does ne1 else know how fast the 4.0 rangers are? weak top but takeoff is damn good. my first was a ranger and i still got it 187,000+ and still strong. my parents went in with me and got it because they said it was a small truck and wouldnt go fast, well its not a killer but many times i ate up v6 stangs with it. but if i were to buy another small truck, definatly ranger is where id put my money.
Welcome to here.
They are a pretty stout package.Good rear end gearing,and trans ratios are well matched to the motor.They had a bad reputation for reliability in the early years of the 4.0L (head gaskets,etc),but now they have most of the bugs worked out.
If you get a loaded ext cab,4X4,auto,with big tires,then they start to get a little weak on power.The smaller,lighter trucks were much faster.
The HP rating on the new ones is approximately 210hp. I have the 3.0 and I know that the governor kicks in on most of the newer rangers at anywhere from 85 to 95 MPH. Welcome to the site if you need more Ranger information a good place to get it would be at www.rangerpowersports.com. They have lots of posts about power ratings and race results from the 4.0 Rangers. As for this site im sure that you will find it quite knowledgeable as to the ins and outs of plowing and the plow itself :)
Jay
ya i have a single cab, 2 wheel drive, manual trans
That truck must be pretty hard to keep the tires planted,as they are very light in the rear.
Jay - I tried to follow the link you posted,but it won't display a page,or loads very,very slowly.After a min or two,I gave up.Is it normally like that ?
Jay - the link works now,looks like they are doing a lot of server work,which would explain the problem.
Yes sorry Chris I failed to mention that they are revamping things over there.
Jay
Yep!
Had a '92 Ranger Sport (not sure what made it a "sport") regular cab, 4.0, 5 speed, 2 wheel drive. That thing was fun! Went through tires pretty quick on that thing, but I was also only 19 or 20 back then. Ah...the good ol' days...
I think the only problem I had with it was that it was USELESS during the winter!
-Tim
That's OK Jay,your forgiven.:D
I have A 2001 Ford ranger 4x4, does it make for a good plowing truck? I want to get into plowing for some extra $$ but not exactly sure where to start and found this. So Im hopin you guys can help me.
Hey Duke if you still have a warranty in effect don't do it its not worth voiding your warranty over.
Jay
Duke your ranger can plow with a 7ft snowplow. Your warranty will be voided over it though. i know curtis and western make a mount for your truck.
pumpkin:
That would have been the next question is whether it would void it or not. Thanks guys.
I believe it states it right in the owners manual.
ford wont warrenty anything with a plow unless it has a front straight axel which means you have a f350
Had a 96 Ford ranger with a 4.0, super cab 4x4 stick.Wouldnt consider it a fast vehicle.Thought about plowing with it but basically the truck would've fallen apart.That truck is good for messig around in the snow and mud.I would never consider or recommend putting a plow on any veicle unle it is a 250,2500, or higher.Anything beneath that would fall apart or you will really give the vehicle a beating.
Also keep in mind, a Ranger has the same frame as an Explorer, there is nothing heavy duty about it.Plowing puts alot of stress on the frame and that truck is totally not designed to plow.Read your owners manual, it will say not recommened for snow plowing.Basically a ranger is considered a cehicle wuith a truck like body, it technically is not a truck, same goes with the F-150 and 1500 series vehicles.Unless the suspesion and leaf springs are beefed up.
As far as you beating a 6 cylinder mustang, that particular mustang is very slow to begin with.I think it has like 150 hp.Dont get me wrong, Rangers do have some spunk to them and are great when playing around in the mud.I'd just would have second thoughts on plowing with it.
Did you know that when automobile companies judge the hp of the vehicle it is from the hp at the flywheel?By the time it reaches the rear wheels it is awhole let less then what you are getting.On any vehicle.Unless you put in on a dyno you will never know the true hp your vehicle has.Remeber Hp is judgeed at the fly wheel, not at the rear wheels, when you buy a new vehicle.
i had a 2001 ranger ext cab 4x4 with the 4.0. i did not consider it a fast vehicle at all. out of the hole it was pretty bad 30- 70 it was ok, but if youre looking to race by a car, if youre looking to plow by a truck, the ranger falls in the middle and is neither. a loaded ranger will come in sticker for about $25k now for that price tag you can get a f250 which will plow all day. the 250 stock has a 10 mile an hour faster speed because of the govenor if you want to race too.
My stock Honda Civic keeps up even with a 4.0 Ranger. They are both 2001 and both are stock besides a K&N filter. Thats not sayingt much. My Civic is good transportation. BUt it is not fast!!!! Minivans and Dodge Rams beat me all the time. I think its funny how slow my car is, and it keeps right up with the Ranger with the 4.0. Oh, and by the way, the Rangers a goverened at 89 mph, so you better hope the race isn't more than a block long or you will idle down whether you want to or not.

Well I finally bit the bullet and got the truck I had posted about a month ago. It's as I said back then, 2002 550 , 4x4, 9' rugby, auto, diesel, and AC. The original price was 38550 got it for 37,960 not a bargain but considering its new and is now more popular than ever (6.0 not getting great press) I felt it was the best I was ever going to do on a new truck. Thanks to all who helped me with their advice and experience with these trucks. Now I know since I bought this truck it won't snow next year :rolleyes: but this is an investment for the next ten years or more payup .
truck
Nice truck ! You should be happy with it.
Thats a great truck. I hope that you have the best of luck with that truck. So what kinda plow is going on the truck? A 10ft? Best of luck buddy! ;)
Thanks guys :waving:
Meyer thats a good question. I think I might go with the Fisher 9.6 v or the blizzard 8/11 they both have good and bad points for my type of work.
I'd go with the heavier Blizzard,or some other municipal\commercial type plow.The Fisher V's don't seem to hold up too well behind the heavier F4-550's.
Yeah I know what you mean wyldman and so does Fisher . The rep at sima told me they know about the problems with the plow on a 450-550 but also said most of the problems come from some one with a little too much "enthusiasm" when pushing back piles (something I can relate to). One of the issues I've had with the Blizzard is it does seem to do what most trip blades do and that is it tends to lean over when stacking heavy wet snow, something trip edges don't experience. I'll have to weigh the pros and cons of both.
There isn't really a problem with the blade "leaning over".or flopping forward.It's a much softer trip that a trip edge plow,and it will continue to scrape.
I've had many plow with both designs,and find the full-trip system much better.Trip spring tension is also important,as if it isn't set right,the plow will not trip as designed.
I'm not arguing the scraping abilty of the trip blade, what I'm saying is the stacking ability is not that of a trip edge. I have a 8/10 on our bobcat and it does make good size piles but the v blades pile's are considerably larger and the bobcat has a tremendous height adavantage over a pickup truck. This debate about trip types is an endless one and I fall on the side of edges vs blades but to each his own.
What might decide the blade type that I buy is the applications its used for among many other factors.
Very nice truck! I like it alot. Best of luck with it. Have you considered putting on a set of chrome wheel caps?? I know its a work truck and all, but the chrome wheel caps would really dress that beauty up and make it look even better. Keep us posted on what brand plow you go with and post pics of the truck and plow together. :drinkup: Mike
Blizzard would be a great snowplow to put on that truck. You should most likly go 10ft with the plow size. i know i would.:)
Nice truck JD,im glad you went with the F-550 and the powerstrokes a great engine.Go with the Blizzard 8/11 you might as well get the plow thats gonna last.I just got a truck not to long ago with the blizzard 810 I cant wait to try it out!
Nice job, JD.
Whichever plow you look at, find out the working width at full angle, make sure it exceeds the track width of the rear axle. This is where my problem is, my plow angles so sharp I lose work width and trail through the windrow.
my chevy 3500 has dual wheels and the 8ft Meyer is to small. one thing you gotta make sure when getting a plow is getting the correct size. i like bigger snowplow like 9ft and bigger but thats me:redbounce
Yep, 8' on a DRW truck is definitely too small. 8.5' is the minimum I believe you should have on a dually truck, 9' is probably ideal. You gotta keep in mind when you angle the plow fully to one side its not as wide as it was when straight. Then you also gotta keep in mind that when you are cutting the wheel, that your back wheels arent ending up in the snow, the plow you choose should be wide enough to cover this. Mike
JD, how's the truck working out?
Any decision on a plow yet?
hey meyer 22288,if you get a bigger plow,let me know,I'm looking for an 8 foot meyer blade.my 7.5 is a bit small for my Suburban.
ok buddy ill let you know when i get a bigger plow blade.
JD I was wounderin why you wanted a rugby body?I never really liked they way there headboard designs are set up.I like the airflow or the new iroquos body is nice.
Cat I didn't have much of a choice when it came to the manufacturer. If I wanted a new 02 I pretty much had to go with what was out there. I called and emailed more than a few dealers and got three replies, all 550's with rugby dumps. Honestly the body doesn't really concern me that much, it holds plenty of material (it will hold more when I get the extensions put on) and won't be spending as much time dumping as it will plowing and spreading.
Pelican I have not made a decision when it comes a plow but I will be calling some dealers soon for prices. The dump got its first real work today hauling stumps and yard waste down at my parents place on the cape. Worked fine except when I dropped the tailgate and it hit the pintle hitch :realmad: .

Looking at buying a used plow in good condition for light use. I know a guy that is selling a Northman "Great American 2200B". It's an 8'er and the pump goes under the hood. As my handle states I have a 1997 F250HD. The great thing that I can see about this plow is 1. it came off a truck like mine so I should have no? mounting issues and 2. it's 23 miles from my house! Does anyone have any comments (go ahead I can take it) for this specific model?
Again, I'm in the market for a good used plow that I could mount with limited headaches to do a few driveways and a couple of small business close to mine that will help offset my kids ice hockey cost:)
Thanks in advance gang!!!!:drinkup:
I think thats just a waste of money.

Please provide any links to sites that sell add-a-leafs for my 250 listed below. I did not find them on Trailmaster or Superlift.
Thanks Guys :drinkup:
Try www.google.com, then type in your search request.
try
www.jcwhitney.com
I got air bags. Love em.
www.macsspring.com
Go to a local spring shop and have them set them up for you to your specs... And or get Timbren load boosters.. Think its' www.timbren.com I put two leafs in back with the timbrens and one up front.. I dont sag at all with the trailer hooked up unless i'm full of wet grass... .
f2501960,
Try this http://www.tuffcountry.com/addaleafs.html
I have them on my truck.
Greg
I have a 1990 f250 how hard are the add a leafs to put on? Thanks Ben
Took me 2-3 hours to do the rear axle.
Fighting rust is biggest problem, other than that pretty simple job.
I fight rust with the torch!You should probably get new U-bolts anyways so just cut the old ones off,you will save a lot of headaches in the long run,also C clamp your springs together before you take out the center bolt on your leaf pack,trust me you will save hours and hours of screwing around this way!I learned the hard way,also another set of hands is helpful,read the instructions and take your time,probably a couple hours but not that difficult
Thanks, Im going to order a set today.
I gave up, had a spring shop do mine. GREAT almost a 1 ton.
Thanks a lot to Dockboy for the info on the leafs!
Rick

Does anyone know of any classic bronco clubs in Connecticut? I am looking to get involved with one for recreation and technical help in rebuilding mine. Any help would be appreciated.
goto classicbroncos.com you will get all the info you'll ever need. There are clubs further south, but I don't know of any in CT... They all rusted away 20 years ago.
I had to wait till I got out to the midwest to build/restore/buy my totally rust free uncut 76'.
Oh, and take out a second mortgage on your house, these thing are dam expensive. Mine 5k used, and 10k in parts (NP435, fuel injection, motor, transfer case wiring, plumbing, misc misc and more misc)
I think they are the best vehicle ever made.
Howard