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
Should I buy a 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder ranger?
- Thread starter Trey
- Start date
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
DeanMk
Member
?????....posted in wrong thread?
