1993 Ford Ranger “the Crimson Haybaler”

Owned 2009-2011.

When we returned our ’08 Jeep Liberty to its parent company, a new dinghy was needed.  Looking for inexpensive, flat-towable vehicles with truckish abilities that the Incorrigible could pull, the choices were narrowed down to a Suzuki Sidekick/Geo Tracker, or a four-cylinder, two-wheel drive Ford Ranger.  From there, it was just a matter of which fell into my hands the most cheaply first.

That turned out to be a Ranger.  A simple silver regular-cab, long-bed Ranger turned up near our temporary home in Salt Lake City for $800, and after a bit of sorting turned out to be just what we needed.  I had to replace the starter, fuel filter and battery cables; after that it ran reliably, if noisily thanks to a messy missing exhaust.  The Haybaler (yes, I’m aware that it is not red) churns happily along and doesn’t ask for much, just like a good pickup should.

The Haybaler was a good truck; once the exhaust was fixed it ran without complaint.  When it came time to pass it on, he was snapped up in less than 24 hours.