1988 Ford Ranger Custom review from North America

Misc. problems that remain unfixed.

The front springs are worn out and the front of the truck sits too low.

The limited slip rear differential will allow the right rear wheel to spin by itself, but not the left rear wheel.

The parking brake is rusted and has been that way for years.

One of the Speed setting for the heater fan does not work, but the other 3 do so that's only 1/4 broken.

The main bearing coming out of the transfer case for the front drive shaft is worn out, but the 4x4 is still functional.

Repaired problems beginning with the most recent.

At about 250 000 Km the slave cylinder for the hydraulic clutch wore out causing the hydraulic fluid to spill onto the clutch. Both the slave cylinder and clutch were replaced. ($800)

At about 200 000 Km the alternator wore out so I had it rebuilt. ($100)

At about 180 000 Km the starter wore out so I had it rebuilt. ($50)

At about 160 000 Km the water pump wore out and all the coolant spilled out. My 18 year old son drove the truck home without coolant causing it to overheat repeatedly. The engine still ran, but sounded horrible (The hydraulic lifter were all ticking). I found a scrap yard engine for $500 CDN with roughly the same mileage and had it put in for another $500. (Total $1000)

At about 150 000 Km the computer quit so I got one from the scrap yard. ($500)

The most recurring problem with this truck was the U-joints in the 4x4. I have replaced all of them at least once and the ones for steering numerous times. I change them myself and they only cost about $20 each.

The engine likes to rev. Most of its power is at higher rpm's which is not typical of a truck.

It has a surprisingly smooth ride even on very rough roads.

The gas mileage is pretty good at an average of 25 mpg (when it's not in 4x4)

I have had the truck for 11 years now and still love it.

Considering that I've had the truck for 11 years not much has gone wrong with it. Only 2 major repairs.

My son Started Driving the truck when he was 16 and he's 23 now. Most of the problems have happened since then. My son abused the truck severely. He took it "offroading" and got it stuck numerous times. He also wore the tires off the back about every two years while the front tires lasted about 5 years.

I always carry a tow strap because the truck is great for pulling and towing.

I have pulled a trailer with about 8 t of sand (with trailer brakes) which is well over it's capacity and it never swayed.

My son used the truck for landscaping for 2 years while he had his business going. His other truck was a 3/4 ton GMC Diesel which ended up blowing its engine and putting him out of business paying for the rebuild.

At one point I attempted to put a 5 ton rock in the box of the truck with a forklift at work. My son said that the front tires of the truck came off the ground so I put the rock on a trailer and took it home that way. I ended up having to hire a crane to get the rock off the trailer at home and the only thing that broke on the truck was the leaf spring hangers in the rear suspension.