23 Tremor vs 22 Ram Rebel (or something else)?

[Viking445]

Howdy everyone! I'm planning on buying my first truck when i get back stateside from being stationed in Japan and am doing all the research right now. So pretty much narrowed it down to either a Ranger Tremor (with FP tune and intake installed) or a similar model year 5.7 hemi Rebel. I can get either for basically the same price with similar miles. So it kinda comes down to the annual cost and reliability piece.

This would be my daily driver but also fully plan to take it up the trails to camp for weekends and lite "overlanding". So i'm 6'3" 240lb so not a small guy (reason why the Rebel is on the list lol) but its just me so i don't have to worry about being cramped in the Ranger. So you have 40k what truck are gonna get?

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[awd.nv]

Thank you for your service. Wild card, 2021 or older Tundra?

I will tell you the Tremor Ranger is such a great truck. I love mine. Ford really did a lot nice little things with it, star being the Fox shocks but even has the multi-leaf springs over mono spring, different driveshaft, interior touches, aux switches, etc. Really all I did was add a 1" level kit, 1" wheel spacers and 285/70/17 and love it. If I also didn't tow with mine, I would consider a taller tire.

I think for off-roading, midsize trucks are where it is at if you have narrow trails. I would think your height you would be fine especially without a rear passenger.

If there is a concern, it is the trans issues some people have. The 10r80 is a tough trans but there hard shifting issues. It is used in the F150 and Mustang as well. There are members here that know more about this.

I think this was isolated to earlier Rangers but some had head gasket issues. Granted, my engine is getting replaced under warranty for a rod bearing but generally the 2.3L is a tough motor. I think I just had some bad luck being probably made during the pandemic considering I have an early 2021. Foreman said it was the first one he seen with a bearing issue. THE ONLY other Ranger I have seen get an engine was a member here that told me he had a piston skirt issue. Just don't hear about engine issues like that otherwise.

One thing to keep in mind, fox says to rebuild the shocks at 40k. Mine are at 50k and seem fine still though.

The RAM, I do not know enough to comment.

 

[Dgc333]

I have a 21 Ranger Lariat Tremor, my son has a 22 Ram Rebel.

The first thing that hits you is the Rebel is huge compared to the Ranger. I can park next to the Rebel and from the other side I can't see any part of the Ranger. People bitch about how high the Ranger bed is but the Rebel is higher. The Rebel is a mega cab. This makes for a lot more room in the back seat compared to the Ranger. The console between the front seats on the Rebel has to be close to twice as wide as the Rangers console. The Rebel is roomier inside than his wife's 22 Tahoe.

Driving the Ranger and Rebel back to back there is no noticeable difference in the get up and go between the two trucks. While I get low 20's mpg around town with the Ranger, the Rebel with the 5.7 Hemi is low teens. It's bad enough that my son bought and old beater RAV4 to drive to work. The 8 speed tranny in the Rebel is flawless, none of the weird shifting and hiccups that many have with the Rangers 10 speed.

I have a Lariat with the tech package so it has all the interior features you can get on a Ranger. BUT, the Rebels interior is much much nicer. The Rebels Uconnect integrated better with CarPlay or Android Auto than the Ranger Sync3. The only aggravating thing with Uconnect is you can't turn off the stereo without it turning off the entire screen. This been the same complaint with my wife's Jeep and the Dodge before that.

I would recommend you drive both before making a decision, they are very different vehicles.

 

[Geoff100]

I’m 6’6” 245 and I fit in the ranger fine. I was thinking about a ram too before buying a ranger but the ram forums were full of cam and lifter failures for the 5.7 and it not a cheap repair. Also, we use lots of salt here in Timmins Ontario and the rams seem to rust prematurely. The only thing that worries me about the ranger is the transmissions seem to be weak.

 

[harringtondav]

Apples and oranges comparison. Two different truck classes.
The Rebel is a heavy hauler, and new MRSP is nearly double the Ranger.
It depends on your power needs and budget. The Ranger's towing capacity of 7500# isn't a stretch and may be adequate for your needs. If you plan to get off road, the Tremor's package is designed just for this.

 

[Lcr3000]

Like the advisor above, I too drive a 2021 Tremor Lariat, and I really do like it. No buyer's remorse from my standpoint. The motor has good power when passing cars while driving on the freeways or pulling my 2100lb camper trailer around off road. I recommend making sure you get the towing package if you plan on using it to pull things like I do. There is a towing button that puts the transmission into a different shifting behavior when pulling a trailer, to give it more torque. I have not experienced issues with my transmission and I'm at 33k miles. I think as long as you perform your oil changes and lube maintenance on time, you most likely will not experience any major mechanical problems. Something to also consider is that the Ranger has held popularity enough to have a good selection of aftermarket items to include good tuning kits. This forum has a ton of history to point you in the right direction, plus youtube videos. As for interior I'm 6,1 and weigh 220 and this truck will easily fit a bigger driver. The back seat area is decent, and the leg room is adequate. The Ranger is firmly todays medium sized truck because trucks over time have grown. The Ranger now is the size of the old 80's and 90's F150. The Maverick has taken over as the small truck. With that said, I just bought a townhouse with a one car garage, and I still managed to just barely fit my Ranger in it, and I have a 2" lift on it. If I had a full sized F150, I'd have had to buy a house with a bigger garage because of the extra length. I could go on and on, but I want to stop and say one last thing.
From one veteran to another, thank you for your service!

Craig

 

[Grumpaw]

No knowledge of the Ram, and my Lariat is a 2 wheel drive.....but as many here know, I regularly tow a 7000 lb travel trailer, and have around 14,000 of it's 25,000 miles towing. Have had no problems with the trans and the Ranger has plenty of power, and reserve, to tow that heavy a trailer.
And, it fits in my garage !!!

 

[Dgc333]

Didn't mention it above but the Rebel comes with an integrated trailer brake controller. Ranger you have to add it and if you want the emergency braking to work when towing you need to purchase the Ford unit. The status and adjustments are accessable via the display in the dash. It also has towing mirrors that rotate out, they work well when I have towed my camper with his truck.

 

[Viking445]

Thanks brother. I have been looking at the Tundra too but the lack of a factory rear locker is knocking it out of the running. Plus the Toyota tax is real and i'd prefer to avoid it haha.

As for the 10r80 issues i'm planning on getting only a 22 or 23 to negate that.

The 40k fox shock rebuild is new info.

Thank you for your service. Wild card, 2021 or older Tundra?

I will tell you the Tremor Ranger is such a great truck. I love mine. Ford really did a lot nice little things with it, star being the Fox shocks but even has the multi-leaf springs over mono spring, different driveshaft, interior touches, aux switches, etc. Really all I did was add a 1" level kit, 1" wheel spacers and 285/70/17 and love it. If I also didn't tow with mine, I would consider a taller tire.

I think for off-roading, midsize trucks are where it is at if you have narrow trails. I would think your height you would be fine especially without a rear passenger.

If there is a concern, it is the trans issues some people have. The 10r80 is a tough trans but there hard shifting issues. It is used in the F150 and Mustang as well. There are members here that know more about this.

I think this was isolated to earlier Rangers but some had head gasket issues. Granted, my engine is getting replaced under warranty for a rod bearing but generally the 2.3L is a tough motor. I think I just had some bad luck being probably made during the pandemic considering I have an early 2021. Foreman said it was the first one he seen with a bearing issue. THE ONLY other Ranger I have seen get an engine was a member here that told me he had a piston skirt issue. Just don't hear about engine issues like that otherwise.

One thing to keep in mind, fox says to rebuild the shocks at 40k. Mine are at 50k and seem fine still though.

The RAM, I do not know enough to comment.

 

[Viking445]

Oh perfect comparison. Thanks man! Ya its just me so i'm struggling to justify the extra cost to buy and run the Rebel. BUT the ZF 8 speed is a huge plus. Wish Ford had just gone with that! So do you think that a tuned ranger would have better get up than a Rebel? The ranger is nearly a 1000lbs lighter after all haha.

I def plan to get some time behind the wheel of both (or as close as i can get since these are the rare models)

I have a 21 Ranger Lariat Tremor, my son has a 22 Ram Rebel.

The first thing that hits you is the Rebel is huge compared to the Ranger. I can park next to the Rebel and from the other side I can't see any part of the Ranger. People bitch about how high the Ranger bed is but the Rebel is higher. The Rebel is a mega cab. This makes for a lot more room in the back seat compared to the Ranger. The console between the front seats on the Rebel has to be close to twice as wide as the Rangers console. The Rebel is roomier inside than his wife's 22 Tahoe.

Driving the Ranger and Rebel back to back there is no noticeable difference in the get up and go between the two trucks. While I get low 20's mpg around town with the Ranger, the Rebel with the 5.7 Hemi is low teens. It's bad enough that my son bought and old beater RAV4 to drive to work. The 8 speed tranny in the Rebel is flawless, none of the weird shifting and hiccups that many have with the Rangers 10 speed.

I have a Lariat with the tech package so it has all the interior features you can get on a Ranger. BUT, the Rebels interior is much much nicer. The Rebels Uconnect integrated better with CarPlay or Android Auto than the Ranger Sync3. The only aggravating thing with Uconnect is you can't turn off the stereo without it turning off the entire screen. This been the same complaint with my wife's Jeep and the Dodge before that.

I would recommend you drive both before making a decision, they are very different vehicles.

 

[Viking445]

Nice to know us big and tall guys can fit. I enjoy long road trips so being cramped has always been an issue.

Thankfully I'll be living in places that don't salt their roads so aggressive rusting isn't an issue.

I’m 6’6” 245 and I fit in the ranger fine. I was thinking about a ram too before buying a ranger but the ram forums were full of cam and lifter failures for the 5.7 and it not a cheap repair. Also, we use lots of salt here in Timmins Ontario and the rams seem to rust prematurely. The only thing that worries me about the ranger is the transmissions seem to be weak.

 

[Dereku]

Ram will feel more like a truck, mpgs and all. Ranger is really tiny. I wish I got an f150 with the 2.7. But alas it was on the lot and I got sticker during covid. I have towed over 7k just fine, I get 23+ mpg all the time, not a lot to complain about.

 

[Grumpaw]

Ram will feel more like a truck, mpgs and all. Ranger is really tiny. I wish I got an f150 with the 2.7. But alas it was on the lot and I got sticker during covid. I have towed over 7k just fine, I get 23+ mpg all the time, not a lot to complain about.

"Tiny or Small" is a relative term and meaning. The Ranger is "smaller" than the currant full size trucks available now. Currant full size pick ups now are "Big".
But if you look at pick ups from the late 90"s and around 2000 you'll find the Ranger is pretty much the same size as a comparable truck from that era...a bit narrower, but length, weight, and capacity are pretty much the same.
Take a 2000 F-150 extended cab with a 6 foot bed and park your Ranger next to it and it will prove it.
Parked next to a late 90's Dodge Ram 2 wheel drive, my Ranger 2 wheel drive is actually higher, and just as long as the Ram. Same goes for the Chebbie and GMCraps.
I see this everytime I park near an older full size truck at Lowes/Home Depot, ect.
Cabin...yeah, smaller than a full size, but just how much "room" do you need ? Wife and I have done 6, 8, 10 hour runs towing our travel trailer with no complaints. Would we be more comfortable sitting 6 inches further away from each other....no !!! Plenty of leg, ceiling, shoulder room, and to me, seats are some of the best I've ever had.

 

[awd.nv]

Thanks brother. I have been looking at the Tundra too but the lack of a factory rear locker is knocking it out of the running. Plus the Toyota tax is real and i'd prefer to avoid it haha.

As for the 10r80 issues i'm planning on getting only a 22 or 23 to negate that.

The 40k fox shock rebuild is new info.

Was news to me too a few weeks back. Unless Fox does something different with the Ranger shocks. There was a thread or two in here about it. Here is a link I quickly found. At least they can be rebuilt though. There is a company around here that does it mobile I may use. Maybe see what he can do about tuning too.

https://www.shocksurplus.com/blogs/...okefvL_caHIjeOOtPCPLquP-vEdvylb_j3nlfVZe5g_2n

Ram will feel more like a truck, mpgs and all. Ranger is really tiny. I wish I got an f150 with the 2.7. But alas it was on the lot and I got sticker during covid. I have towed over 7k just fine, I get 23+ mpg all the time, not a lot to complain about.

I'm only 5'7" but man I have been in this loaner F150 for 2 weeks now and can't wait to get my Ranger back. Yes the interior is like a cave but daily driving it in the city is a pain. All of the advantages of the F150 only show on a road trip/towing for me personally.

I do want to say though, I previously had a loaner F150 2.7L and was surprised how good it felt. That in the new Ranger would be awesome. I kinda hope we get the next gen Tremor soon to see what Ford has up its sleeve. This new one they have me in is the hybrid and that 3.5L is pretty beastly in sport mode.

"Tiny or Small" is a relative term and meaning. The Ranger is "smaller" than the currant full size trucks available now. Currant full size pick ups now are "Big".
But if you look at pick ups from the late 90"s and around 2000 you'll find the Ranger is pretty much the same size as a comparable truck from that era...a bit narrower, but length, weight, and capacity are pretty much the same.
Take a 2000 F-150 extended cab with a 6 foot bed and park your Ranger next to it and it will prove it.
Parked next to a late 90's Dodge Ram 2 wheel drive, my Ranger 2 wheel drive is actually higher, and just as long as the Ram. Same goes for the Chebbie and GMCraps.
I see this everytime I park near an older full size truck at Lowes/Home Depot, ect.
Cabin...yeah, smaller than a full size, but just how much "room" do you need ? Wife and I have done 6, 8, 10 hour runs towing our travel trailer with no complaints. Would we be more comfortable sitting 6 inches further away from each other....no !!! Plenty of leg, ceiling, shoulder room, and to me, seats are some of the best I've ever had.

Yeah I would say the Ranger today reminds me more of those 90's F150 size wise. The old mid-size trucks of the 90's are kind of the size of the new Mav. The new Full size trucks are flat our huge though. lol Reminds me of a picture I took actually..... I had to park here this week to meet a client in a loaner F150 and it was such a pain.

 

[Viking445]

When i get my truck if the shocks need to be rebuilt i might just buy upgrades with like a 2" level kit. Wow that picture is crazy! hahaha. Really shows the difference!

Was news to me too a few weeks back. Unless Fox does something different with the Ranger shocks. There was a thread or two in here about it. Here is a link I quickly found. At least they can be rebuilt though. There is a company around here that does it mobile I may use. Maybe see what he can do about tuning too.

https://www.shocksurplus.com/blogs/...okefvL_caHIjeOOtPCPLquP-vEdvylb_j3nlfVZe5g_2n



I'm only 5'7" but man I have been in this loaner F150 for 2 weeks now and can't wait to get my Ranger back. Yes the interior is like a cave but daily driving it in the city is a pain. All of the advantages of the F150 only show on a road trip/towing for me personally.

I do want to say though, I previously had a loaner F150 2.7L and was surprised how good it felt. That in the new Ranger would be awesome. I kinda hope we get the next gen Tremor soon to see what Ford has up its sleeve. This new one they have me in is the hybrid and that 3.5L is pretty beastly in sport mode.



Yeah I would say the Ranger today reminds me more of those 90's F150 size wise. The old mid-size trucks of the 90's are kind of the size of the new Mav. The new Full size trucks are flat our huge though. lol Reminds me of a picture I took actually..... I had to park here this week to meet a client in a loaner F150 and it was such a pain.

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