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  #1  
Old 06-01-2011, 04:46 PM
02rangertony 02rangertony is offline
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Default can i tow with my 2.3??

can i tow a car with my 4cyl 2.3 ranger? i have to go about 80 miles with a few big hills in the way....also will the bumper hold a 96 camaro on a tow dolly? has anyone done this before?
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Old 06-01-2011, 04:48 PM
MTman777 MTman777 is offline
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Default Re: can i tow with my 2.3??

i highly recommend not doing this... you should never tow a car with your bumper.. honestly this is a recipe for disaster..
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Old 06-01-2011, 04:49 PM
Rango88 Rango88 is offline
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Default Re: can i tow with my 2.3??

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Originally Posted by 02rangertony View Post
can i tow a car with my 4cyl 2.3 ranger? i have to go about 80 miles with a few big hills in the way....also will the bumper hold a 96 camaro on a tow dolly? has anyone done this before?
No, the bumper will not hold a camaro and a trailer. at least get a class III hitch and an electric brake. read your owners manual for towing capacity on the 2.3L
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Old 06-01-2011, 05:24 PM
ObsoleteE ObsoleteE is offline
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Default Re: can i tow with my 2.3??

My manual says my 2.5 manual will tow 1800 lbs, my bumper is rated at 2000 lbs. Neither of those will do for your situation. Find a different tow vehicle.
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Old 06-01-2011, 05:58 PM
02rangertony 02rangertony is offline
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Default Re: can i tow with my 2.3??

so i would have to reinforce the bumper......i can do this i just don't want to ruin my transmission
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Old 06-01-2011, 06:01 PM
ObsoleteE ObsoleteE is offline
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Default Re: can i tow with my 2.3??

Your best bet is getting a class 3 hitch, but you'll still be over the trucks capacity for towing. Its illegal, and could harm your truck.
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Old 06-01-2011, 06:16 PM
Tom Tom is offline
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Default Re: can i tow with my 2.3??

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Originally Posted by ObsoleteE View Post
Your best bet is getting a class 3 hitch.
x2. No way you should use your bumper.

I would seriously consider just renting a uhaul or something similar. Around here you can rent a uhaul for about $20 a day plus mileage. Towing with a 2.3 up big hills sounds like you'll be putting far more than $20 worth of wear & tear on the truck.

Brakes will hate you, transmission will hate you, engine will hate you.
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  #8  
Old 06-10-2011, 09:07 PM
Jerad Jerad is offline
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Thumbs down Re: can i tow with my 2.3??

My 2.3 overheats puliing my polaris ranger (1300lbs) going up the mountain we hunt on.
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Old 06-10-2011, 09:25 PM
FordDude1991 FordDude1991 is offline
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Default Re: can i tow with my 2.3??

yeah, it'll be one hurting puppy


4.0L ftw! sorry lol
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Old 06-10-2011, 09:34 PM
Rango88 Rango88 is offline
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Default Re: can i tow with my 2.3??

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Originally Posted by Jerad View Post
My 2.3 overheats puliing my polaris ranger (1300lbs) going up the mountain we hunt on.
1300 lbs shouldnt be too heavy for the 2.3 unless its some serious mountains. I would down shift in 2nd or 3rd and reduce speed below the speed limit with the hazards if the mountain is that serious. my dads 2003 nissan frontier 2.4L 4 cyl with the same power as your 2.3 towed a 3,000 pound trailer up some serious hills.
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Old 06-10-2011, 09:35 PM
mxracer763 mxracer763 is offline
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Default Re: can i tow with my 2.3??

I didn't even like pulling my 15ft boat out of the water with the bumper on my 2.5 lol.
I wouldn't do it.
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Old 06-11-2011, 02:52 AM
TerrenceStuart TerrenceStuart is offline
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Default Re: can i tow with my 2.3??

only a 4.0 is qualified to tow your camaro and tow dolly and thats with a classIII receiver hitch, trailer brakes and tranny cooler.
don't ruin your truck.
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  #13  
Old 06-11-2011, 05:40 AM
Jerad Jerad is offline
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Default Re: can i tow with my 2.3??

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rango88 View Post
1300 lbs shouldnt be too heavy for the 2.3 unless its some serious mountains. I would down shift in 2nd or 3rd and reduce speed below the speed limit with the hazards if the mountain is that serious. my dads 2003 nissan frontier 2.4L 4 cyl with the same power as your 2.3 towed a 3,000 pound trailer up some serious hills.
Well thats what i thought to. I've had 3 rangers and none have acted like this. I'm downshifting to second and pulling it at 25 mph and it still gets hot. It has never actually boiled out but still the temp gauge shouldnt even move up. I've replaced the fan clutch and that didnt help. I dont know what else it could be. I looked at the owners manual and it said 1600lbs on towing. I figure with the trailer and the Polaris I'm at maybe 1700, but still.......
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Old 06-14-2011, 07:15 AM
Mercerks Mercerks is offline
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Default Re: can i tow with my 2.3??

Take pics of your bumper laying on ground next to the transmission!
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  #15  
Old 06-14-2011, 07:18 AM
dixie_boysles dixie_boysles is offline
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Default Re: can i tow with my 2.3??

I towed with my 2.3 BUT i had a Reese Class III hitch installed. DO NOT TOW WITH YOUR BUMPER
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