Opinions on 2000 Ford Ranger 4x4

[sketchers356]

Hello all,

Looking to get a beater 4x4 small pickup. Found a local Ford Ranger that looks pretty good.

However, I have never owned a pickup before. Thoughts on this vintage of Ranger?

What are some issues to look out for?

What is a reasonable mileage to get out of this car before it dies?

[johnsjmc]

The drivetrain in the Ranger is very reliable and can last upwards of 200000 mi with minimal trouble. I bought both my boys 1998 Rangers as first cars. Both were 4 cyl reg cab and 2 wheel drive,manual trans Considering they both learned to drive a stick and were adolecent boys I felt the trucks turned out to be bulletproof. One needed alternator ,both batteries both mufflers and brakes and one a rad plus tires. Other than an air filter we never even tuned them up and continued to pass emmisions. This was all we had to replace from 60000 to 125k when they were sold. The bodies looked fair but the seats are cheaply made.Although the upholstery held up the drivers seat felt very thin after a few years.I haven,t owned a 6 cyl or a 4x4 but the 4x4 drivetrain is the same as the Ford Explorer of that vintage

[HardDrive]

I had a 93 Ranger, and that thing ran nearly flawlessly for 130k at which point I sold it. Excellent truck.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Mazda engine with twin plug heads. You really cant go wrong. My brother hauled garage doors on his Ranger for years with over 200K on it.

[fastfredracing]

I see you are in the rust belt, check rear and front spring shackles, and spring hanger brackets for rust. Brake lines as well. As stated above, tough little trucks. I have done a handful of head gaskets on v6 trucks. Most seem to run forever.

[Jim Bremner]

What engine?

My Dad has a 2008 with a 4.0

My Son has a 4x4 1998 with a 4.0

Another Son has a 2002 with a 3.0

It's a Bytch to change sparkplugs on the 4.0

[andyt11]

I've been amazed by mine. Bought with 105000kms on it and now at nearly 225000kms. Never done anything but oil every 5000kms and consumables like brakes and shocks.

Mine is 4x4 with a 5spd and I enjoy driving it every day. Everything on that truck still works and we have hauled gravel, soil, lumber (it has a class 3 receiver), had things on the roof, in the back, on the trailer etc etc. Hell, one time we towed a city bus!

I've never been a ford fan and bought it because I couldn't afford what I wanted, but I've been pleasantly suprised.

[sammyg2]

I bought a new ford ranger with the 2.8 six in 1986. biggest POS in the entire world.
I spent more on repairs than in payments. Ended up dumping it for $1500 trade-in with less than 60k on it.
I'm sure they got better, couldn't get any worse.

I like my F-150 but would never sit in a ranger again.

[HardDrive]

For what its worth, I had the 3.0 V6, and it pulled like a train at 130k. I had one thermostat go bad on me. Outside of that, regular maintenance.

I don't want to evangelize, but my experiences with Ford trucks has been damn good. They simply run and run. I got rid of my 238k F-150 recently because I felt badly that my neighbors had to look at it. It was ugly, but it always started.

Bummed they no longer offer the inline 300ci 6. One of the best motors every made.

[Jrboulder]

My friend had a 2000 Ranger 4.0L 5 speed. Good little truck. He totalled it with me in it, but nobody was hurt.

Jackson

[Superman]

HardDrive, Superman and tens of millions of other motorists wish the 300 inline V6 were still being made.

I had a '93 Ranger V6 3.0L 4x4 that was a good girl. Not a ton of power I'd say, but I had not a lick of trouble with her.

Today, I have a '97 Ranger 4.0L 4x4 I got with 105K on the clock and now has over 200K. Again, not a lick of trouble. The 4.0L is the way to go. Smoother, quieter, easier to work on (spark plugs require a looooong tool). And enough power to make driving fun. You can steer this truck with the gas pedal.

I agree with my friends who believe Rangers are good trucks. I'd suggest the extended cab, because single-cabs are way too tight in the 'space' department.

I shudder to think of a single-cab 2wd Ranger with a 4.0L. I'd autocross it.

[Jim Bremner]

[azasadny]

I had a Ranger for four years or so, they are good daily commuters but they tend to rust. Or, at least mine did...