Love my new Ranger but I goofed!

[Jefain]

I’ll probably go with an Drawtite option as recommended by JasonTremor. Thanks for the warm welcome, input, and recognitions of service folks.

I am looking for tips on gear too. Unfortunately, since I spent so much on a truck, Wifey won’t be keen on my blowing a bunch of money quickly on mods. Priority 1 will be stickers for horsepower boosts and priority 2, self-recovery and protecting the truck from my ignorance. Affordability is key, but some things I can’t skimp on for obvious reasons. I’m big on bang-for-the-buck. Hit me with the recommendations. It nice to have a community to repeat mistakes with… or, with any luck, learn from them ?

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[JasonTremor]

wait the tremor has rear tow points??? not fair!

Yeah, they should come in handy at some point. I lost some departure angle with the curt hitch hanging lower than stock, but is what it is.

 

[LostMy65]

Hey folks, I’m new to R5G. I’m Active Duty Army (18 years) and just returned from Korea last month. While there, I ordered a 2023 XLT Tremor through Military Auto Source for about 3% under MSRP, which considering the times we are in made me pretty happy. Now, if you’re asking yourself, “why not wait for a 2024?” then you are not alone and I understand. The answer is two-fold… I got a good deal and I never buy first year models of anything. So, I built it out the way I wanted within my budget (albeit well above what I planned to spend on a truck initially). I added the Tech package and remote start, but otherwise just went standard XLT Tremor trim. Within a week, I swapped bulbs to Auxito LEDs, did a spray-in liner, added a hard trifold tonneau cover, put the requisite ultra subdued USA Flag plate on the front, added 3D Ranger decals to the tailgate and named er’ proper, “Ethel Gray” as subtly depicted in the rear glass.

Where I went wrong… I opted not to get the tow package in favor of the tow hooks in the rear. My thought is, since I have no trailer to tow, I would use the tow hooks more this raising their priority. It was either or, otherwise I would have equipped both. Now, I find myself in a predicament where I may have to pull a Uhaul for our pending move. I realize I can throw a ball in the bumper slot and it would probably pull a 2k trailer just fine like that. On the other hand, I spent over 40k on a truck and if I hurt it, I want it to be on a trail, not a chance encounter with Murphy that happens at the corner of 5th and Main in front of a $0.99 store. Anyone know of any mods to add a hitch to the existing tow hooks? They aren’t like hooks I’ve seen before, they have square tubing between them that resemble the cross brace on a hitch mount… it’s very beefy.

I love my truck so far and fully intend on modding it out and using it off-road. Within a week shesaw her first dirt and mud. Here are my near-term plans:

-589Fab hidden winch with a 9k ish winch.
-Ditch lights (open to suggestions)
-Rock sliders (yep, hate the steps)
-Low profile bed rack of some kind
-JLT catch can (former J&L)
-Red Ranger decals for the grill
-Sasquatch with flag for back window
-Subdued flags for doors
-Possibly figure out a way to replace tremor stickers with more of an old raptor-style badging in the rear (just a thought).
-add comms (GMRS vs CB?)

Now that I’ve consumed an hour of your time, I would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks for bringing me on board. I hope to see y’all on the trails! Let me introduce you to Ethel Gray…

Yeah, I did something similar. I forgot to add the locking rear differential.

 

[Jefain]

Yeah, I did something similar. I forgot to add the locking rear differential.

 

[Rhino]

Yeah, they should come in handy at some point. I lost some departure angle with the curt hitch hanging lower than stock, but is what it is.

not fair lol! wonder if its something that can be ordered ?

 

[JasonTremor]

not fair lol! wonder if its something that can be ordered ?

For sure can be ordered, but you would lose the factory receiver hitch the way Ford did them. The only Tremors that got them were ones without the factory receiver hitch/tow package.

 

[Rhino]

For sure can be ordered, but you would lose the factory receiver hitch the way Ford did them. The only Tremors that got them were ones without the factory receiver hitch/tow package.

really it gets in the way of the hitch? interesting wonder why that is?

 

[Synfulz]

Hey folks, I’m new to R5G. I’m Active Duty Army (18 years) and just returned from Korea last month. While there, I ordered a 2023 XLT Tremor through Military Auto Source for about 3% under MSRP, which considering the times we are in made me pretty happy. Now, if you’re asking yourself, “why not wait for a 2024?” then you are not alone and I understand. The answer is two-fold… I got a good deal and I never buy first year models of anything. So, I built it out the way I wanted within my budget (albeit well above what I planned to spend on a truck initially). I added the Tech package and remote start, but otherwise just went standard XLT Tremor trim. Within a week, I swapped bulbs to Auxito LEDs, did a spray-in liner, added a hard trifold tonneau cover, put the requisite ultra subdued USA Flag plate on the front, added 3D Ranger decals to the tailgate and named er’ proper, “Ethel Gray” as subtly depicted in the rear glass.



Where I went wrong… I opted not to get the tow package in favor of the tow hooks in the rear. My thought is, since I have no trailer to tow, I would use the tow hooks more this raising their priority. It was either or, otherwise I would have equipped both. Now, I find myself in a predicament where I may have to pull a Uhaul for our pending move. I realize I can throw a ball in the bumper slot and it would probably pull a 2k trailer just fine like that. On the other hand, I spent over 40k on a truck and if I hurt it, I want it to be on a trail, not a chance encounter with Murphy that happens at the corner of 5th and Main in front of a $0.99 store. Anyone know of any mods to add a hitch to the existing tow hooks? They aren’t like hooks I’ve seen before, they have square tubing between them that resemble the cross brace on a hitch mount… it’s very beefy.



I love my truck so far and fully intend on modding it out and using it off-road. Within a week shesaw her first dirt and mud. Here are my near-term plans:



-589Fab hidden winch with a 9k ish winch.

-Ditch lights (open to suggestions)

-Rock sliders (yep, hate the steps)

-Low profile bed rack of some kind

-JLT catch can (former J&L)

-Red Ranger decals for the grill

-Sasquatch with flag for back window

-Subdued flags for doors

-Possibly figure out a way to replace tremor stickers with more of an old raptor-style badging in the rear (just a thought).

-add comms (GMRS vs CB?)



Now that I’ve consumed an hour of your time, I would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks for bringing me on board. I hope to see y’all on the trails! Let me introduce you to Ethel Gray…

























Good looking truck and thanks for your service.

 

[JasonTremor]

Here is a pic I took of how the tow hooks are mounted when I was installing the curt receiver hitch.

 

[JasonTremor]

really it gets in the way of the hitch? interesting wonder why that is?

Yes, its part of the inner bumper structure.

 

[Rhino]

Yes, its part of the inner bumper structure.

hmm how interesting
i wouldnt worry to much if someone made a rear bumper that actually looked good....

 

[Rhino]

Here is a pic I took of how the tow hooks are mounted when I was installing the curt receiver hitch.

how interesting wonder what the oem hitch blocks in that location

 

[Dereku]

An aftermarket tow hitch should sit below it. Mine worked with the factory in bumper tow bar. Those hooks are the same set up

 

[jflogerzi]

CG crew for life ? nice spec. I believe you can get factory parts added for the tow package by the dealer

 

[JasonTremor]

how interesting wonder what the oem hitch blocks in that location

The factory hitch replaces the structure with the hooks on it. That picture shows the curt hitch installed as well.

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