Sport trac advice? Looking to replace Ranger with sp trac

Bored_2wd · 03-11-2006, 06:50 PM

Long story short, 2nd gear syncro died Friday on my 13 year old truck that I've had since new. With 2 kids now, I just need more space and can't justify more money/time put into my truck. I'm considering right now a new-er truck, a sport trac or similar. Still want to haul stuff like dirt, gravel, when needed, but HAVE to have 4 doors for the kids carseats and my wife. For the rangers and older explorers the weaknesses were the trans and auto hubs. Strengths were the rear axle (8.8 at least) and the transfercase rarely caused problems.
What trans is in the sport tracs? Are they stronger now? I don't want the same weak problems, but I really like the size and abilities of the sport trac. What things are good, what things are bad on it?
Thanks everyone!
--Bob

410Fortune · 03-11-2006, 07:09 PM

Trans is always the weak link on these ranger based trucks. But the ST has most of the bugs worked out with its 5 speed auto and SOHC 4.0L.
They are good, reliable, strong trucks.
The front no longer uses hubs.

Make sure you shop around, here in CO the price for these trucks is all over the map! Some people think they are gold some people have them on their lots for a year and want them gone...

spindlecone · 03-11-2006, 07:43 PM

Now is a good time to buy a trac, if thats what you want, 03/05 have most of the bugs worked out.
The 07s are out now, basically the same as the 03/05, in the V6 configuration.
Nobody has seen the V8 model yet.
Has drivin down the resale prices of the older tracs, bigtime.
When the V8s come out, you have a new engine (3 valve V8), and an unproven, untested CVT 6 speed tranny.
With all the problems ford has had with the 5R55E in the past 5 yrs.
I would not touch this new rendition with a stick, JMO

jah81592 · 03-12-2006, 10:16 PM

A Sport Trac would be a great investment.

**JohnnyO** · 03-17-2006, 09:06 AM

I did the same, traded my Ranger on a Sport Trac. The seats are A LOT more comfortable than the seats in Rangers. The bed is short but with the extender is about the same length as a Ranger bed. Also the Sport Trac bed is plastic and has a power plug in it. I added TT/shackles, 265/75-16 A/T's, and the Ford Accessories fuel tank skidplate and it off-roads very well. Tracs come with a t-case skidplate but none on the fuel tank. The main complaint people have is that the stock shocks are way too soft even for the street so if you get one either new or used, new shocks should be the first thing you do. Pro Comp 9000, Monroe Sensa Tracs or Reflexes are all fine. Anything is better than the stockers. I have an '05 and replaced the shocks already. Hitting a ripple on an Interstate at 75 mph was all it took. Scared the bleep out of me.
Love my Trac though. More info is at www.mysporttrac.com.

02explorer04 · 03-19-2006, 03:14 AM

trade the ranger, you want regret it. I love my 04 ST 4X4. I had a 95 ranger that we traded in on it. The ST is the perfect truck if you dont do alot of hauling.

03-11-2006, 06:50 PM	#1
Bored_2wd Wannabe Elite Explorer Westmont, Illinois '93 Ranger Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 225 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Sport trac advice? Looking to replace Ranger with sp trac Long story short, 2nd gear syncro died Friday on my 13 year old truck that I've had since new. With 2 kids now, I just need more space and can't justify more money/time put into my truck. I'm considering right now a new-er truck, a sport trac or similar. Still want to haul stuff like dirt, gravel, when needed, but HAVE to have 4 doors for the kids carseats and my wife. For the rangers and older explorers the weaknesses were the trans and auto hubs. Strengths were the rear axle (8.8 at least) and the transfercase rarely caused problems. What trans is in the sport tracs? Are they stronger now? I don't want the same weak problems, but I really like the size and abilities of the sport trac. What things are good, what things are bad on it? Thanks everyone! --Bob __________________ 2004 Sport Trac 4wd blue stock (not for long!) Recently sold a '93 Ranger 2wd (converted to 4wd with d35 from mazda Navaho) 4.0L 5speed 4" Skyjacker 4.10 gears. It had a '95 explorer disc 8.8 Powrtrax noslip 325x60xr15 BFG AT's Rhinoliner.

03-11-2006, 07:09 PM	#2
410Fortune ELITE BRONCO2ERER Crawlorado B2 Mod Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 22,099 Vehicle Specs	Trans is always the weak link on these ranger based trucks. But the ST has most of the bugs worked out with its 5 speed auto and SOHC 4.0L. They are good, reliable, strong trucks. The front no longer uses hubs. Make sure you shop around, here in CO the price for these trucks is all over the map! Some people think they are gold some people have them on their lots for a year and want them gone... __________________ 96 Explorer daily driver build-1996 XLT 5.0L AWD to 4x4 conversion complete on 33's 88 BII 5.0L conversion - BII 5.0l drivetrain thread My Bronco II - 1988 Bronco II 4x4 V8 on 35's - registry and updates Wifes 07 FJ build - 2007 FJ cruiser locked and lifted

03-12-2006, 10:16 PM	#4
jah81592 Wannabe Elite Explorer Hueytown,Al 1998 Explorer Sport Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,606 Vehicle Specs	A Sport Trac would be a great investment. __________________ 2001 Explorer-stock 0-60? Broke! www.hensonperformance.com-call,text message or email for information on parts and services.SCT chips/programmers,HP Tuners,Diablo & UpRev (Nissan) Tuning,C&L,MAC,ASP,JBA & Gibson exhaust parts dealer!

03-17-2006, 09:06 AM	#5
JohnnyO Sport Trac Moderator Pittsburgh, PA '08 Sport Trac Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,702 Vehicle Specs	I did the same, traded my Ranger on a Sport Trac. The seats are A LOT more comfortable than the seats in Rangers. The bed is short but with the extender is about the same length as a Ranger bed. Also the Sport Trac bed is plastic and has a power plug in it. I added TT/shackles, 265/75-16 A/T's, and the Ford Accessories fuel tank skidplate and it off-roads very well. Tracs come with a t-case skidplate but none on the fuel tank. The main complaint people have is that the stock shocks are way too soft even for the street so if you get one either new or used, new shocks should be the first thing you do. Pro Comp 9000, Monroe Sensa Tracs or Reflexes are all fine. Anything is better than the stockers. I have an '05 and replaced the shocks already. Hitting a ripple on an Interstate at 75 mph was all it took. Scared the bleep out of me. Love my Trac though. More info is at www.mysporttrac.com. __________________ '08 Sport Trac, Gibson exhaust, K&N, Firestone Destination A/T's, Steelers regalia. "It is not the multitude of ale-houses that occasions a general disposition to drunkenness among the common people; but that disposition arising from other causes necessarily gives employment to a multitude of ale-houses." -- Adam Smith, 1776

03-11-2006, 07:43 PM	#3
spindlecone B San Jose, Calif 2003 sport trac Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 4,921 Vehicle Specs	Now is a good time to buy a trac, if thats what you want, 03/05 have most of the bugs worked out. The 07s are out now, basically the same as the 03/05, in the V6 configuration. Nobody has seen the V8 model yet. Has drivin down the resale prices of the older tracs, bigtime. When the V8s come out, you have a new engine (3 valve V8), and an unproven, untested CVT 6 speed tranny. With all the problems ford has had with the 5R55E in the past 5 yrs. I would not touch this new rendition with a stick, JMO

03-19-2006, 03:14 AM	#6
02explorer04 Wannabe Elite Explorer Marietta SC 02explorer xls 04spottrac Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 46 Vehicle Specs	trade the ranger, you want regret it. I love my 04 ST 4X4. I had a 95 ranger that we traded in on it. The ST is the perfect truck if you dont do alot of hauling.