MY dad has a a ranger its a 06+ I dont like it rides terrible put 50 pounds in the bed the truck sags the azs end down .
If you want a small mpg truck get a Dakota with 3.7 I have one avarage 20 mpg and can get at 55- mph 26+mpg average.
I also have had 2800 pounds of gravel in the bed no problems the truck sat down about 1 ft that was it.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm