Should You Take the 2009 Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road Off Road?
When you purchase a 2009 Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road, you’ll unlock access to some of the best off-roading features on the market.
Written by Mary Cahill
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The 2009
Ford Ranger
FX4 Off-Road comes with skid plates and a good amount of horsepower which makes it a sturdy off-roading pickup. When choosing this top-level trim, your Ranger will have a more rugged set of features so you can drive it over less-traveled roads with confidence. 2009 was the final year for the FX4 Off-Road trim level—which added a great deal of versatility to the Ford Ranger. With a starting MSRP of $24,535, this midsized pickup gained features that are ideal for off-roading like four-wheel drive (4WD), a V6 engine, and 16-inch wheels.
Here to guide you through the latest information on the 2009 Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road’s off-road specs is
licensed broker
and car insurance
comparison expert Jerry
. In this article, we’ll go over the Ranger FX4 Off-Road’s abilities, whether or not it's the right pickup truck for you, and how to maximize your insurance savings if you decide to purchase a Ford
. 
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Can the 2009 Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road go off road?
Yes. As its name suggests, the FX4 Off-Road trim of the Ranger was designed to do just that. Depending on your needs, the Ranger FX4 Off-Road is available with a two-door or four-door body styleand an extended cab (known as a 4x4
SuperCab
in Ford lingo). Thanks to the 4-liter V6 engine, the Ranger FX4 Off-Road produces 207 horsepower, helping it power through uneven, wooded trails with ease. Standard features of the FX4 Off-Road also include Rancho shocks, skid plates, and a Torsen limited-slip differential, which beef up this otherwise smaller-sized pickup.
In order to be considered a good off-road vehicle, certain specs are required. Wondering how the 2009 Ford Ranger FX4 stacks up? Let’s get a closer look.
Ground clearance
One of the first specs to consider if you want to take your vehicle on an off-road drive is its ground clearance. This measurement is the distance between your vehicle’s chassis and the road beneath it.
The FX4 Off-Road trim package raises the 2009 Ford Ranger’s ground clearance from its starting height of 7.9 inches on the base
XL
trim to a more off-road appropriate 8.2 inches. Experts argue that a great off-roading ground clearance would measure closer to 8.8 inches at minimum, which means the 2009 FX4 Ranger comes up a little short but can still hold its own when roads get rough. Ground clearance is important to consider when off-roading. A vehicle with too low a ground clearance could bottom out in the forest or suffer major damage to its undercarriage in other tricky situations—and that’s a very expensive repair!
Torque
When it comes to off-roading, torque is preferable to speed because turning power is more crucial in these driving conditions than going fast. The best off-road vehicles have what’s called low-end torque—a lot of torque generated at a lower rpm.
The 2009 Ford Ranger FX 4 Off-Road has 238 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm which classifies it as a low-end torque vehicle. Low-end torque is typically considered anything between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm, so you should have no trouble traversing any bends in your unpaved path.
Tires
As for the tires on the 2009 Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road, they too get an upgrade. The FX4 Off-Road is equipped with P255/70R16 all-terrain OWL tires as opposed to the base model’s P225/70R15 tires.
All-terrain tires are a great choice for off-roading because they perform well on paved roads and off-road trails alike. Suitable off-road tires feature a thick tread that’s engineered to maximize your traction on a variety of road surfaces.
Drivetrain
Your vehicle’s drivetrain is one of the major indicators of whether you’ll be able to successfully ride off-road. 4WD or AWD is practically non-negotiable for an off-road vehicle because it evenly distributes power to all four wheels.
The 2009 Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road comes with 4WD as a standard feature, making it a solid off-road trail driver that won’t skid when it hits the dirt.
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Something else that’s crucial in off-roading is the vehicle’s approach angle and departure angle. Never heard of these terms? Here’s what they mean:
- Approach angle: the maximum degrees at which a vehicle can climb without interference
- Departure angle: the maximum degrees at which a vehicle can descend without interference
The 2009 Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road has an approach angle of 24.9 degrees and a departure angle of 27.4 degrees. Generally, the higher the approach and departure angles of your vehicle, the better it can manage steep inclines and declines off trail. The 2009 FX4 Off-Road’s approach and departure angles are passable but not as impressive as off-road dominators like
Jeep
. Off-road rating: Rough and ready
We’ve used
Jerry’s
technical DIRT rating system, to grade the 2009 Ford Ranger Fx4 Off-Road’s off-road capability. Here’s a look at how the DIRT rating system breaks down: 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 2009 Ford Ranger FX4 Off-road earns an R rating. While this is certainly the Ranger trim you want to take off the beaten track, its modest size and ground clearance do not make it a top-tier pick if one of your main objectives is to take this truck off road.
The best off-road alternatives to the 2009 Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road
Maybe you’re not married to the idea of buying a 2009 Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road—and that’s okay! Here are some good alternatives you might want to consider:
Alternative | Model | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Best affordable alternative | 2001 Chevrolet S-10 | $12,849 | Available with either a 180-hp, 4.3-liter V6 engine or a 120-hp 2.2-liter four-cylinder, this is a used pickup that can handle its share of off-roading. |
Best alternative for serious off-roading | 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac | $21,910 | As you can see, this is a truck that holds onto its value. And with a 210-hp four-liter V6 engine under the hood, you can take this sporty pickup out on the rocky trails with ease. |
Best similar alternative | 2004 Dodge Dakota | $17,200 | Known for its formidable off-road capabilities thanks to its Magnum V6 engine, this truck has no problem powering down some seriously rugged terrain. |
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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles
Once you’ve got the keys to your off-roading truck in hand, make sure you don’t head out into the wilderness without the protection of good car insurance. Wondering how to find the lowest price on quality coverage? Just download
Jerry
.Jerry is the #1-rated insurance app for a reason—it saves you money and is super easy to use! In just 45 seconds, Jerry scans the internet for the most affordable quotes from the 50+ insurance companies it partners with and delivers the best ones right to your phone. In a matter of minutes, you can sign up for a brand new policy offering the right protection for your Ford Ranger.
Best of all? You’ll save! Jerry’s average user saves over $800 a year on car insurance.
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