Help Me Decide on Ranger over Taco / Colorado for Rear Locker on a Budget

[txquailguy]

If you go FX4 you'll be just as capable as the Taco and a WHOLE LOT MORE fun to drive! IMO
I feel pretty confident I can go anywhere a stock Taco can go...and get their much faster....

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[dtech]

Did you or are you planning to visit the Taco forum and solicit opinions there ? Not too difficult to predict the responses.

 

[moutaindude]

MSRP is a good goal in the current pricing climate. I never thought I'd say that. If you haven't yet, go on the Ford website and build a few trucks. For me, the STX is the sweet spot. These trucks get real expensive in the upper trim levels and don't offer anything special that is worth the cost. They all have the same drivetrain and 95% of the same interior. Unless you get a Tremor they are close to all the same truck.

Some of the "downgrades" of the STX i actually prefer, like matte black interior pieces instead of glossy parts and chrome that cause glare. Mine has carpet but its an option and lots of people prefer the vinyl floor and seats of the XL/STX especially up north. You can't get vinyl floor or seats on any other trim.

If you get an STX and get the FX4 package OR the Copilot 360 you also get upgraded to the nicer full color gauge cluster. Get the STX special edition if you really want the 8" center screen with carplay. I somewhat regret not getting that option (it wasn't available when I bought my truck) but I do prefer the single zone climate control that is in no way tied into the screen. Upgrading to a larger aftermarket stereo is possible too. Fun fact: The truck will still turn on the heat or AC if I remote start it to get the truck to proper temp even with the base single zone system.

Thanks. I don't care much about all the electronics / tech package or cosmetic features. As long as I have cruise control (non-adaptive), the only 'extras' that I really want are the sliding rear window (free-standing option), 110v AC (unclear if standard on XLT or requires XLT301A, which would be a waste of $1,670 just for the outlet), and I'd like heated seats but not sure if I can bring myself to spend $2,450 on XLT302A and everything that comes with it just for that. Might just have to man up and deal with a cold butt.

I'll almost certainly go FX4 since the package is the same cost as the combination of free-standing option rear locker + free-standing option Off-Road Tires.

I understand that the 110vAC bed outlet that comes with the Bed Utility Package is easy to self-install.

And then maybe I'll do the tow package although it's easy enough to wire up a 4-way and add a hitch receiver myself.

Then, get my own spray-on bed liner and that should be good.

 

[WesternFlyer]

Not to mention you can get a locker on any trim level so if budget is your primary concern you can get an XL with a locker. If you can find one....buying any vehicle right now isn't something I'd recommend unless you NEED to get one. I have an XL with STX and FX4 packages and it fit the bill perfectly for me as far as what the truck has and what I wanted to spend.

Agreed, I have an XL (base model) with FX4 and STX packages. I got everything I wanted without having to pay for a higher trim level. Edit: Also have the trailer tow package.

@moutaindude The FX4 package on the Ranger is a great deal. You get skid plates, offroad shocks (capable, albeit a lot of members here opt for aftermarket ones with more dampening), trail control (crawl control on the taco except way smoother), terrain management (software modes for differing terrains), offroad tires (not for rock crawling; no sidewall protection), tow hooks, and the locker.

I love the FX4 package and I absolutely love my base model work truck with a few extras.

Back in April I bought my truck for several thousand under the Tacoma MSRP quoted above. With the money you would save by buying the Ranger, you can start purchasing all the mods

 

[moutaindude]

Did you or are you planning to visit the Taco forum and solicit opinions there ? Not too difficult to predict the responses.

I've poked around. Even the Taco guys are losing faith in the latest gen. If I could get a Gen 1 Taco new today, though, I know what I'd be buying.

 

[jflogerzi]

Ranger is the better option period. If you have an option order your truck and get what you want. Better pricing and no useless features you don't want

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Ranger is the better option period. If you have an option order your truck and get what you want. Better pricing and no useless features you don't want

Hey now!

Lane keeping assist isn't useless!!

I've had my truck 2 years and I've turned it on at least 3 times so it's not......

Hmmmm.....

OK. It's useless.

 

[Espo78]

I understand that the 110vAC bed outlet that comes with the Bed Utility Package is easy to self-install.

And then maybe I'll do the tow package although it's easy enough to wire up a 4-way and add a hitch receiver myself.

Then, get my own spray-on bed liner and that should be good.

Be aware the power point in the bed isn't 110AC its a 12v cigarette style outlet. The optional 110AC outlet is on the back of the center console. You don't want a plastic bed liner anyway. Easy choice to skip.

I think even if you don't get the tow package you get a 4 pin connection. If you add the tow package it gets bumped to a 7 pin and the 2" receiver. I got the tow package, it was worth it for me. I agree on skipping the bed liner. There are better options in the after market.

 

[jflogerzi]

Hey now!

Lane keeping assist isn't useless!!

I've had my truck 2 years and I've turned it on at least 3 times so it's not......

Hmmmm.....

OK. It's useless.

LOL I don't consider that useless at all. But to some it might be. If all you want is off-road and 4x4 you can have that on a base XL or mix and match stuff. I like how ford gives you that flexibility. Though I wish you could get a rear sliding glass as standard add-on like you can on the XL with the XLT instead of locking it in with the 302 package.

 

[RedlyrsRevenge]

Beauty of the ranger's rear locker over most competitors is that it can be activated in 2H or 4H as well as 4L. I know the Tacoma's can only be done in 4L, not sure about the Colorado.

This may or may have not lead to some impromptu burn outs...

 

[saintpauljeff]

This.

The Ranger rear locker works any time the vehicle is below 20mph, 2wd or 4wd doesn't matter.

Most other factory lockers (Jeep Rubicon, Tacoma, Frontier, don't know about the ZR2) require you to be in 4 Low before you can use the locker.

Edit: Just researched it and the ZR2 will also allow the rear locker in 2wd.

my '21 Rubicon can lock the rear axle in 4H or 4L

 

[OHTREMOR]

I'm in the market for a mid-size 4x4 truck and want to have (1) off-road tires (from the factory) and (2) a locking rear differential. I'm not made of money and if I were, I'd be looking at full-size trucks even though I really don't need one.

I live on a sometimes-plowed dirt road and am looking at buying an even more remote property and feel like the locker is a must for me.

Tacos look (kind of) cool but you can't get a rear locker until you pony up $37,655 MSRP for the TRD Off Road trim. Colorado is interesting but you can't get a locker without the $44,140 MSRP ZR2 trim. I don't know much about the Frontier but I think it's the same story. The Ranger XL with E-Locker and off-road tires or with FX4 package (which includes these items) each MSRP at $34,290.

Seems like the Ranger is my only real option or am I missing something? I test drove the Ranger and it was great on-road. Test drove the Taco and thought it didn't drive as well although the V6, which I really don't care about, was nice. Again, I understand the Taco is go-to off-road platform but I'm not interested in modding and dragging through the brush a brand-new truck.

I don't want to have to modify to get what I think is the basic level of 'off-road' capability that you get with the locker. Any point in looking elsewhere than Ranger at this point? There's no way I'm going to start spec'ing out a midsize truck to the 38k+ range and while the ZR2 is cool, $44k is out of the question. I just won't spend that kind of money without getting the capabilities of a full-size.

Anything else I should think about before I pull the trigger?

 

[OHTREMOR]

Drove them all before buying. Tacoma has some great features but that V-6 In the Tacoma was terrible in my opinion. Had the Canyon for the last 4 years and its V-6 was my favorite thing about it. Ranger has way more features for the money than the Colorado or Canyon.

I think if you want value and some off road capability go for a Ranger XLT with FX4.
Great looking truck and I have been impressed with the 2.3 pulling around my Tremor with those big tires. It’s got some nice torque and reminds me a bit of my 3.0 diesel I had in my Ram.

Also may want to use autotrader to find something You want on a lot or buy gently used to save a few bucks and get more options. Many dealers will deliver long distances to sell vehicles since Covid started.

Good Luck

 

[SkyLord]

I just went through the same situation as the OP. I’ve owned a 2019 TRD OR Taco and almost got another one. The Ranger is so much better. I sold that Taco because I got a camper and that Trans/braking/engine set up is not good for towing. I have a 3800lb camper that I did the research on to be inside the Tacoma specs before I bought it. It was uncomfortable to say the least and unsafe at times. I bought an f-150 to replace it. I was going to sell the camper and go back to a mid-size truck after the F-150 had a turbo issue out of warranty. I bought a Ranger Tremor a few weeks ago, has nearly the same payload as my F-150 Lariat did, gets 24 MPG mixed driving, and is equally as peppy on the road. It won’t pull like the 3.5EB, but it crushes compare to anything in its class.
A truck or vehicle is best suited to a set mission (towing, commuting, off-roading). When you don’t have an unlimited budget, the Ranger will do all those pretty well and that’s what I needed. They are much more affordable too, a Tremor Lariat was the same price as a lower trim TRD OR in my area. Add that you can tune them and I don’t know how you can make a case for a Tacoma anymore. Best of luck with your choice, cheers!

 

[Tako]

I’ve had all 3 generations of tacos. Guess what I drive now?

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