Best Mods and Upgrades for a Ford Ranger

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Ford Ranger has been available again for a few years now after being out of production for a while. It’s getting better every year, especially in the way of offroad capability and various interior amenities. If you’re considering buying a new or used Ranger, or already own one, you might be wondering which mods and upgrades would be good for you. We’ve got you covered with some of the most highly suggested accessories available. Here are the best mods and upgrades for a Ford Ranger in 2021.

Tonneau Covers

Tyger Auto T3 Tonneau Cover | Tyger Auto

These are some of the most popular purchases for truck owners of any kind. With tons of different types available, find the one that best fits your needs and the installation is fairly easy. There are tonneau covers that are retractable, rollup, tri-fold, hard, soft, and all kinds of other options. Some of the more complicated and expensive covers will have to be installed by a professional but many are very simple and can be put on your truck by anyone. Most come with instructions and many even have videos available online. Our recommendation is the Power Retractable with T slots from Pace Edwards by LEER, available on the Ford accessories website.

Nerf Bars

An orange Ford Ranger with nerf bars parked outside in snow
Ford Ranger with Nerf Bars | Ranger5G

Running boards, steps, whatever you call them, they’re a pretty popular Ranger upgrade. As with all pickup trucks, the Ranger might be just high enough that it’s hard to step into. These solve the problem. There are plenty of different options and some might be more expensive than others. The step bars available on the Ford accessories website match well, look clean and aren’t too pricey.

Offroad Wheels

If you don’t like the look of your factory-installed wheels, maybe you need an upgrade. There are plenty of aftermarket options available that look great on any color Ford Ranger. You might even be looking to drive offroad, and need some help there. There are some performance wheels better for tough terrain. The wheels will last longer and be much tougher in harsh conditions. If you are completely uninterested in taking your Ranger through the mud, the wheels look cool too.

Tires

Offroad tires for the mud and tough terrain might be a good option for you. Even if you don’t and just need to haul a lot of weight often, different tires from the factory-installed ones might be a good idea. A wider, knobbled tread is perfect for gripping tough terrain and handling the weight placed on top of them. Tires like this can last longer and keep you safer when moving heavy loads or driving offroad.

Lift Kits

A gray Ford Ranger with a lift kit parked outside
Ford Ranger with Rough Country Lift Kit Installed | Dale’s

You knew this was coming. People love lifting trucks of any size. It doesn’t matter if it’s the biggest truck in the world or the tiniest GMC Sonoma you’ve ever seen. It needs to be higher. Lift kits are available pretty much anywhere that sells vehicle parts, but installing them might be complicated. Lift kits are not something that anyone can install properly, so if you’re not a professional, make sure you find one to do it for you. Rough Country is a trusted manufacturer of lift kits and makes one compatible with the 2019-2021 models of the Ford Ranger.

Tailgate Damper

If you aren’t familiar with tailgate dampers, they are simple pieces of hardware that prevent the tailgate from slamming down. Having it come down in a slow, controlled manner can save you a lot of trouble. Whether that trouble is caused by a broken tailgate or something being hit by it, this prevents any issues. One of the more easily self-installed items on the list, there are plenty of options for which to buy. They will usually come with instructions, and videos can be found online on how to install them if you need help. Best of all since these are so simple and small, they’re fairly inexpensive.

There are plenty of available accessories, upgrades, and mods all over the internet for pickup trucks. The Ford Ranger has more available for the 1998-2011 version than the current 2019-2021 version. These are the best mods and upgrades for a Ford Ranger in 2021. Be sure to check the Ford accessories website as well as other sites to compare prices.

RELATED: The All-New 2023 Ford Ranger Looks Tougher Than Ever

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Will the Ford EcoSport Be Discontinued?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Since its debut in 2003, the Ford EcoSport has given American automotive shoppers an affordable choice for a crossover SUV. The subcompact EcoSport is the least expensive and smallest SUV in the Ford SUV lineup. However, the EcoSport era is coming to an end, for Ford will discontinue it in North America. 

The EcoSport is discontinued because of the Ford plant closure in India

2021 Ford EcoSport | Ford

The news about the discontinuation of the EcoSport comes fresh on the heels of the announcement by Ford that it will shutter its plant in Chennai, India. The operations in India have been a financial drain on Ford. With the Chennai plant closure and another plant closure in Gujarat, Ford will cease its vehicle production in India, even though the automaker will take a multibillion-dollar hit in doing so. The EcoSport models for the North American market are built at the Chennai plant, so it is one of the casualties of the plant closure.

Of course, as anyone that is familiar with the Ford EcoSport, the plant closure is not the only reason for the discontinuation. It is very weak on the performance and reliability fronts. As far as features, there is much to be desired. For the subcompact crossover SUV segment, there are many other better options, such as the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, Kia Seltos, Subaru Crosstrek, and Honda HR-V. 

When will the Ford EcoSport be discontinued?

RELATED: The 2021 Ford EcoSport is Pretty Problematic

If you were planning on buying a new EcoSport in the near future, there’s no need to panic. The Chennai plant won’t close immediately and will continue to produce the EcoSport until the second quarter of 2022. This will enable dealerships to sell the 2022 EcoSport for most of the 2022 calendar year. 

It is interesting to note, though, that Ford previously had planned on giving the EcoSport a mild update. With the discontinuation, Ford will only produce the current version of the EcoSport. It leaves one to wonder if the discontinuation — and the Chennai plant closure — were abrupt recent decisions. The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on vehicle production in the past year-and-and-half, which could be partially to blame for the decision.

However, the EcoSport is not entirely dead. Ford will still produce the subcompact crossover at its plant in Craiova, Romania. This version of the EcoSport is only available for sale for European customers, but not in North America. 

Will another Ford model replace the EcoSport?

Orange 2022 Ford Maverick driving on mountainous road
2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

Currently, Ford does not have another subcompact crossover SUV in the works to replace the EcoSport. When Ford stops selling the EcoSport, the Escape compact SUV will be the most affordable model in the Ford SUV lineup.

A suitable alternative to the EcoSport could be the Maverick compact pickup truck. While it’s not an SUV, it has some of the attributes that attract EcoSport buyers. Like the EcoSport, it has high fuel economy, for it comes equipped with an efficient hybrid powertrain. Also, with its car-like unibody construction, it is very maneuverable. Additionally, the Maverick is affordable, with a starting price of $21,490.

RELATED: The 2021 Ford EcoSport Doesn’t Have Much Going for It

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How to Get Your Dog to Stay in the Back Seat

by Gabrielle DeSantis

You’re driving down the highway or navigating busy city traffic. Suddenly, a dog appears in your lap or tries to force its way under your arm. Distracted driving is a leading cause of car accidents and deaths. And as much as we treasure our furry friends’ company, unrestrained pets are often a dangerous driving distraction. 

The dangers of a dog in the front seat

Cute but dangerous dog | Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

A dog climbing into the front seat can divert your attention from the road. Fido might bump into the controls or get between your feet and the pedals. In a worst-case scenario, your pooch could even stick its head through the steering wheel.

An unrestrained dog in the front seat potentially endangers other drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and even innocent bystanders. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,142 people were killed by distracted driving in 2019 alone. That’s 9% of all fatal crashes. Don’t let your pet contribute to that number.

So, how do you get a dog to stay in the back seat? Here are a few methods.

Use a barrier, harness, or carrier to keep your pet safely restrained

The back seat is safer for your pup than riding in front. As much as we’d like our four-legged friends to ride shotgun with us, it’s not the safest place for a dog in case of an accident. A barrier will keep Fluffy in the back where he — and you and everyone else — will be safer. Mesh curtains prevent small pets from sneaking up to the front, while metal grills prevent even the burliest dogs from doing the same. 

Trusted Choice recommends using a harness and a seatbelt for your dog. This will keep your pet from sliding around on the seat and potentially breaking a leg. It will also prevent your pup from becoming a deadly projectile in case of an accident. In addition, you’ll want to buckle Sparky up because airbags pose a serious hazard to dogs in the event of even a minor crash.

If you want to go a step further, use a specialized pet seat belt or car seat to keep your dog safely restrained.

Other options to keep your pup secure include a pet carrier for smaller breeds or a kennel for medium to large dogs. The ultimate safety option is a crash-test-certified crate that offers crumple-zone protection and the doggie equivalent of airbags to cushion the shock of a collision. Just make sure the carrier or crate is safely buckled in. Otherwise, it could become an even deadlier projectile than your dog alone.

Train your dog to stay in the back seat

Dogs of all sizes and breeds benefit from basic obedience training. One of the most important commands for them to learn is how to stay where and when they’re told.

Another key command is learning to respect invisible barriers. If you train your dog that there’s an invisible barrier between the front and back seats, he won’t even try crossing it. Either one of these essential commands will keep a trained dog in the back seat, where he’s safer. They could save your pet’s life outside the car, too, by preventing him from running into a busy street.

Training also improves the bond between you and your dog. Spending a few minutes a day training to ride safely in the car will result in a calmer, happier pup, a less stressful driving experience, and improved safety for everyone.

RELATED: No, It’s Not Safe to Drive With Your Dog in the Truck Bed

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‘Buzz Iceclear’ and ‘Will Plower’ Among Finalist Names for Indianapolis Snow Plow Contest

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Picking up on a fun trend, Indianapolis, Indiana, has begun holding a contest to name its local snow and ice maintenance equipment. The votes have narrowed down the finalists for name choices for these great snow plows, and they (and this trend) are worth checking out.

The recent trend of cities holding polls to name equipment and vehicles

Snow plows in Colorado | Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

According to Autoblog, the equipment-naming trend that recently made its way to the United States began in Scotland years ago. There, schoolchildren helped name the nation’s snow plows. Adding to the good cheer, Scotland also uses aerospace technology to track its snow plows so that anyone can see their names and real-time locations on a map, MotorTrend reports.

Since then, places like Minnesota and others have also held similar contests. Autoblog says the state’s 2021 name options were amusing references to everything from Star Wars to The Mary Tyler Moore Show, the latter set in Minneapolis. The names that made the final cut? Darth Blader, Snowbi Wan Kenobi, and F. Salt Fitzgerald.

Indianapolis is the latest city to ask residents to give public works equipment memorable monikers. Naming snow plows likely increases morale and public recognition in the midst of the challenges that come with wintertime weather problems.

The finalists in Indianapolis’ bid to name its snow plows

Get ready to chuckle (or roll your eyes) — these are the finalists in the Indianapolis snow plow-naming contest, in alphabetical order:

  • Blizzard Wizard
  • Buzz Iceclear
  • Eli Chilly
  • Larry Brrrrrrd
  • Peyton Melton
  • Reggie Chiller
  • Snowy Kanaan
  • Snow Mean City
  • The Salt in Our Stars
  • Will Plower

Many of the choices are nods to local celebrities and area businesses, Autoblog reports. Some automotive references include Will Plower (after IndyCar driver Will Power) and Snowy Kanaan (after IndyCar driver Tony Kanaan). 

And who can forget basketball great Larry Bird? He made his beginnings in Indiana and stands to join snow plow fame if Larry Brrrrrrd wins. In addition, Reggie Chiller is named for Indiana Pacers player Reggie Miller who spent his entire career with the team.

Indianapolis native John Green, who wrote the bestselling book The Fault in Our Stars, is to thank for the inspiration for The Salt in Our Stars. The book and movie reference would be easy to spot even if you didn’t know it connected to Indianapolis.

A lesser-known reference to those outside Indianapolis is Eli Chilly. The name refers to the Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company, a large manufacturer of many medications.

And the broadly recognizable Buzz Iceclear nods to the Disney Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear of Toy Story fame.

When will the city announce the winning snow plow names?

If you were hoping to try to sneak a vote, you’re out of luck. The contest to name Indianapolis snow plows closed on September 3. The city’s public works department had an easy online voting submission form and, let’s hope, a way to verify that voters were locals.

Although the voting deadline has passed, inquiring minds and Indianapolis residents will have to wait until this fall to find out which snow plow names prevailed, WIBC reports.

To add to the excitement and recognition, the names will go on decals affixed to the corresponding snow plows so that anyone can identify their favorite vehicles.

RELATED: How Big of an ATV Do You Need to Plow Snow?

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