329,000mi 2004 Daily Driver

[Naptown Pete]

I have a feeling I'll learn a lot from this gang at TRS.
I've had Ford pickups all my life, but my recent diamond in the rough is a 2004 manual Ford Ranger with 329,000 miles.
I just put a new clutch in 3 months ago, expecting to get a few more good years.
Of the 24 cars I've owned, all but 3 were manual shift.
I'm also looking for an older manual Ranger for two reasons. One is the price, and the second is that the truck will last until I die.
My 2004 has been a workhorse and shows it. I retired from the DOD, and I've started a new business in oil and toxic chemical spill cleanup.
Cheers!
NapTown Pete

 

[franklin2]

I agree, start looking for a lower mileage parts truck. With 329,000 miles, it's worn out from one end to the other. But anything can be patched and kept going with spares.

 

[Naptown Pete]

I agree, start looking for a lower mileage parts truck. With 329,000 miles, it's worn out from one end to the other. But anything can be patched and kept going with spares.

I actually just bought a 2009 Ford Ranger FX4 that's in real good shape. Of course I need to replace the shock absorbers and the ball joints to get it through inspection.
I look at Amazon to get some great prices, but when I looked up the true reviews at https://reviewmeta.com/ the 4.3 grad reviews turned into 2.2 grade reviews.
The search is on for shock absorbers.
I'll be doing mostly road driving, but will be happy with the 4x4 if and when it snows.
Any recommendations for shocks?

 

[franklin2]

I never change shocks very often. Only if they are obviously causing a problem. Then I find the cheapest ones I can get. Rockauto usually has them cheap, they are like batteries, for some reason their cost has sky rocketed.

 

[SenorNoob]

04 is a little different than my beast, but... I bought it 11 years ago with a bad 2.9 and 165,000 miles. Then 4.0 I swapped in had 174,000. I've tripped the odometer 3 times since then. So 474,000 on the engine and 465,000 on the body. Yes I've done some major work along the way, but as long as it's not rusted out, it's maintainable. I'm planning to swap another roughly 150,000 mile engine, add the lift, and go another 11 years.

 

[CamTheHedgehog]

I agree, start looking for a lower mileage parts truck. With 329,000 miles, it's worn out from one end to the other. But anything can be patched and kept going with spares.

If only I could.... My dad would probably be at a loss for words if I bought a parts ranger, I'm still trying to get him to let me buy another working car, let alone a non working one...

 

[superj]

i am thinking of getting this super clean 2001 mazda b4000 that extended cab that showed up near me for 3700. owned by an old disabled vet. it is so clean and nice looking but its an automatic so i am having a hard time talking myself into an auto ranger.

but man, this thing is nice looking