Should I buy this truck?

[frmtrk]

you can always under load and F150.....but you cant miraculously overload a Ranger and get away with it.

you need to make a list of wants and go from there. what you gave us was pretty basic and anyone who has camped or enjoyed the outdoors, knows you end up hauling more than you figured you would.

I cross shopped the f150. The 3.3 v6 has functionality the same payload and towing (more than 1/2 yard, less than a full yard of dirt or rock, can tow a loaded 7k trailer but not a 10k), and at least in my area was going to cost $3-7k more with the options I wanted (even if I went ext cab instead of crew). The 2.7t or 5.0 with payload pkg can haul a full yard of dirt, but are even pricier and I would have needed to order one. I wish we could get the same 7k GVWR as the ROW ranger.
I rarely need to move 4x8 materials, and the smaller overall size of the ranger is definitely a perk for me (although I’ll probably put a contractor rack on for long stuff). I do wish it was lower, but no new trucks have beds that are easy to access anymore

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[Sully]

That is a good looking truck, John! Congrats! I wasn't a big fan of the chrome package (too much chrome for me), but it looks good with the red. I love that shade of red. It is very similar to what I put on my '73 Capri (it was a 2008 Mustang color):

The chrome came down to cost since the black was almost a grand more. Unexpected bonus is my wife loves it! And that's a sharp Capri. Brings back good memories of the 70s.

 

[dtech]

Black is a almost a grand more , I never would have expected that, chrome does look good on your truck (and mine), and chrome drives all the old men crazy in the bright sunlight.

 

[Sully]

I'll just say from experience that the Ranger is the perfect vehicle for hauling a teardrop, kayaks, and bikes. We've been on multiple 10-day camping trips with no worry for lack of space, weight capacity, power, etc. It's the perfect adventure vehicle for us.

Truck details in signature below.

Before adding the topper:

After adding the topper:

Hello Matt,
I'm looking for racks to carry kayaks and in bed racks for bikes. Do you have any suggestions? My wife is extremely jealous of your setup. We will not be getting a bed cap.

 

[Deleted member 1634]

Hello Matt,
I'm looking for racks to carry kayaks and in bed racks for bikes. Do you have any suggestions? My wife is extremely jealous of your setup. We will not be getting a bed cap.

Before we got the topper we just used a set of Yakima racks that clamped to the top of the cab and set the kayaks in pairs of J-style racks/mounts which we already owned. Grand total of all the parts probably came out to at or just below $500. They're kind of a pain to put on and off at first, but you get used to it, and they make noise when they're up there, but they work well at what they're supposed to.

There are a lot of little individual parts involved in the assembly, that you have to apparently buy separately, if you're starting from scratch like we were. The system basically clamps to the door frames with angled clips. I was worried it wouldn't be enough, but they are very solidly attached.

Here's a list of the things we got to make it work:
Towers: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0171A6D2U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Clips (specific to each individual vehicle so make sure you get the right code, BC124 is for the crewcab Ranger, not sure what it would be for an extended cab if you have that): https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0196GLCCI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Crossbars - 58" (we went with round bars, but I would imagine aero style bars would make less noise and have less mpg impact): https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012SFNEW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Adapter for whichever bars you got (again for the round bars, you'd have to find the particular adapter for aero bars if that's what you want): https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0171A6IKC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


As far as in bed racks, or other ways, for bikes, you should check out this thread: https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/shuttle-trucks.2632/
I just use either a hitch mounted rack I've had for many years or I just lay my bike down in the bed of the truck (w/ the front wheel off). So I don't have much to add there. haha

 

[Sully]

Before we got the topper we just used a set of Yakima racks that clamped to the top of the cab and set the kayaks in pairs of J-style racks/mounts which we already owned. Grand total of all the parts probably came out to at or just below $500. They're kind of a pain to put on and off at first, but you get used to it, and they make noise when they're up there, but they work well at what they're supposed to.

There are a lot of little individual parts involved in the assembly, that you have to apparently buy separately, if you're starting from scratch like we were. The system basically clamps to the door frames with angled clips. I was worried it wouldn't be enough, but they are very solidly attached.

Here's a list of the things we got to make it work:
Towers: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0171A6D2U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Clips (specific to each individual vehicle so make sure you get the right code, BC124 is for the crewcab Ranger, not sure what it would be for an extended cab if you have that): https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0196GLCCI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Crossbars - 58" (we went with round bars, but I would imagine aero style bars would make less noise and have less mpg impact): https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012SFNEW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Adapter for whichever bars you got (again for the round bars, you'd have to find the particular adapter for aero bars if that's what you want): https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0171A6IKC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


As far as in bed racks, or other ways, for bikes, you should check out this thread: https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/shuttle-trucks.2632/
I just use either a hitch mounted rack I've had for many years or I just lay my bike down in the bed of the truck (w/ the front wheel off). So I don't have much to add there. haha

Thanks for the info. I have a set of the rooftop racks that I've used on a Nissan Versa and made it up to Alaska and back. Looking at some thule universal tracracs for the bed. Got a hitch bike rack but am looking to get a camper that would occupy the hitch. See that you are from Duluth. We've been looking at property near Grand Marais for possible relocation. Love the area.
Thanks again

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