http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/08/f...sold-to-orkin/

The Ranger pickup has been an integral part of the Ford truck lineup for decades. But later this month, that will cease to be – at least here in the States. That's when the very last Ranger will roll off the assembly line in St. Paul, Minnesota. And what do you know, it's already found a buyer.

The last Ranger has been sold to Orkin, the pest control company that already relies on fleets of white Rangers (and Chevrolet Colorado pickups) with the red diamond logo on the door and all manner of insecticides and other tools of the trade in the back.

"Since 1983, Orkin has used the Ford Ranger as its primary fleet vehicle because it's a reliable and economical truck," Paul Youngpeter, Director of Fleet for Rollins, Inc. (Orkin's parent company) tells Autoblog. "We're honored that Ford has agreed that we will get the last Ranger, and we'll put into our regular service rotation before it's retired to our corporate archives or used for training."

Orkin says they've got enough Rangers to last them for now, and that the company will pick a successor when the time comes. For our part, it seems only fitting to us that a terminated model should be used by exterminators, but one way or another, at least the final Ranger will be put to good use.

 

I bought one of those used Orkin Rangers a couple of years ago. It's a 2005 and I have 157846 miles on it. I thought it was strange that it has 3.0 with a 5 speed manual.
They are great little trucks, I am sad to see them end.

 

There are several Fords that got killed that I was not sad to see go but the Ranger is not one of them. The F series is just to big, thirsty, and expensive for my needs. The little 4 banger Rangers will touch 30 mpg if driven carefully and there is no telling what they could do with modern engines. Its a shame to see them go.

These little trucks are durable as all get out and cheap to fix when they break. No wonder so many are in fleet use.

 

I have to wonder if the Ranger isn't a victim of CAFE in some way or another. Even with its fuel economy it's still below targets. The reasoning? The Ranger in other parts of the world is moving on to a next generation and not being canceled.

http://www.ford.com.au/servlet/Satel...oller&site=FOA

 

The Ranger is available with small and economical diesel engines in the rest of the world, which makes it very economical.
Plus, North America is the only continents in the world where Ford sells the full-size trucks (F-Series). Ford buyers in the Europe or Australia or Asia - Ranger is pretty much the only Ford's truck available.

 

Never really liked rangers but seeing them go is gonna be a bummer...them and Crwon vics....but I'm sure if ford can ever cut through the red tape we'll see a diesel ranger or equivalent in the states.

 

Owned a '91 with a 3.0 V6.

Great little truck and served me very well for 10 years. Sad to see them go.

 

Owned 5 of them, all great trucks, sad day for Ford

 

They really ran great when you put a 5.0 in them!

 

Production of Ford Ranger Ends After 28 Years

http://wot.motortrend.com/out-of-ran...rs-147517.html