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Comments
Now they are just lying low till the new Ranger arrives.
Ouch---too bad the suspension is the same.
Hind:
Could not agree with you more on the frame construction issue:
http://kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/kw.kc.rp?kbb&&11&99fordranger
Spoog, listen up as it talks about the Rangers new chassis.
While pickup watchers are aware of the Ranger's new look, the most beneficial improvement comes from its
new chassis.
The front third of the frame
features fully boxed side frame rails
for a significant increase in torsional rigidity.
(A rigid frame reduces unwanted vibration and allows the engineers to design a suspension that more precisely controls wheel movement for improved ride and handling.)"
"...new chassis..."
"...more precisely controls wheel movement..."
"...improved ride and handling."
That is on the 99 Ford Ranger 4X4.
Hide, I had read the Tacoma has 5 cross members. I will recheck my source and post the URL, again.
You often cite Peterson on the Tacoma.
Superior? Hmm, not the best choice of words.
This plan would protect the remaining roadless areas in our national forests from roadbuilding and logging.
Currently, 99.2 percent of the lower 48 is roaded. That leaves .8 percent that is not. And only half of that .8 percent is protected.
Right now, 16 percent of our national forest land base
is protected wilderness. The rest is open to motors and logging.
These new proposed roadless areas total 41 million acres. They would be protected from logging and roadbuilding.
They would allow Off road vehicle use.
This would bring balance to the national forest, adding to the 16 percent and preserving around 25 percent of our national forests from logging and roadbuilding.
This is it, this is the last of the roadless areas. There are no more in the lower 48.
There are 380,000 miles of roads in our national forests, enough to get to the moon and back, and more than our entire interstate system.
These areas would not be official protected wilderness, but they would be protected from logging and roadbuilding. People who enjoy offroad motor sports WILL be allowed in proposed areas.
There is a public comment period open RIGHT NOW that ends June 17th. The Forest Service is asking for your comments on the issue.
Come on and show your support for our remaining wildlands.
If you want to read a plethora of information on this subject, you can go to the USFS Roadless Initiative website:
http://roadless.fs.fed.us/
If your mind is made up, you can just copy this statement (or write your own)and send it by email to the USFS email adress at:
roadlessdeis@fs.fed.us
This is the part to copy:
I support the FULL protection of the inventoried roadless areas in the Roadless Initiative.
This means I support zero logging and roadbuilding in the proposed roadless areas.
The national forest system is out of balance. Thank you for your time.
(then add name, street address)
------------
Thanks people!
-Mike
I wonder if all the Ranger owners are at their mechanic.
I've been in Baltimore on business. I rented a Blazer. I crossed them off my list of vehicles that I might look at or purchase. The powertrain was good, but it was one of the worse handling and braking vehicles I've ever driven.
BTW, I owned an '85 Blazer a few years back.
Maybe I'm just used to off-road equipped and sports-sedan types of vehicles. Maybe that mommobile factor involved here? Gotta ride real soft?
But, the brakes must have had something wrong with them. Stopping distances and stopping power were unacceptable in my book.
I'd like to get my hands on a ZR2 Blazer just for comparison sakes.
Ok,
I will, nope I'm up in the Cascades alot now enjoying the fishing. The weather is warming up, Snow melt is happening also. No rain for the last few days and this weekend looks like a good fishing weekend. Supposed to be about 75-80. With no rain for a few days the rivers should clear up good. And I have not seen one Tacoma yet either. Hmm... If these trucks are so great offroad, how come I don't see any?? I see older Toyota's and even Chevys... but no Tacoma's....
Medano is rated 4 in difficulty, 10 in scenic views. Hayden is 3 id difficulty, 7 in scenic views.
Xen1a and I will be in the Westcliffe area that weekend. From Denver to Westcliffe it is 2+ hr, then 1/2 hr to Medano, maybe 2 hr over the pass (there are 9 stream crossings, 45 min up to Hayden then 2 hr over that to US 50 about 25 miles west of Canon City.
It will be a full day.
I have a couple of Ranger owners interested from Rough Rangers Off-road club. If there is interest here I will give directions etc. For those that would come down for the night there are 3-4 motels running about 50 bucks or camping at Lake DeWeese(free as I recall and NFS campgrounds.
Anyone interested? Great chance for killer views of elk, deer, grouse, etc and spectacular mountain views. Bring a lunch and lots of film.
Just had the BFG's (30") put on the B3000. I'm anxious to try them off-road...
I aired mine down to try for a more even meeting of the tread on the road. Result was wear on the nubs on the edges and got about 2mpg less. Have them now at 37-39lb to protect the remainder of the edges.
Secret is to ride them a bit on the centers to keep the edges from wearing down.
"...looking for the elusive Tacoma in the wild. Heard about it...never seen it."
Me too CP, my Ranger is up in the Cascades about every weekend now, fishing, hiking, just poking around. I have yet to see a Tacoma, better yet a TRD Tacoma. I have however seen multiple older Toyota's. Like I said, anyone who buys a 20K+ truck is likely not to take it out into the hills, too afraid it may get scratched up or dented....
I am trying a new free web service.. if all looks ok over the next few days I am saying bye, bye to AOL. Saves me about 21.00 a month.. I wonder what AOL is going to do as these free internet services catch on...
They are fixing the intermittent wiper issue. New design on the wiper switch.
If you paid already, you will be reimbursed.
Program number is 00B40.
I see a few TRD's in town, all shined up an nice, no scratches, maybe never been off road. I am sure TRD's do go off road, just never seen em there.
My Ranger is a bit scratched from scrub oak.
cpousnr- In So. Caif. you see TRD Tacomas and older Toyota trucks almost exclusively off-Road. I occasionally see Jeeps and Rangers etc. but not as often. Out here we have the desert and mountains so, from the logic of you Ranger guys, that obviously means that the Toyota is a better all around truck. I don't necessarily believe that but that's the way you guys seem to look at the world.
Nope no TRD envy here, just pity for the fools who fall for the sticker and hype..
But the point is...I'm only 25 years old, which means I've only been driving for 9 years. If you do the math that comes out to one Ford truck every 2.25 years. I think it's time I buy a Toyota so I don't have to keep buying Ford's. Oh, and I forgot to mention that my transmission failed on my last Ranger at 50,000 miles, and I've had my F-150 recalled twice. Like I said...decent, good looking trucks, they just don't last. Conclusion: I'll pay more for quality, reliability and piece of mind thank you.
http://fordranger.com/RangerProgram.html
A 2wd pre-runner TRD better than a 4wd Ranger?? LOL, LOL, LOL, this is pushing it....
Hey glockman, tell , what state the rear axle is in on the Toyota TRD when the locker is not engated?? Also, tell me more about the 5mph speed limit of the locker...
the TRD package for
$19,300
, you're getting a good
deal."
Hmmm, a local dealer is selling the 2000 Ranger XLT Supercab, 4X4, off-road pkg, 16in tires, AC, CD, 4whl ABS and a bit more for:
$16,288
Oh, you can get 3.9% financing for 3 years.
Hmmm, $16,300 for a 4X4 and $19,300 for a 4X2, let me think about that for a sec. . .
Vince- On most trails the 2WD TRD PreRunner will eat the Ford alive unless you're on a grade that needs the low gear. While you're bouncing around destroying your kidneys the TRD is plowing ahead with total control. You repeat the same meaningless garbage over and over. Remember I drive both vehicles and I know what I'm talking about.
I was back in there yesterday ready to get back my $500 deposit and walk away when they decided they better get serious and find my truck. Wouldn't you know it...every Lunar Mist Metallic PreRunner within 800 miles was spoken for. My second color choice was Sierra Beige Metallic, which I told them I really wouldn't be happy with (I lied) and I kept insisting that they find one in Lunar Mist. Anyway, to make a longer story shorter...They went into the "what do we have to do to make you happy" spill. So I got the Sierra Beige 4x4 off the lot for $160.00 over invoice. Yeah, yeah...I know they're making their money. If any of you critics out there think you can get some miracle deal and drive out of a dealership without them making a profit, you're dead wrong. They will always make something...it's just up to you to limit the amount they make.
The result: I'm very happy with my Tacoma, and I know I got a great deal. What more could you want?
You should have seen the face on the Ford salesman I had been dealing with when I walked in there to turn in my F-150 wearing a Toyota hat. Priceless.
Hmm, need to read back on my posts. I DID drive the Tacoma. In my situation I found the Ranger:
1. More comfortable.
2. More reasonably priced, by $5,000.
3. Eqipped better mand the way I wanted it.
4. Quite capable off-road(been there done it).
5. Close in reliability.
6. Better looking(subjective)
An open-axle 2wd truck is the absolute worse vehicle to have for winter driving. Trust me. Been there, done that. I drive a 4x4 now.
IMHO, the ride was much rougher than it needed to be, much worse than my '89 Toyota with new bilsteib shocks.
IMHO, I personally feel that the Tacoma is a cheap, junky design that is well executed. Meaning that its reliable, but not the equal of older Toyota trucks.
IMHO, While The TRD package may make the Tacoma a better off-road vehicle, how many people (including readers of this forum) do enough four-wheeling to want to live with the rough ride.
Lastly, if I were in the market for a new truck, I would sure test drive everything that even slightly appealed to me BEFORE visiting the Toyota dealer and paying their premium prices. In fact, I would even give up some reliability to have a more comfortable truck that I could truly enjoy on my daily commute.