XLT 4x4 sure looks like a decent off-roader—and it's a pickup truck after all. But its low ground clearance and low torque make this a poor choice for true off-road adventuring.

A battle-tested off-road vehicle is key to your outdoor adventures, but not every vehicle—let alone every pickup truck—is built to tackle the toughest terrain.

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, is here to give you the off-road lowdown on the 1999 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4. We’ll examine key off-roading factors, such as ground clearance, torque, and angles to give the best advice on whether to take this rig off-road or not. We’ll also look at a few alternatives if the ‘99 Ford Ranger XLT doesn’t float your boat.

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Can the 1999 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 go off road?

In a word, no. We know what you’re thinking—“but it's a truck!” and “it's got 4-wheel drive”! Both true, but the biggest thing holding the ‘99 Ranger from conquering the off-roads is its low ground clearance,which will be covered in detail below. Dirt roads, snowy, and slick weather are fine. Taming the wild wilderness? You’d best find a more rugged 4x4 for that.

The 1999 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 had a starting price point of $11,845,but you’ll likely be able to find a used one on the open market for between $1,686 and $2,632.It's a compact pickup truck that can be used for towing (capacity starts at 4,300 pounds). The ‘99 Ranger’s 4.0 V6 engine,mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission,offers brisk acceleration, responsive steering, and composed body control, to allow for easy city driving and fun on dirt roads—but nothing more strenuous than that.

Here are some key factors that explain the 1999 Ford Ranger’s (lack of) off-road prowess.

Ground clearance

Ground clearance is arguably the most important element for adventurous off-roading, and the 1999 Ford Ranger gets a failing grade with a ground clearance of just 6.6 inches.

Ideally, you want your off-roading vehicle to have between 8.8 and 10.8 inches of ground clearance for worry-free off-roading. The higher your vehicle’s ground clearance, the more foreboding off-road terrain you’ll be able to tackle. Otherwise, you can cause some serious damage to your SUV’s undercarriage.

Torque

For the most capable off-roading experience, you want your SUV to have plentiful low-end torque,meaning a higher amount of pound-feet of torque at lower RPMs. Low-end torque gives you the turning power you’ll need to get your truck through tough terrain while off-roading.

Unfortunately, the 1999 Ford Ranger’s 4.0 L V6 engine produces just 146 lb-ft of torque @ 3000 RPM—and those RPM aren’t all accessible at lower levels, meaning this isn’t much power.

Tires

The 1999 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 originally sports P205/75R14SL tires. These are just fine for winter driving, but they won’t get you through off-road terrain. They are durable and offer solid traction in both warm and cold weather.

Drivetrain

While 4-wheel drive was available on the 1999 Ford Ranger, it was optional, so you’ll have to ask if the 1999 Ranger you’re looking at has 4-wheel drive. But even if it does, the 1999 Ford Ranger’s ground clearance and torque do not make this an ideal off-road ride.

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Angles

Angles are key to off-roading, and the 1999 Ford Ranger does surprisingly well in this department. Here’s what we’re talking about:

Approach angle:the maximum angle that the Ranger can climb without interference

Departure angle:the maximum angle that the Ranger can descend without interference

The 1999 Ford Ranger offers 28 degrees on both the approach and departure angle, which is pretty solid. The higher your angles are, the easier time you’ll have crawling over rocks and other difficult off-road terrain—so the Ranger’s got someoff-roading chops.

Off-road rating: In a pinch

Using Jerry’s very science-y DIRT rating system, we’ve rated the 1999 Ford Ranger accordingly, as laid out below:

Rating	Meaning	Description
D	Don’t Try It	Vehicles better suited to highway conditions
I	In a Pinch	Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances
R	Rough and Ready	Vehicles designed for casual off-roading
T	Trail Boss	True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain

The ‘99 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 gets an I rating, for In a Pinch.The Ford Ranger XLT is not an ideal off-roading vehicle, with low ground clearance and insufficient torque to be able to do what is necessary to easily get through the toughest off-road obstacles. The Ranger does offer solid approach and departure angles, along with 4x4 (so long as the original owner added this option), so it can be used sparingly for light off-roading—but only if absolutely necessary.

MORE:

The best old-school off-road vehicles

The best off-road alternatives to the 1999 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4

If you don’t want to splurge for a new SUV, there are some alternatives comparable to the 1999 Ford Ranger in terms of both strengths and weaknesses. Here are the three best:

Alternative	Model	Price	Description
Best rugged alternative	1999 Toyota Tacoma	$2,850 to $4,452	The ‘99 Tacoma was released with a slew of drivetrains available, but the 4-wheel-drive variant is similarly capable to the Ranger and offers a tuned suspension and 5-speed manual transmission.
Best comfortable alternative	2001 Dodge Dakota	$2,377 to $3,713	Another light pickup that offered both 2-wheel and 4-wheel drivetrains, the 2001 Dodge Dakota was known for offering a comfortable and confident ride.
Best fuel-efficient alternative	2001 Chevrolet S-10	$2,017 to $3,144	The most fuel-efficient of the bunch, the Chevy S-10 also features a stout engine and a roomy cabin, but its build quality doesn’t quite match up to either the Tacoma or the Ranger.

MORE: Cheap off-road trucks

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