If it's any consolation fellas, my Volvo 13-litre only gets 1.1 MPG pulling Ike with 49,000 lbs of drywall on the deck :-))

Russian guy needs to wear a track suit from adidas or I’m not watching anymore

I am NOT a truck guy, but the competition in the midsize segment is very exciting for anyone into automobiles.

While this was from two years ago I find people still don’t use the Ranger 10 options as well as they could. You can set the number of gears available on the stick. So if your worries about it jumping between 5th and 6th you can max it out at using only 5 speeds so it won’t ever try 6th while climbing etc. I do lots of climbing and tight bends and setting it to use 4 automatic gears max means I can just forget it until I’m at the top. Always sports mode ti use any selected gear too.

For me putting the Ranger into cruise control (set to 50mph) was the way to go. Then it uses all the engine breaking it can get to try to hold set speed.

Mr Truck going to tea parties in his new Ford Ranger - ROFL.

If you adjust the gauge cluster, you can see the tach

I think at the end of the day it all comes down to who will make more trips up/down the hill. The Ranger and the Tacoma are both noted as extremely dependable trucks. The Tacoma has not had a break in sales/service (in the US) so the Ranger will have to once again prove itself as a dependable pickup. Time will name the true ruler of the roost. It was a great video and as always as fair as they can be. Thanks guys.

No time to rest I see. Keep up the great work

You guys have misidentified the “ECT PWR” several times now. It doesn’t add power or change the engine at all, it holds the gearing in lower gears for longer and helps prevent early shifting (at the cost of gas-mileage) to make towing and mountain-climbing easier.

I've been waiting for a while for this video thanks guys let's do this!!

Man you guys have been pumping out the content!

If Andre would just fill that tote with Vodka it wouldn't freeze.

You know Mr truck means business whenever he pulls that tape measure out. 😁

You guys are having too much fun out there....I like it!!!!

Cute ...Still driving a 95 ranger , mileage unkown as dealer spun the odometer back ....tires ,brakes ,2 ujoints and an egr sensor and still the most confidence inspiring truck I have ever drivin' in fourty four years!!!!!!!

Gosh the technology on these new trucks is crazy! I can't keep up!

Both trucks will be fine with mild towing on occasion (like all other midsize trucks). If you're going to do any regular towing with moderate or heavier weight, you should probably get a different truck. It's not like the midsize trucks are much cheaper than a half-ton anyway.

Thanks guys I love watching your videos

You guys are having so much fun ... 🙌🙌

When doing work like towing up a hill, it's no surprise that the mpg is more even. The EcoBoost mpg advantage comes into play when CRUISING where you don't need the max power capacity. Then that less reciprocating weight will provide more mpg. When you need the power to tow up the hill then similar amounts of fuel will be used. It's not like the EcoBoost makes free energy. It's just a smaller engine that can still match the power of the larger engines when in boost (replacement for displacement) . And it's in that later mode when climbing a hill.

These are my fav kind of videos!

Good video guys. I agree that gauge layout in the Ranger is less than ideal. We had that same layout in our Explorer and it is hard to see those bars on the side. Keep up the great job!

Don't buy the Tacoma. Ive had Tacoma on and off since 1997. 3 in Total now. They never break down and always work when you turn the key. No drama, no surprises! I did have a Ranger briefly in 2000, it always over heated, leaked oil and had transmission issues. The motor ended up exploding! Very exciting! Never knew what to expect on the road! I miss it.

I love the Tacoma but they need to design the cabin space around someone who is around 6ft tall which would compensate taller and shorter people

You guys can change how big the tack is in the ranger for when you want to see the rpms better. I wish it just had a normal analog tack all the time, almost makes me like the xl and xlt gauge cluster better

Great vid as usual! Loved the vapor rub!! 🤣🤣 Towing test in standard highway/city conditions coming soon??

Cool video..you need to get all the midsized in the segment and do a shootout. Race..pull..offroad.

From the video, the Ranger appears to have an elastomeric jounce bumper (not a bump stop) which is designed to be a supplemental spring. It works to make the suspension progressive, providing an increasing spring rate transition into full compression. It is intended to be an active part of the suspension. As such, it should have been touching the leaf spring during your test.

Great comparison, glad to see competition in to midsize market

I’d love to see a video comparison with Chevy ZR2, Gladiator, and The Ranger with the 2inch level kit with Fox shocks given that it is an available upgrade now and covered under warranty. The approach angle is 34.5, break over angle is 23.5, and departure angle is 25.4 degrees. So I feel this upgrade option puts it on par with the Chevy for sure. I got these options with 360 copilot for my Ranger XLT and I think the Ranger is the most balanced mid size when considering off road capabilities, towing, cargo, and features like lane assist/360 copilot. I put a set of Ridge Grapplers 265/70/17 and it handles everything well. And it was $5-$10 grand less than Chevy Bison and $20k less than Gladiator Rubicorn.

Agree, the full line on the backup camera is very handy rather then that plus symbol

I’ve had two of the previous Rangers; both were really good little trucks! I’ve been looking forward to seeing the various test results of the new Ranger and I’m pleased to see that it’s performing as admirably as it is. Once again Ford really did their homework with this one! I’m looking forward to probably parking one in my own driveway in a couple years after I pay off my present vehicle.

I have a 2002 Tacoma. I believe Toyota has begun doing what all auto companies have been doin for years - cutting corners and cheapening products.

Love watching these videos when I buy a new truck, because I live in Arvada, and almost all of our camping takes us through the Eisenhower/Johnson tunnels. Also go over Fremont pass quite a bit.

Do you leave it in overdrive with the ECT on or do you put in 4th gear?

I have that gauge cluster in my ford and you can switch the left side to display a still small but larger digital rpm display. Lots of people are swapping in the MKZ gauge cluster into theirs too.

I originally thought that I'd buy a Tacoma but then test drove the Ranger and the Ranger's seats were way more comfortable so I bought the Ranger.

Awesome review

Thanks for freezing your butts off to provide us with real world tow tests. I owned a Tacoma with the 4.0 and sold it for a 2018 with the 3.5. I was shocked how much the towing quality dropped with the newer engine. I know it looks as good on paper as the older 4.0, but my engine constantly shifts and groans towing the same trailer. Add larger tires and you cannot tow in higher elevations or inclines worth a squat. IMHO, it’s better to go with the Ranger since the turbo helps compensate for altitude and incline challenges when it comes to torque and that 10-speed stops the extreme gear switches.

I cant tell you how much I appreciate the work (that’s debatable if we can call it work in the traditional sense of the word) you guys put into bringing us the best possible real world reviews. I’m grew up on a sheep and cattle ranch south of you in the mountains of NM. Toyota’s have always been an amazingly well built truck. I have never been loyal to a specific brand. I’ve always purchased what best attracted my $$ at the months leading up to a purchase. I can say that I’ve really enjoyed every pick-up I’ve owned and driven. A lot has changed in my life from my first truck. At our ranch we had a 1946 Ford wench truck with a flat head V-8, a 1958 Dodge 1/2 ton, 1966 Chevy 1/2 ton, a 1967 Ford F-250, 1979 Ford F-350, a 1983 Ford F-150 and a 1983 Ford ranger. - my dad was a Ford fanatic. I grew up driving all of these and really enjoyed them all but the 1/2 ton short bed step-side Chevy was by far the most enjoyable to drive except for the lack of air conditioning. After the Navy I ended up driving a mix of cars, SUV’s and pickups. I’ve always preferred pickups and large SUV’s with one exception. My best friend had a 1983 Toyota pick-up . He abused all of the vehicles he owned. His dad would say “you could brake a steel ball with a rubber mallet!! But he was never able to brake the Toyota. Over the years, my Dad switched to the first Toyota full size truck. He pulled a 32’ 5th wheel with that little trick for 10 years in the mountains of California!! It’s hard to change the old timers... he grew up and worked on the ranch in the 50’s and 60’s. Ranches And farmers if that era all pulled far too heavy of a load with their trucks and my dad was no exception. However, he never had a wreck or a speeding ticket and like so many of that time, just believed if you put your mind to it, you can do anything. The point here is, my experience is that Toyota makes a very durable and reliable pickup. I do wish they would invest more heavily and update their trucks on a shorter interval. But, they obviously have developed a winning strategy for the Tacoma. My take on your video is this. I think if you want an off-road truck that has great approach and departure angles, a good 4-wheel drive suspension, a durable interior, exterior and resale value, good trailering ability’s, look no further. Ford also wins here. If you want a truck to drive around town, occasionally pull a trailer, carry kids and wife in a little more comfort and slightly newer technologies...... and your ok with a truck that isn’t quite as “tough” ...... the Ranger May be a great option. I personally had hoped for a clean sheet Ranger design with the kind of focused and effort Ford puts into the F-150. Ford did not do this. They basically took a 15 year old design (that’s when Ford designers first developed this vehicle) ... cleaned up some of the interior and exterior styling, refined an existing motor and slapped on a 10 speed transmission. It’s not a “wow” or beautifully designed pickup. It’s HoHum and could have been a truck that drove Toyota to finally come out with a truly clean sheet Tacoma. It’s not and so, when I buy a truck for my son as he graduates from High-school, it will either be the the Tacoma or the Jeep pick-up. It’s my opinion that Toyota and Jeep are better midsize designs, and their style and utility are much more enduring, for the long haul.

Great video guys both awesome trucks wish they would make the 2.7 v6 option in the ranger or the 3.5

Hello Andre and Mr. Truck! Happy New Year! Now Mr Truck hasn’t anyone ever told you your supposed to put the grease inside the square opening of the hitch not on the slide in ball holder! But I’ll agree with both of you, the Ranger is definitely the one I would go with between the two. However I do own a 2016 Colorado Z71,4x4, V6 Ext Cab, that I regularly average 26 highway at the speed limits to 70 mph, with 18 city and combined at 22 mpg! I also regularly tow a 4,500 lbs travel trailer with the wife and 2dogs along with all our stuff at a CGVW of 9,560 lbs! On out last 4 month 4,500 mile trip, that started on February 6 and ended May 8 th. From our old house in the people’s republic of massachusetts, to sign papers to build a new house in Central Florida, the n take off for 4 months while the house was built. That trip was from fairly flat Central Florida up across the Panhandle, through parts of southern Louisiana, then to a beautiful place called Matagorda TX on the Gulf Coast for three weeks, where we were able to drop the trailer and setup camp then explore South Central TX. Then we headed northwest to The Rocky Mountains of CO and wandered all over the Pikes Peak to Laedville Areas, then back south east making our way back. All without a single problem or issue other than computer minded oil changes and tire rotation. So over an overall 48,000 miles so far not even burning or leaking a drop of oil over the 7,000-10,000 mile oil changes.

Db is not a linear scale. Every 3 db is double the sound energy level. Every -3 is half. 70db is double 67db. 6db is double 3. 112 is double 109. That's energy. Humans perceive a doubling of the sound level every +10 db. And half as loud at -10db. Either way when your scale reads a difference of 10 it sounds twice as loud to a human. +3db is significant in either case. I don't think the "bump stops" on the Ranger are meant to be hard stops which may be the reason you felt a smoother ride. It looks like the "bump stop" is designed to work as a decelerator. Almost a mini coil spring cushion. This would mask a jarring pot hole or bottoming out from extra weight over a dip. The Tacoma looked like a metal hard stop that was bent from impact or missing a rubber piece. You may have lost a snubber there. Pretty fair comparison. The full sized trucks downshift and hold speed without brakes WAY better. I would have used cruise control for both up and downhill. I have noticed my truck uses the actual speed versus the CC input to determine when and how much to downshift going downhill. Might have helped with the hunting shifts.

Can you do a Towing Test with the Ford Transit this year?

Hi Guys.. I watch your videos and ran into this one that caught my attention. I've never seen that type of hitch receiver and its application. Would you mind letting me know how that works and what type it is? I have a 2017 Tacoma and i m not pleased towing my 4K boat up and down those bridges on Key West, Florida. Cheers

Finally ford ranger and Tacoma towing greatest video on KZfaq

only on TFL Truck will you see a trailer hitch lubed up with vaporub

I have not seen many Ranger drivers with their pinky up! I think it looks macho enough.

I test drove both and bought the ranger. They were about the same price too.

Did you use the eq hitch when testing? Just curious never looked like it was hooked up

Can you subtract gears on the Ranger like on the F-150 to minimize gear hunting?

Hey Guys, Great video, been watching for years. A few things to note. I run a 2017 Taco crew SB, 6 speed manual. Stock gears are 4:30. Aftermarket 2” lift Bilstien 5100 on 33” Duratracs load E. If you order the Sport and you get the moon roof it adds a butt load of head room. I’m 6’1”. I tow a 5300 lb loaded rv 24’ in length. I live in BC Canada and I’m surrounded by mnt passes. My Taco tows it amazing! I run and I highly recommend the Curt ECHO Bluetooth Brake Controller. It’s a plug and go system that is very responsive and can be activated independently. Also I get to your GPM conversion 9 MPG average to a tank with the trailer on. The Taco 3.5 is very peaky but with the manual just keep it at 3500 rpm or above and sit back and relax. This is a lifted trailer as well so I can pull it deep into the backcountry for hunting as well as late into the season in snow. Spend the money and get the Taco manual guys. Your resale will thank you. The Auto’s are slushOmatics and the smaller displacement engines like the Ranger will never hold back on the descents, still no replacement for displacement . This is just my opinion. Side note- I’m a commercial driver also run private hot shot for years and still love my LBZ. Cheers. Look forward the the videos in the future.

I just pulled a 10 k trailer all the way from Phoenix to Dallas and my 2017 colorado diesel did it with 14 mpg and no problem! I have firestone ride rite airbags and it held up that heavy trl no problem!

thanks for this video, you help me to make decision

It should be noted that to anyone who is buying a midsize truck for towing duty, the TRD Off Road or FX4 are THE LAST trim lines/options that you should consider. Softer suspensions and taller sidewall, off road oriented tires are not conducive to towing. For a Tacoma, the best rim line for towing is the TRD Sport as it is the only model with a stiffer dampened, sport oriented suspension. For a Ranger, you'd want the towing package and maybe the electronic limited slip but not the FX4 package.

I like both midsize pickup trucks. The Ranger and the Tacoma..."

Nice great video guys

2 most favorite trucks competing in one video, great!

The bump stop on the Ranger looks a bit like a Timbren spring--rather than being a solid stopper maybe it's an extra spring in itself?

Have you guys ever tested the manual shifting on the trucks that offer it?

Great video! I agree with the choice, but to be reliable is another thing which is more reliable?

I love these videos. I would also love to see big rig videos on the gauntlet. Same style video in every way. Doesn't Mr. Truck have a class a?

can't wait until the Ford Raptor comes out!!

I wish they would start with a full tank of gas and than measure MPG the way they do on the MPG loop.

Probably already mentioned, but the head room problem for your hat was because the truck had the sunroof option. It lowers the ceiling by a couple of inches.

We need more collaboration with Mr. Truck

Great video with a pair of goof balls. My wife wants to buy a new truck, she has test driven the Taco, via a rental...her 03 Ranger was in the shop. She wants a Ranger but fell in love with the Taco (I love Taco's too, but not the automotive kind...wink wink) We are waiting on a Ranger for her final decision. We are Ford people, however the Tacoma is an excellent truck and it would be a good buy either way. Personally I would buy the Ranger. Great video guys, thanks

I’ve been watching tfl for many many years, and have never understood why Kent, Mr. Truck, cannot pronounce distribution correctly.

Couple years ago they tested the GMC Canyon on the Ike. Rated for 7000 lbs. Their trailer was well over 6,000 lbs. As I remember it, only one brake application downhill and it had more than enough power uphill. Mr Truck had plenty of room to get in and sit comfortably with his hat.

Thanks for doing all these truck reviews! I'm getting ready to buy my first family truck, and these videos are really helping me narrow down the field and, most importantly, get the Mrs. on board with a truck (she's not a truck poison). What I'd like to know is. After all the trucks, TFL has reviewed. If you could only pick one (SUV or pick-up) what vehicle would you personally be driving?

This is how I felt the last time I went truck shopping 4:10

You guys never disappoint! Thanks for videos.

The Fast Lane Not the reviewing team we need..... .... But the reviewing team we deserve.

You need to monitor transmission temperature as well.

Ordered my Ranger already. Can't wait to get it!!

Someone teach him to say "distributing" lol

Never saw anything else on the blindspot system for the trailer on the ranger. Was kind of hoping you would say how it went.

I think that the bump stop on the ranger is the same as in my transit custom and that's hydraulic and a part of the suspension. It's not just a bump stop.

Time to play Cowboys and Russians

The Ford Ranger wildtrak 3.2 5 Cylinder is a beast. Test that......

So what did the trucks score??? I want real score numbers please. Great video by the way guys

Andre and Kent I wish you would have addressed why no Chevy, GMC and Nissan in the beginning of this video and if your doing tests on those models anytime soon!! I being a Chevy guy is disappointed and constantly wondering why the other trucks were not included. There is nothing like testing them head to head in one video for the viewer to get the most comprehensive comparison test against the competition. Thanks for your hard work, it shows!

When’s the Ranger Raptor coming

No surprise that the Tacoma holds speed better down hill, it's got a bigger displacement engine (3.5 l. VS Ranger 2.3 l.) so more compression. Again no surprise the Ranger does better up hill, the turbo of the 2.3 makes a more efficient engine. Thanks for this real world test showing a bit of hunting on the 10 speed transmission of the Ranger and quality of ride of the parabolic spring of the Ranger.

I think u can change the guage layout in the options menu

I'm not sure if the ranger is equipped with it, but my 2015 escape gives you the ability to select the gear the vehicle is in when sport mode is activated. If the ranger has that ability I'm sure it would help with the down hill especially.

For my money, I'd personally go for the Ranger first, I like it's styling, and the fact the interior is more comfortable. That's one of my biggest complaints on the Toyota, seating comfort, it feels too cramped.

I love my 2017 Tacoma TRD off road. Very comfortable for me and I still get a lot of compliments.

I love the chemistry between this guys!!!

That’s good that there is more competition in this size of trucks means that better trucks will be coming out just to stay on top

They make aftermarket towing mirrors for the Tacoma. I have them for my 2013. In doing so I gained heated mirrors as well as turn signals. They are similar to Dodge towing mirrors. No need to fiddle with those add on extension mirrors

I've never seen Vicks used in such a _sick_ manner😂

Wish I could see the tach a little better on the ranger, it seemed like the Taco held much higher rpm during the up hill.

please do MPG test on both ranger and Tacoma without towing regular driving

You two are a riot...

I looked forward to a Tacoma for years, after 1 yr of running up and down I-70 in my TRD OR I traded for a F150 3.5eco 10spd. The Taco even when unloaded shifts constantly going up grades. Its tiring.

Can’t wait for you guys to test the Jeep Gladiator

I would like to a see a real review 10 year/200k mile review. When they are new they are all great.

I really want to give this Ranger a shot. My 2016 F150 2.7 is at lease end now. I’m going to order another one but would like this ranger. Thing is I have a travel trailer 2016 passport 238ML ultra light. 3890lbs dry. 2 axles 23.5ft. 🤔 dilemma... thoughts? Tounge weight 500lbs. Travel with wife and two young girls and a dog.