Help me not buy a Ranger Tremor

[FLGladiator]

That's a little oversimplified, first I'd take the Ford power plant over the non-diesel Gladiator any day of the week because it's actually a modern engine platform with tons of HP and torque for its displacement and gas mileage. The "2012" rip only half holds up as when it came to the states it got overhauled pretty heavily. Also, Ford's global platforms are pretty stellar, world renowned even, they're just not popular in the states (Fiesta, Focus).

As for the exterior looks the updated Tremor face is pretty sweet and it's not a bad looking truck by any stretch of the imagination and is an improvement on the already improved American version of the global platformed Ranger:

As for the interior, I've said it before on this thread that the Gladiator interior is "fun" which is different than "better." Applying hard plastics with style is still applying hard plastics. Also, from what I hear the Ford Ranger comes equipped with some kind of fan/vent combo that keeps your windshield from fogging up, sounds like witchcraft to me.

Looks about 4 notches down from a Tacoma. You can have all that sweetness.

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[FitfulGoat]

Looks about 4 notches down from a Tacoma. You can have all that sweetness.

Agreed 100%. I’d buy a Tacoma over this any day.

 

[red/green hawk]

Did not buy my JT for frills and whistles. Frankly if you're looking for that and little bit of off road capability go with a Taco Sport or Offroad.

Dude, I paid 34k out the door for my Sport S Max Tow and for a couple grand more put some bigger, more aggressive tires and a couple more mods that can take me almost anywhere I gauruntee you'll be worried about going in your Tremor. If all your doing is driving to work and afraid of getting stuck in a mud puddle than that Ranger is the truck for you.

I don't have lockers and I sure as hell don't worry about it. I definitely don't come up to an obstacle piss my pants and not go forward because I don't have lockers.

 

[Bucephalus]

My Ranger[2002 edge] is the best vehicle i've ever owned. Not the fastest or flashiest but the best in terms of reliability and toughness. It's a cheap ass interior but it's the perfect little truck. I wanted a new ranger but they're just too damn expensive, a fully loaded one was north $45k. I picked up the Gladiator and couldn't be happier. I'll add a used diesel F250 down the line but i'm happy with my Gladiator.

 

[Biff Happy]

“I dunno man, I'm getting old and if I'm honest I haven't been truly offroad since I had kids (oldest is 13 now).”

seriously, if I could say this statement, I would be looking at 2 wheel drive trucks, very capable on road, better MPG, and cheaper too.

 

[cb4017]

So last year I traded a JLU Wrangler on a 2020 Ranger XLT FX4. I pretty quick put the Ford Performance leveling kit on it, running boards and spray in bedliner. Sweet truck. It was very quick, got decent mileage and fun to drive. Six months later I traded it for my Gladiator Sport max tow.

No regrets.

A couple of things about the Ranger bothered me.
The direct injection engine is noisy. Those injectors will make you think you're driving a diesel. A lot of Ranger owners are having problems with fuel in the oil contaminating and thinning the oil. Within 4,000 miles mine had beat synthetic 5w-30 down to a 20w and there was some fuel in the oil.
Carbon deposits on the intake valves. Direct injection engines will build deposits on the valves from the beginning. Nothing to do about it except take it in for walnut shell blasting when it gets to be a problem. That just bugged me.
The 10 speed transmission. It's ok, but never seems to make it's mind up what gear it wants to be in. Especially around town at lower speeds. The only way to get it to shift normally was to put it in trailer tow or sport mode.
Delayed acceleration. When you want to step on the gas and get going the Ranger always had a delay while it figured out what you wanted it to do, shifted gears and did it.

After getting my Gladiator here are my thoughts.
For everyday driving around town the Gladiator is just as much fun as the Ranger. For highway and road trips the Ranger is better.
The 8-speed auto in the Gladiator is clearly superior than the 10-speed. It is smooth, not indecisive and always keeps the engine in it's happy place.
Off road the limitations of the Ranger IFS front suspension are apparent. Pretty regular I would have a tire in the air because of the lack of articulation. The Gladiator goes over the same places with all 4 tires planted on the ground.
If you get the urge to modify then it's Jeep all the way.

Don't get me wrong, the Ranger was a decent truck. But it wasn't for me and just seemed like a toy compared to the Gladiator.

Almost forgot. Oil changes. To get to the oil filter on the Ranger you have to get into the driver's side wheel well and take down the splash guard to get to the filter. PITA. Just a consideration if you like changing your own oil. I read about one quick lube place on the Ranger forums that would not change the oil on the Ranger because they didn't want to go through the process to change the filter, or they didn't know how.

 

[DocMike]

This all day. Personal preference. You drive dirt roads. Get the Ford. I can be on great trails in 30 min. Got the Jeep. I like my solid axle.

Drive both, buy what you like more.

My guy here likes his 9mm. I like my .45. Not gonna get into pissing contest about which is better.

Subtle differences.

I'm not gonna take a preference and take it personal. I would not buy one or a Tacoma, but If you are chill, I'll wheel with you.

"Need" is a subjective word. I think the real question is where you want to be on the capability vs use spectrum. Do you want the ridgeline operating close to the edge of its limits, or do you want more in the tank if you need it. Like a .22 could get the job done 99% of the time, but I carry a 9mm. Not because I "need" it but because I have more confidence in it when things get dicey. If you like the ridgeline or Ranger or whatever buy what you like. A skilled driver in the ridgeline would get through things a moron in a Rubicon couldn't. To each their own.

 

[Rollcast]

Ranger? Gross.

 

[Higher_Ground]

Ironic to me. I had a Honda Accord and used it as my "off road" vehicle to get to river banks to throw in my kayak. Usually not a problem, but after a few severe rain events some of the places I wanted to go were way too rutted out for me to even attempt. I wasn't worried so much about damage but just bottoming out and getting stuck.

So I decided maybe I should look at a small truck to get the clearance I needed. At this point I had never heard of the Gladiator and wasn't really considering a Wrangler. I started looking at Tacomas when I noticed someone in my neighborhood driving a Gladiator (lifted, big ass tires, red wheels, sting grey paint). I thought it looked pretty cool so I did a bit of research and headed to the local Jeep dealership.

The salesman took me on a .5 mile test drive, decided I probably couldn't even afford one since I wasn't willing to pay MSRP, and suggested I test drive a couple Ford Rangers on the used lot. I humored him enough to look at one, but had to point out "Dude, I came here to buy a new Jeep and you're showing me old Fords."

Needless to say I did not go back. Found what I wanted somewhere else.

A bare bones Gladiator still beats the competition when it comes to ground clearance and 4WD. I don't really see myself needing anything else. Not going to flex, not going to winch myself up/down a mountain. Just want to get over some washouts and not worry about wet rocks/mud.

 

[PDiddy]

If I was looking at the Ranger, I would also look at the new Frontier. Affordable (most likely) and looks pretty badass.

Let's be honest though, you should probably be able to figure this out on your own.

 

[red/green hawk]

Let's be real, 95% of us on this forum think "JT vs" as it applies to one category only. What can it do over a pile of rocks or a pit of mud? Don't give me that crap that an experienced driver in a Ridgeline is even anything comparable. Even mall crawlers build their rigs to convey this image. Build that Temor all you want, or anything for that matter, and it's still NOTHING compared to what we're driving and taking off road.

 

[Boostnu]

If I was looking at the Ranger, I would also look at the new Frontier. Affordable (most likely) and looks pretty badass.

Let's be honest though, you should probably be able to figure this out on your own.

Has Nissan ever decided on a release date for the new frontier? If it actually looks like this then that would be a big leap forward for them after having the same body style for what 15-16 years. I had a 2015 and 2019 model frontier and loved the 4.0. The truck for the price was hard to beat at the time.

 

[OrangeTJ]

Regardng the Ranger, all I can say is that my dad has had one for about two years and it has been a great little truck for him. I think his is an FX4 but I'm not certain. It easily goes everywhere he wants to take it, which includes a lot of rough forest roads and such but no serious/recreational wheeling for its own sake. My folks also use it to tow a 17 foot travel trailer, which they've towed coast to coast along the northern route. His drives nicely, has been perfectly reliable and is comfortable, tight and rattle free. His truck before that was a 1990 Ford F250 that he bought new in 1989. Yeah - he takes care of his vehicles and keeps them a long time.

If the differentiating features of the JT don't really matter to you or how you'll use it and if you like the look and feel of the Ford, why not get the Ford? It sounds like it will do everything you are looking for and then some. For me, with three other Jeeps under my belt, having a soft top and the Jeep look & feel are big selling features for me so I'll be buying a JT in the near future.

 

[Ridgeline]

I don't understand this thread and those like it.... Are you trying to RATIONALIZE buying a Jeep??

If you have to ask, it isn't for you. Here's mine:

 

[ScottBeach]

I don't understand this thread and those like it.... Are you trying to RATIONALIZE buying a Jeep??

If you have to ask, it isn't for you. Here's mine:

Its a jeep thing. Owned a lot of trucks. First that just makes me smile

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