Rear Ride height a Design defect caught tooo late?

[BassRanger]

I thought mine sat too high so..... I lowered it .

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[Big Blue]

This threads has proven only one thing. Everyone has an opinion, and they are entitled to have it. By its very nature an opinion is neither right or wrong. It is based on one persons feelings or needs. It is theirs alone. Anytime they try to convince someone else theirs is the only right opinion, feeling will be hurt.

The OP obviously bought a truck that did not meet his needs and he did what he felt he had to do to remedy the situation. He sold the truck. His only problem was trying to blame Ford for his making a poor purchasing decision, and trying to convince others to agree with him.

 

[Deleted member 1634]

It's one thing to dislike the ride height, rake, bedrail height, etc. We all have aspects of everything we own and use which we don't particularly like. But it's another altogether to insinuate, over and over, that the Ford engineering team made a mistake as obvious as this. As an engineer myself, I won't say engineers don't make mistakes, of course we do, but I can also tell you that there are a myriad of reasons for a design to be the way it is. Most of which are never known to the consumer/end user. Saying a major design decision was a mistake or flaw, without evidence, simply because it doesn't meet your needs, is crazy. Especially when the reasoning for the design choice is fairly obvious (towing and payload capacity as others have already stated).

As far as the high rake angle. I'd rather have the rake than have my headlights pointed into space when I load up my truck with gear and trailer, as I've seen other unladen level riding trucks sit when loaded.

 

[seanellaz]

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?

I suspect they made the nose down, rear hi - "rake" as a style thing. Plus when you load the bed to capacity the truck would sit more level. If it is the angle that bugs you you cold do a level kit. That would not drop the rear though. Otherwise maybe custom springs for the rear?

 

[Dereku]

Whats next the ball in the receiver is too high.

 

[Theslim_spaydee]

Sounds like you're doing it for financial reasons.

Yeah my accountant said that getting a higher interest rate on a more expensive car was actually a sound financial decision.

 

[LostMy65]

It's one thing to dislike the ride height, rake, bedrail height, etc. We all have aspects of everything we own and use which we don't particularly like. But it's another altogether to insinuate, over and over, that the Ford engineering team made a mistake as obvious as this. As an engineer myself, I won't say engineers don't make mistakes, of course we do, but I can also tell you that there are a myriad of reasons for a design to be the way it is. Most of which are never known to the consumer/end user. Saying a major design decision was a mistake or flaw, without evidence, simply because it doesn't meet your needs, is crazy. Especially when the reasoning for the design choice is fairly obvious (towing and payload capacity as others have already stated).

As far as the high rake angle. I'd rather have the rake than have my headlights pointed into space when I load up my truck with gear and trailer, as I've seen other unladen level riding trucks sit when loaded.

Saying you're an engineer grabbed my attention.
Next thing I did was start looking at your post for spelling and grammar mistakes.
You passed.
Now, if you wood have said you are to smarter then everyone, your post wood have lost my interest.
That's why come.

 

[Cabose-1]

Look! I leveled my Ranger!!

 

[Dgc333]

Saying you're an engineer grabbed my attention.
Next thing I did was start looking at your post for spelling and grammar mistakes.
You passed.

I have been an engineer for 46 years and my biggest failings are spelling and grammer. Over the years this failing has been a pretty common trait with my engineer co-workers. ?

 

[rcairflr]

I thought mine sat too high so..... I lowered it .

Many of us don't need the ground clearance "as built". It would be very nice if there was a manufacturer option to buy it lowered like yours. Looks very nice. I would assume the gas mileage is improved also

 

[Highlander]

Saying you're an engineer grabbed my attention.
Next thing I did was start looking at your post for spelling and grammar mistakes.
You passed.
Now, if you wood have said you are to smarter then everyone, your post wood have lost my interest.
That's why come.

...would... lol

Frank

 

[LostMy65]

...would... lol

Frank

I wood. Their grammar rules to follow.

 

[JDowns]

Whats next the ball in the receiver is too high.

As you get older, that is a mod you wish was available.

 

[JHRODD]

The bed height on my old truck was a lot higher than the ranger. I needed a 10' ramp to get the scooter up on it.

 

[5thranger]

Some real comparisons with the Frontier would be nice , this is the first year they actually look pretty good , and would have been my second choice (wifey is on second Murano , they have been great) A guy I work with hit a deer with his Ranger and they gave him a Frontier for 2 weeks , he claimes the Ranger is FAR superior but he's somewhat of a fan boy and less than credible... my bed height seems fine and never really noticed ...

I traded a 2019 frontier for my 2020ranger, there is no comparison the ranger is a whole different class of truck, better steering, better mpg, more comfortable seats, and a lot better looking

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