long time Tacoma owner thinking about a 2025 Ranger

[Plasmech]

These are some very helpful replies. Thanks! This is a great forum. I hope to be here long term

OK, a few things:

I've been reading about some EcoBoost issues. Namely:

• a submerged-belt-driven oil pump
• coolant intrusion
• valve seat problems
• cam phaser issues

Are all of these real, and have they all been solved? I really hope this doesn't come across as trolling. I keep my vehicles a LONG time (my current Tacoma is 16 years old) and so reliability and longevity are of the utmost importance to me. Also, please remember that Toyota people have, as I mentioned in my OP, had it beaten into our heads that nobody comes even close to Toyota in terms of reliability. It's difficult to break that lifetime mindset. Thanks for understanding.

Also, what *exactly* is the Lariat package? What would I be getting with the Lariat package, which I wouldn't be with a fully optioned XLT?

Does Ford offer factory custom builds, or do the dealers have to "find it for you"?

Thanks again for the help.

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[Dingus83]

These are some very helpful replies. Thanks! This is a great forum. I hope to be here long term

OK, a few things:

I've been reading about some EcoBoost issues. Namely:

• a submerged-belt-driven oil pump
• coolant intrusion
• valve seat problems
• cam phaser issues

Are all of these real, and have they all been solved? I really hope this doesn't come across as trolling. I keep my vehicles a LONG time (my current Tacoma is 16 years old) and so reliability and longevity are of the utmost importance to me. Also, please remember that Toyota people have, as I mentioned in my OP, had it beaten into our heads that nobody comes even close to Toyota in terms of reliability. It's difficult to break that lifetime mindset. Thanks for understanding.

Also, what *exactly* is the Lariat package? What would I be getting with the Lariat package, which I wouldn't be with a fully optioned XLT?

Does Ford offer factory custom builds, or do the dealers have to "find it for you"?

Thanks again for the help.

@Plasmech! I recognize you from TW, I had the Lunar Rock TRD OR that jumped ship in May.
For Toyota people jumping ship:
XL: SR
XLT: SR5
Lariat: Limited
Raptor: Nothing Toyota makes will compete

The TRD OR package would be like a XLT or Lariat with the FX4 package and Sport package to give it color matched bumpers. The difference being the XLT would be like a base OR with cloth. The Lariat would give you leather so the Premium package on a TRD OR Premium (just not a $9,000 increase in price).
If you want the old man version you can opt for chrome bumpers (dad is 81, he loves his chrome) on the XLT or Lariat.
Opt for the Raptor, you won't think about the price after driving it!

 

[stemplar]

There is only about a $3k difference between a Raptor and a fully loaded Lariat. For that money, you're getting Fox live valve suspension, stock lift and bigger wheels, front locker, AWD, bigger/faster engine with adjustable exhaust and better steering. They make the Raptor a no-brainer at that price.

I respectfully disagree. They're different tools for different applications. For thousands less than a raptor one can get a loaded lariat and tow 2,000 lbs more and have more payload so that makes the lariat a no-brainer, right? Plus the ability to use regular unleaded and the lariat gets significantly better mileage, so without even considering insurance costs, the TCO of the lariat is less. My point is, whichever one is a "no-brainer" for someone depends a lot on what they want to use the truck for. If we all had the same idea of what a perfect truck was, Ford wouldn't make 4 different versions of the Ranger (not to mention all of their other truck models).

 

[stemplar]

These are some very helpful replies. Thanks! This is a great forum. I hope to be here long term

OK, a few things:

I've been reading about some EcoBoost issues. Namely:

• a submerged-belt-driven oil pump
• coolant intrusion
• valve seat problems
• cam phaser issues

Are all of these real, and have they all been solved? I really hope this doesn't come across as trolling. I keep my vehicles a LONG time (my current Tacoma is 16 years old) and so reliability and longevity are of the utmost importance to me. Also, please remember that Toyota people have, as I mentioned in my OP, had it beaten into our heads that nobody comes even close to Toyota in terms of reliability. It's difficult to break that lifetime mindset. Thanks for understanding.

Also, what *exactly* is the Lariat package? What would I be getting with the Lariat package, which I wouldn't be with a fully optioned XLT?

Does Ford offer factory custom builds, or do the dealers have to "find it for you"?

Thanks again for the help.

I can't speak for bullets 2 & 3, but the submerged belt-driven oil pump? Yea, it's a real thing and I don't like the sound of it either. But when I dug into it I didn't find any sources that indicated it was an actual problem. So maybe every 100,000 miles it'll cost some number of dollars to have the belt replaced; to me, that's okay if the engine is otherwise reliable. As for the cam phasers, it's something that I'm worried about too. I've seen several reports of the raptor's 3.0 having cam phaser issues, and I'm not sure what to think about the 2.7 because I see some reports saying that it's been remedied but I'm not convinced. I do like that the 2.7 has been around for a while and has had a number of improvements implemented along the way (not the least of which is the addition of port injection).

I've had several toyotas, and each were absolutely reliable, but none were perfect. One tore through valve guides every 75000 or so (the 20R engines) and another had the rings wear significantly by 125000 (1zzfe) to the point where it burned a quart every 1000 miles, and smoked quite a bit. I say this because while they were absolutely reliable, they weren't "free" to run for hundreds of thousands of miles, so I'm hoping my Ford too will be reliable, even if it has some larger maintenance jobs that need doing once every 7 or 8 years.

 

[craigc]

Can't speak for reliability as this my first Ford in a long time, but if you're concerned overall, the extended warranties through Granger are cheap enough to gain some piece of mind. My wife's car is a BMW and I traded in a Mercedes for this truck and I can say while the creature comforts and performance of the German engineering is significantly better, the reliability on both of those is garbage, and they cost a lot more....I'm happy with my Ford Ranger so far - it's a great truck. Never had a Toyota though...

 

[jlanz]

I've been a Tacoma owner since 1997. During that time, it's been beaten into my brain that:

1. Toyota = reliable

2. anything else, especially American, = not reliable

I don't know how true this is, especially today. I feel that American vehicles have made measurable advancements in reliability while Toyota has maybe taken a few steps back.

I'm also not happy about Toyota's Gen 4 pricing, which tops out in the mid 60's.

I'm thinking about a 2025 Ranger. Possibilities include a 2.7 XLT, a 2.7 Lariat, or a Raptor.

I don't yet know much about Rangers, though.

Honestly, how reliable are they? Are there any known issues with the Gen 5s?

Is a Lariat better value than a fully optioned XLT?

Is Raptor a better value than a fully optioned Lariat?

Are Raptors (realistically) available?

Thanks for any replies.

I dumped Tacoma and got a 2024 Ranger 2.3 XLT. It was a huge improvement in ride and power. The Tacoma had an engine that liked to knock the first couple miles every morning. We ordered the Ranger and it took over a year and then we canceled the order and bought one off of a dealers lot. Be careful what you order. We ordered blue with a sandstone interior and 2 wheel drive and ended up with a white 4x4 and black interior. Silver lining is that it looks great and it turns out 2 wheel drive would have been a mistake. Anyway, they were never going to build the truck we ordered.

 

[rwolfcastle]

I respectfully disagree. They're different tools for different applications. For thousands less than a raptor one can get a loaded lariat and tow 2,000 lbs more and have more payload so that makes the lariat a no-brainer, right? Plus the ability to use regular unleaded and the lariat gets significantly better mileage, so without even considering insurance costs, the TCO of the lariat is less. My point is, whichever one is a "no-brainer" for someone depends a lot on what they want to use the truck for. If we all had the same idea of what a perfect truck was, Ford wouldn't make 4 different versions of the Ranger (not to mention all of their other truck models).

The only advantage of the Lariat is the tow/payload rating, and maybe the toned-down looks if you're into that. Payload is very minimal, but towing will give you 2k lbs. more. As for the gas, you can also put 87 octane in the RRaptor, so that becomes a non-issue. I don't notice a difference with my insurance between my Raptor and my old 5G Lariat. So yes, my "no-brainer" comment still stands for 98% of people who are cross-shopping between a Lariat and Raptor.

 

[CandianRanger]

I'm not brand loyal anymore, here is my 2 cents worth.......I've got a '19 Ranger, coworker just had his '24 Tacoma delivered to him and I've taken it for a drive. Other than a few creature comforts, I like my truck better. It just feels more like 'a truck' to me, plus mine's more peppy around town, overall nicer to drive. I'd have a hard time buying a Tacoma. I do some off-roading, if I did more I'd seriously look at a used 5G Tremor.
I can't speak for a '24 or '25 Ranger but their larger footprint and cookie cutter looks turns me off. I don't know how the footprint compares to a '24/'25 Tacoma though. That's all I'll get into about the things I don't like about the 24/25 Rangers lol.
Regarding reliability....I know a Ford Service Dept employee and a Toyota dealership tech and a former GM dealership head tech.......they all say basically the same thing......They're all junk and if you go 5 years without a major problem it's luck of the draw getting a good one off the assembly line.

 

[John E Davies]

The RR is a performance truck, an absolute blast to drive, but that comes at the cost of mpgs. The way I drive, I get 17-18, no problem, on 87 octane. Coming from a LC 200, that is a 50% improvement. I can accept that! The Fox active suspension will require periodic rebuilds, but it is mind bogglingly good on and off pavement. It is comfortable, very rewarding and FUN to drive, anywhere…

The Raptor rear badge will come off easily, like any other stick-on badge; the full decal package is an expensive option, the two standard Raptor decals on the bed come off in 15 minutes with a heat gun. The pricy “beadlock” wheels are optional, avoid them unless you really don’t mind the look and a whole lot of extra unsprung weight.

I will probably buy an extended warranty at some point - my Land Cruiser was stone reliable (never stranded me) but there were some extremely expensive issues like the failing center Nav screen and possible head gasket failure, so I sold it at minimal loss. Parts for that truck are crazy expensive. The Ford parts should be less so, I hope.

My RR has never failed to make me smile when I see it or drive it.

I drove three new Tacos, nothing impressed me about them except the split rear seat. The Ranger one has usable leg room, but a one piece design… When Goose Gear comes out with a rear seat delete kit, I probably will get one.

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[stemplar]

The only advantage of the Lariat is the tow/payload rating, and maybe the toned-down looks if you're into that. Payload is very minimal, but towing will give you 2k lbs. more. As for the gas, you can also put 87 octane in the RRaptor, so that becomes a non-issue. I don't notice a difference with my insurance between my Raptor and my old 5G Lariat. So yes, my "no-brainer" comment still stands for 98% of people who are cross-shopping between a Lariat and Raptor.

I care about towing, payload, and fuel economy (the metric you left out), so I have a hard time believing that I'm in a minority of only 2% of the truck shoppers. Maybe I am, but I'd like to see something to back up your claim. For the record, raptors are freaking awesome. But they're not designed to excel at the same tasks as the "regular" rangers. So I say again, (and for the last time), which one is a no-brainer for someone depends on how they intend to use the truck.

 

[RapRanger21]

I've been a Tacoma owner since 1997. During that time, it's been beaten into my brain that:

1. Toyota = reliable

2. anything else, especially American, = not reliable

I don't know how true this is, especially today. I feel that American vehicles have made measurable advancements in reliability while Toyota has maybe taken a few steps back.

I'm also not happy about Toyota's Gen 4 pricing, which tops out in the mid 60's.

I'm thinking about a 2025 Ranger. Possibilities include a 2.7 XLT, a 2.7 Lariat, or a Raptor.

I don't yet know much about Rangers, though.

Honestly, how reliable are they? Are there any known issues with the Gen 5s?

Is a Lariat better value than a fully optioned XLT?

Is Raptor a better value than a fully optioned Lariat?

Are Raptors (realistically) available?

Thanks for any replies.

I don't mind ranger raptor for about 7,000 mi now, came from a 3.5 EcoBoost f150 with a towing package. I don't tow as much as I once did, but would have preferred the ability to take a bigger camper than I could pull right now, and I am disappointed like many about the needing a brace installed to put a camper shell on the back, for off-road purposes. Which is where I would take a camper I would think? Reading here that Ford has addressed this and going forward the newer models will not need the brace.

As others have said, the raptor is just a different kind of animal, not particularly good on fuel, but does put a smile on my face every time we go somewhere.
Oh and I removed my rear fender decals the first week, several others on here have, answering your question about, going a little more incognito. For me I love it this way.

I had to travel far and wide to find a dealership that would not add charges to getting a raptor ranger, none of the 10 I talked to in North Carolina or doing good on that so ended up at Gorno Ford, Michael Rey, paid sticker.
Still Loving the truck, for me I would have bought the 2.7 loaded, XLT or lariat with a towing package if it was offered back at the introduction. Who knows somebody may offer me too much money to not sell them this ranger raptor, and still get one of those. But right now I'm loving life in it..

 

[hand-filer]

I owned a Tacoma and loved it. Thought I was a lifetime Taco owner, then I drove a 2021 Tacoma back to back with a 5G Ranger and there was no comparison. The Ranger had more power, nicer interior, and was overall more pleasant to drive. I ended up liking the 5G Ranger so much, I sold it to upgrade to the 6G Ranger Raptor.

There is only about a $3k difference between a Raptor and a fully loaded Lariat. For that money, you're getting Fox live valve suspension, stock lift and bigger wheels, front locker, AWD, bigger/faster engine with adjustable exhaust and better steering. They make the Raptor a no-brainer at that price.

A fully loaded Ranger Lariat FX4 with 2.7 is $65,000 Canadian ($46,765)
The base Ranger Raptor is $80,000 Canadian ($57,560)
The Lariat was the best bang for the buck for my needs. Thankfully my brain was in full agreement.

 

[jeffers]

"When Goose Gear comes out with a rear seat delete kit, I probably will get one."

100% I want this, but thats my problem with the Ranger, the lack of aftermarket support.

 

[John E Davies]

"When Goose Gear comes out with a rear seat delete kit, I probably will get one."

100% I want this, but thats my problem with the Ranger, the lack of aftermarket support.

Send them an email, as I did, they are presently “working on” 2024 Ranger accessories, I am on their new product email list. The more people who contact them, the more likely they will make stuff for us. I sold off 90% of my woodworking tools and my table saw, or I would make my own platform. I swore that I was done with that kind of fabrication! But buying a new saw and the materials for just one job is financially unrealistic, and anyway, a home made system has close to zero resale value, unlike a GG one.

Goose Gear Contact Page

I apologize for the off topic thread drift….

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[Alaska Steve]

In terms ECOBOOST engines, my Edge had the 2.0, my 5G Ranger Lariat had the 2.3, and my 6G Ranger Lariat has the 2.7. I haven’t had any issues with the 2.0 or 2.3 and I like that the 2.7 has about a 9yr history of ‘refinement’.

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