f150 switching to a ranger...?
 

So I don't really need my f150 and have been thinking about switching to something smaller that gets better gas mileage. Would a 4x4 4.0 v6 ranger get much better gas mileage than my 4.6 4x4 f150 really? lately i've only been getting a little over 9mpg driving like a grandma in town, but its minnesota so i know the cold and winter gas dont help.

Only thing I pull with the truck is my 16.5 foot fishing boat, by the way. 99.9 percent of my driving is NOT towing, so i would rather get better mpg when driving to work and stuff, but still be able to haul the boat.

Wow! 9 mpg? What mods and what style truck do you have? I would think you should get alot more than that, even when its cold, I get like 14 when its cold and I drive pretty hard.

According to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm both get the same fuel economy at 15 mpg.

(I compared 2001 Ranger 4x4 with the 4L vs. 2001 F-150 4x4 with the 4.6 )

the 4.0 4x4 rangers dont typically get much better mileage than the F-150's but they do get alot better than 9 MPG's. right now my F-150 is getting just 1 or 2 MPG's less than my ranger does but im waiting to see what warmer weather will do for my mileage. i get 16-17 AVG MPG's with my ranger, worst ever was 10 but that was hauling nearly 4,000 pounds worth of trailer and toys. best ive ever gotten was 22 but that was all highway. keep in mind those numbers are with 33" tires and 4:56 gears.

its a 97 4x4 4.6 auto. 150,000 miles. replaced tranny... supposedly. I just got new motorcraft spark plugs, and wires. New stock sized tires. New k&N air filter. Driving basically only city and driving like a grandma i get barely over 9mpg lately... even with the temps warming up the past couple weeks. i even quit letting it warm up in the morning and i still get the same mpg. On a recent trip that was mostly highway 72 to 55 mph, i still only pulled of a little over 13 mpg.

I think i'm still having some problems because it idles high when i start it up, like possibly an iac issue, but would that kill my mpg?

I have no mods, but even if i did gotts mod or some of the other stuff i was reading about.... wouldn't a stock ranger with a v6 still do better mpg?

I've had one offer to trade it for a ranger, but the ranger the guy has is a 99' 4.0 4x4 regular cab long box, with no cruise control, no power windows or locks, and 170,000 miles. My truck is an extended cab, with power windows, and cruise, and 20,000 less miles (which may make no difference). I know i can get by with a smaller reg. cab truck, but i've gotten used to having that extra room in the back seat. But less money on gas would be swell.

Is he offering you a good chunk of cash? If not, don't go through with it, your truck is worth alot more than a stripped-out Ranger.

I am right there with you with that gas mileage..I have a 1997 scab long bed with the auto 5.4 and 3.73 gears. I sucks but from what I hear the rangers dont get much for gas mileage due to their terrible weight to torque ratio. If you are looking for a ranger for the mpgs get the smaller engine.

Gotta pull the boat still so would not want a smaller v6, and this is the only offer i have got so far. I think the value is pretty close to the same actually also.... kbb. And according to his descriptions, his truck is in a lot nicer shape than mine.

9mpg cant be right, theres gotta be something that needs cleaning or adjusting, i drive like a total douche on hills and stuff flooring it and the worst i got was 10, i would have to try to get 9.