2015 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 3.2 Yey or Nay

If she passed her car test before Jan '97 then she can tow any combination up to 8250kg. More than enough for a pickup and trailer.

Post Jan '97 would need an "E" entitlement.
 
In my opinion, no. I would always buy on condition rather than mileage. But it really depends on how the car was used. If its lots of light load cruising with the flat-bed empty then that's very gentle. If it was pulling maximum torque all the time and dragging a heavy trailer about then it's not so good. What kills engines is starting them up and stopping them. And even then on most diesels it's the turbo and ancillary items like the high pressure fuel pump that die rather than the actual engine itself. Given that you want to really use the vehicle I would not spend all your budget on the car but keep a chunk in reserve for maintenance so that likely points of failure could be addressed without feeling too bad about it.

If you buy someone else's old pickup, that they've decided is now too old for them to want it anymore, don't be surprised when it needs a lot of work doing to it if you use it to the maximum. And towing as you describe it, is using the car towards it's maximum. So long as you understand that, and budget for the work, you'll probably be very happy with it long-term.
 
Agreed with WJA96 and some good advice - depends a lot how it has been used - if that is mostly motorway miles and good maintenance it is nothing.

When I bought mine it had spent the previous 20K miles or so doing a lot of start/stop school runs from what I can see - not good on a 3L V6 diesel - had to replace the EGR as a sensor was sticking (and easier to replace the whole thing), fuel sender, filters - fortunately done under warranty. DPF and engine itself seems good.

Mine was well under 135K when I bought it but starting to get more towards that end of the scale now and starting to throw up some bills - nothing too horrendous so far though and most weren't essential but I wanted them done.
 
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Thanks, It's a lot to think about. One thing I know is that unless you're prepared to spend good money, horseboxes are generally rubbish, so I'm definitely going down the pickup route.
 
One thing that hasn’t been mentioned with the Ford Ranger, on some the engine oil pump has lost prime or failed and then its curtains for the engine unless you get lucky and stop it quick enough. Don’t think it affects the new models but have heard of it on models of the age you are looking at. I believe Ford have a service advisory in that when the oil has been dropped out servicing then new oil needs to be poured in within so many minutes. This is to prevent the oil pump from draining and losing prime. I don’t have a Ranger but other than that it seems a good enough pickup. Can have electric problems too. I have an Isuzu and they can suffer from DPF problems but other wise ok if agricultural. Amoraks are expensive but sound. No pickup seem perfect :rolleyes:
 
One thing that hasn’t been mentioned with the Ford Ranger, on some the engine oil pump has lost prime or failed and then its curtains for the engine unless you get lucky and stop it quick enough. Don’t think it affects the new models but have heard of it on models of the age you are looking at. I believe Ford have a service advisory in that when the oil has been dropped out servicing then new oil needs to be poured in within so many minutes. This is to prevent the oil pump from draining and losing prime. I don’t have a Ranger but other than that it seems a good enough pickup. Can have electric problems too. I have an Isuzu and they can suffer from DPF problems but other wise ok if agricultural. Amoraks are expensive but sound. No pickup seem perfect :rolleyes:

It is annoying how many pickups come so close but they just didn't put that little bit extra effort in. I really want a newer pickup and a de-chromed N-Guard would tick most of the boxes but that tailgate overhang just looks hideous and I really struggle with the idea of a 4 cylinder in a pickup even if some of the recent 2.xL ones are very good for a 4 cylinder engine.
 
After a lot of looking around, sitting in pickups and looking underneath them we decided to get an R-line VW Tiguan 4 motion :) It pulls 2.2 ton so the trailer is roughly 850 kg and two horses at roughly 550kg each average gives us 250 kg to play with which is fine for two people and their tack.
 
After a lot of looking around, sitting in pickups and looking underneath them we decided to get an R-line VW Tiguan 4 motion :) It pulls 2.2 ton so the trailer is roughly 850 kg and two horses at roughly 550kg each average gives us 250 kg to play with which is fine for two people and their tack.

Question is, will it tow it comfortably? Not entirely convinced but as long as you’re happy.
 
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