Ford Ranger II

ckitchens

I can't help but wonder if I had ordered my 1998 Ranger 4X4 (4.0 - 5 speed auto) with a manual transmission if I would not have been happier. Personally, the 4.0 is underpowered. I guess the 3.0 is more underpowered - but it at least gets good gas mileage. I would consider the manual transmission on either of these trucks - you can learn the power band and learn how to grab it. By the way - I may never own another 6-cylinder engine. I had the old in-line six in a Bronco and I had the 4.0 in the Ranger - was never happy with either. All of the Ford V-8's that I have owned - and it is a few - have been so much better.

jfowlerjr

I've got the same question with a little twist. I've driven both the 3 and 4 liter with automatics and neither one of them seem to have a great deal or even average passing power(I currently drive a 91 honda accord 5 speed so it is not like it has tons of power either.) My question is does getting the 5 speed manual on either of these engines give you the extra power you need when downshifting to pass?

Thanks in Advance

James

jfowlerjr

My dad has a 1998 4x4 ford ranger 4.0 liter automatic. Just took it in for service and they told him that he needs new brakes already at 19000 miles. Now we are both new to trucks but this seems to be a bit early to me. Has anyone else had this problem? My 91 accord has 94000 miles on it and still has the original brakes but it is a 5 speed. The only thing that came to mind is because this is an automatic when you let off the gas the engine doesn't really seem to slow any if at all so he does use the brakes more. So would this be an engine problem then?

Hope this makes some sense

James

5pots

I think those monkeys are pulling your chain, you are correct the brakes should last 80000 miles. jack a wheel up and take it of and see for your self how much pad wear there is both disk pad and drum shoes can be seen easily after taking off the wheel. Im nota mechanic but i would be happy if i saw 1/4 inch of pad or more.(Get a manual to find the exact minimum or ring up the service dept)

All this stuff about changing rotors and all seems a lot of hog wash someone is wanting your check book

keith24

It IS kinda hard to believe that after only 19,000 miles, the brakes need replacing on your Dad's Ranger. I'm not a mechanic either, but I'd have to agree with 5pots: jack up a corner & take a wheel off. If you can see the brake pad, I'd venture a guess to say they're yanking you around.

Is the truck making any noise, or shaking when you're on the brakes? I'm fortunate enough to have access to a full service garage, & do my own maintenance on my vehicles. (oil changes, brakes, tires, etc.) This can be both good and bad, however. Anyway . . .

Hope this helps.

keith24

scape2

NO way they are trying to take you. Take it to 3 more shops and get other estimates. Also, I believe I read that brake manufacturers were going away from asbestos brake pads? is this true? And this will lessen the life of brake pads?
The 4.0 has about 25 ft/lbs more torque, and 10 more HP thats it. I have a friend who has a 3.0 5spd and he gets around just fine, pulls a small boat ok too. I prefer 5spds, I feel I have more control over the vehicle. To each their own.

jfowlerjr

Thanks to everyone on the info on the brakes. He is going to take it to another garage and see what they say. On the engine selection question maybe it would help if I told you what I would be using my truck for. Basic I'll be using mine just like a car only halling junk from work and stuff I'll be buying in the future like furniture and other household things. No towing at all I just want to be able to drive on the interstate and highways without having to worry passing power.

Thanks Again

James

scape2

James a 3.0 5spd in a 2WD will do you just fine. Get the 4door supercab and a limited slip rearend. Supercabs are nice just to have the extra storage room. The 3.73 limited slip will help in the hauling area along with better traction. The price difference between a 3.0 and 2.5 is about 500 bucks and MPG is within 2 or 3 miles also. The performance of the 3.0 mated to a 5spd and 2wd will give you the extra oomph when needed. Test drive its free!

toddstruck

My wife own's a 99' Ford Ranger extended cab with the 4.0L and a 5-spd automatic. I have the Rangers cousin the Mazda, except mine is a 3.0L 96' with the 4-spd automatic. I've read the previous posts about the problems with the Ranger with great interest and concern. I've had several minor problems with the Ranger that have yet to surface with my Mazda. The biggest is the tapping I hear from the Ford when it is idling in park or in gear. It sounds as if the lifters are tapping like it's low on oil, but it's not. I was wondering if this is the dreaded piston slap or just the cow bell I've read about. The noise doesn't seem to go away even when I up the octane to 89 or 93. The dealer said its normal, but my little 3.0L doesn't make this noise.
The second thing I've noticed about the Ranger is that it doesn't seem to slow down once it's moving. It seems like the breaks aren't strong enough for the weight of the truck. I realize that there is a big weight difference between the Mazda and the Ranger, but sometimes the stopping distance is just a little to close for comfort on the Ford.
The last difference and most annoying is the gas gauge on the Ford. The truck has been to the dealership a couple of times for this same problem. They supposedly replaced the float assembly and some sensors, but the gauge is still off by about 5 gallons. On a truck that comes with a 19.5 gallon gas tank thats a good bit. Thankfully it reads 5 gallons lower than it actually is. The only real inconvenience is never knowing how close to empty you really are.
Thanks in advance for any help.

cpousnr

Just a comment or two.

Brake wear depends on how they are used. Heavy use will wear them out early, however, 19K seems a bit soon. I looked at mine at 20k when rotating tires and they are worn down. 25-30K seems more reasonable.

Who posted 80+K on original brakes. I gotta call a bluff on that one, as I have never seen front brakes go past 40K. Rear brakes outlast fronts 2 to one, but not 80 K on front brakes.

cpousnr

Does not sound like piston slap, maybe lower octane fuel? I however run the cheap stuff with no problems in my 4.0

My gage is inconsistaint, reminds me of the early 60's Chevy.
When close to empty I still have 4-5 gal. I just use the trip meter and look for fuel aroud 325 miles if on a trip. There is a bubble in the tank too, you have to fill on flat or nose up position or you will be short a gal or so. Do not fill it with the front lower than the rear on a slope.

onegranite

Does anyone know a performance ignition wires for the 3.0. Can you feel the difference in power by replacing the stock wires? I'm already using KN filters and there is a slight noticeable difference.

xena1a

I own a '99 Mazda 4WD ex-cab with a 5-speed manual tranny. The truck has 9000 miles on it. Recently, the clutch pedal has developed some slop (about 1 inch). You can feel this slop when you press on the pedal to shift. I am having no problems with the clutch itself. Shifting and engaging/disengaging the clutch work fine. But the 1 inch of slack play at the top bothers me. I checked the clutch reservoir, and the fluid does not appear to be low. I don't see any fluid leaking on the garage floor. Any suggestions? Thanks...

xena1a

I know a couple of ladies at work that drive trucks. They drive them for very different reasons. This is the abridged version of their truck choices.
Lady #1 drives an '87 Ranger. 2WD, V6, Auto,SC.
This truck has 246,000 miles on it. The truck was purchased new and has been used hard since day one. It is constantly driven all over the state visiting friends and relatives. As a weekend warrior, Lady #1 is heavily into landscaping and light construction as well as various home improvement projects. The Ranger serves as her mule for hauling dirt, gravel, lumber, etc. This Ranger always seems to be loaded to capacity. Sure, she can afford and justify a new truck, but as she says, "the Ranger just keeps on running".
Lady #2 owns a '99 Tacoma. 4WD, V6, 5-speed, ex-cab, TRD, loaded. She paid just over 22K for the truck not including the extended warranty. It is a beautiful truck, no doubt about it. But when asked if she ever uses it off-road, her reply is "no, but when I see a gravel road, I wonder what it would be like to drive on it". MOMMA MIA!!! Give me strength. Oh well, as a first big purchase, I guess she just had to have it and bought into the Toyota mystic. It sure is a good commuter vehicle, though...

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times...

cpousnr

As I understand it there is a clutch slave cyl. which MAY be your problem here

OR

bleed the system.

Just turning over 24K on my 99 and have not seen that happen. If the above is not an issue just take it back for a look on your next service.

Your the guy that has the property south of Westcliffe right?
Keep in touch and if you come out again I can show you some of the trails if your interested. If you want, let me know your email, send to Cpousnr@aol.com.

xena1a

I have my 10,000 mile maint coming up. I'll have it looked at.
Yes, I'm the one who owns a few acres up in Antelope Valley. I'll send you an e-mail and keep in touch concerning my next visit. I'm anxious to get back. It's heaven up there.
I've added transfer case and fuel tank skid plates to my Mazda. I also installed a KKM True Rev. I really like it. Easy set-up, all sensors remain in place. Nice sound. Aggressive, but not too loud. The engine seems to run smoother and throttle response appears improved.
I'll eventually replace the Firestones with some BFG's before I come up. I'm also considering a cat-back exhaust system.
I've been pleased with my Mazda purchase. The Ranger/B-Series are well built and a good value...

cpousnr

Yes keep in touch. I want to organize a Ranger off road weekend sometime next summer for an off road club I associate with on line called Rough Rangers. You get to it off of:
http://www.homestead.com/therangerstation/index.html

There are some great 4X trails down there. So will keep you in mind. Some places you can access in Ranger Mazda have killer views of the Sangre's plus, if interested, the Blue Grouse hunting is fantastic. Ran into an Elk, two wild turkeys and a bunch of snowshoe hares and grouse all in the span of about 20-25 minutes on one trip and no problem with access as long as you have the skid plates, you will bump them. Might want to consider getting some tubing and extend your differential and xfer case vents as high as you can get them for stream crossings.
Was there last weekend for the trees. Most snow was gone at lower elevations and it was in the 50's.

toddstruck

Thanks for the information. I,ve just been a little worried about the Ranger since it's first visit to the shop at 450mi. I took it in because of a really bad feel to the ride. When they put it up on the rack the front passenger side shock just fell to pieces. Ever since then I've probably been a little to cautious.

cpousnr

Never hurts to be cautious. Many things can happen to vehicles, particularly 4X's. Throw a weight off the tire or driveshaft which causes vibration, hit a rock.
Shocks are after market and the assembly line just adds on the next one out of the box. When they are due for change, maybe 30-35K, I intend to get Rancho 5000's or 9000's. At any rate, a premium upgrade.
As to brakes, like I said, they wear out. 19K is a bit early unless a brake caliper is stuck and dragging. Rotate tires every 5K and check the front brakes at that time. You can view the thickness next to the rotor. If you let them go too thin the cup/puck in the caliper can move out too far and they warp. If you let it go untill you hear the grinding thats way too far. You would not want to hear that sound on a 4X trail 20 miles from a paved road.

So far so good on my 99 XLT. 24K and just 2 minor problems, wipers come on when not switched on and the dome light/door open alarm. One is a module the other a door switch. Last tank was about 21mpg on a trip with some 4 wheeling and mountain driving involved.

Will suggest to everyone that the bumpers scratch easy with a coarse dish plate scratcher. I used one to take off bug remains. Bad choice.

jcleveland

Where can I find info on the KKM on the net?? I haven't tried searching, thought it would be easier just to ask.

Bought my Ranger 4x4 SC,4.0,5spd Auto, in August. 7900 miles on it now. Just started using the 4x4 with the snow we have been getting.

No big problems. They replaced the gems module and multi-function switch so my wipers would quit coming on as they pleased. The service guy said ford is getting ready to recall a million plus vehicles for this problem. Bad parts from their supplier. The only other thing I've had it in for is brake pull. They touched up the front rotors a bit and it is gone. Makes me wonder why they had to clean up nearly brand new rotors (this was at 4000 miles).

I love the truck. Just wish it got better gas mileage. Only 16mpg right now.

xena1a

jcleveland -

Go to www.kustomz.com to order the KKM. I think
you'll like it. I've got one for my 3.0L. Easy installation, nice sound. I think it has helped throttle response also...

cpousnr

I have the KKM on my 4.0. Satisfied with it.

I will get some pics up on my web site of it in-
stalled in the engine compartment so you can see what it looks like. Give me a few days to find them.

The torque value on the 4 bolts is not to exceed 104 inch pounds or you could strip the bolts. the thing fits together without a gasket. I would SUGGEST you leave the bottom of the old air box in to protect against throwing water into the new filter. Also, consider a cleaning kit when you order the filter

devontie

I have a 2000 Ranger with 4200 miles on it. I got the truck on Nov. 13, 1999. I have been to the dealer six times because the truck pulls slightly to the left. They changed my brake pads, calipers, hydrolic unit and finally a wheel alignment, now the truck pulls to the right. I went to another dealer they refused to check the alignment because they said that ford would not pay them since the other dealer did the original alignment. I love the truck but I don't think that I will ever buy another ford. If you are going to buy a ford remember this. Buyer Beware. Ford service just don't cut it.

rswad

Need some advice. I just bought a new 2000 Ranger XLT supercab 6 cyl, 3.0, 4-speed automatic. When I start out in drive, the engine seems to make a lot of noise but the truck is hardly moving. Is this normal or do I have a problem? I have never experienced this problem in any other vehicle. But I have never owned a pickup either. If this is normal, I wonder if that may be why the gas mileage is so poor. The window sticker says 17-22 mpg.

jcleveland

I don't think it is a problem with Ford service, I think it is the service at the dealer you chose. I've had good luck with the dealer that I have purchased my truck and my Taurus from. I traded in the Escort that I bought from them on the truck. Anyway, there is a local dealer that I won't buy a Ford from because of the same kind of grief you are getting, but I'm not going to let them deter me from buying a product I like. I would suggest trying http://www.ownerconnection.com/ once you register you can e-mail and get help or call them.

Jocko

I have a99 Ranger ,4.0 engine, 5spd, 2wd standard cab, XLT, sportspackage, 4 wheel ABS, etc.Bought it in the fall of 98 forDealer's invoice. Satisfied with truck, but have to struggle with dealer to fix things. Great brakes and mileage cannot be driven below 20 mpg. Put aFlowmaster exhaust on and aK&N air filter. Good throttle response with a decent exhaust sound. Once I had the GEM module replaced, all the gremlins in the wipers, electric windows, dome light ligt etc went away and it has been very enjoyable.

I keep hearing vague references to a "chip" for the engine that apparently improves performance, but cannot getany definitive info on this. Any help anyone?

devontie

I have the same truck as you, mine is 2wd. I get 17-18 mpg. I live in NY on Long Island. I drive approx. 75 miles each day, mostly highway. I can hear my tranny winding when I start out but it moves pretty good.

devontie

Thanks for the info. I registered as a member. I will try a different dealer.

modvptnl

You can't tell how much wear is left by looking at the pad unless you know how deep the rivets are or you have a new pad to compare to. There should be a thin metal tab built in to one of the pads, either inboard or outboard pad, how close this tab is to the rotor is your indication of how much wear is left. If this metal tab contacts the rotor it shouldn't cause damage but you will hear a high pitched squeal. If you wait to long after hearing this squeal the rivets in the pad will make contact with your rotor and you will have problems.

cpousnr

First, check out this site, good info here: site:http://www.homestead.com/therangerstation/index.html

Kurtz Kustom sells a superchip for about $225.

http://www.kustomz.com/

Hope this helps ya.

cpousnr

Vanair builds up 4.0 engines for racing. Will look for the URL and send it on this site.

metallian

I was wondering if anyone could help me. I don't seem to be good at finding things on the internet. Is there any other truck discussions out there? Even if they are not as good as this one, I'd like to check them out. Thanks for your help.

cpousnr

check my post on Ranger Station board.

Also, use http://www.northernlight.com
to search for these things.

dannyg

Just curious if anyone has tried upgrading the power of the 2.5L 4-cyl using KKM's Tru Rev Induction Kit and/or Superchip. If so, did it make much of a difference?

A 15% increase in horsepower would get the 2.5L up to about 135HP--within shouting distance of the 3.0L's 145-150HP.

Regards,

Dan

scape2

Sorry to say, you won't get the full 15% out of the 2.5, maybe another 3-5HP total. Not to say it isn't a nice and easy upgrade. Try a chip too and you may get a total of about 10-15HP increase.

cpousnr

In regard to MPG, my 99 4.0 was a bit up and down on mileage for the first 5-10K. Low was around 16 and a high of 19. Then it settled in at 19 in town and 22-23 hwy. I have a manual, 3.73 rear end in a 4X4 supercab and at that time 235X15 tires.
I changed tires to 31X10.5X15 and mileage is 18 in town, 20-21 hwy.

As far as the post of the slow starting, cannot help you. Do not have that problem.

rwhit1

Well not quite yet i have ordered a new 2000 ford ranger extended cab 4 door 4x4 in either bright red or white. I am getting all the options for the most part including the flareside box, off-road package and convience and power packages. I should mention that when i say order i mean i told my dad which either one comes in first i'll take . I should also explain that i am a 18 male who's dad has been in the car business for his entire life and right now works at a ford dealer. The reason why i am getting this truck is because the idea my parents not having to worry about me in college and the incredible lease value i am getting. I am getting through my father a very cheap price with about two thousands dollar extra rebates other than regualr customers since ford is giving all salesmen a great deal. I would like to say that i am not a spoiled brat which i am sure some of you are thinking but i am going to have to pay the monthly payments and also the amount down payment . I looked at a ranger about eight months ago and did some compare shopping but bought a 94 explorer and now that this truck deal has come up I am selling my explorer and am extremely excited to get my new truck. i have a few questions and would like responses.

1st- What do you guys think about the bright red ?

2nd- How much difference is there bewteen the 3.0L and the 4.0L engines?

3rd- How much does a fairly basic bra and tonuae cover cost?

4th- How does the ranger compare to the dakota?

Thanks for your responses in advance!

scape2

1. White would hide scratches better, red looks sporty though. Go red, keep it washed and put a very good wax that has teflon as a base. This should keep the paint in great shape.
2. The only difference really between the 3.0 and 4.0 is about 10HP. Torque is the big difference, there a difference of 33 ft/lbs of torque. This will depend on what you are going to use the truck for. If you are going to tow, pull, haul, get the 4.0. If you are going to just use the truck as a light hauler, commuter, get the 3.0 5spd. The 3.0 mated to the auto looses power.
Don't put a bra on a truck please!! Get a Lexan bug shield in the smoke color. This will look much, much better and last longer too. There are tons of manufactures out there, my favorites are LUND and GTS.
When comparing a Ranger to a Dakota you are really comparing a midsize to a compact truck. If you are comparing V6 to V6 (4.0 to 3.9) The engines are virtually identical in HP and Torque. Now the V8 Dakota is a whole new ballgame. Frankly the Ford Ranger has a better reliability history than the Dakota. Your dad knows this.
Sounds like a nice deal and truck. But, if you offroad at all get rid of the Firestones Ford puts on the Rangers, they are JUNK! They are a 4ply piece of garbage with a tread pattern of a car tire. Get a P265x75R16 all terrain or a 31" tire put on immediatly. They give the RAnger a whole new look and stance, basically bad to the bone.
I own a 1998 4x4 XLT RAnger SC with the stepside box and a 4.0 5spd, offroad pkg, tow pkg, power pkg, the works in light blue. I use it in the Cascades of Oregon/Washington all the time. Its my second Ranger and I love it. I added nerf bars, spray in liner, K&N air charger kit, chipped. The truck has been great! Hope you enjoy yours.

rwhit1

Thanks for your info. I was wondering if you could give a ball park price on the smoke screen and soft toneua cover? I went to a local after market accessory store today and they said that a soft toneua cover would be about three hundred installed. I thought it would be less but is this what is competive? I also got a few new ideas on what to add to make my new ranger stand out a little . keeping in mind this is a lease vechile and i don't want to spend thousands of dollars to just trade-in in two and a half years, however i do want to spend about five hundred or less to dress it up a little and make it a little customized to my desires and needs. They suggested head light covers and bra or smoke screen as you did . I have also beeen thinking about getting seat covers to add a little flare to the interior. What color do you think would look good for seat covers and what cheap add-ons could i do to make it stand out? Also could you recommend a internet dealer that i could buy these accessories from rather than pay full price from the local accessory shops? Thanks for your advice and response it was very informative and interesting.

Thanks for future respnses in advance.

trent

Anyone have any recommendations for side bar steps (smittybilt,etc.)? Have they been useful to you or do you just enjoy their looks?
I'm thinking I should get the textured black for the best durability. Thanks

scape2

I have smittybilt on my Ranger and they look and work great. I have some dents and scratches on them from my stints in the Cascades, I guess they do work because the dents and scratches would have been on my truck. Black is the best way to go, people buy the chrome for looks only, black ones are for folks who will actually use them.

kit1404

It is indeed an in-between-size. But, you get a lot more room than the Ranger with a choice of a very nice, new and sophisticated V-8 engine - that I would bet gets better gas mileage than the 4.0 Ford engine. After my experience with a 1998 Ranger 4.0 (4X4, loaded), have a hard time understanding exactly where it ranks in the pick-up world. My 1999 F-150 (4X4 with 5.4) gets almost the same gas mileage as the 1998 Ranger - much more comfortable and much more powerful. Yes, it did cost more, but it was money well spent. I think the Dakota - in-between size and also in price, is also money well-spent. I looked at it hard before buying the F-150 - no regrets though.

dannyg

I understand that tonneau covers can increase MPG at highway speeds by one mpg or so. What about caps? What kind of mileage improvement can I expect in a 1999-2000 Ranger 4x4 3.0L 5sp at highway speeds?

I own a 1985 Ranger 4x4 2.8L V6 5sp LWB with 92K, I'm thinking of getting a new one some time this spring. The truck has been very reliable since I bought it three years ago, it is the first pickup I have owned. I get about 19mpg (20 if I'm lucky) on the highway, w/o tonneau or cap. I'm looking at picking up a cap with the new truck.

I really want a LWB, I hope they're not too hard to find in my area (L.I., NY).

Thanks in advance for any help,

Dan

cpousnr

rwhit:
Take a look at my bug screen:
http://members.aol.com/Cpousnr/index1.html
It is an EGR. I like it cause it is small and you barely see it while driving. $59

I got a TecSport soft tonneau for I think $159. You can sort of see it on the pic. Installed both, it is easy.

Also have Ameriguard spray in liner. Well satisfied, matches the truck color real well. Was $325 when I got it done.

Red? Get the darker red if you do. Watch for oxidation, bad problem with red.

dann:
I got 19-20 in town, 22-23 hwy with the stock tires on a 99 4.0L 4X4 supercab. Went to 31 inch tires and get around 2 mpg less.

Help you guys?

kit1404

I have never been able to tell a difference with a cap in terms of gas mileage. The Ranger had one and my new F-150 has a nice Snug-Top that really fits the truck perfectly. But, any improvement in gas mileage is lost on me. I think the only thing I can notice from the cap is more instability in cross-winds - more surface area to be blown against. Not putting the caps down, I must have them for hauling all the stuff I seem to have to haul all the time. But, would not invest in one just to see a mpg improvement.

rwhit1

Thanks for your advice however after much concideration i am going to get a bra on it i have decided to get the bright red because i am extremely color blind and the dark red looks black to me and i wanted the black but after thinking about the hot summer days and constant washing have chosen bright red i think a bra and tonnoue cover will look sharp also thinking about side step bars but checking out doifference in payments. I chose the bra becasue i think it will contrast with the red and also i don't particularly like the chrome front grille i wish they still made them with matching coloer keyed bumpers and grille like they do on the sports but oh well i think all said in done it will look sharp at least lets hope so i think it should be in next monday or tuesday still havent sold my 94 explorer was hoping to sell out of paper before had to trade it in, oh well i am getting fair deal on trade in and a great lease rate!

Thanks for your help it really was tookin in to consideration.

Would like to see others rangers post online addresses

bobs5

cross winds and caps
Had a 83 Ranger with a cap years ago.
I was traveling in right hand lane on a 2 lane highway when a huge cross wind blew me to the left hand shoulder and into the grassy medium. No damage done.
Lucky there was nobody to my left at the time.

jfowlerjr

Anybody know when ford will put any new engines in the Ranger. Maybe the new 3.0 liter 200 hp from the new escape sport utility or the 4.0 liter from the explorer.

cpousnr

Reconsider the bra.

I have the soft bed cover that will roll up next to the cab where you can tie it. I will not do that anymore. It chaffed the clearcoat paint from rubbing and I have 2 spots half dollar size that are dulled out.

I had a bra on my 94 Intrepid and you could see where it was when you took it off for washing the car. Also, if they sand the roads where you are, it collects the sand. Again, that scuffs the clearcoat.

Perhaps if it is the real small one it may be ok but the one that comes up over the hood may be a bad choice.

If you still get it, WAX the paint real well prior to installing.

truxman

I have a '97 STX 4X4 Ex. Cab with P265/75R15 tires on it. I plan on putting BFG's on it this spring (31.5's) I have a question regarding the front-end. I purchased the truck used, it was a program truck. According to the door sticker, I have one of the strongest front axle capacities, but the front-end of my truck sits very low. Also having a problem with my tires sitting on "angles" (out of camber) have had the truck realigned, did not fix the problem. What do you think. Also, why would the door sticker say that the truck was built with p235/75R15 tires, but the original owner, a Ford employee, said that he never changed the tires. He said it has the "off-road" pkg. What do you think?