Hey guys....well, I've had a big truck (F-150) for awhile, but with the current gas mileage and the fact that Im gonna be commuting to college, I've decided its time downsize.

The reason I need a truck is I tow a jetski, a pop-up camper, and on a regular basis a landscape trailer to haul lawn equipment. None of the items are that heavy, none exceeding 2000 lbs. anyway, so as I've researched a ranger could tow these things with no problem, right?

Also, can anyone recommend a better V6 to go with? The 3.0 or 4.0? Is either one known to have more problems? As I said, I will be doing some occasional light towing, other than that, I want it to have the Supercab, 4X4, and thats really all my preferences.

The write-ups say that gas mileage is good with the ranger, not much difference btw. the two engines, so what are some of you guys getting, just so i can have some real life numbers to go by here. Thanks in advance guys! Anything else you can tell me would be appreciated.

 

sounds like me a few months ago. i bought a 3.0 supercab 4x4 ranger. i love it. i have towed my 16' landscape trailer with a zero turn mower on it and its not bad with 3.0. My buddy has the 4.0 ranger and a 5spd, and it is a nice truck, sounds better, has a little more torque and hp, but his loss on the gas mileage. I probably get closer to 20, while he;s in the 15 and down range. my truck also has 117k and still pulls strong, so it seems like you would be happy with whatever you get.

 

Hey thanks for the reply. Wow! That's a huge trailer to pull with that truck, I continue to be impressed with these rangers. I think I will be happy too, as you seem to be. Had a feeling the 4.0 suffered a little more on the gas........aiming for the 3.0 I think it will be fine for me. Thanks again

 

Sold my 72 F250 with a 460, and my 05 Supercrew with the 5.4 and got a Ranger and a Freestyle. Both have the 3.0 v6.

So far pretty impressed. Mileage on the Ranger is in the 16.5 around town and over 20 on the highway. Freestyle is over 20 around town and 25-27 on the highway.

Miss my big trucks, but don't miss the fuel bills.

 

Any of the 3 engines will be OK. The 3.0, 4.0 OHV or the 4.0 SOHC. The 3.0 Vulcanhas been around since 1986 and tends to be anoisy engine. Don't let the noise fool or scare you, it's normal and the 3.0 is all almost impossible to kill with normal maintainence and a lot of times with vertually no maintainenece. The 4.0's are Ok also. They're both a Cologne engine which has been around since 1964 in various displacements from a 1.8, 2.0, 2.3, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 2.9, 3.1, 4.0 ans 4.0 SOHC. The 4.0 SOHC had it'sbegining in1997 and iswell over its teething issues. The biggest thing is what are you going to use the truck for. If you need the MPG, any of the 3 will work. If power for towing, the 4.0 SOHC would be the better of the 3. It still boils down to wants, needs and price. If you're looking for HP or HPmods down the road, then I would go with the SOHC. Since the Mustang now runs the SOHC, you'll see more toys available for the SOHC then when I had my 97 Explorer Sport with the SOHC. Good luck on your choice and happy trails.