Is it me or does the base Ranger seem "too tall"

[Icemanhd]

Full disclosure, my previous truck was a 2015 Tacoma so perhaps I'm still getting used to the 23 Ranger XL I got last week. The suspension on the base XL with stock wheels/tires seems awful tall, significant amount of room between the top of the tires and the bottom of the fenderwells. Wonder if Ford only made 1 suspension height that can cover everything from the base XL with stock wheels/tires to the FX-4 and other offroad packages with larger tires.

If it was a few inches lower I can't imagine it would hurt payload capacity, the tailgate would be lower, and the truck would have a tiny bit less aerodynamic drag.

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[myothercarizahearse]

HAHAHA that guy is back with a different handle

 

[Grumpaw]

No, not just you....been a constant complaint that the arse end is too high for a mid-size truck.
Just the way it was designed, and no easy way to remedy. You can buy a "leveling kit" but that just raises the front to level the truck, doesn't lower the rear.
AHHHHHH...the sacrifices we make just to have a "cool" truck.

 

[myothercarizahearse]

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/rear-ride-height-a-design-defect-caught-tooo-late.21915/

merge?

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

 

[Grumpaw]

Common Duke, he's new. Probably doesn't realize one of the deleted items was the step ladder that came with the early version's.
Give him credit tho...for getting rid of the "other brand" and getting a good truck !!!

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

You probably are seriously concerned at this and wondering why people are reacting in a certain way. There was a troll who bought a Frontier and came here to just troll about random things about the Ranger to make himself feel better about his buyer's remorse on the Frontier.

If you are serious about the concerns, consider a step ladder to reach into the back side of the bed. I know Dave @AzScorpion has a step that attaches to the wheel. I honestly don't see this as an issue. If it's high, it's better for off-roading and tow weight, if it's low, it looks cooler(to certain people), and if you're into drag racing then ya it has it's benefits.

I keep stock ride height on front and rear and love it. If I placed something in the bed I cannot reach from the side, I naturally just step up on the tailgate or arrange things I need in the manner that I can grab them from the side/and back of the bed. I would love to hear the actual issues and situations you have that make you gripe about this rear bed height. Is it utility based? Or look based?

 

[Grumpaw]

Keith, from your profile, your retired, so I guess your up there in years, like me and sothers here.
If it's a functional issue for you getting up into the bed, there are a few ways to help.
There is a power step that mounts to the left side under the bumper, but it's lots of $$$.
Dee Zee also has a step that mounts under the left side under the bumper, that works well. It doesn't retract, but only runs around $70-$75.
And then there's the simple, but popular small folding step ladder.
I have both the Dee Zee step and carry a small step ladder, and due to squeaky and grindy knees, couldn't get up into the bed without them

 

[Trigganometry]

 

[Radioman]

Is the truck "tall", yes; is it too "tall", no. But then I'm 6'5''.... BTW, I noticed its height before I bought it.

 

[Grumpaw]

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/lowered-ranger-lol.23451/post-528432

Love the look, but the second I hooked up my travel trailer the fenders would be riding on the tires...even with a WD hitch, 700 lb tongue weight would kill that lowered Ranger.

 

[airline tech]

Me, being on the short at 5.4, yes, the truck is rather tall, and makes it somewhat difficult to reach tie downs after loading, but since I do not use it regularly for hauling, I do not find it that much of an issue. Now I can see someone with limited mobility having to jump up into the bed being an issue, as in order for me to get into the bed I have to push up and knee myself into the bed, legs too short to just high step into it.

I have considered Lowering and or Leveling the Truck but for me personally and the related posts I see on here, all that appears to do is create extra wear on suspension parts and alignment issues.
My first car that I bought myself with my own money was a 72' Plymouth Satellite, rear end jacked up and I could not keep the front end of that thing tight, mainly ball joints and tie rods always wearing out. But all in all, I loved that car, and kicking myself for selling it.
Who Knew that the popular cars that high schoolers drove in the 80's and where all over the place would be worth what they are today?

 

[got3fords]

I am absolutely fine with the bed height. I really don't know why people complain. Get a damn Ridgeline then.

 

[burnkill]

HAHAHA that guy is back with a different handle

Even used similar language... disclosure.

 

[CB750F]

I think it's fine. My sport car is lowered, my truck is stock.
I'm 5'9", relatively healthy human.

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