Post your off-road pics.

[Scootin_B??]

1 month into owning the ranger has been full of adventures and the beast transformed ???

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[Jbroke]

 

[themikeyan]

Throwback to Saturday

 

[103]

I went out with some friends to the High Water Mark trail in Arkansas two weekends ago. It was a lot of fun, and the Ranger did not even hiccup. It was perfect and had zero issues. I tried out trail management (added with Forscan and the button from Ford)--it was alright. I preferred to just keep the transmission in sport mode with traction control off.

The only sad part was that my alternator died. Thankfully I was still able to get about 25 miles out of it without charging and made it to a dealership who is replacing the alternator now. (Which means I have to fly back to Arkansas to pick up my truck next week.) We actively avoided mud, but with all the rain, I can only guess that the water had enough dirt and sand in it to collect and seize it. Did some water crossings without issue.

 

[doug910]

I went out with some friends to the High Water Mark trail in Arkansas two weekends ago. It was a lot of fun, and the Ranger did not even hiccup. It was perfect and had zero issues. I tried out trail management (added with Forscan and the button from Ford)--it was alright. I preferred to just keep the transmission in sport mode with traction control off.

The only sad part was that my alternator died. Thankfully I was still able to get about 25 miles out of it without charging and made it to a dealership who is replacing the alternator now. (Which means I have to fly back to Arkansas to pick up my truck next week.) We actively avoided mud, but with all the rain, I can only guess that the water had enough dirt and sand in it to collect and seize it. Did some water crossings without issue.

I'm assuming that the dealer is fixing the alternator issue under warranty? I can just imagine so many dealers putting up fights if they suspect that there were water crossings/heavy mud and that it "goes against" owner's manual guidelines, when in reality, it's a design issue.

The Aussie's definitely made the right move to put the alternator up high on their diesel Rangers... not sure if North America engineering didn't care/know or if budgeting didn't let them move it up, but either way, the alternator shouldn't be at the bottom.

 

[103]

I'm assuming that the dealer is fixing the alternator issue under warranty? I can just imagine so many dealers putting up fights if they suspect that there were water crossings/heavy mud and that it "goes against" owner's manual guidelines, when in reality, it's a design issue.

The Aussie's definitely made the right move to put the alternator up high on their diesel Rangers... not sure if North America engineering didn't care/know or if budgeting didn't let them move it up, but either way, the alternator shouldn't be at the bottom.

I already have 50k on the odo, lol. So no I am paying for it. They actually said the alternator is on nationwide indefinite back order, so I found one through a friend and had it shipped to them.

They did tell me they would have done it under warranty if mine was still in effect. I got the impression I was not the first owner in there with this problem.

 

[doug910]

I already have 50k on the odo, lol. So no I am paying for it. They actually said the alternator is on nationwide indefinite back order, so I found one through a friend and had it shipped to them.

They did tell me they would have done it under warranty if mine was still in effect. I got the impression I was not the first owner in there with this problem.

Oh gotcha, makes sense. Yeah I remember reading a few posts of alternator issues in this forum already.

I'm at 33k now at 2 years of ownership. Trying to eek out as much as I can before powertrain warranty expires, starting to drive our second vehicle/beater car as much as possible now lol

 

[Dr. Zaius]

The low alternator is the one issue that bugs me on this truck.

On my Jeep and my Bronco the alternator is on top, where it should be in a vehicle that may see some off road trails.

The thought that a simple water crossing can leave me walking is not comforting.

I wonder if the Bronco will have it in the same place, or if it is located differently on the 2.7 EB?

Edit: I pulled this image from the Ford site on the new Bronco.

I think this is the V6, but it looks like it's still too low if this image is representative of production.

Maybe the Bronco will have a "hardened" alternator that can be retrofitted to the Ranger?

And I also looked at images of all the Wrangler engines.

Alternator is always at or near the top.

 

[Glocker]

I wonder if there is any chance of some kind of aftermarket relocation kit ever being introduced. Not a lot of room to move the alternator anywhere else I guess. But it's be nice to get it up top!

 

[103]

Yeah, I don't see enough room to relocate the alternator on the Ranger. The pre-production drivetrain images for the 2.3L Bronco look like it had a sealed alternator, but I haven't seen any confirmation. IF (big if) the 2.3L Bronco has a sealed alternator, it would almost certainly be usable in the Ranger. That's my plan if it is a reality.

Also fun side note. Ford called me and said they installed the new alternator. It had a fault bearing and seized in a couple minutes. Replacement was thankfully available and should be there tomorrow. I can only laugh.

 

[Glocker]

Yeah, I don't see enough room to relocate the alternator on the Ranger. The pre-production drivetrain images for the 2.3L Bronco look like it had a sealed alternator, but I haven't seen any confirmation. IF (big if) the 2.3L Bronco has a sealed alternator, it would almost certainly be usable in the Ranger. That's my plan if it is a reality.

Also fun side note. Ford called me and said they installed the new alternator. It had a fault bearing and seized in a couple minutes. Replacement was thankfully available and should be there tomorrow. I can only laugh.

Glad they're getting you back in your truck soon. Really blows that it happened. If the Bronco alternator is a swap over part, I'll do it!

 

[103]

Funny story. Second alternator showed up yesterday with a broken connector. So they salvaged a connector from another alternator and made it work. I get to pick the truck up next Friday. I FEEL LIKE I'm getting a new truck, but in reality I am picking up a dirty truck still full of random gear and probably smelly shoes from the overlanding trip that killed the alternator, lol.

Also, pic thread:

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Funny story. Second alternator showed up yesterday with a broken connector. So they salvaged a connector from another alternator and made it work. I get to pick the truck up next Friday. I FEEL LIKE I'm getting a new truck, but in reality I am picking up a dirty truck still full of random gear and probably smelly shoes from the overlanding trip that killed the alternator, lol.

Also, pic thread:

Cool pic!

Dig the GX. I almost bought one of those to trick out.

And on a side but similar note, if the Bronco alternator is sealed, how is it cooled?

Some manufacturers use a water cooled alternator but that would require a lot of new plumbing to incorporate.

Are there sealed but air cooled units?

 

[103]

Yeah that GX is very cool. We did a trip in August where one of the bags in the rear dislocated. He had to drive from southern Missouri to Iowa with the Palatka Lean, haha. It now has regular springs. He has done a lot with it over the last year or so.

As to the alternator, I have no details. I have looked around on the Bronco forum, but I haven't seen anything there. And the picture I saw was definitely pre-production, so who knows. I am looking into more simple solutions like a removable plastic shield or something along those lines.

 

[103]

That is the V6. It is definitely not the 2.3L.

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