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  #1  
Old 03-19-2017, 04:10 PM
1998Ranger4by4 1998Ranger4by4 is offline
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Default 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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  #2  
Old 03-19-2017, 06:55 PM
Jimmyspy Jimmyspy is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1998Ranger4by4 View Post
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?
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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  #3  
Old 03-19-2017, 06:56 PM
Undrstm8ed Undrstm8ed is offline
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Default 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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  #4  
Old 03-19-2017, 07:12 PM
jheitt jheitt is offline
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Default 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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  #5  
Old 03-19-2017, 07:29 PM
f100owner f100owner is offline
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Default 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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  #6  
Old 03-19-2017, 09:02 PM
1998Ranger4by4 1998Ranger4by4 is offline
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Default 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.
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  #7  
Old 03-20-2017, 08:45 AM
f100owner f100owner is offline
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Default 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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  #8  
Old 03-21-2017, 06:57 AM
Birdhunter1 Birdhunter1 is offline
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Default 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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  #9  
Old 03-22-2017, 11:19 AM
Jason35 Jason35 is offline
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Default 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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  #10  
Old 03-23-2017, 09:26 AM
bunkyg bunkyg is offline
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Default 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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  #11  
Old 03-26-2017, 07:27 AM
Minun Minun is offline
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Default 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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  #12  
Old 03-26-2017, 11:05 AM
Undrstm8ed Undrstm8ed is offline
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Default 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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  #13  
Old 04-08-2017, 04:54 PM
1998Ranger4by4 1998Ranger4by4 is offline
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Default 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
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