I have a 99 and while towing to Bronzeback Bombers house I realized the front of my boat was riding a low. So when I pulled up he asked if it was always that low. I get out and look and my hitch is 8" off the ground > (usually about 18-20").

Well, the frame snapped. The truck is rated to tow 5000 pounds (XLT,4X4, 4.0)  and my tracker weighs not even half of that. Just rotted out, the mechanic said it looks like it was in the ocean for a couple years and someone just pulled it out (never in salt water, and when launching my boat the water never even comes up to the rim of my back tires).

I started checking Ford Truck forums and this is becoming a common problem with Rangers. The frames are just rotting out! So be careful and pay attention.

Sorry to hear that.  This type of issue should become a recall... but is this a type of problem that would make them consider a recall?

In my eyes... it should be recalled.

It's all that Rhode Island winter road salt underneath it.  

It's all that Rhode Island winter road salt underneath it.

It doesn't help, but it is a nation wide thing, and in the same exact spot as mine snapped.

Got any pics?

I'll get them up soon.

they just recalled a bunch of toyota pickup trucks because of the same thing. my buddy brought his to the dealership and they "tested" it by whackin away at the frame with a ballpeen hammer, if the hammer went through the truck was recalled.

surprisingly enough, after they put about 10 holes in his frame they let him drive it home and keep it for about another month. there wasn't much left of it when they finally got it back, he stripped it, jumped it, drove it without shocks, all kinds of stuff and they still cut him a check for the full amount.

That'll leave a mark!  ;D

WOW! I had a 94 Mazda 4x4 w/ 4.o. Same thing as the Ranger. It was the toughest truck I ever owned.

Sorry about your truck Tin.

It's all that Rhode Island winter road salt underneath it.

You would think the bed would rot off before the frame went. Like the Toyota's used to.

It's also amazing because my neighbor tows his Ranger (boat) with his Ranger (truck). I might have to leave a note on his truck about this.

On Tins truck it broke right behind the leaf spring shackles. I have a '98 F150 and the frame still looks brand new. 134,000 miles.  

I am driving a 97 Explorer.  Hopefully they are not on the same chassis.

That sux Tin.

I am driving a 97 Explorer. Hopefully they are not on the same chassis.

That sux Tin.

Actually it is the same chasis in a sense it is made from the same materials and has the same mounting locations.  Had a customer take an Explorer frame and put a Ranger/Mazda body on it with a mustang motor.  

I tow with a 2003 Ford Sport-Trac. Is this the same frame we are discussing?

Sure is,,, all the explorers, and rangers are built on the same frame,  same for the mazda P/Us, sport tracs, etc...

The same thing happened to my grandpas ranger. The area aroung the back shocks went out. He fixed it then sold it and got another ford.

The same thing happened to my grandpas ranger. The area aroung the back shocks went out. He fixed it then sold it and got another ford.

Smart man.  ;D  Kidding kidding.

If an automaker lets me down and I have problems with a vehicle than I never go back. Ford is one of those companys. Talk about a pain.

So far Chevy and Toyota have never let me down. My wife has a Dodge Stratus and I'll probably never latch onto Dodge again either.

It's all that Rhode Island winter road salt underneath it.

You would think the bed would rot off before the frame went. Like the Toyota's used to.

It's also amazing because my neighbor tows his Ranger (boat) with his Ranger (truck). I might have to leave a note on his truck about this.

On Tins truck it broke right behind the leaf spring shackles. I have a '98 F150 and the frame still looks brand new. 134,000 miles.

Must just be the rangers. Ya'll shouldn't give up on Fords yet. We have an 86' F250 farm truck still running strong. I know the frame and what-not is different, but pulling a boat would be nothing compared to what it has towed in the past. Of course it doesn't outrun the Duramax, but it runs!

I'm an insurance adjuster and we are always receiving updates on recalls and defects.  The only frame problems I've been hearing about are the soft frames on Toyota full size (they seem to deform too easily on minor impacts).  But I haven't heard anything about Ford, or Chevys for that matter.  Ford did have an ignition problem for awhile that caused fires (some insurance companies recouped what they paid on those claims from Ford since they failed to acknowledge the problem or issue a timely recall).  But I have even heard rumors of a Ford frame defect.  (Doesn't mean there isn't one.)

Here ya go

"http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/dd232/tin2win/?action=view&current=mike_is_an_ass_006.jpg"

I had a 1997 Ford Ranger.  I have to admit, it was not much of a truck but it was reliable transportation.  I put just over 100,000 miles on it in 6 years and never had a bit of trouble.  I was warned by the guy who put my spray in liner (Rhino knockoff but just as good) in that this truck will rust out on the bottom if the water in the bed does not drain properly and evenly.  He refused to install plastic liners in these trucks because he claimed they held to much water.

Don't know if any of this is true but I never saw one bit of rust on mine.

Get one of these

I will get a Vader one day. 8-)

I tow my 18 ft procraft with a 95 blazer with an S-10 frame.  Hasnt let me down yet.  The only thing is the radiator used to get heated up but once we switched to the green coolant it stopped.  Idk I never really liked fords except for the older ones, they run great