Ranger has Grown-up

[Montana Ranger]

Trucks have been growing again for a generation. My Ranger replaced my '98 Mercury Mountaineer, which was the same as a Ford Explorer, which was the same chassis as the previous generation Ranger. The additional width (about 4 inches, if I recall correctly) and height was immediately noticeable. But the highway handling is also a generation evolved as well.

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[hughesjv]

I parked my 2020 XLT/FX4 next to an earlier Ranger Model (who can tell me the year?) The sun was in an awful position so not the greatest photos but you get the idea!

Love my new Ranger!

2011?

 

[jlturner57]

My 2019 parked next to my 2000 in our garage...

 

[Stevie Gee]

My 2019 parked next to my 2000 in our garage...

Great picture!!

 

[mustang marty]

My 2019 parked next to my 2000 in our garage...

Amazing look at the size difference .

 

[Ronbo]

Amazing look at the size difference .

The Ranger now is getting pretty close to the F150 size. Here’s a side by side. Both are XLT’s. Ranger has FX4 and the 150 is std 4x4.

 

[Kevin D.]

Assuming I located dimensions from reliable sources, here's one comparison to a previous generation F-150.

 

[viperwolf]

I believe the size of the Ranger today is the only reason its useful. Their smaller size in the early years was not cutting it for people that needed a truck. Ford hit the sweet spot with its size. You can thank the 2 generations of Ranger overseas experience

 

[Ronbo]

Fun facts;
The orginal "Ranger" was a trim level on the F-100 series pick up truck built between 1966-1972.

The Ranger did not become its own Model until 1983. The current iteration (2019 +) surpasses the F-100 in all areas except bed length, but still crushes it in payload capacity. The F-100 offered a 6.5 or an 8 foot bed whereas the new Ranger offers a 5 or 6 foot bed. The Ranger is a true 1/2 ton truck, although it's never marketed as such. A half-ton truck is defined as being able to haul a payload of passengers and cargo of at least 1000 pounds. The Ranger is rated at a 1650 pound payload. The F-100 was rated at 1045 to 1345 pounds payload, depending on configuration and tires. The current F-150 is rated at 1745-2235 pound payload, depending on configuration.

As others have said, todays Ranger is "Right Sized" for what a pick up should be. It's not too small, as past Rangers had been, and it's not too big, as the F-150's have become. As Alex said, Ford hit the sweet spot with this size.

Model	F100 (1966-1972)	Ranger (2019+)
Class/GVWR	½ ton, 5,500 GVWR	½ ton, 6050 GVWR
“	½ ton, 4x4 5600 GVWR	½ ton, 6050 GVWR
Bed Length	6.5 & 8 foot bed	5 & 6 foot bed
Engine	170 CID I6 105hp	2.3L (140 CID) I4 270hp
“	240 CID I6 150hp 121hp	“
“	300 CID I6 170hp 165hp	“
“	352 CID v8 208 hp	“
“	360 CID v8 215hp 196hp	“
“	390 CID v8 255hp 201hp	“
“	302 CID v8 205hp 154hp	“
Wheelbase	Short bed WB 115.0	S/Crew WB 126.8
Wheelbase	Long Bed WB 131.0	S/Cab WB 126.8
Length	Length 189.1 & 213	Length 211

 

[Big Blue]

The Ranger now is getting pretty close to the F150 size. Here’s a side by side. Both are XLT’s. Ranger has FX4 and the 150 is std 4x4.

Makes me really glad they didn't style it to look like a baby F150.

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