Buyer's Remorse - Requesting Advice

[awd.nv]

I'm with those who suggest getting an SUV for your wife. I've got a teen and a toddler (technically, the younger is my sister's kid, but she's a single-parent, so I'm the father-figure). When mine was in a car seat, I had a 2nd gen Escape, and it worked great, as I could tether it through the trunk.

Now, with Thing 2, I've re-installed the exact same car seat, and it is a major PITA to get it into the Ranger compared to the SUV, because you have to tether it in behind the back seat. Not so much a problem for the infant car seats, because they're rear-facing, and smaller, but with the bigger, front-facing toddler seat, it's cumbersome to lean it forward enough to fold forward the seat-back, clip in the tether, tighten it sorta-kinda enough (remember, it's still leaning forward because the seat back is too), then slam the seat-back back into place (which usually takes a couple of tries, as the tether clip has to be pulled up-right otherwise it sticks out more than the actual space available), and once that's done, you can finally let down the child seat and make final adjustments on the tether strap.

So, to recap, one hand is holding the tether strap/clip straight up along the rear window, the other hand is maneuvering the seat-back, and the shoulder of that second arm is holding the car-seat tilted forward so that you can do all of that simultaneously. How much do you love your wife and want to maintain a happy marriage?

I love my Ranger, but damn, will I be happy when Thing 2 becomes big enough for a simple booster seat which doesn't have to be tethered behind the seat-back.

Man, my twin boys finally got out of their car seats but man, getting that rear tether latched on the Ranger was SUCH A PAIN!!!! I felt like I was working under the dash of a car trying to get it in the right orientation for the back rest to latch. Thankfully we had two sets of car seats so it was not often I needed to touch them once in. Just happy they dont use them anymore so I can use the under seat storage!!

My boys like the truck but road trips, the Honda Pilot is just more comfortable when we are not towing.

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[LaBalbe]

Man, my twin boys finally got out of their car seats but man, getting that rear tether latched on the Ranger was SUCH A PAIN!!!! I felt like I was working under the dash of a car trying to get it in the right orientation for the back rest to latch. Thankfully we had two sets of car seats so it was not often I needed to touch them once in. Just happy they dont use them anymore so I can use the under seat storage!!

My boys like the truck but road trips, the Honda Pilot is just more comfortable when we are not towing.

Yeah, I'm grateful that I've never had to try to install two car seats simultaneously. I imagine that it would make furnishing an entire apartment with IKEA furniture seem like a piece of cake.

 

[OFC Ranger]

All I can say from my anecdotal personal experience is that people who allow themselves to smoke in their vehicles generally don't take the best care of them period.

Getting the smell out is one thing, but you will never get the film of the interior, ever. It gets into every nook and cranny it can reach. The AC / heater was helping to circulate into the places you can't even get to without disassembling the dash.

For those who have ever moved a picture frame on a wall in a smokers home know exactly what I am talking about. That is an entire house, now imagine that in the small confined spaces of a vehicle cabin.

 

[awd.nv]

All I can say from my anecdotal personal experience is that people who allow themselves to smoke in their vehicles generally don't take the best care of them period.

Getting the smell out is one thing, but you will never get the film of the interior, ever. It gets into every nook and cranny it can reach. The AC / heater was helping to circulate into the places you can't even get to without disassembling the dash.

For those who have ever moved a picture frame on a wall in a smokers home know exactly what I am talking about. That is an entire house, now imagine that in the small confined spaces of a vehicle cabin.

Actually you are right, I worked on a computer that was in a smokers house, yuck.

 

[OFC Ranger]

Actually you are right, I worked on a computer that was in a smokers house, yuck.

I got one worse. At one point I had my desktop PC installed in an under desk mount. It happened to be near the cat litter box. Now this was an enclosed cat box. About once a year I open my desktop PC up and deep clean.

Even the unseen particles of cat litter got into the PC, smell and everything.

 

[VESH]

True. I live in Houston, so we'd have to travel pretty far for any exciting trails. As the years go by, I plan to visit more off-road worthy trails. The f150 just has so much cab space... I do enjoy how the Ranger handles off-road.

I've only done the following off-roading:

• Surfside/Galveston beach
  • San Luis Pass
• Sam Houston National Park
• Hill country overland route
• MOAB
  • Long Canyon Road (had a uphill, soft spot that was pretty sketchy)
  • Shafer trail
  • Arches National Park

Not much more around Houston that you need 4wd for. Matagorda when it’s dry and extreme if you like mud but that’s about it.

If you’re going out west a lot and finding you need 4wd go for it!

You should get out to the abandoned community tracks near buccees in bastrop too. Pretty fun!

 

[JBranger]

Not much more around Houston that you need 4wd for. Matagorda when it’s dry and extreme if you like mud but that’s about it.

If you’re going out west a lot and finding you need 4wd go for it!

You should get out to the abandoned community tracks near buccees in bastrop too. Pretty fun!

Would you be able to send me info on the bastrop trail location? Would love to explore there!

 

[VESH]

Would you be able to send me info on the bastrop trail location? Would love to explore there!

This link should work. I believe they were going to build a community there but abandoned it after the trees were cleared.

 

[JBranger]

This link should work. I believe they were going to build a community there but abandoned it after the trees were cleared.

Awesome thank you!

I know with Texas there isn't lots of public land, anything I need to be cautious about in case I run into anyone out there?

 

[VESH]

Awesome thank you!

I know with Texas there isn't lots of public land, anything I need to be cautious about in case I run into anyone out there?

I don’t think so. The 2x I’ve been there has been a few other guys driving around. No gates or anything

 

[MountainGoat]

I agree with just adding a locker and maybe a winch. I would think 2wd with those > 4wd without.

 

[JBranger]

I agree with just adding a locker and maybe a winch. I would think 2wd with those > 4wd without.

Yeaaaaaah, this thread has convinced me to save money and get my wife a new car since she has been daily driving my Ranger for a few months.

Got quotes for a locker install, rough quote was like $600 at a local shop, sound fair? Gonna call around different shops to compare.

Now it's time to research what parts I need to install an air locker...

 

[JBranger]

I don’t think so. The 2x I’ve been there has been a few other guys driving around. No gates or anything

right on thank you!

 

[MountainGoat]

Yeaaaaaah, this thread has convinced me to save money and get my wife a new car since she has been daily driving my Ranger for a few months.

Got quotes for a locker install, rough quote was like $600 at a local shop, sound fair? Gonna call around different shops to compare.

Now it's time to research what parts I need to install an air locker...

That's not a bad price at all. I have 4wd but wish I had gotten the Ford locker anyways.

 

[got3fords]

For those who have ever moved a picture frame on a wall in a smokers home know exactly what I am talking about. That is an entire house, now imagine that in the small confined spaces of a vehicle cabin.

Imagine what it leaves in your lungs.

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