Hello! Ford Ranger owner.
 

I'm going to see how much I can improve the economy of my 2005 Ranger. No mods yet and I'm thinking about getting a scanguage so I can establish a good baseline. I've been reading threads all day and I'm anxious to get started! :)

Welcome to ecomodder !

The first step is to start recording your fuel use, if you aren't already doing so.

The major improvement is in how you drive, so read through the
100+ Hypermiling / ecodriving tips & tactics for better mpg - EcoModder.com
and start applying those you see fit.
The main tips are to
- drive slower, your average might be just as high despite the lower cruise speed ;
- keep it rolling as much as possible;
- not waste energy accelerating to a stop further down the road;
- reduce your idling time.

Avoid manoeuvring with a cold engine, park so that you can drive straightaway .

As for mods, check out the 65+ Vehicle modifications for better fuel economy - EcoModder.com
You may object to some of them, but the most common ones are increased tyre pressure, a blocked front grille, an air dam, and getting rid of stuff you don't need to haul around all the time.

Welcome to ecomoder!
I know the Ranger generally has the best EPA mpg ratings of all the small pickups - so your truck definitely has potential for good mpg.

As you've seen from reading around - there are so many ways to improve your FE. You just pick the things you can do right away, you start there and take it as far as you want.

Good luck!!!

euromodder, Thanks! I've been practicing some hypermiling for a while now, and I'm definately going to read up on how I can improve.
brucepick, I'm planning to start with the easiest/cheapest mods and go from there. :thumbup: Who knows where I'll end up!

Even tho it's a little truck it's still a truck, depending on the model you have some of them are good for nearly 1,500 pounds of people and cargo, so the first thing you should ask your self is if you need a truck like that? I've used my parents Ford Ranger for hauling and towing, including towing a trailer with my Commuti-car in it, sticking at 55mph I was able to average 25mpg, with the truck empty I can average around 30mpg going 60mph but I only drive it empty if it's going to be full on the return trip of course and because it's a truck I see no reason to drive over 60mph, most of the time 50mph or slower will get the job done and return the best mileage.

With all due respect - which is a considerable amount -

Waspswatter is pretty new here. I'm assuming he either needs a truck, or is stuck with it having already bought it.

I think that for most of us here, changing to a different vehicle is not the first step, or even the third. I see it as one of the more expensive "mods".

Sorry, my point was that with slow driving you can get ok mileage with it, even while towing another vehicle behind it you can get 25 mpg, but that a lot of people look at small trucks as being wimpy, near car like, so they drive them as if they are a car.

Yeah, I'm stuck with it for now. I don't need a truck everyday, (except maybe for 4 wheel drive in winter :o ).

It's all good. I know a truck isn't the best for high MPG, but I think it will be fun to see just how much I can squeeze out of it!

The big mileage killer on trucks is the under body is not smooth at all and from standing under a Ford Ranger last week that was being turned in to a plug in hybrid, the underside can be cleaned up a great deal, improving the aerodynamics a great deal.

How would you clean up the undercarraige? I have some ideas, but what would you recommend? Some of that junk under there hangs pretty low. It'd be hard to make a fiberglass bellypan or something like that.

My belly pan bulges downward to clear some hardware. For some cross-wise suspension arms I kinda wish I would have just cut away the belly pan to clear them. It's always a judgement call and a compromise, but you should get good benefits either way. And it's easier working under a truck than under a Civic!!

For cars, most of us use coroplast. It's like corrugated cardboard but is extruded plastic, so doesn't rot. Cuts with a knife. Large spans may need framing for support. Buy 4x8 sheets from sign shops; I paid $20/sheet. Pick up free material right after Election Day - lots of campaign signs are made of coroplast. For a current project I plan to use some 2.7 mm. Lauan plywood, primed with oil base house paint, slightly thinned. About $7.50/sheet, and quite stiff. Cuts pretty easy too.

For ideas and info - Look around in the Aerodynamics subforum. Just search for truck belly pan, pickup belly pan, jeep belly pan. I've seen a few threads by guys who did belly pans under trucks, and at least one under a Jeep. You'll find various solutions to the different issues you'll come across.

I know one used regular plywood for a belly pan. I think he didn't even prime it - but I had some plywood mods on my old Volvo that I primed; worked out pretty well. A beloved family member ruined the mod before the weather did.

Cool! I can see I'm going to spend a lot of time on this site. I just had a few thoughts, what about chicken wire and paper mache'? Maybe fiberglassed when the shape is right? Hehe, don't worry, I always spend more time planning a project than doing it, so I'm not going to go out and by the materials until I'm sure I know what I want. Besides, I'll work on my hypermiling and save the body work for next year.

Yeah - getting a bit cold for working outside. That hasn't always stopped me but it sure puts a damper on it.

Hey, you can list and describe your truck here - this gives you a place to provide info on your Ranger. At top of the EcoModder page, click Garage (part of Garage & Tools). On the top gray panel there, click "Add new vehicle". You'll be on your way. Then afterwards, next time you go to "Garage" you'll see your car in the top panel and you can start entering gas log entries. It's a good way to track how it's doing.