How do I drain fuel from a 2004 Ford Ranger fuel tank.

Take a really long small diameter rubber hose and stick it all the way down into the tank, and then put the other end in a plastic gas can below the level of the tank.
Suck the gas up to get it started.
Wash your mouth out with soap.
There is no drain plug.

Use a pump to suck it out of the tank is the easy way.

Unless I'm mistaken (that never happens, lol) you must remove the gas tank to access the internal fuel pump. Drain most fuel first, and be VERY CAREFUL with any lights, flames, heaters. Use only battery powered light to be safer. A mostly empty tank is full of fumes and will explode if ignited, but a full tank is very heavy and difficult to handle. If you can drop the tank out, the hard part is done.

This is a problem caused by a defective fuel pressure check valve at the outlet of the electric fuel pump inside the gas tank. When this valve fails it allows gas to drain back to the tank from the filter and fuel lines, this creates a lean fuel condition and that can cause hard starting. There are reasons but this is the most common one.

Check for a clogged tank vent. A small amount of pressure is normal but not a lot.

try the fuel pump rested button. its on the passenger side up by where a persons foot would sit. turn ignition on. press the button, ignition off, the fire it up. this could be it due to fords and their sensitive mercury sensors

you have to drop the gas tank because the fuel pump is in the tank.

Are in a cold climate, gas line freeze? Try puting gas line anti-freeze in the tank. Otherwise, it could be the fuel pump is going out. Check the fuel pressure or have it checked if don't have the proper tools to do it.

put a pump back into the tank --and this will take care of the fuel delivery problem