2015 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 3.2 Yey or Nay

Definitely worth getting some test drive time in on a pickup if you can - very much something people will have a subjective opinion of what they are happy with and each one is a bit different.
 
You would think an "offroad" vehicle had extra rust protection, not less...

Ford engines are usually pretty good though.

In theory the steel should hold up 20+ years even though it doesn't look good - though you do have issues like with the d40.
 
In theory the steel should hold up 20+ years even though it doesn't look good - though you do have issues like with the d40.

This is what I'm trying to avoid. We would probably want to sell it after a few years. The trailer I'm confident will hold its price reasonably well. The Ford I looked at has a 7 day no quibble return on it as they are technically shut, so a chance to run it by a bodyshop for a quote.
 
Poor production methods and cheap steel.

The steel is okay it’s a rubbish water based chassis paint, wafer thin would be giving it credit, it like the black pattern panels come in.


In theory the steel should hold up 20+ years even though it doesn't look good - though you do have issues like with the d40.

The bulk steel yes it’s all the little brackets welded to it that won’t last long.

Torque converter. Sheared at the 8 spot welds holding the whole together.

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Chassis after 6 months

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Chassis after 6 months

The 2018/19 Navaras after 6 months make that look practically new :(

Still thinking I'll probably get a N-Guard in a year or two though (or sooner if my D40 gives up) - unfortunately can't justify the money for the V6 Amarok (would probably struggle to afford it anyhow) but I'm a sucker for a V6 so dragging out replacing it with a 4 pot.

EDIT: Also not in love with the squared off wheel arches on the Amarok and not a fan of the tailgate spoiler thing on the new Navaras :( another reason I'm dragging out moving on from the D40 though the smart money would be to shift it now.

The Ford I looked at has a 7 day no quibble return on it

Could be handy - pickups aren't for everyone but I'm definitely in no hurry to part with mine.
 
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Thats shocking lol. Wont it fail the MOT if all the welding is rusting away?

Here is mine:

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Probably about 1/3rd as old as you'd guess from the picture. Sadly this is pretty much par for the course with pickups especially if you actually use them - short of having it properly dip treated for £££ you only buy a bit of time and not much with other treatments (unless you are just running them up and down a main road).

Some salt deposits there from the gritting last night as well :(

Had an inspection a couple of months back and still all OK for now but it is only a matter of time.
 
Normally this isn't a problem - even for the bits like Maccapacca pointed out - might not look great but should hold up a very long time but sometimes they cheap out or are sloppy like happened with some D40s, etc. (pretty much any D40 will go that way eventually just some go very quickly due to the sloppy spray treatment done initially).

It is one thing that saddens me Nissan didn't go to greater lengths to address with their replacement model - and about the only thing that sours my otherwise great relationship with Nissan. Example here for the newer model https://youtu.be/USnm6fbZ4gU?t=91
 
It's a shame, it shouldn't be that difficult to prevent for a lot longer. I asked a dealer about it and he went on a rant about the MOT and if there was a problem it would show up, so I walked away. I'm now looking at Amaroks.
 
Can't imagine it's going to last very long if it's that bad already.

If it wasn't a D40 it wouldn't even bother me at all - being a D40 with the known vulnerability I'm keeping my expectations down but it will likely last years yet.

If it holds up another 1-2 years I'll probably give it a cursory treatment and stick it at the "back" of the garage so to speak as I'm a little bit attached to the vehicle despite the issues.

It's a shame, it shouldn't be that difficult to prevent for a lot longer. I asked a dealer about it and he went on a rant about the MOT and if there was a problem it would show up, so I walked away. I'm now looking at Amaroks.

Maybe I'm a bit blasé and obviously there is the reselling consideration (though most commercial dealers don't seem to care if you part exchange, etc.) but I wouldn't let it put you off too much.
 
If it wasn't a D40 it wouldn't even bother me at all - being a D40 with the known vulnerability I'm keeping my expectations down but it will likely last years yet.

If it holds up another 1-2 years I'll probably give it a cursory treatment and stick it at the "back" of the garage so to speak as I'm a little bit attached to the vehicle despite the issues.



Maybe I'm a bit blasé and obviously there is the reselling consideration (though most commercial dealers don't seem to care if you part exchange, etc.) but I wouldn't let it put you off too much.

I'm going to look at some other Rangers see what they are like and an Amarok and maybe an L200 so I can get a feel for them. Can you get the D40 inspected and can it e sorted if needs be.
 
Nissan withdrew the official inspection program in early 2020 which I'm not too impressed about - though it meant sending the vehicle off for a week and stuck with whatever settlement Nissan felt was right if it didn't pass. With the D40 it needs proper inspection, beyond what your average garage can do, to catch early enough to treat properly as the vulnerability is deep inside the ladder frame and it rots from inside out - by the time your average garage can see it for themselves it is too late really - welding patches over the weak points isn't really a good fix (the chassis is designed to and needs a degree of flexibility that inhibits). Fortunately it isn't a general issue - an unfortunate combination of cheap steel and sloppy original spray treatment - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BToaNFg530

It is the only reason really I'd consider looking at other makes when buying my next pickup despite the D23 onwards not suffering the same problem.

The V6 D40 Navaras and Pathfinder do make pretty decent towing platforms and reasonably cheap now though but you do have to be a bit wary of the potential chassis problem. The higher spec models with automatic transmissions are ridiculously easy to drive for a pickup.

I don't have the most experience, never towed the same kind of load in the same conditions to benchmark, etc. and it might vary somewhat on model but subjectively the impression I got was the Ranger Wildtrak they'd put a bit of thought into towing while the Navara and Amarok felt a bit like "it's a big vehicle it will tow". The Navara while hugely capable towing felt a bit vague, harder to tell where the limits were and how things were going relative to the Ranger and generally a little unsettled while the Ranger felt more like it was all one unit for want of a better way to describe it. No experience of towing with the L200 or Hilux on the road.

EDIT: Also not sure what the legal limits are in terms of what you can tow weight, etc. wise with each one - I rarely do anything involving more than 300Kg or so.
 
Nissan withdrew the official inspection program in early 2020 which I'm not too impressed about - though it meant sending the vehicle off for a week and stuck with whatever settlement Nissan felt was right if it didn't pass. With the D40 it needs proper inspection, beyond what your average garage can do, to catch early enough to treat properly as the vulnerability is deep inside the ladder frame and it rots from inside out - by the time your average garage can see it for themselves it is too late really - welding patches over the weak points isn't really a good fix (the chassis is designed to and needs a degree of flexibility that inhibits). Fortunately it isn't a general issue - an unfortunate combination of cheap steel and sloppy original spray treatment - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BToaNFg530

It is the only reason really I'd consider looking at other makes when buying my next pickup despite the D23 onwards not suffering the same problem.

The V6 D40 Navaras and Pathfinder do make pretty decent towing platforms and reasonably cheap now though but you do have to be a bit wary of the potential chassis problem. The higher spec models with automatic transmissions are ridiculously easy to drive for a pickup.

I don't have the most experience, never towed the same kind of load in the same conditions to benchmark, etc. and it might vary somewhat on model but subjectively the impression I got was the Ranger Wildtrak they'd put a bit of thought into towing while the Navara and Amarok felt a bit like "it's a big vehicle it will tow". The Navara while hugely capable towing felt a bit vague, harder to tell where the limits were and how things were going relative to the Ranger and generally a little unsettled while the Ranger felt more like it was all one unit for want of a better way to describe it. No experience of towing with the L200 or Hilux on the road.

EDIT: Also not sure what the legal limits are in terms of what you can tow weight, etc. wise with each one - I rarely do anything involving more than 300Kg or so.

Thank you that's really helpful. The Ranger is a full 3500kg so a trailer and two 16 hand horses shouldn't be a problem. My missus also really likes the Ranger so we will see. I'm off somewhere that has a whole heap of different pickups to see and try so will probably make a decision then. Next is find a trailer :)
 
Depending on license (I seem to recall you mentioned your missus had additional categories) there are limits that include the overall vehicle both capability and weight itself as well as weight of the trailer and payload, etc. I should really be more versed in it as it is related to my job but I tend to just look it up when needed :s
 
Ha. I'ved worked with trailers for 6 years but gave it up and I can never remember, I will look it up but I'm pretty sure she will be alright.
 
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