What's the best old 4 x 4 ?

[spuddog0507]

a lad i work with now and then who is in to the plant game wrote his supercab ranger off about 12 mth ago found a replacment for it on a 65 plate got it transported from the NE to lancs and had it at a mot garage for a inspection and it was all rusty underneath and the chasis was full of sand so been on a beach some where and then went to exiter to view another and that was worse but about a yr older so ended up with a brand spanker,

[5 shires]

11 hours ago, arboriculturist said:

I know nothing about 4x4s except landrovers, having always run dropside trucks. We need an old 15 - 20 year old basic pickup as it will only do around 10 local miles a week. There are lots of older Ford Rangers, Hiluxes, Izuzus etc about for £1500 - 2000 but I have no idea which to avoid when buying a fairly old 4x4 model. I have heard some makes of that age will always be rust buckets. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Ford Ranger everytime...anything from 2001 upto 2012 you can pick up for not a lot of money...don’t even bother looking at any other Truck.

[billpierce]

Ford Ranger everytime...anything from 2001 upto 2012 you can pick up for not a lot of money...don’t even bother looking at any other Truck.

Mazda b2500?

[billpierce]

Ford Ranger everytime...anything from 2001 upto 2012 you can pick up for not a lot of money...don’t even bother looking at any other Truck.

Mazda b2500?

[5 shires]

10 minutes ago, billpierce said:

1 hour ago, 5 shires said:

Ford Ranger everytime...anything from 2001 upto 2012 you can pick up for not a lot of money...don’t even bother looking at any other Truck.

Mazda b2500?

Mazda/Ranger same thing really but leave the 2.5 and g for 3.0 Wildtrak awesome Truck.

[peatff]

Taliban wagon every time if I had room for one

[Shaff]

No tow bar on that one so it’s had an easy life?

[wicklamulla]

4 hours ago, 5 shires said:

Ford Ranger everytime...anything from 2001 upto 2012 you can pick up for not a lot of money...don’t even bother looking at any other Truck.

i always got the impression the Rangers up to 2006 were the better ones to own as a few folks around here have 2009, 2010/11  2.5 models and head gaskets appear to be a problem. I think the 3.0 is the one to avoid too.

[5 shires]

1 minute ago, wicklamulla said:

i always got the impression the Rangers up to 2006 were the better ones to own as a few folks around here have 2009, 2010/11  2.5 models and head gaskets appear to be a problem. I think the 3.0 is the one to avoid too.

Any modal after 2011/12 and up to 2015/16 had issues as Ford kinder took there eye of the ball.but as an overall work Truck Ford/ Ford Ranger are by far the best all round truck and don’t cost silly money for second hand unlike hilux etc. 

[arboriculturist]

Several of the 2000 - 2004  Rangers I checked out said as Advisories:

 

Front body mounts are in poor condition

Rear chassis corroded on rear fuel tank mounting bracket

Underside of vehicle showing signs of corrosion

 

Is this what is to be expected on Rangers and should these vehicles be avoided or are these issues superficial?