Rear Ride height a Design defect caught tooo late?

[RangerDangerStranger]

So, in interest of full disclosure, I've sold my Ranger 6 mos ago for financial reasons, not because of this, though the rear bed height was a real PITA when loading and tying down.

After looking at the rear suspension design, while trying yo figure out a way to lower the rear suspension, I've come to suspect that the high rear ride height was a design flaw caught too late to correct. My reasoning follows from the fact that you can't really get any lowering height in any reasonable way. The frame points are too high, and the Truck is already slammed at the rear, but the rear is still too high. Ford even lowers the rear of the Truck on the "Build it" 'Net site to a normal level, like every other small truck on the market. Like the Tacoma i sold to buy it, and like the Nissan frontier i just picked up today, I can actual put both arms (I'm 6' with longish arms) in to the Bed from the side rear to tie something down. I could not without a uncomfortable strain with the Ranger. couldn't imagine trying if i was , say 5'8? So, looking at the fact that- -

1. It can't be corrected with the current Frame design

2. It's a flaw IMHO, wayyy too high. No reason for it

3. Even ford tries to hide the issue while selling the Truck

I believe that it was a design flaw that was caught too late to fix without a major rear frame redesigned, so Ford just put it into production.

And yes the Frontier is Awesome, but so was the Ranger, except for this major PITA flaw.

What to you think, agree or disagree and why?

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[myothercarizahearse]

good luck with the nissan. I have very few regrets in life and buying a frontier was 1 of them

 

[P-38Ranger]

I agree 100%. I am 6-2, and dislike it immensely. I am shocked that the after market hasn’t jumped on it. There focus seems to be 4x4 group who will spend money to have fun versus us normal owners. It is also way to stiff.

 

[D Fresh]

You don't think Ford would've thought to flip the springs under the axle if they wanted it lower?

 

[Frenchy]

One thing you seem to forget with the Ranger vs the Frontier is the bed height. The walls are higher on the Ranger compared to the Frontier. Depending on the year of your Tacoma you may of had the shorted bed height as well.

With all that said is it really a design flaw? No its just a person complaining because I never had a real issue with it.

 

[Dereku]

I think the height is part of having class leading towing and payload. Jist my thoughts. Also enjoy your nissan. American auto manufacturers can build a solid truck not car. Opposite holds true for any foreign manufacturers in America.

 

[RangerDangerStranger]

good luck with the nissan. I have very few regrets in life and buying a frontier was 1 of them

I could say the same with the Ranger- Hence this thread. ?

 

[RangerDangerStranger]

Still, the rear rake is ridiculous. And there's no real way to correct it. Had to be a oversite not caught in time.

 

[RangerDangerStranger]

You don't think Ford would've thought to flip the springs under the axle if they wanted it lower?

Check the lowering threads, it's a catch 22, then your Truck is 6" drop in the rear, and you have 8" shackles.

 

[AvalancheFX4]

Never found the height an issue , if anything the front end needs to go up. You want a low bed that you can reach into, get a Santa Cruz.

 

[RangerDangerStranger]

Never found the height an issue , if anything the front end needs to go up. You want a low bed that you can reach into, get a Santa Cruz.

Or.... any other Truck in existence, including the F150?

 

[Muddy Fenders]

First, I want to meet your accountant. Sell the Ranger for financial reasons, then 6 months later you're into a new Frontier?? That's some fancy number crunching. Maybe I need some of that magic.
Second, I am 6'1". I have no issues reaching into my bed. I can pick up pine needles one by one if I have to. And I couldn't do that with my last F150...so please enlighten me with the credibility of your statement above. You're grasping at straws.

 

[RANGER_MARC]

I have never had any problems with the Ranger's height in the rear. (Full disclosure: I am six-foot-three.) The bed walls are higher than in some comparable models, which may make it harder for some members to reach over to pick up things, but overall, this is also a positive feature: we can store more stuff back there and are less likely to have things falling out (or getting stolen). The heights of the bed's walls and the truck's rear were the engineers' choices, not their mistakes.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

You’re right about one thing.

Something is flawed…your argument.

 

[D Fresh]

Check the lowering threads, it's a catch 22, then your Truck is 6" drop in the rear, and you have 8" shackles.

But I thought you said it was a design "flaw" making it impossible to lower? Nothing is impossible.

The Ranger, 5g and 6g, is a "world truck." It wasn't designed for soccer moms. In other parts of the world trucks are used mostly for truck things. Not transporting your grocery bags. Thus the rake.

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