn't find what the max towball weight is but let's say a conservative 250kg for a 3.5T trailer. That leaves a skinny 50kg driver to operate the vehicle.

The point is, do your calcs before purchasing your new tow vehicle and trailer.

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

Stay clear of the Ranger or anything Ford for that matter. I personally know three people that bought new vehicles, had problems, tried to make warranty claims that should have been open and shut, but Ford fight tooth and nail. "Its within spec Sir" even though it doesn't work properly. All three had to pay for the repairs themselves and now drive different makes, never to darken Fords door again.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Stay clear of the Ranger or anything Ford for that matter. I personally know three people that bought new vehicles, had problems, tried to make warranty claims that should have been open and shut, but Ford fight tooth and nail. "Its within spec Sir" even though it doesn't work properly. All three had to pay for the repairs themselves and now drive different makes, never to darken Fords door again.

We had a Ford warranty issue with Fiesta gearbox and steering column. Both fixed without question. Car is now out of warranty, but gearbox still has another 2 years... issue's reoccurred. Waiting list for the parts to fix is now apparently 12-15 months according to the service guy. Make of that what you will!

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

Stay clear of the Ranger or anything Ford for that matter. I personally know three people that bought new vehicles, had problems, tried to make warranty claims that should have been open and shut, but Ford fight tooth and nail. "Its within spec Sir" even though it doesn't work properly. All three had to pay for the repairs themselves and now drive different makes, never to darken Fords door again.

You hear this for almost every vehicle manufacturer in the world. It also comes down to your local dealer and the relationship you have with them.

A colleague of mine had this with a Toyota he owned - it was a lemon but the dealer and/or Toyota didn't want to come to the party.

[Turbo Piston Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Turbo Piston]

Hmmm i have read all the stories. Was actually going to buy a jeep first but read the reviews and issues. I have read a bit about ford but being the second most selling car i thought maybe now they have fixed a lot of it. Maybe stick to the prado. Faultless so far.

[Danda Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Danda]

Stay clear of the Ranger or anything Ford for that matter. I personally know three people that bought new vehicles, had problems, tried to make warranty claims that should have been open and shut, but Ford fight tooth and nail. "Its within spec Sir" even though it doesn't work properly. All three had to pay for the repairs themselves and now drive different makes, never to darken Fords door again.

Cant speak for the ranger but every ford I've had has been a bitter disappointment , they all let me down and they all cost me heaps saw graffiti on a toilet wall that read "god made lemons but it took Ford to put wheels on them" summed it all up for me personally and yet some buy them and never have a problem just wish I was one of them........................

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

Hmmm i have read all the stories. Was actually going to buy a jeep first but read the reviews and issues. I have read a bit about ford but being the second most selling car i thought maybe now they have fixed a lot of it. Maybe stick to the prado. Faultless so far.

The trouble with Ford and Holden in this country is there are a lot of very rusted on fans. Nostalgia is great and all but that does make a vehicle reliable, fit for purpose, well developed, etc, etc.

Maybe look at a suspension upgrades for the Prado?

[Redsand Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Redsand]

Might be worth waiting for the wagon version of the Ranger call Everest which go on sale in October
Prices were released today and they under cut the Prado read about it at Carsales
http://www.carsales.com.au/news/2015...der-55k-51857?

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

Thanks for the link Redsand, interesting read. The only question I have now is what does the Everest actually have or what does it do, because all I know is what numbers it has that are higher than a Prado and how it is supposedly better. Ford really is dropping the ball with their marketing, let your cars stand on their own 4 wheels!

[aulord Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close aulord]

Might be worth waiting for the wagon version of the Ranger call Everest which go on sale in October
Prices were released today and they under cut the Prado read about it at Carsales
http://www.carsales.com.au/news/2015...der-55k-51857?

As they say "you can put lipstick on a pig, but its still a pig"
:grin::grin::grin:

[Bryce Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bryce]

The chassis is so thin I was wiring up a dual batt for my old man and I was underneith it and I was tapping the chassis rail and it sounds so tinny maybe it's new technology or something but to me it seemed a bit thin.

[Mule Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mule]

Went for a boys weekend. Variety of different 4X4s. The least capable seemed to be the stock standard ranger although it does come with a good list of standard goodies like a diff lock. This was due to poor clearance with standard suspension and their relatively long wheel base. If all you want is a 4wd for towing then if the ranger fits the bill go for it but if you want to do all those fun tracks I was left less than fully impressed.