20,000 Mile Report

[WingShot]

I placed a deposit on an “In Transit” 2021 Ranger XLT (Tremor, 301A, Tow Package) in July of ’21, at a dealership a few hours away from Denver in Silverthorne, CO. I picked it up four weeks later, and paid $500 below sticker for a total of $42,435.

On my annual hunting trip to Montana last week it rolled over 20,000 miles after 14 months of ownership. Coming in close to my yearly average over the last 20 years or so (~17,000/yr).

Overall, I am completely satisfied with the truck. So much of our satisfaction vs. disappointment is based on our expectations going in; It has met or exceeded my expectations in just about every way.

Disappointments are minor, and not related to the performance of the truck. Just little things that would make my life easier: More useful tie down options in the bed and better rear seat storage, more reliable and robust InfoTainment center, B&O sound system & LED headlights w/out the other Lariat add-ons. Most things are much better than anything I’ve had before and certainly in line with what I expect in a $40K vehicle.

Things that don’t bother me…

Bouncy Ride - Tremor package helps, so does keeping some weight in the back, but has never concerned me.

ASS - Easy ways around it: turn it off, use Tow/Sport/4WD options, and I like it at long stoplights and railroad crossings.

Rake/Tailgate Height - It’s a truck, I tow stuff. I’m short and carry a step stool. So what?

Driveshaft shutter, bucking/surging, mushy brakes, fuel in oil, 18 gallon gas tank (it’s probably close to 20), weld splatter on the muffler (really?), no heated seats, no engine cover, no tailgate assist…blah blah blah.

Any creature comfort/ergonomic issues that don’t fit my body type. These things are designed to accommodate a fictional “average” person. None of us are average.

Things that have exceeded my expectations…

The trucks overall power and performance. It pulls like a champ and is fun to drive!

Off-road capability.

Versatility.

It’s just a $42K mid-size truck, and an XLT at that. I got what I paid for and would buy it again!!

Recent pics below...just because.

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[MXGOLF]

Thanks Andrew for the ride report and pictures. I concur with all of your points. It's a truck and a fantastic one at that. I sure love my Ranger and am super glad I got her when I did. That's a cool old building that really looks in fantastic shape. There is one similar in Eastern Oregon that I pass when I am going rafting in Maupin Oregon but it's not in as great of shape.

 

[dtech]

more interested in a hunting report, miss my annual trips up to Little Pierre in SD , what's the daily bird limit in MT - is it a good year for birds ? From yrs of hunting in SD even when it's a down year birds all over the place but we hunted on a preserve and I can't recall any limit.

 

[Grumpaw]

Coming up on 1 1/2 years and 9500 miles on my 2021. About half of those miles are towing our 29 foot travel trailer. Had to do some suspension mods to handle it, but it tows like a champ now.
Only items that bug me are the lack of tranny dip stick and drain plugs on trans pan and rear end cover (but those are absent on just about everything).
My Lariat has just about all the bells n whistles, and so far has been 100% reliable, only going to the dealer for the seat belt and headrest recall.
Glad I bought it...no regrets.

 

[WingShot]

Thanks Andrew for the ride report and pictures. I concur with all of your points. It's a truck and a fantastic one at that. I sure love my Ranger and am super glad I got her when I did. That's a cool old building that really looks in fantastic shape. There is one similar in Eastern Oregon that I pass when I am going rafting in Maupin Oregon but it's not in as great of shape.

I have a thing for old barns. That is one of the best!! And it has a great weather vane...

 

[Dr. Zaius]

...
Only items that bug me are the lack of tranny dip stick and drain plugs on trans pan and rear end cover (but those are absent on just about everything).
...

The drain for the Ranger rear axle is on the housing, not on the cover

 

[WingShot]

more interested in a hunting report, miss my annual trips up to Little Pierre in SD , what's the daily bird limit in MT - is it a good year for birds ? From yrs of hunting in SD even when it's a down year birds all over the place but we hunted on a preserve and I can't recall any limit.

I’m mostly interested in the hunting as well! I need a truck to get me, the dog, and all our crap there, and most importantly…back home again. So far, so good!

We’ve been hunting up there for over 30 years. Wild bids on a mixture of private and public land. Done the preserve hunting in SD and it’s a lot of fun, just not the same. Most of the time it’s just me and my dog, going wherever her nose takes us.

Bird populations have noticeably improved over the last few years, and we saw as many this year as we ever have. It all depends on early nesting cover and Spring storms. You can shoot 3 roosters per day (9 in possession), plus there are sharptail grouse and hungarian partridge in season.

These pics were taken late in the morning, showing two roosters and a sharpie from the day before, plus our limit of pheasants for that day. Our group of four hunters and two dogs brought back 32 of our allowed 36 roosters for the trip! Only came up short due to poor shooting.

Another pic from lunch time the following day...

 

[Grumpaw]

The drain for the Ranger rear axle is on the housing, not on the cover

HOT DAMN...I really did not know that !!! Towing as much/often as I do for what a few quarts of fluid costs, I like to change every 12-15,000 miles.
Just looked...there plain as day...there it was !!! Never noticed it !!!
Thank you sir !!!
Now if someone will come up with a cheaper alternative to the $$$$$ B&M trans dippy stick......

 

[Tracy Bowman]

I placed a deposit on an “In Transit” 2021 Ranger XLT (Tremor, 301A, Tow Package) in July of ’21, at a dealership a few hours away from Denver in Silverthorne, CO. I picked it up four weeks later, and paid $500 below sticker for a total of $42,435.

On my annual hunting trip to Montana last week it rolled over 20,000 miles after 14 months of ownership. Coming in close to my yearly average over the last 20 years or so (~17,000/yr).

Overall, I am completely satisfied with the truck. So much of our satisfaction vs. disappointment is based on our expectations going in; It has met or exceeded my expectations in just about every way.

Disappointments are minor, and not related to the performance of the truck. Just little things that would make my life easier: More useful tie down options in the bed and better rear seat storage, more reliable and robust InfoTainment center, B&O sound system & LED headlights w/out the other Lariat add-ons. Most things are much better than anything I’ve had before and certainly in line with what I expect in a $40K vehicle.

Things that don’t bother me…

Bouncy Ride - Tremor package helps, so does keeping some weight in the back, but has never concerned me.

ASS - Easy ways around it: turn it off, use Tow/Sport/4WD options, and I like it at long stoplights and railroad crossings.

Rake/Tailgate Height - It’s a truck, I tow stuff. I’m short and carry a step stool. So what?

Driveshaft shutter, bucking/surging, mushy brakes, fuel in oil, 18 gallon gas tank (it’s probably close to 20), weld splatter on the muffler (really?), no heated seats, no engine cover, no tailgate assist…blah blah blah.

Any creature comfort/ergonomic issues that don’t fit my body type. These things are designed to accommodate a fictional “average” person. None of us are average.

Things that have exceeded my expectations…

The trucks overall power and performance. It pulls like a champ and is fun to drive!

Off-road capability.

Versatility.

It’s just a $42K mid-size truck, and an XLT at that. I got what I paid for and would buy it again!!

Recent pics below...just because.

Great pics, Andrew & beautiful dog!

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

So much of our satisfaction vs. disappointment is based on our expectations going in; It has met or exceeded my expectations in just about every way.

Wanted to highlight this statement in your post as it resonated strongly with me. As somebody who came to the Ranger to try out truck life for the first time - I came loaded with zero expectations. And I absolutely adore my truck and cannot find fault with it!

 

[mokupilot]

Man, I miss pheasant hunting in Huron, SD. Thanks for the 20k report too.

 

[egilbe]

HOT DAMN...I really did not know that !!! Towing as much/often as I do for what a few quarts of fluid costs, I like to change every 12-15,000 miles.
Just looked...there plain as day...there it was !!! Never noticed it !!!
Thank you sir !!!
Now if someone will come up with a cheaper alternative to the $$$$$ B&M trans dippy stick......

Huh, if you drain it, how do you fill it?

 

[Grumpaw]

Huh, if you drain it, how do you fill it?

There is a removable fill plug on the cover...always thought it was silly to have a fill plug, but no drain plug.
But, I have seen the light !!!!!

 

[WingShot]

Great pics, Andrew & beautiful dog!

Thank you, Tracy! Looks have never been her problem.

 

[dtech]

I’m mostly interested in the hunting as well! I need a truck to get me, the dog, and all our crap there, and most importantly…back home again. So far, so good!

We’ve been hunting up there for over 30 years. Wild bids on a mixture of private and public land. Done the preserve hunting in SD and it’s a lot of fun, just not the same. Most of the time it’s just me and my dog, going wherever her nose takes us.

Bird populations have noticeably improved over the last few years, and we saw as many this year as we ever have. It all depends on early nesting cover and Spring storms. You can shoot 3 roosters per day (9 in possession), plus there are sharptail grouse and hungarian partridge in season.

These pics were taken late in the morning, showing two roosters and a sharpie from the day before, plus our limit of pheasants for that day. Our group of four hunters and two dogs brought back 32 of our allowed 36 roosters for the trip! Only came up short due to poor shooting.

Another pic from lunch time the following day...

Looks like you had a great hunt, and yeah preserve is a relatively easy hunt , if you miss always more to shoot, my trips were company sponsored so we tried to make sure customers were successful, preserve did get you around the 12 noon and 3 bird limit though. A well trained bird dog is so important. For me now preparing for 3rd season elk

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