Help me not buy a Ranger Tremor

[lrtexasman]

The 23 Ranger with the Tremor package is going to be really nice and if it gets the 2.7 it will be worth considering. The dash will look like the Bronco. The size will be similar to outgoing with a boxed front end. Again if you want to go topless, doors off, or non turbo it’s not the right choice.

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[RacerX00]

To the OP. Retired shrink here. Trained to interpret what people really mean when they speak. Of coarse have not ''heard'' you but have read what you have written. I did not read all 8 pages of this posting but enough.

You frequently indicated you want a 2 door Jeep Wrangler. But also that you have kids and thus need more room. You want a pickup truck but not a full sized one. So my opinion is get the Gladiator as it's a compromise position for you-a Jeep AND a truck. Plus it is highly capable, a heck of a lot of fun and you can easlly customize it.

I like the new to market Ford Ranger Tremor version. Ford has taken a decent mid-sized truck and made it better, much better. I'd even consider owning one. But keep in mind they are not inexpensive and in actuality similar price wise to a Jeep Gladiator.

Where I live the local Ford dealer is out of F-150's. They have none on their lot likely because of the chip shortage. And they have just a few Rangers. A few months ago one could buy a new Ranger for at or near dealer invoice and then take the rebates Ford offered as well. Those days are gone for now because of the new vehicle shortages; the dealer is selling his Rangers for MSRP less rebates. So a Lariet Ranger with the Tremor package is around $45,000 after the $2000 rebate.

I have not looked recently but for sure you can get a nicely equipped Gladiator for $45,000 and a base SPORT model for under $40,000 A modestly equipped Gladiator Rubicon is likely somewhat over $50,000 but not $20,000 more than a Ranger with the Tremor package.

Bottom line-I think you really want a Jeep AND a truck. Well, it's available and it's named Gladiator.

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[spectre6000]

We may be more related vehicularly than you think. I may live here but my heart (and body when I'm not working) live elsewhere. I wish I could say/show more but I have a strict rule about showing off the place where I frequent online. Its remoteness is always under threat and any picture that goes viral means a conga line of hundreds of people when normal is like any American back-country place.

20,000 acres of this being a major highway:

And this being "normal":

With this stuff waiting at the top (and easy-ish technical stuff to get there)

She's not the Rubicon but she's also wild, amazing, huge and a place where I spend months at a time.

I will live there in the future.

Again though, a Ridgeline could do all that, I know, I did it in an '87 Accord when I was 16!

I can relate to not wanting people to know about a road or area. The road I live on is often cited as one of the most scenic drives accessible from Denver, and it's a major problem (I actually have one in a long line of standing meetings with the local sheriff's department this afternoon to address this and similar issues as part of our neighborhood funtivities).

OK. So, looking at those photos, you really have no need for a Gladiator. You clearly want one then or we wouldn't be having this conversation. It seems the Ranger is the sensible alternative or something. But is it? Seriously, why the Ranger? Is it that it's a compromise, so you want the most compromised of all the compromises? If you can't justify a Gladiator, I get that. It's more toy than tool for 99% of people, and not a cheap toy at that. If you can't justify the premium for the more fun car, why the Ford? It is literally the worst of all the other mid-size options currently available for sale. Is it a means of putting a thumb on the scale? Make the Gladiator seem even better by comparison than it would against any other option? The more typical choice would be a Tacoma. A TRD Off Road would check all your boxes, be better in every way, and would have high resale value down the road. A Ridgeline would be much better as a DD, and still handle everything you have to throw at it without breaking a sweat. The Nissan is gunning (quite adequately) for the Tacoma, and will be cheaper (and newly available given your timeline). The Colorado is even better than the Ford on paper, AND you can get more meaningful upgrades from the factory with a warranty, AND I think it's even cheaper. You could even compromise slightly less and get a lower spec Gladiator, then do whatever you feel you minimally need to it aftermarket. The Ranger is an also-ran or dead last in every. single. metric. It excels at literally nothing but filling a niche in Ford's lineup after a product planner failed to realize the mid-size market was about to explode and needed a stopgap until they could bring a serious offering to the market. Why the Ranger?

 

[RacerX00]

I can relate to not wanting people to know about a road or area. The road I live on is often cited as one of the most scenic drives accessible from Denver, and it's a major problem (I actually have one in a long line of standing meetings with the local sheriff's department this afternoon to address this and similar issues as part of our neighborhood funtivities).

OK. So, looking at those photos, you really have no need for a Gladiator. You clearly want one then or we wouldn't be having this conversation. It seems the Ranger is the sensible alternative or something. But is it? Seriously, why the Ranger? Is it that it's a compromise, so you want the most compromised of all the compromises? If you can't justify a Gladiator, I get that. It's more toy than tool for 99% of people, and not a cheap toy at that. If you can't justify the premium for the more fun car, why the Ford? It is literally the worst of all the other mid-size options currently available for sale. Is it a means of putting a thumb on the scale? Make the Gladiator seem even better by comparison than it would against any other option? The more typical choice would be a Tacoma. A TRD Off Road would check all your boxes, be better in every way, and would have high resale value down the road. A Ridgeline would be much better as a DD, and still handle everything you have to throw at it without breaking a sweat. The Nissan is gunning (quite adequately) for the Tacoma, and will be cheaper (and newly available given your timeline). The Colorado is even better than the Ford on paper, AND you can get more meaningful upgrades from the factory with a warranty, AND I think it's even cheaper. You could even compromise slightly less and get a lower spec Gladiator, then do whatever you feel you minimally need to it aftermarket. The Ranger is an also-ran or dead last in every. single. metric. It excels at literally nothing but filling a niche in Ford's lineup after a product planner failed to realize the mid-size market was about to explode and needed a stopgap until they could bring a serious offering to the market. Why the Ranger?

You know what? Maybe it's just that the Ranger feels like the right amount of vehicle for my life. Perfect for family, perfect for dirt hauling and Home Depot trips, perfect (well, smaller) than a full size for city parking. It's just the right vehicle. Practical. No need for a front differential because the roads I traverse actual fleet vehicles need to traverse. It's a car payment, I move on with my life.

Just, do I want to go down this road again? The never ending spending, the frustrating endless hours with wiring and trying to get bolt on stuff to fit? Like I don't know that I miss the days where a 20 minute YouTube tutorial turns into 5 hours of personal time investment because of something stupid like something not lining up.

Yes. Yes, I do.

So now I know what is probably the "right" choice (omg remember the Ridgeline?) and what is the choice I want.

Ranger = Slightly more grown up and more practical and pretty cool in its own right
Gladiator = The one you still want

 

[JTBurns]

So I don't really think you can go wrong if you want the Ranger and a 2 door wrangler. The Ranger will have the capability you need and you seem like you'd be happy with it. I'm just not sure how having two vehicles will save you money. You'll have to insure them both, and if you buy a new wrangler, you can easily spend $45 on that too doubling your cost. Even if you find a used one you want as a project, that could easily be $20k because used aren't cheap either. This is where you need to decide if two vehicles is as practical as it sounds or if you should just get one, then let it be the Jeep truck.

 

[RacerX00]

So I don't really think you can go wrong if you want the Ranger and a 2 door wrangler. The Ranger will have the capability you need and you seem like you'd be happy with it. I'm just not sure how having two vehicles will save you money. You'll have to insure them both, and if you buy a new wrangler, you can easily spend $45 on that too doubling your cost. Even if you find a used one you want as a project, that could easily be $20k because used aren't cheap either. This is where you need to decide if two vehicles is as practical as it sounds or if you should just get one, then let it be the Jeep truck.

You know what you're beating around the bush here, it's all the wife's fault. If she'd just be into driving a Jeep I could have the typical JL 4-Door Rubi family hauler that I could have spec'd to the max cause it was for her. Instead she likes not even good SUVs but small ones. You can only make a leased Ford Escape so cool (as in, not).

At that point I'd have a 10+ year old truck and just be happy across the board.

There are simple answers here if my wife would just let me live her life.

 

[TexasTJ]

Not a Tremor, but a co-worker has a Lariat Ranger FX4 that he DDs and uses for road trips with fire roads. Lift, wheels, tires, RTT, etc. He has less than 10k miles on it, and just got it back from the dealership after 2 months of dealing with injector issues. He says he's happy with it.

Not to say that Jeep hasn't bought back their fair share of lemons. I recently debated Gladiator vs Bison ZR2, Pro Taco, Ranger and even the Power Wagon. I couldn't stop looking at the Gladiator because I needed a truck, but wanted another Jeep. It sounds like I go for more technical trails than you intend on. I opted for the Rubicon, so I was set up axle wise and could focus on other areas. Just because you can add all the aftermarket parts to the JT, doesn't mean you have to (KISS). If you’re willing to order and wait for it, you can get better deals than off the dealer lot.

Don't need a front locker? Get the Rubicon out of your head, no reason to spend that much money, other than to say "look at me, I have a RUBICON." Consider a Sport S, or Willys they'll be more than capable. You mentioned $20k in axle upgrades if you go that route, but why? What size tires will you be running? 37s+ fit easily on a JT, but require trimming and body mount chops for a Ranger (if possible?). I know you don't "need" max tow, but a Sport S with max tow ill give you the wider D44 f/r axles.

In the end, the Gladiator just has more soul, more fun factor than a Ranger for me.

 

[JTBurns]

You know what you're beating around the bush here, it's all the wife's fault. If she'd just be into driving a Jeep I could have the typical JL 4-Door Rubi family hauler that I could have spec'd to the max cause it was for her. Instead she likes not even good SUVs but small ones. You can only make a leased Ford Escape so cool (as in, not).

At that point I'd have a 10+ year old truck and just be happy across the board.

There are simple answers here if my wife would just let me live her life.

Yea I hear you. I'm trying to convince my wife on a JLU for her next vehicle, but I think she'll end up with something else.

On the other hand you're saying your kids are getting older, so maybe see if you can find good deal on a used Wrangler if you feel comfortable letting them drive it when they have their license. It can be a project to work on together too

 

[dcmdon]

My wife likes how they look! But then again, she married me

Does she like the new '21 Ridgeline with the bigger grill or the 18-20 Ridgeline?

 

[Bonanza]

It looks like a basic fleet truck with a lift and aggressive tires… obviously subjective but there is nothing “cool” looking about the Ranger even in the Tremor trim.

The Toyota Tacoma has more personality than the Ranger and I see them in hoards every day.

The Colorado and Ranger scream out "Municipal Work Truck". There's no way to escape that every trim of that truck sits on a $20k aimpoint chassis.

 

[PyrPatriot]

Does she like the new '21 Ridgeline with the bigger grill or the 18-20 Ridgeline?

18-20 I believe. Saw a new one on the lot last year driving past and commented it looked nice, but not a candle to the blazing glory that is the Gladiator

 

[RacerX00]

18-20 I believe. Saw a new one on the lot last year driving past and commented it looked nice, but not a candle to the blazing glory that is the Gladiator

I'm not gonna lie, I think I like the old look better. The new look isn't impressive and the old look you get to make fun of yourself for driving a topless minivan.

 

[texanjeeper]

Guys, there is an ignore button, you know. For ridiculousness and all kinds of other reasons.

 

[brianinca]

The Ranger will drive better on the freeway, has more torque and will be a smoother, quieter ride. It will tow nearly as much as a JT Max Tow, AND it has significantly higher payload, which means you can have tongue weight and cargo at the same time.

For regular truck like stuff, the Ranger is a better truck than the Gladiator. If you can live with the transmission, which Ford MUST have revised the software by now, it's got even more gears and a WIDE power band, and a motor you can add 35 HP to for $500!

If you want Jeep stuff in a truck, that's different, but you aren't DOING Jeep stuff by your own statements. Running down a fire road doesn't need a Jeep, I spent years flying down unmaintained roads and over dunes in a 97 Ranger. Destroying rocker panels crawling rocks was why I realized it was time for a Wrangler, but I sure missed having a truck! Still miss my Ranger as a Ranger, though.

I used to know exactly which truck I wanted, then a year passed and Ford's decent offering took a front seat with the Tremor. I know it's not a Raptor but I'm also not too keen on spending $70,000 for the smallest class of truck you can buy in the US. (also it doesn't exactly exist yet)

I love everything about the Tremor, it's a lot of what I would do aftermarket + it has those damn cool aux switches and angry but properly subdued accents (without gfx package obviously).

I'm feeling like right now I spend $45,000 on a decked out Ranger Tremor and make myself as happy as if I had a Gladiator, but $20,000 richer (over similarly equipped JTR) without feeling like I'm rolling around in an unfinished symphony constantly wanting to upgrade.

For some reason I look at the Tremor as a complete, small, perfect little truck and a Gladiator as a blank canvas. I know some people here gotta feel the same way even if it's illogical.

So, what are my reasons for wanting a JTR over a Ranger Tremor? I'm having a hard time making $20,000 price difference make sense.

Edit: Let's get the obvious out of the way, I don't need a front locker. I off-road probably more than 95% of the people here who don't go to off-road parks and I've needed a front locker a total of 0 times. If a road is even slightly engineered for actual vehicular use, our trucks are stupid capable and the front locker is a pretty damn expensive thing to not really ever need. Even if you're in those off-road parks, if we're honest.

 

[RacerX00]

The Ranger will drive better on the freeway, has more torque and will be a smoother, quieter ride. It will tow nearly as much as a JT Max Tow, AND it has significantly higher payload, which means you can have tongue weight and cargo at the same time.

For regular truck like stuff, the Ranger is a better truck than the Gladiator. If you can live with the transmission, which Ford MUST have revised the software by now, it's got even more gears and a WIDE power band, and a motor you can add 35 HP to for $500!

If you want Jeep stuff in a truck, that's different, but you aren't DOING Jeep stuff by your own statements. Running down a fire road doesn't need a Jeep, I spent years flying down unmaintained roads and over dunes in a 97 Ranger. Destroying rocker panels crawling rocks was why I realized it was time for a Wrangler, but I sure missed having a truck! Still miss my Ranger as a Ranger, though.

Well said. A decent set of skid plates is really all the aftermarket I "need" on any vehicle.

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