First manufactured back in 1982, the Ranger is one of Ford's longest-running models alongside the F-series. Starting off as a compact pickup, today the Ranger is a mid-size pickup that sat both performance and comfort at the same table. The Ranger can be used both as a workhorse or an everyday commuter thanks to its 2.3-litre 270HP four-cylinder or 2.7-litre 315HP V6.
While you don't get the same performance when it comes to pulling a trailer as the F-series, the Ranger is still a great all-around vehicle that can also come with four-wheel drive or the standard rear-wheel drive setup. However no Ranger is up to standard without a proper exhaust system, and I'm not talking about the factory-fitted one.
What Matters in a New Exhaust
Diameter
Choosing an aftermarket exhaust system for your Ranger means getting exactly the right properties and one of them is the diameter of the piping. The exhaust is a collection of pipes which if large enough make Ford Ranger aftermarket exhausts have better airflow which in turn improves performance. However, too large of a diameter can create low backpressure levels and hinder performance.
Material
There are plenty of materials exhausts come made of with some of the more popular ones being stainless steel, titanium and aluminised steel. Stainless steel exhausts are your best option since they are strong and have extraordinary corrosion resistance. Titanium exhausts cost the most but they are the most durable and strongest while being able to withstand the highest of temperatures. Aluminised steel exhausts are the most affordable which is because they have the lowest level of corrosion resistance and strength but they are also the lightest.
Thickness
Talking about material, if it's not thick enough your Ranger exhaust system won't be as durable no matter the material it's made of. Thicker exhausts are not only more impact resistant but also help reduce exhaust drone far better than thinner ones.
Bends
The way an exhaust has its bends made has a great effect on exhaust flow. For instance, crush bends are made by directly bending the piece of piping without any support. This makes for a bend that has wrinkles on it which make it more restrictive. This is not the case with mandrel bends which are made with the use of a mandrel die that helps the bend retain the same diameter and stay smooth.
Downpipe
The downpipe is the section where two pipes meet before they go their separate ways once again. This part can be in the form of the letter “H” or “X” with the latter being better at evening out the pressure in the exhaust which is why it's the preferred solution and also the more expensive one.
Types of Aftermarket Exhausts
Axle-Back
The most affordable exhaust for Ford Ranger you can get is an axle-back system which replaces components from the rear axle to the tailpipes. This makes it the least performance-oriented solution, however, one that allows you to change the exhaust note quite easily. That's because you only have to replace a handful of components.
Cat-Back
With a cat-back system, you get to replace more components than you do with an axle-back exhaust which involves everything from the catalytic converter back. Cat-back exhausts are a good middle-ground option since they offer reasonable performance improvements without being expensive or the most affordable solution. They are therefore the most popular exhaust upgrade,
Header-Back
If you're not interested in replacing parts of your Ranger's exhaust system then you should consider going for a header-back exhaust which is essentially a whole new system. That's because you're replacing everything from the headers to the tailpipes which means major performance improvements but also a lot of time spent under your Ranger.
Turbo-Back
With a turbo-back exhaust, you are able to replace not only the exhaust but also the turbocharger of your Ranger. This makes a turbo-back exhaust for Ford Ranger the most expensive out of the four but also the most capable of increasing both HP and torque figures. Keep in mind though here you need to also tune the engine in order to make good use of the turbo otherwise your Ranger will feel choppy.
Advantages of an Aftermarket Exhaust
Availability
Well apart from improving the performance and efficiency of your ute, an aftermarket exhaust is also able to make the search for the perfect system a lot simpler. That's because aftermarket Ford Ranger exhausts are found almost everywhere no matter if it's a physical store or one that sells online.
Versatility
Another reason why you should go for an aftermarket Ranger exhaust system is that you can get one exactly how you want it to be and not how some 3rd party manufacturer wants to – if that's what you like. You can still get a pre-made one if that's what you're interested in.
Cost-Effectiveness
An aftermarket system is the most cost-effective exhaust you can get no matter if it's an axle-back or header-back exhaust. You still get more than what you pay for even if the aftermarket system is more expensive than an OEM solution.
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