Work Truck Opinions

[Kyle_W]

I hopefully will start a new position as an Assistant Superintendent, which means I would need my own work truck. Because I certainly do not want to drive my precious Jeep to construction sites and then put tons of miles on it.

So, I plan on buying a 2006 to 2011 Ford Ranger, 2.3L (4 cylinder), manual transmission, which gets up to 30mpg on the highway, is an extremely reliable truck, and just looks cool.

I want to keep it as stock as possible. However, I was curious as to what I could do to it that would make it fit my job more?
So far I want to do this to it:

• Bed mounted slim tool box (clearly for all the tools i'll be carrying)
• AUX cable to the stock radio
• x2 tailgate locks (no tailgate getting stolen)
• Weathertech floor liners
• Seat covers
• Leather steering wheel cover

That pretty much seems to be about all that i'll need. Could I get anyone else's thoughts please?

 

[Ahoragi]

Mud tires? I love work trucks that sport mud tires.

Just cause......

lol

 

[UpperMI]

I hopefully will start a new position as an Assistant Superintendent, which means I would need my own work truck. Because I certainly do not want to drive my precious Jeep to construction sites and then put tons of miles on it.

So, I plan on buying a 2006 to 2011 Ford Ranger, 2.3L (4 cylinder), manual transmission, which gets up to 30mpg on the highway, is an extremely reliable truck, and just looks cool.

I want to keep it as stock as possible. However, I was curious as to what I could do to it that would make it fit my job more?
So far I want to do this to it:

• Bed mounted slim tool box (clearly for all the tools i'll be carrying)
• AUX cable to the stock radio
• x2 tailgate locks (no tailgate getting stolen)
• Weathertech floor liners
• Seat covers
• Leather steering wheel cover

That pretty much seems to be about all that i'll need. Could I get anyone else's thoughts please?

Are you going to be expected to haul any tools, materials, or equipment? If so then you may want to get a half ton pickup (or even something larger). Something that can carry or move more "stuff". I spent 12 years on construction sites. A lot of the superintendent trucks have bed mounted diesel tanks for equipment fueling, trailer hitches for moving equipment from project site to project site, etc. The only guys that I've ever seen that use the smaller trucks are the guys that survey or do material testing (concrete cylinders, soil density testing, etc.). What kind of construction sites will you be working at?

 

[Kyle_W]

Haha no I am going for smooth riding and cheap tires!

And not really. Go and pick up some plywood and a generator and what's nots, but nothing heavy! I certainly understand the desire to have a bigger truck in case I ever NEED it. But, I like the Rangers a lot.

And commercial jobs mainly. Hotels, supermarkets, urgent cares! Nothing serious like big big buildings!


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[RaymondT]

Don't forget the headache rack.

 

[Kyle_W]

Don't forget the headache rack.

That's actually a good point. I'd rather not put wood and crap on my cab. Thanks!


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[Chris]

I don't know man, I think you pretty much covered everything I would do in your original post!

 

[Kyle_W]

I don't know man, I think you pretty much covered everything I would do in your original post!

Thank you, yea that's about all that I can think of too!

 

[UpperMI]

Will you be working out of your truck, using it like a mobile office? If so you may want to make sure that you have enough support equipment to power a lap top and other electronic equipment. Like a dc to ac inverter, USB adaptors, etc.

 

[Kyle_W]

Will you be working out of your truck, using it like a mobile office? If so you may want to make sure that you have enough support equipment to power a lap top and other electronic equipment. Like a dc to ac inverter, USB adaptors, etc.

That's a good thought! I wouldn't really though. I'd prefer to just have a clipboard and paper, and yes a USB charger for my phone!


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[Stinger]

I am not a Ford fan. Now having said that I bought an 05 Ranger 4x4 in 2012. It had about 68,000 miles.
PBefore I even took it home it went to an automotive upholstery shop for a new interior. The thing just stank of old cigarette smoke and was stained all over. When I got it home I had planned to do a body off resto but found so much rust damage that I decide not to invest the money. I did change every fluid, new brake pads, new plugs, and flushed the cooling system.
Well that little truck has been from coast to coast twice! I have hauled so much crap around that I can't even remember it all. I pulled Stinger several hundred miles with it and never had so much as a backfire.

It now has 110,000 miles and I may replace the plugs again. It actually took several seconds to start the other morning when it was -6 degrees.
Don't count out the older Rangers.

 

[Chris]

I am also not a Ford fan, but the Rangers are a nice truck, no doubt about that. Probably one of the only Ford's I would own (besides a classic).

 

[Kyle_W]

I have only heard good things about Rangers yes; it also is right there with the TJ in terms of simplicity. Hardly any components out of the ordinary at all, unlike trucks these days that are full of 200 different computers doing different things


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