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03-19-2017, 04:10 PM
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Ford Tough
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 301
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Towing Capabilities
Looking for some input on this, My buddy and I plan on possibly going camping with a friends camper this summer a couple times. Its a 23 Footer tow behind coming in around 3600lbs. My ranger has 153,000 miles on it as it sits today and that increases as it's my DD. I have an 02 with the 4.0 SOHC, I know towing capabilities for that ranger are above 5000lbs. But with the mileage everyone is telling me it's going to destroy my truck, i believe it can do it honestly but before i even hook it up to test it out i want some outside input, what would you guys do?
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New Ranger: 2002 Ranger Edge 4WD
3 inch lift
4.10's
32's
Dick Cepek DC2's
93 Octane tune
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03-19-2017, 06:55 PM
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Ford Ranger Driver
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,172
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1998Ranger4by4
Looking for some input on this, My buddy and I plan on possibly going camping with a friends camper this summer a couple times. Its a 23 Footer tow behind coming in around 3600lbs. My ranger has 153,000 miles on it as it sits today and that increases as it's my DD. I have an 02 with the 4.0 SOHC, I know towing capabilities for that ranger are above 5000lbs. But with the mileage everyone is telling me it's going to destroy my truck, i believe it can do it honestly but before i even hook it up to test it out i want some outside input, what would you guys do?
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Is 3600lbs just the camper, or camper+gear? What's the tongue weight? Does it have trailer brakes?
I pull a pop up on occasion with my truck. It comes in around 2-2200 loaded. Truck handles it fine and can still travel comfortably down the highway, but you can definitely feel it's there. I would imagine you're biggest issues are gonna be stopping and the tongue weight of a trailer that big. While the truck will be working its ass off, it shouldn't have any problem getting that much weight moving, it's just keeping it controlled and stopping it that would be of concern to me. I wouldn't even attempt it if the trailer doesn't have brakes (and you don't have a brake controller in the truck).
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2002 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4, ext. cab, 4.0L v6
Superlifted 33x12.5 Duratracs
1995 Ford Ranger STX 4x4 ext. cab 4.0l v6 SOLD
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03-19-2017, 06:56 PM
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Habenae Est Dominatus
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,893
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Re: Towing Capabilities
http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/g...ANGERsep09.pdf
Id take into consideration your rear end, overall condition of your vehicle, drivetrain [2wd or 4x] chassis, suspension, and really consider the weight.
People still get too carried away with high mileage concerns. By the year 2000, cylinders were not made the same as previously used. A little more back ground but thats why most of your OEM oils are all synthetic. (a) Synthetic oils in some cases (Mobile 1) can go up to 15,000 miles with regular driving for oil change intervals and Mercedes Benz advertises that exclusively. More rigorous driving or off-road driving a vehicle using Mobile 1 full synthetic oil, I do change mine about every 8000-9200 miles. Before anyone scoffs, keep in mind my truck is a 93 4.0L with now just a crotch-hair over 340k on the ORIGINAL engine and trans, and I off-road at least 3 to 4 times a week with buddies or testing out gear/products and I have (b) a block that was manufactured when the reason why your oil needed to be changed every 3000 miles was to replace the cylinder sleeves, bearings, and other metal surfaces with a fresh coating of zinc properties to keep things running smooth.
If I still lived in Detroit, I highly doubt I'd have a ranger with that kind of mileage survive 340k and even if the engine did, nothing else may have. And that engine is cleaner than many of our now ex girlfriends. lol
That being said.. Id be more concerned with the weigh of the trailer, all your gear, food, water, as that towing capacity includes you and your occupants, loaded bed, and trailer capacity. its not just 5600lbs (example) on the hitch and go...
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03-19-2017, 07:12 PM
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Ford Tough
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 423
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Re: Towing Capabilities
3600 has to be dry weight for a 23 foot camping trailer. The little 14-16' hard she'll camper are over that when wet.
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2008 Sport 4x4, Pro Comp D windows, 265/75R16's, leather, JVC double DIN, Kenwood 5-1/4 components, Clarion XR2420, 4 - 8" Dayton Audio SD215A-88 in 3.6ft^3 @ 38hz
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03-19-2017, 07:29 PM
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Liking the Ford Ranger Forum
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 23
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Re: Towing Capabilities
Have you set up the seven way trailer plug and installed trailer brakes on the ranger because you will need them. I considered this path but with a 21 foot tt weighing about 4200 pounds. I backed away. I started comparing mass of the trailer with the profile of the truck and didn't see it working out well.
I chose to upgrade my explorer to an expedition.
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2011 Ranger Sport;
1969 F100 LWB;
1971 F100 Flareside (project);
2016 Ford Explorer;
2010 Harley Ultra Limited
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03-19-2017, 09:02 PM
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Ford Tough
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 301
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Re: Towing Capabilities
Alright, I did not install trailer brakes yet, but that's why i'm here to see what you guys would recommend, I would really like to see this happen. I know my vehicle is pretty solid, got 4.10's and the 8.8, the only thing I can see needing replaced are my leaf springs which are pretty worn out by now, but I planned on doing that already beginning of summer, overall my truck is in pretty good condition. According to that chart it shows my towing capacity at being around 5,500lbs. Good to know. 3,600lbs is dry weight of it, that doesn't include any gear, food, or other things i may store in it upon hauling it, but if necessary i can keep that to a minimum. This isn't happening until the summer so i'll have some time to get things ready. The tongue weight of the camper is unknown to me but i would assume it has trailer brakes. I haven't seen it in person yet but i can find out. Everything i know is what he told me about it so far. I agree a camper that size looks really large on a little Ranger, but its what I have to work with at the moment. Downside- if its too heavy for my Ranger upon the road test i have a set of new leaf springs plus trailer brakes, guess that's a plus.
__________________
New Ranger: 2002 Ranger Edge 4WD
3 inch lift
4.10's
32's
Dick Cepek DC2's
93 Octane tune
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03-20-2017, 08:45 AM
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Liking the Ford Ranger Forum
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 23
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Re: Towing Capabilities
If it's the full width camper, about 8 feet, you will want some add-on trailer mirrors ad well. I searched around a lot and found some for my expedition from Wal-Mart on-line that work very well. Would imagine they would work on the ranger, too.
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2011 Ranger Sport;
1969 F100 LWB;
1971 F100 Flareside (project);
2016 Ford Explorer;
2010 Harley Ultra Limited
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03-21-2017, 06:57 AM
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Buy a Ford
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 178
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Re: Towing Capabilities
The weight alone is one issue, the wind drag you have is another. I personally wouldn't want to tow it with a Ranger or Explorer of any engine size. When you factor in crosswinds from passing semi trucks or the wind itself you may find yourself getting rocked around alot.
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Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms belong on a grocery list not a government agenda!
**SOLD** Original owner 2007 Ranger reg cab, white, 6' bed, 4wd, 3.0 auto, 167,500 miles when I sold it**
1997 F 250 HD reg cab 4wd 351 auto
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03-22-2017, 11:19 AM
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Ford Tough
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 228
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Re: Towing Capabilities
Towing is much different in different places, and depending on how far you are towing. The truck will handle it, I still tow well over 4000lbs with my 95 4.0L ohv and it does fine. Trailer brakes are a must and if you are doing a decent amount of highway towing then a weight distributing hitch is very important also. This will greatly reduce sway induced by crosswinds and large vehicles, as well as give a more confident feel. If you have the weight distributing, and proper trailer brakes, the sky is the limit on how far you go and where, but if you go without sway control (weight distributing hitch) stay close to home and off of high speed roads for long distances.
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1994 Ford Ranger Splash. 4.0L, 4x4, 5 speed. Tracked MPG's - Totalled
1995 Ford Ranger XLT extended cab. 4.0L, 4x4, 5 speed. 2" suspension lift, 3" body lift. 33x12.50r15 bfg rubber on american racing wheels. Tracked MPG's
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03-23-2017, 09:26 AM
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Learning to use the forums
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Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 4
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Re: Towing Capabilities
Pennsylvania law states any trailer over 3000lbs MUST have trailer brakes. So you will need a brake controller installed and properly set up. Pa is not exactly a flat state and going downhill can be a lot hairier than going uphill. I would suggest checking RV forums and gaining as much info as you can before making a decision.
rv dot net is a good place to start. There are others out there also.
good luck
If you choose to tow that trailer without brakes Have the name of a good lawyer with you
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03-26-2017, 07:27 AM
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Ford Pickup
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 111
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Re: Towing Capabilities
Trailer brakes are a requirement at that weight, both from a practical and a legal perspective.
You'll probably want some form of sway control. There's multiple types out there - if you're borrowing or renting it from someone, you may be able to use their setup without having to upgrade or modify your truck.
If your truck is an auto and doesn't have one already, consider an auxiliary transmission cooler.
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'09 Ranger, Reg cab short box, 2.3, manual, RWD
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03-26-2017, 11:05 AM
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Habenae Est Dominatus
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,893
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Re: Towing Capabilities
Etrailer has some pretty decent prices on things too.. you may wanna check them out if not for a purchase directly, perhaps a more complete listing of needs and ideas
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04-08-2017, 04:54 PM
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Ford Tough
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 301
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Re: Towing Capabilities
Turns out the camper is definitely heavier than he said, something above my ranger for sure. Looks like i'm not gonna be towing it after all. I'll have to keep looking for options, thanks anyways guys
__________________
New Ranger: 2002 Ranger Edge 4WD
3 inch lift
4.10's
32's
Dick Cepek DC2's
93 Octane tune
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