Fit a larger exhaust, make sure it can breathe and do a remap. Make sure you get a reliable person to do it. Theres probably a Ford ranger forum that you can join or browse, they are a goldmine of information.
Buy a V6 Amarok, just completed 13 500k trip over east and averaged 16l to 100k towing 21'6" 3 tonne van at mostly 100kph. Before the naysayers comment about the speed, it returned better fuel economy at 100kph Vs 90kph. This also during a nasty hot spell through outback NSW. One of the reasons I chose the VW over the Ford.
Your ranger should have ample power for that van . my bt50 ( same as the Ranger ) and a similar size van and never once have i thought i needed to spend thousands of dollars on modes to get from A to B . check your weights , drive in sports mode , dont let the revs drop out of the torque band ( around 2000 to 2200 rpm . my rig sits around 5700kg gcm loaded for a trip and return 15.7 lph and does it easy .
Most standard vehicles are somewhat de-tuned i.e. more power is available in the stock engine with some tweaking. Chips do only part of the job and sometimes conflict with the car's computers. The only way to release the full power potential is with a professional remapping. Sometimes minor exhaust and intake mods will be recommended as part of the 'package' in getting to the full potential, but mucking about with those mods without the remap is virtually useless.
__________________
Cheers,
Tony
"Opinion is the medium between ignorance and knowledge" - Plato
I have a Ngauge in my 2018 ranger, from BPT motorsport in Perth, it plugs in to the OBD port and reflashes the cars computer, changes the trans tune and the engine tune, can reflash back to factory when you need to take it back to ford for servicing, can also leave it installed to monitor trans temps and alot more, transformed the way the ranger drives.
Most standard vehicles are somewhat de-tuned i.e. more power is available in the stock engine with some tweaking. Chips do only part of the job and sometimes conflict with the car's computers. The only way to release the full power potential is with a professional remapping. Sometimes minor exhaust and intake mods will be recommended as part of the 'package' in getting to the full potential, but mucking about with those mods without the remap is virtually useless.
I fail to see the need to waste money on remapping and other add on items, in the first instant the vehicle is a working vehicle not a sports car, then you need to learn how to drive it to get the best performance, I tow 2.7t van with a 3.0ltr Ranger which by choice is a manual, it consistently delivers 14 -15l/100k, and the worst 19l/100k into a head wind. This is achieved by driving the correct gear, making gear changes before the rev's drop out of the power band.
If I spent thousands of dollars on remapping, 3" exhaust, chips etc, if and I don't believe it for one minute I got more power and the fuel economy improved 1- 2l/100k, I would never pay for the changers based on the marginal fuel saving, and even when you trade the vehicle in, it dosnt value add to the vehicle.
Lastly I don't need to accelerate off the lights to keep pace with the traffic, nor do I need ascend a hill at the posted speed limit.
Most standard vehicles are somewhat de-tuned i.e. more power is available in the stock engine with some tweaking. Chips do only part of the job and sometimes conflict with the car's computers. The only way to release the full power potential is with a professional remapping. Sometimes minor exhaust and intake mods will be recommended as part of the 'package' in getting to the full potential, but mucking about with those mods without the remap is virtually useless.
I fail to see the need to waste money on remapping and other add on items, in the first instant the vehicle is a working vehicle not a sports car, then you need to learn how to drive it to get the best performance, I tow 2.7t van with a 3.0ltr Ranger which by choice is a manual, it consistently delivers 14 -15l/100k, and the worst 19l/100k into a head wind. This is achieved by driving the correct gear, making gear changes before the rev's drop out of the power band.
If I spent thousands of dollars on remapping, 3" exhaust, chips etc, if and I don't believe it for one minute I got more power and the fuel economy improved 1- 2l/100k, I would never pay for the changers based on the marginal fuel saving, and even when you trade the vehicle in, it dosnt value add to the vehicle.
Lastly I don't need to accelerate off the lights to keep pace with the traffic, nor do I need ascend a hill at the posted speed limit.
The OP asked a simple question, he now has a range of views.
If you had an understanding of remapping and attainable outcomes, or better still actually driven a car pre and post remapping, your skepticism would likely change. BTW, chipping is a different thing to remapping. Also not sure where you get the idea of "3in exhaust" from...but never mind.
Unclebob, you will be able to get some specifics from a pro remap company for your particular vehicle, that's your best source for information.
-- Edited by SouthernComfort on Wednesday 27th of February 2019 09:52:17 AM
__________________
Cheers,
Tony
"Opinion is the medium between ignorance and knowledge" - Plato