Worth a shot..
 

Hey, I have a lifted 2002 Ranger with 31" All-terrian tires!:D

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f8...IMG_5027-1.jpg

found a link to yall from www.ranger-forums.com

Gas just hit $3.25 here, so the truck will be going down soon, 18mpg is starting to kill the wallet, though that ain't bad for a truck. It is a 2wd 2.3L 4banger automatic so I believe it has some potental to get 23+ city with the right tires, lowering kit, and tuner.

Correct please!

Ive read that 1 lb of rolling weight it would equal about 8 lbs of static weight. so If I run 235/70TR15 KUMHO Solus KR21 that weigh 27lbs vs my current 31x10.5r15 BFG A/T's at 43lbs each, it would reduce the total rotational mass by about 64lbs, and that would equate about a 512lb reduction in static weight?

The rolling weight versus static weight bit depends a lot on where the weight is distributed...I've usually heard something like 1:2 or 1:3, but who knows for sure, really.

Welcome to the site!

And every 100lbs of weight removed is allegedly good or a 1% gain in mileage, so you could potentially see a 5% gain with the tires, just on weight. That'd be around 0.6mpg.

If you could get some of those 235's that are low rolling resistance (LRR) then you'd really be reaping the MPGs. Probably another 1mpg there.

If they seem like kinda dinky gains to you, just remember this.

If you drive 15k miles/year now. that's 789 gallons of gas per year, at $3.25 you're spending $2565

If you gain one single measly mpg, then you use 750 gallons, saving $126.75 per year.

And that's if gas prices stay the same (they won't, it'll be MUCH higher before you know it)

True. Prices have gone up here $0.30 in about 5 days..

Stock the truck got around 20 mpg city, though back then I could fill up the whole tank for less than $20! I remember $1.25 gas I think in 2000, before I started driving..

alot of good information on this site, though I am confussed about this:
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f8...dboy/taco1.jpg
judging by a picture of my truck I have almost 20 degrees and the ideal is 12 like in this pic, so would just a tailgate spoiler fix this or is the whole bed cover needed?

If your slope it too much, you could have the aerocover extend past the end of the bed a bit or have it end up a bit higher. Also, you might be able to get attached flow with a bit more curvature, I don't think it's a hard and fast rule.

I believe I read elsewhere in the forums that 10 degrees was the ideal to shoot for. After that the air doesn't "stick" and you get turbulence. If you "have" to have it end at the top of the tailgate, make it an arc and not a plane. This is in congruence with what SVOboy posted :thumbup:.

do you think this would work? not sure if it is too planey..

http://www.hillbankmotorsports.com/p...ducts_id=10652
http://aim.search.aol.com/search/red...lipspoiler.jpg

It is cost-effective to add or trade to a small car as a commuter, or are you locked into the Ranger?

Otherwise:

• Lose the lift and lower if you can
• Go with the smallest tire/wheel combo
• Calculate spoiler placement carefully
• Consider frontal and side aero treatments

Step #1: Reduce top speed and learn driving techniques to maximize fuel economy.

Figure shift points for your automatic to either lift-to-shift or allow the vehicle to do so "automatically". Best FE to you.

RH77

Welcome to the site FX2.3! 18 mpg may not seem bad to you, but consider this. I know another someone with an 03 Ranger that is averaging 38+ mpg. 'Ain't bad' is really all perspective. You'll be amazed at what you can get out of your truck if your willing to change a few things (including the way you drive).

I am a college student so another vehicle is beyond my means and the sentimental value to me does not allow me to trade as it is my first vehicle and I baby it.. Besides, I like modding what I have as it started out as a basic work truck with only automatic, A/C, Cloth seats, and a rear window slider as options..

1. lowering is cheap, all I need is new coils, put on the stock spindles, and some grade 8 bolts to flip the rear hangers.. around $70 total plus install..

2. tires on the other hand are a tad more expensive then lowering but are needed before I can lower as I could not fit these 31" tires stock.. I need to find a nice set of stock size alloys around 15x7 to fit smaller tires..:thumbup:

3. The spoiler will depend on how it is mounted, Im not sure if something stuck on with double sided tape could do much good?

4. I had a billet grille but felt I out grew that phase.. Not sure if that would have helped with the aero or not.. I know the heavy diamond plate skid plate I installed does not help more than the stock plastic one did..

Thanks for the help! I will change my driving habits as it is free to do and see how much that changes my mpg..




Is that 38mpg on the 03 hwy or mixed?

I'm getting 25mpg out of my 3.0 Auto 95 2wd Ranger. It has stock ride height, with 15x7s and around 29" tires. If I were you, I'd keep the truck as is for now (it looks good!) and concentrate on driving technique... like coasting as much as possible and predicting traffic signals.

Im watching the tach and trying to keep it under 2000k..:turtle:

odd part was it took the same amount of time to get it work gunning it and hitting most stop lights as it did driving slow and cruising on all greens..

That would be 38 mpg mixed. Its probably more city driving, and he lives in Chicago.

FX2.3 -

Welcome to EM! That's one of my theories. Overall, the "lights you miss" are made up for in the lights you slowdown to and/or coast through. I do think your *average* commute time will be longer, but not enough to warrant the price in gas. When it goes just right, your stress levels are lowered too.

If you get reallllllly hardcore, you figure out the timing of the lights. I am pretty sure that my lights change based on time of day, so I have never have done a study.

CarloSW2

thats crazy!

it was hard today on the highway to keep it under 70.. though not really hard, just gotta break the speed habit.. found this sweet spot were around 2300 rpms it cruises nicely at 68ish.. also one at 40..

scary how many little cars get pushed around by these huge pickups.. never saw it till I started slowing down..

Make sure you're not giving it full-throttle to get going -- if forces the ECU into Open-Loop (which would subtract the efforts) :(

Good work on the technique though -- keep it up :thumbup:

RH77

I cut it off at 2k when starting off and if needed allow it to get up 2.5k or 3k depending on traffic but quickly get back under 2k..


I am thinking of making a spoiler type thingy, basicly clear plastic sheet screwed into the plastic bedliner (possibly hindged so no one messes with it when parked); leaned against the tailgate and cut so it gets the 10-12 degree from the cab.. and get some black abs plastic around the skidplate to cover the gaps between the bumper, tires, and skidplate..

Blue outline = plastic..

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f8.../FrontIdea.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f8...poilerIdea.jpg

Do you think it will help?

I am going to to try to leave much of the truck alone until I can afford new rims/tires and lower it..

Thanks! so far so good, just gotta wait to see how many miles I can squeeze out of this tank!