Time To Strip The Loan Ranger And Return It
With my 6-month loan of the 2019 Ford Ranger coming to an end, I needed to remove the decals, lighting, and tires that I added.
Here's the Ranger stripped of everything except the
Cooper Discoverer STT PRO tires.
And here it is with the factory tires back on it.
I want to thank
Ford Motor Company for giving me the opportunity to drive the new Ranger for 6-months, and to do all of the things I did with it.
I also want to thank
Cooper Tire for contributing the
Cooper Discoverer STT PRO tires (including a spare). Nothing against Hancook, but I knew I would be dealing with harsh conditions, and needed to be prepared for the worst case scenario . I wanted an aggressive off-road tire, and chose the Coopers because I had used them on another vehicle for an adventure I took in 2017.
The
Cooper Discoverer STT PRO tires did so well yet again, that I bought a set to replace the BFGoodrich Mud Terrains on my 1996 Ford Ranger.
Ford came and picked up the 2019 Ford Ranger this afternoon. It's time to move on to new projects, and new adventures.
Final Thoughts:
I feel like I've discussed so much about this truck over the last 6-months, and that I'm just repeating myself.
LOVE:
The styling
Comfort
Size
Terrain Management
Tail Control
Adaptive Cruise Control
Power, performance, and handling
Locking rear differential
The big display / rear camera
Stereo quality
Ford Pass (phone app - love this!)
12-volt outlet in the bed (even though this truck didn't have it)
DISLIKE:
My knee has a tendency to hit the large headlight switch when I get in and out of the truck. I leave the headlights in auto, but sometimes my knee bumps it out and I don't realize it. I've ended up driving for a while at night a few times with just daytime running lights.
The 4WD switch on the dash is a rotary knob, is easy easy to turn, and doesn't have any stops. You can turn it 360 degrees all day long. I've bumped it in to 4HI before on pavement. I've also turned it to far trying to switch to 4WD on a tough trail, and had to stop and find the correct position. It should be more defined with stops you can't pass.
The lack of rear tow hooks.
The lack of a front limited slip or locking differential with the FX4 package.
SUGGESTIONS:
Add upfitter switches to all of your FX4 model trucks. Right now they are only available on the Ford Super Duty, and have been since around 2010. These are prewired switches for adding auxiliary lighting and accessories.
Add a front locker option on 4WD models.
Add rear tow hooks.
Offer a more aggressive tire option. The new Ranger comes with Hancook Dynapro all-terrains. They also make a mud-terrain. I'm already seeing new Ranger owners ditching their new stock tires for a more aggressive tire. Consumers shouldn't have to spend $1,000++ on new tires after spending $40k on a new truck.
Offer a winch mounting plate built in to the front bumper on 4WD models.
GOOD JOB - MORE SUGGESTIONS:
Good job on offering a leveling kit on the 4WD trucks. It shows you're moving in the right direction.
But let's go further. How about creating a FX4 Level II and include the leveling kit (lift), a taller and more aggressive tire, upfitter switches, a front locker, rear tow hooks, and a spot to mount a winch behind the front bumper, and start leaving Chevy and Toyota behind. Even give Jeep some good competition. Why follow the pack, when you could lead it.
GET MORE INVOLVED:
SEMA now has a section for overlanding vehicles. I had (2) companies contact me to see if I was taking the Loan Ranger there this year. This was a missed opportunity. You (Ford) give companies trucks to customize and take to SEMA that are never actually seen being used out on the street / trail.
Henry Ford said that "You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do". You could have sent this Ranger to SEMA with a story.
You need to become more informed about overlanding, and more familiar with events such as Overland Expo, as well as understand what things like the Trans America Trail (TAT), and Continental Divide Trail are. Land Rover has done these trails. They don't just tell people what they can do. They send their vehicles out there and show people what they can do. They even offer offroad courses and let people drive their vehicles on them to see how capable they are.
Land Rover has a reputation for building adventure vehicles that can go anywhere.
Jeep has a reputation for building off-road vehicles.
Toyota has a huge reputation for not only off-road vehicles, but for overlanding / adventure vehicles as well.
Ford has a reputation for building trucks and a Mustang.
I'll say it again. You can't build a reputation on what you're going to do, or in this case, what you say your vehicles can do.
Get them out there and show people what they can do. I did the whole Trans America Trail on my own dime. That was an opportunity that your marketing department lost out on. Work with experienced enthusiasts to promote your product. That doesn't mean give us a vehicle and expect us to do all the work. We don't have the resources you do. It should be a combined effort.
I'm not paid by Ford to give a shit. You pay people to give a shit. I'm not one of them. I do so by choice, and it's genuine.
Now then. I don't have a degree, and I'm not an engineer. So you guys should be able to knock this out of the park.
Please don't see this as some type of cocky arrogance. I've promoted the Ranger for 20 years because I care. I've taken the time to type this here because I care. And I've never asked for compensation for caring.
Thanks!