Should I buy a 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder ranger?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Trey, Oct 29, 2017.

  1. Trey

    Trey New Member

    hello all, I am in need of a pickup truck. I will be using it to haul yard waste, furniture, hunting, and possibly as my daily driver once the lease is up on my current car. I’m looking into a 2009-2011 ford ranger regular cab but might possibly go with extended cab if I found a good deal. Trade off would be fitting the truck into my 3rd stall with the regular cab and not with extended. I am wondering if the 4cyl engines are reliable and trouble free from 09-11? Give me your opinions on why I should or shouldn’t go with one or the other as far as reliability and maintenance. Can you tow a smaller trailer with the 4? Seems hard to find a 6 cyl in regular cab around me. Thanks
     
  2. Ranger Forum Sign Up!

    Join RangerForum.com Today - It's Totally Free!

    Are you a Ford Ranger fan? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's a great place for Ford Ranger Fans to meet online.
    Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your Ford, and have a great time with other Ranger fans. Whether your an old timer or just bought your Ford you'll find that Ranger Forum is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally free!

    Join RnagerForum.com Today! JOIN FOR FREE

  3. DeanMk

    DeanMk Member

    A standard Ranger is set at about 1250 lbs. payload (and "payload" includes the people in the cab. Remember that. It's the same for any pick-up truck).
    Any of their drivetrain combos should be able to handle that load.
    You'll obviously have to shift down more often with the 4 cylinder, but it will still handle the load.
    For general "household" work, I've found the 4 cylinder / 5-speed manual works just fine. Sure, there are times I wish I had the 3.73 or 4.10 rear end, but the 3.45 does just fine 99% of the time.
    ...also, a couple of years ago, I found an added bonus to the taller rear end. I was dumping some cut branches in the woods and while pulling out, I snagged on a large branch and got stuck in the soft dirt. I just kept puttin' the coals to it, even shifting to 2nd (possibly 3rd) and the truck finally got out.
    What I realized was that if this were my old truck (which used the same size tires but shorter 3.91 gears), I probably wouldn't have been able to get out, because the taller rear end gave me increased wheel speed without overrevving the engine too much.
    As much as I cuss them, that's a chalk-one-up for the 3.45's.
    Granted, my Ranger is a '98, so it would use a different engine, but I understand those Duratec engines had tons of torque (they should, considering how undersquare those engines are) and were long on reliability.
    Can you tow a small trailer? Depends on the rear end gears. AFAIK, all of the Ranger's with 3.45 gears were not spec'd with a tongue weight because it was suggested they not do any towing....however, if you can swap in one of the shorter gear sets, I don't see why you couldn't tow a small trailer with the 4...especially if you're pairing it with an auto trans.


    Dean
     
  4. DeanMk

    DeanMk Member

    ...btw, my Ranger averages 27 mpg so it doesn't use too much gas.
    I gas it up with every paycheque (every other week) and it only needed $30 of Premium to top it off this time around.


    Dean
     
  5. Eddie Money

    Eddie Money Member

    I've had a 4cyl standard cab. I didn't like how small it felt. Im 5'9". Since then I've owned 2 4.0L v6 extended cabs. Both were the 4 door. I love them. The 4.0L v6 has lots of pep and I have 3:73 gears in the one I'm driving now. If you end up getting an extended cab I'd recommend getting a 4 door. My friend has a 2 door extended cab and it sucks getting anything out of his back seat area. The 4.0L v6 in the years you are looking at are a sohc. Mine is sport model 4x4. I use to use it for work but ive retired it recently to a daily driver. Im a brick mason and hauled a lot of materials. I added an additional trans cooler because the only weak link on these trucks are the trans. I love my truck. It's so nice to drive.
     
    WLDTRAC likes this.
  6. BRUCE SEMRAD

    BRUCE SEMRAD New Member

    Both of my Rangers were 6 cylinder /4.0 liter by my preference. This allowed me to haul a bed full of tools & materials, a 6' step-ladder and supplies needed to do my installation &repair of communications cabling & equipment. I have always been comfortable in the cab area and the area under the bed cap. I admit to being a Ford fan all my driving days. Yes, I do love my Rangers.
     
  7. JAMMAN

    JAMMAN New Member

    I did pull a uhaul trailer full of furniture through the hills in NC from SC to Michigan... with a 4 cyl ranger and a bumper hitch. It was a trick but I did do it. If you are mildly concerned about fuel mileage and you only pull on flat roads the 4 cyl will do it.

    As above though I recommend the 4.0 V6. You don't gain anything by the 3.0 V6, fuel mileage is just about the same and it is noticeably weaker than the 4.0. Last year I had both at the same time, a 3.0 in one and a 4.0 in another it was night and day.
     
    DeanMk likes this.
  8. mhoward

    mhoward Member

    I vote for the 4.0L. I have had both 3.0L and 4.0L. The 4.0L wins hands down.
     
  9. Jamey E

    Jamey E Member

    I vote for the 4.0 6cyl. I had a 94' with a 5-speed & now my 02' automatic. Great motors with plenty of pulling power. I'd definitely go with a hitch instead of using the bumper though
     
  10. dallenwayne

    dallenwayne New Member

    It depends on your needs. we are using 6 cylinder diesel engine for towing purposes we use it for 24 hour towing queens NY if you have to use for towing purposes so go with 6 cylinders.
     
  11. DeanMk

    DeanMk Member

    dallenwayne,

    Your diesel is a Dodge truck?
     
  12. Maxken

    Maxken New Member

    I promised that I would look at it with an open mind once Cranjis finished his work. Is there some place where this is collected? I couldn’t find it.
     
  13. DeanMk

    DeanMk Member

    ?????....posted in wrong thread?
     
  14. RangerAl

    RangerAl Member

    I too would go with 4.0L V6, but push rod motor (OHV)
     

Share This Page