Need dad advice: Ranger Regrets?

[VAMike]

sure. we never had one of those, or really ever needed one

nobody really needs a car at all, but how is that relevant? anyway, the point was just that you can get more interior space without an enormous exterior, depending on what you're optimizing for.

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[mtbikernate]

nobody really needs a car at all, but how is that relevant? anyway, the point was just that you can get more interior space without an enormous exterior, depending on what you're optimizing for.

my point was and still is that just because you have a couple kids doesn't mean you need that space, and that the space of the Ranger is most likely fine unless there are additional considerations.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Yeah, but with a minivan you can actually get up out of your seat and go back there and deliver the beating that your hellion is so desperately in need of...

 

[slowmachine]

Yeah, but with a minivan you can actually get up out of your seat and go back there and deliver the beating that your hellion is so desperately in need of...

Don't make me stop this car!!! LOL

 

[VAMike]

my point was and still is that just because you have a couple kids doesn't mean you need that space, and that the space of the Ranger is most likely fine unless there are additional considerations.

Nobody said it's essential to have the space, but it's pretty darn convenient when they want to bring a couple of friends. "Way back when" you could throw the extra kids in the bed or stuff them in without seatbelts or have them roll around in the back of the wagon, but that's frowned on these days. It's really nice for the kids to have room to bring bags and not be squashed in or have to get out of the vehicle to access them. Can you live without it? Sure, people did for thousands of years--but why live without it if you don't have to? I don't get the idea that there's some arbitrary line at which a particular configuration of unnecessary consumption is ok, but other configurations are unreasonable. You decided to optimize for an open bed at the expense of passenger capacity and interior space. that's fine, but it's not particularly virtuous--someone else can evaluate the same variables and come out with a different answer that's no less "right". There's a reason that there isn't just one vehicle on the market.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

OP here,

I agree that a minivan is king for kid kommuting.

Butttt like I said, I live in Alaska. I tow. I get muddy and nasty and bloody.

I need a truck with a bed. I want a Ranger. But I might live easier in a full size.

I can do with little, but live is easier with more. We'll see

My Tremor still has a delivery date of mid October so I still have a long time to hit my head against the wall

 

[Dr. Zaius]

OP here,

I agree that a minivan is king for kid kommuting.

Butttt like I said, I live in Alaska. I tow. I get muddy and nasty and bloody.

I need a truck with a bed. I want a Ranger. But I might live easier in a full size.

I can do with little, but live is easier with more. We'll see

My Tremor still has a delivery date of mid October so I still have a long time to hit my head against the wall

I posted this for another member on here, but you might benefit also.

If you can find something in stock that you like you can get a $2000 incentive from Ford

Ford Will Pay You To Buy An In-Stock Vehicle Rather Than Wait For Your Order

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

In Walden, Thoreau makes an argument that sleeping on the bare earth, beneath the shelter of an overturned shipping crate, is a better choice than going into debt to buy a permanent shelter, which would require gainful employment to support, therefore making one a slave to their debt. Clearly, most people disagree, and point out the prevalence of mental illness and drug addiction in those who practice this lifestyle today. Bigger is not better, in and of itself. Smaller is not better, in and of itself. Saying that some thing is better, without context, is nonsense. Better for what? Better for whom? Each of us make this assessment in the context of our own lives. We should all be thankful that we have a choice, and refrain from passing judgement on those whose choices are different from our own.

This morning’s philosophical ramble is shared from my favorite recliner, in the living room of a house much larger than a shipping crate.

To sum it up, enjoy your life. We are all dust in the wind.

 

[bill_AUS]

As an Aussie, my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt, but:
Here in Australia the Ranger is one of the larger pickups available, the competition (HiLux, Amarok, D-Max etc) are all similar size or slightly smaller. There has been a huge uptake in these types of 4x4 dual cab utes over the last decade, people are using them as family cars. Yes, the Ranger doesn't have a massive rear seat, but for children I think it is perfectly adequate (no one I've had in the back of mine has complained). Full size half tons are available here (RAM and Silverado with factory backing, F series through aftermarket sellers) but due to the cost of conversion to RHD they aren't as popular or as practical in towns etc.
Similar to the US, pickups are the best selling vehicles in the country (HiLux and Ranger are the two biggest selling vehicles in Australia, and four of the top 10 sellers are pickups).

I guess my point is, if tens of thousands of Aussies are fine with the space available in the Ranger, then those elsewhere would probably find it adequate also. How many Aussies would buy a half ton if they were more widely available, who knows. Yep, the F-150 is bigger, but it is bigger in every dimension and will be more difficult to take into tight places, and the Ranger is already big for a mid size.

 

[DrPep]

OP here,

I agree that a minivan is king for kid kommuting.

Butttt like I said, I live in Alaska. I tow. I get muddy and nasty and bloody.

I need a truck with a bed. I want a Ranger. But I might live easier in a full size.

I can do with little, but live is easier with more. We'll see

My Tremor still has a delivery date of mid October so I still have a long time to hit my head against the wall

I'm in the same boat, waiting for delivery of my Tremor in the next few weeks, and delivery of my second kid sometime next year... But having grown up in Europe, where cars are much smaller on average, the Ranger seems pretty huge to me. Strollers etc. I'll simply toss in the bed. So for me, I'm sure it'll be fine as long as they're little, and when they get bigger, we'll see what's up then...

Rationally, a minivan solves a lot of issues. But I'm still young and vain enough to be put of by the (lack of) coolness-factor for that option.

 

[Yaegerbomb89]

I’m in the same boat OP. Ordered a tremor, but I’m a little worried about it. Especially when I get nothing but grief from family members, friends, and co-workers about why I would buy a small 4 cylinder truck. I have two kids at home still (ages 6 and 9) and 100lb dog.
my biggest things are this, the 4wd F-150 I like is $55k MSRP, which is more than I really wanted to spend, and the tremor is right where I wanted my budget. Also, I don’t enjoy driving a full size truck around town all the time. I wanted something a little more enjoyable for everyday.
i know my wife is expecting a big luxury truck… and it would be nice for trips, loading softball/baseball kids around, or picking up family when they come to town (joys of living in Florida), but ultimately this vehicle is for me. My kids will get over it, I survived in the backseat of a Ford Probe when I was a kid. My wife wants an explorer or a 4runner, so that can be our comfortable family transport for trips and guests.
just writing this actually made me feel better about the purchase, so thanks!!

 

[Jmarler]

My kids are enjoying it.

 

[Trigganometry]

Sounds like your wife would be happier with an Escape or an Explorer for the traditional family car. From the guys view the pickup is a better fit. Plenty of times wife would take the truck too. I’ve raised 4 kids to adults. So the needs change as the age gets higher. I kept the wife happy by making sure she always had the newest of family vehicles in the color she wanted. Happy wife, happy life!

 

[Racecityranger]

When our first was born we had a Camaro and a C-10 pickup. The Camaro only stayed for a few months because it was a pain to put an infant and a car seat in a low 2 door. Next came a Cavalier 4 door then another kid, and time to upsize to a Taurus. By the time the kids were about 8 and 1 2 it was time for a mini van to haul them and their friends around. My point is your probably not going to keep the same vehicle until they graduate from college. I think the Ranger is a good choice to start with and see how things change in 5 to 10 years.
Life happens fast enjoy the ride!

 

[Tracy Bowman]

I'm in the same boat, waiting for delivery of my Tremor in the next few weeks, and delivery of my second kid sometime next year... But having grown up in Europe, where cars are much smaller on average, the Ranger seems pretty huge to me. Strollers etc. I'll simply toss in the bed. So for me, I'm sure it'll be fine as long as they're little, and when they get bigger, we'll see what's up then...

Rationally, a minivan solves a lot of issues. But I'm still young and vain enough to be put of by the (lack of) coolness-factor for that option.

Well, I’m old and am put off by their lack of coolness. I blame my Dad for that though. He used to drag me around in an old beat up station wagon he won in a poker game.

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