I think it's related to:

http://svnweb.freebsd.org/ports/head/lang/python27/files/patch-setup.py?view=markup&pathrev=333487

1-Yes I use X 1.7.7 but the problem is present in tty too.

2-Changing the terminal size has no effect.

3-The terminal is rxvt-unicode but I've tried with xterm too and it has the same issue.

4-So far no they seem to be working fine.

5-I don't know, nothing related has been update recently I think.

Other suggestions on what to look for ?

After upgrading from python27-2.7.5_3 to python27-2.7.5_4 on FreeBSD ranger shows a Warning: Subwindow size out of bounds and the view is all messed up.

This is the output of ranger -d :

ranger version: 1.6.1, executed with python 2.7.5
Locale: en_US.UTF-8
Current file: /usr/home/clod/Desktop
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/ranger/core/main.py", line 133, in main
    fm.loop()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/ranger/core/fm.py", line 310, in loop
    ui.redraw()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/ranger/gui/ui.py", line 250, in redraw
    self.poke()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/ranger/gui/displayable.py", line 238, in poke
    displayable.poke()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/ranger/gui/widgets/browserview.py", line 364, in poke
    self.resize(self.y, self.x, self.hei, self.wid)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/ranger/gui/widgets/browserview.py", line 277, in resize
    DisplayableContainer.resize(self, y, x, hei, wid)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/ranger/gui/displayable.py", line 161, in resize
    x, y, hei, wid), bad=True)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/ranger/core/actions.py", line 121, in notify
    raise Exception(str(text))
Exception: Warning: Subwindow size out of bounds for <BrowserView> (x = 0, y = 30196640, hei = 22, wid = 80)

ranger crashed.  Please report this traceback at:
http://savannah.nongnu.org/bugs/?group=ranger&func=additem