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Comments
I get into 3rd gear sometimes in 4 low. Usually stop to switch between low and high instead.
Bent the exhaust pipe into the back wheel.
But the view was worth it.
Good excuse to get a cat back system.
Like I said, a true off-road vehicle is built, not bought.
Check this out.....
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010521/ts/autos_bridgestone_dc_1.html
pretty cool locker product made for both Ford and Toyota and lots of other makes.
Read about a jeep that did it and was able to get himself out of and in much more trouble. Could see a negative in the fact that you would be able to go up things much steeper than you normally would.
cspousner: sorry to hear about the tail pipe. That is one thing that hangs a little low in the back of mine too. So far I've been lucky, but the rear mud flaps are looking a little beat up.
Also just bought a Rancho 5000 setup - hopefully will have it installed soon.
sasquatch:
The article you posted stated pretty clearly the advantages of a differential locker. But I think the aritcle also missed the advantages of the other two differential types. However, for anyone who was wondering what they are good for, if you read the aritcle, chances are you'll know if a locker is something you need or something you'll under-utilize.
Personally, unless I'm pulling a boat out of the water that is close to the towing capacity of our Taco, I'll only push the button for fun when I want 2 skid marks. ; )
Also, for 4X4 Tacos you have to have it in 4Lo to engage the locker. What about the PreRunner???
John
Thanks for the article. Its the point I have been trying to make all along. Lockers are highly specialized for offroading only. They don't help the everyday truck user at all.. As I have said 90 percent of TRD owners probably will never engage the locker... Image and the pretty sticker is what they wanted....
Also, being a ex-mechaninc at a Bridgestone/Firestone, I can say I really like their car tire line, but the truck tires are pretty much crap. The same Wilderness line that is very well known by now, experienced tire problems in my family, on a 92 F-150 and a 97 Grand Cherokee. They just wore quickly and unevenly. So it isn't the Explorer, having the problems, the tires are just weak. I think I'll switch to Goodyears.
I think it's pretty rank of Bridgestone/Firestone to blame the car Mfr for problems with the tires becuause, "Ford listed the incorrect inflation level in the manual for the tires." I heard it was off by a pound. I think Firestone is trying to sidestep consumer concerns and place the blame on Ford who it seems has done nothing but ask for recall after recall.
John
Now those from before the '93 redesign are a completely different story, as I've heard all about the cheap primer they had on them. In fact, whenever I see pre '93 Rangers with flawless paint I always assume they've been re-finished. However, if we want to compare body integrity, I could start talking about my grandfather's early '90's Toyota pickup with holes the size of my fist rusted through in the bed.
So after junking the family handyme down 1984 LeSabre, and getting my 93 Ford, I washed and waxed her at least once a month. No problems anymore. I recommend Macquir's(sic) 4 step wax, topping off with Rain-x polish. It really keeps the mud and rain off, and the paint glossy.
Paints with a more reddish or dark hue, especially if their owners don't know what car wax is, is the quickest way to a sore paint job.
Has anyone checked out the Firestone site's info on it? They have a series of graphs next to the CEO's letter. Most of the graphs are showing obscure or enigmatic statistics, but the ones that are easier to read show...
http://www.bridgestone-firestone.com/
Look at the letters from Firestone.
The CEO's letter has graphs showing the Explorer has more claims with the same tires than Rangers.
OK, Which claims are included? Explorers are SUV's with more weight, more powerful engines, and a more top heavy design (SUV). They also have a graph stating their tires are "same as/better than" the competition, comparing their brands to BRAND A, B, and C. However Brand A kicks their butt at their own test.
It's all a propaganda war.
It seems to me that mid-80's -> mid-90's Domestic trucks have had a lot of problems with paint. You guys are right in that the Ranger I saw could have been a 93 or 94 (instead of a 95) but no earlier than that. I couldn't see any damage on the hood. Just flecked paint over the hood and the roof.
Our neighbor just had his 88 Chevy repainted as well as a fried of mine with his 92 Dodge Van. I can think of many other examples of Domestic paint chippage but wasn't sure if the Ranger owners here have had the same problem.
John
I bet the paint issue isn't really make related, probably more like the particular mix of paint used, maybe had some junk mixed in by accident. Like any mid '90s Chevy Silverado's with White paint. I always see them with sheets of paint missing.
thehitcher--->I think you missunderstood my post. My wilderness's wore horribly on a 93 ranger, a 92 f-150 and a 97 G. Cherokee in my family. We have spent a small fortune on alignment checks because the tires wore irregularly, but never needed adjustment. They just plain suck, were very loud, but had good traction with at least .5 cm of tread. I do have some bridgestone passenger tires on a late model mustang, and they are pretty good. Just keep away from their truck tires like the plague! Sorry to hear about your van & accident.
With a 4X4 perhaps an edge to Tacoma and their design but you will pay a premium. On the other hand, not much has stopped my Ranger and I will be posting pics shortly of arroyo jumps(finally finished that roll) and some beautiful shots of St Marys Glacier with my truck at 11,000+ ft. Just don't look at the tail pipe!
Hey spoog, pics of your Tacoma, even if it is a scanned pic from the Tacoma flier, in the near future!
Didnt think so. . .
Drive them both, decide on the things you want. There are not too many options on Ranger AC, ABS, Anti-theft, CD changer stereo, cruise/tilt etc all standard.
Tacoma, about the only way to get em is optioned up, but do not expect AS, rare as I understand it.
If you follow Edmunds advise, buy the Ranger and get a wave runner too for the price of a Tacoma.
How flat is Ill.? Trust me, I WILL enjoy this vacation.
All in my little Ranger. Will post sample pics from each area when I get back.
Still waiting for yours.
May be switching to Raytheon...G. Stanley got a promotion, has talked to me and is in the process of making me an offer I may not be able to refuse...BTW, he drives an F-250 super cab, so he is ok in that aspect. . .
Any comments about the company from your perspective?
CP, your link is gone???? no longer available?? A Toyota conspiracy!!???
The Firejunkers are the Rangers downfall. All Ranger owners should dump these asap! and get some real offroad tires..
Visit: www.ford.com
for all the details.
My rebate form is already in the mail!
RC
One, a vehicle over a large gold tooth as the camera pans back, into the face of a black person.
The other, 2 black people in bed with the caption:
Toyota gets up and goes better than your boyfriend...or something very simular.
I will go look for it. It was bad enough for Jesse Jackson to get involved, as well he should in these cases.
Like I said, what could they have been thinking? Very poor choice in ad material.
BTW, a while back I posted numerious complaints by Tacoma owners for failure of Firestone Wilderness AT tires.
Guess they do not get new tires, eh?
"TORRANCE, Calif. –– The Rev. Jesse Jackson threatened a boycott against auto maker Toyota on Wednesday, accusing the company of using racist advertising while excluding blacks among its dealers, board of directors, and advertising teams."
Rick, I dumped my Firestones 6months after purchasing my 98 Ranger. They were absolute garbage for offroading. I know own P265x75 R16 all Terrain Goodyears that have an 8ply wall vs the 4ply on the Firejunkers.
An ad today in the Oregonian for 2002 Explorers states "Michellin and Goodyear Tires on all Explorers and available for other Ford Trucks".. LOL! Bye Bye Firestone!!
Here is an excellent link from our amigos down under that shows some excellent uses for your Toys.
http://www.adcritic.com/content/toyota-bugger.html
John
LOL
John
So, if this attitude is increasing, there are probably other factors involved other than how companies treat employees.
It is common for those countries that are economically in good shape to have positive attitudes towards other countries.. However, when the economy turns sour, the public in most countries will try to blame others for the downturn and lean towards isolation..
Seriously if you bought your truck to race with, you should have looked at the Ford F150 Lightning. Compared to the Tacoma, the Lightning would be a poor choice for payload, hauling/towing and any off-roading; if you would like to compare your Ranger against the Tacoma in those categories...
For tires, I would definately visit http://www.tirerack.com and or the Tires post on Edmunds under the Maintenance and Repair section. The Tirerack will provide you with reviews and tread wear stats and Edmunds will provide you with owner's exeriences. The BF Goodrich's (no longer made by BF Goodrich but made by Michelin since 1986) All Terrain T/A's on the TRD Taco are very nice. They have a nice "square edge" look to them, are quiet on the highway and grip well in the sticks. Not sure about prices but if you check out Tirerack and Edmunds, you should find the answers you are looking for.
John
John
#2 Scorpion AT's from, gonna misspell it, perelli.
May Issue 2001 4wheeler.
The Tacoma WINS. Amazing!
2001 pickup of the year, Tacoma
1998 Pickup of the year UNANIMOUSLY over Ranger
Defect Investigations 1989-2000
Ford Ranger - 20
Dodge Dakota- 14
Chevy S10 - 51
Toyota Tacoma - 2
Safety Recalls 1989-2000
Ford Ranger- 32
Dodge Dakota - 28
Chevyy S10 - 47
Toyota Tacoma - 6
Technical Service Bulletins 1989-2000
Ford Ranger -2,279(yes, 2,279)
Dodge Dakota- 940
Chevy S10 -448
Toyota Tacoma - 150
-------
So there you have it. All data is factual, and very telling. This is NOT "subjective".
A trucks reliability and build quality is NOT "subjective".
Not all trucks are built the same, as you can plainly see.
Here is the hard link:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
"ord's 4.0-liter overhead-valve V-6 gave our Regular Cab Ranger plenty of off-the-line motivation with 168 lb.-ft. of rear-wheel torque at 2500 rpm. Mazda's 3.0-liter/five-speed manual transmission gave the Regular Cab B-truck the slowest 0-60 time, but the best fuel economy of the group. Although the middle-sized V-6 of the group, the Toyota 3.4-liter DOHC 24-valve V-6 pulled all the way through the torque curve like most small-blocks.
The Ford five-lug 8.8-inch rearend comes standard with the 4.0-lite/five-speed auto combo. Leaf springs and 3.73:1 axle gears are rated to carry 1,180 pounds. Mazda's 7.5-inch rearend is standard with the 3.0-liter V-6. Not surprisingly, our ride-quality vastly improved with 12 bags of landscape rock in the compact's bed.
Toyota's TRD Tacoma comes with the only factory offered rear locking differential on any (full-size or compact) pickup. We found it a huge asset for trail adventures.
FORD & MAZDA TOYOTA
Ford's new compact frontend uses F-150-style short- and long-arm IFS, with torsion bars. The setup offers big gains on pavement--but not without trail sacrifices.
The new Pulse-Vacuum Hub (PVH) used exclusively on compact Fords and Mazdas allows for true in-cab-controlled shift-on-the-fly capability.
Toyota's double A-arm/coilover frontend handles pavement cornering and trail flex with equal skill. We like the six-lug axles and big-caliper front discs.
"
- fourwheeler magazine, 2001 pickup of the year
" the tacoma outdid the Hummer offroad, and won our test" - fourwheeler mag, 2001 may issue "ultimate 4x4 comparison"
" IF you are considering buying a ford ranger, take it for a very,very long test drive"
-edmunds.com
" the ranger rattled like a rattlesnake offroad"
-edmunds.com
"The Tacoma won this contest unanimously over the ranger"
- fourwheeler
"Pound for pound, the Toyota tacoma is the best package of any truck"
fourhweeler
" The tacoma handled the rough stuff better than any vehicle we have driven"
fourwheeler
So excuse if you read this somewhere already.
I have a 92 Toy 4x4 p/u and the clutch pedal clicks three times as it nears the top of its arc of travel.
What is this telling me?
Thanks,
gringo1
1. Webster Pass (12,000)
2. Breakneck Pass(10,910)Browns Pass trail(11,272)
3. Wheeler Geological Area
4. Cinnamon Pass (12,620)
5. Engineer PAss (12,750)
6. Imogene Pass (13,114)
7. Ophir Pass (11,700)
to my credit by the time my trip is done.
So you just go ahead to the bathroom with that well used magazine, go mud in a field with maybe a couple of hundred feet of elevation rise and just get out of the way.
I got some wheelin to do in my Ranger.
I am hearing rumors that the 2003/4 Ranger is going to be larger, almost Dakota size. It will have a straight 5cyl, 4valve per cylinder, dual overhead cam engine also! And a diesel is not out of the question. So much for the Toyota crowd shouting Ford is behind the curve.... What does Toyota have coming? Nothing as far as I can see around the net....
Spoog, don't you ever get tired of posting the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over again?? People have already picked these OPINIONS apart. Along with the lack of a Ford in many of these tests, along with them putting bottom of the line Rangers against top of the line TRD Tacoma's, and you always seem to fail to mention the price differences..... Hmm....