Ford Ranger vs Mazda B2500 etc. Tell me more.

[FOAD]

I had a 2WD 2004 2.5TD Ranger.

DSC_0928 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0914 by srblythe, on Flickr


Great for sliding around wet roundabouts. When the head gasket blew 200 miles from home and I had no other option but to top up coolant and keep driving, It eventually cracked its cylinder head so I sold it and bout an L200.

DSC_0139 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0230 by srblythe, on Flickr


I think the L200 drives a little bit better than the Ranger did.

DSC_0418 by srblythe, on Flickr

DSC_0420 by srblythe, on Flickr

[voodoo57]

I am looking for some decent steel wheels for my B2500 v reg Mazda, i bought a set of powder coated (early model) ranger wheels, but found the centre was a lot different from mine???

[grizz]

Been looking at CarandClassic.com, Gumtree and Evilbay.

Looks like there are a fair amount of these trucks with blown head gaskets, or similar.

Looking for L200 trucks, there seems to be less of them, and the Nissan pickups equally nothing cheap n cheerful.

A few of the adds did make me smile as they would fit right into the NOPE thread.

[Dez]

Nov 27, 2017 17:26:18 GMT grizz said:

Been looking at CarandClassic.com, Gumtree and Evilbay.

Looks like there are a fair amount of these trucks with blown head gaskets, or similar.

Looking for L200 trucks, there seems to be less of them, and the Nissan pickups equally nothing cheap n cheerful.

A few of the adds did make me smile as they would fit right into the NOPE thread.

The headgaskets don't go as such, the head go porous. Which causes the headgasket to go but it's a symptom not the actual fault. @steathstylz knows roughly what milage they tend to go I think. Higher milage trucks are often a better option as they're 100% guaranteed to have been fixed if they're still about.

[jaykay]

Nov 27, 2017 17:26:18 GMT grizz said:

Been looking at CarandClassic.com, Gumtree and Evilbay.

Looks like there are a fair amount of these trucks with blown head gaskets, or similar.

Looking for L200 trucks, there seems to be less of them, and the Nissan pickups equally nothing cheap n cheerful.

A few of the adds did make me smile as they would fit right into the NOPE thread.

Ive been hunting all the sane for rangers, b2500s and l200s aswell, but of the 4wd variety. Apparently rangers / b2500s are same engines as the bongo, and a friend done a head replacement of one of them this year with a recon head quite cheap. I'm definetly not ruling them out..

[Midland Performance & Retro]

I bought a 4x4 Ranger for the snow we had last month and it's been one of my best ever purchases. I've looked at them and nearly bought one many times in the past. I recently moved house and live on an estate which is at the top of a hill, but then bends round into a dip where my house is. No one could get out for over a week apart from the guy opposite who has a newer Navara, but on road tyres, but he couldn't move for the first couple of days either.

The Ranger is normal RWD, but can engage 4x4 and low range. It's been the best 4x4 I've ever owned for proper 4x4 use. Better than my previous Discoverys, Range Rovers and Shoguns. Starts on the button in all weathers, even after being left for a month, runs as smooth as you like and everything works, all with 169k on the clock! I saw all the usual "posh" 4x4s struggling round here in the snow and having moments. The only other things that seemed to cope as well were Defenders and I'd love one of those myself, but they're £££££ in comparison. 

Totally the opposite style the OP is looking for, but an awesome vehicle for doing what it does and works fine in 2WD as a general runabout too.

[buzz1024]

This appeared on one of my searches

[pistonpopper]

I've had various pick ups over the years including this Ranger.



Possibly not my favourite pick up, but a good one never the less. I would have another Ranger, mine had a huge mileage and ran and drove beautifully.

[ironmighty07]

Thought i'd dig this up, major thread resurrection i know, after a more general B2500 Overlander search plucked it out.

Being thinking about an overland travel truck, general consensus is pre Euro 4 and CRD. So excluding LR and Toyota - off road scene tax premium anyone despite the obvious pedigree, plus i've done 5k miles to Gambia in a 110.

So looking around and Chris Scott of Sahara Overland has/is using a 2003 version and they look spot on in terms of spec.

[pauly22]

I’ve just been thinking,

I’ve got a b2500 and it’s in good shape mechanically etc.

I wondered what’s the chances of taking the body off and then fitting an American pick up body on to this chassis?

Keep hankering after an f100 but want it to be RHD, reliable and fair economical.

[Dez]

Something like this you mean? Entirely stock 2008 ford ranger chassis and running gear.

http://instagram.com/p/ByAPOGbHFrk

[pauly22]

May 28, 2019 11:01:58 GMT Dez said:

Something like this you mean? Entirely stock 2008 ford ranger chassis and running gear.

http://instagr.am/p/ByAPOGbHFrk

I follow him on Instagram, and saw that post not long after I posted on here.

Least I know it’s doable, be a project for a few years time I imagine.

[pauly22]

Doesn’t look like a bad fit either.

[Dez]

Yes, you follow me- I am stringerfabrication 😉

[Pid363!]

Bringing an old thread back to the top. I’ve allways wanted a pick up and wanted a more modern project to go with all the others, but the pick up can be a parts chaser tow vechile day well as a daily drive. Any way I bought a 2000 4x2 signal cab I want to give it a bit of a Nascar look and looking for advice on lowering etc. Ta

[Dez]

Blocks and big U-bolts on the back, I do kits to order.
Don’t take any leafs out if you want to be able to carry any weight.

Front is torsion bar so easy to adjust or re-index. if you go more than a couple of inches you’ll need to cut the bumpstop brackets off the chassis. If you go mega low you’ll need some balljoint spacers to stop you bottoming the shocks out (there literally nothing out there that has shorter shocks).

Overall they’re pretty easy to do if fairly labour intensive. Expect lots of grotty seized bolts as well.

[Pid363!]

Dez thanks very much can you send me details of lowering kits. Is it ok if I message you a few questions ? Ta Stewart

[Dez]

Jul 5, 2020 15:03:55 GMT Pid363! said:

Dez thanks very much can you send me details of lowering kits. Is it ok if I message you a few questions ? Ta Stewart

Yes that’s fine.