I am looking into buying a Ranger soon, it will be my first truck. My question involves the trim levels. How is the drivetrain and suspension on the XLT models? I don't plan to do any serious off-roading, however I will be using 4WD a good bit going to and from my deer stand all fall and into the winter. Would the FX4 or Edge package be really worth the cost for me if I never plan on really going wheeling? The truck I am looking at has 89K on it. How are the automatic transmissions paired to the 4.0 motor? Anything to watch out for? Thanks for bearing with me, trying to learn. Is there a stickie that details all the ins and outs of the trimlines?

 

great idea, i was thinking the same thing, we need a sticky for they!

The Fx4 sounds like what you need! Since you wont go wheeling alot, it has what you need WHEN you need it! or just get what i have, i dont wheel alot, but i do have a 4.0L, 4.10 gears, and 4x4 WHEN i do need it! i dont have the fx4, but all i really lack is the bilstein shocks! If you want a REALLY nice Ranger, find urself a FX4 Level II! they come with a Torsen Limited Slip Rearend, Bilstein Shocks (or Ranco in later years i think), 15" Alcoa Wheels, All black interior, and you have the option of black leather seats, the 01-03 models had the option of double chrome sticks, that is a 5 speed and a manual transfer case (mine and all others have elec. shift on the fly)! The Level II is the Ranger fully loaded!

They are as follows:

XL: base package, all stock including vinyl seats, floors, basic radio, you can find them in 4x4 supercab model, but usually they are Fleet trucks this way!



XLT: Steps up with chrome bumpers and grille (only grille 06' and up) they come with carpet or vinyl floors, 4x4 or 4x2 models availiabe in reg cab, supercab (supercab usually have jump seats in back but some have storage boxes in place). The interior is updated to a cloth interior and wither have a 60/40 bench/buckets seats or just regular buckets with a center console. They have the option of fog lites which USUALLY come standard on 4x4s, but is not always the case. The 4x2 XLTs generally have a regular hood (no powerdome) but after 2004 or 05, they now have powerdomes too! 01-03s didnt.... 4X4 models come with the powerdoe standard. 01-03s 4x2 XLTs usually come with a chrome h bar style grille while the 4x4s came with a full honeycomb grille. 04'+ come with a chrome H-Bar grille (different thean 01-03s). They also come in 4 door supercab and 2 door supercab (mine is 2 door supercab) models. The rear doors are suicide doors.


4x2 model


4x4 model

Edge/Sport: Depending on the year they are either the Edge or Sport. 98-00, they were Sport, 2001-2005, they were Edge, 06+ back to Sport. These have the same as the XLT, hoever, there is NO chrome on truck! All panels are body paint matched. on the 01-05s they had black honeycome grilles. 06-07, they have h-bar grilles that are paint matched. 08+ they have a Horizontal bar stule grille. The Edges have all the features of the XLT, just with these few minor changes


Edge Model


Sport moel

XLT FX4: All the features mentioned for the XL, however, the suspension is upgraded to Bilstein shocks. They also usually have the 4.10 gears.



Fx4 Level IIs: They have all the features of the FX4, however they are updated with all black plastic interior. The seats are (dependign on the year) black with colored inserts. In some years, they came with a stone like pattern insert. The best option is the black leather. These also come with Bilstein shocks. However, i think the 06+ (no longer called levell II) come with Ranchos that may just be the newest ones though. Also 01-03s came with the double sticks (manual transfer case and manual tranny). They are also equiped with a Torsen LS diff. The best thing about the LIIs is that they came with Alcoa Wheels in three different finishes: either machined, polished, or DSG (gunmetal)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/129/3...451b63.jpg?v=0
newer model


01-03 model

 

My '99 XLT came with 4.10 L/S, and it was plenty to get me through almost a foot of snow in 4x4 to get to a duck blind.

 

My set-up would also be fine, like i said i have evything the fx4 has minus the bilsteins and 4 doors....

4.0L Auto, 4.10 gears, Elec. Shift on the fly transfer case, 16" alloys, 255/75R16s, etc....
i dont off road mus (not bc i dont want to but bc i dont know where to)

 

the edge/sports have power options as an option. xlt has them as a standard (locks, windows) so do the fx4's.

i bought an xlt 4x4 because i didn't like the fender flares and i liked the idea of chrome (even if it's fake).

i can't help you with the transmission question as i havea stick. but i do kno that the mid to late 90's had issues with the auto trans. i'm sure since then they have worked out the bugs (or at least hope so).

 

I have an 02 XLT 4x4 offroad extended cab 4.0 SOHC Automatic. I don't off road in mine it does a good job in the winter time. I haven't had any issues with the transmission.

 

If I were to buy another Ranger I would stay away from the manual tranny. They have slave cylinder issues and the tranny itself is not good.

The 4.0 engines have timing tensionor problems from 01 to 03 and maybe some 04 engines. Nothing serious on my engine jsut a loud rattle at about 2800 RPM under light load.