Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

[BigB9000]

I don't have a trailer hitch yet, but I was wondering realistically could/should I tow with the ranger?

Rangers bumper hitch says 300lbs toung weight, 2000 pounds trailer weight.

my toung is probably 75-100 pounds, and overall I'm guessing 1700 pounds total load

specs on the ranger:

142,000 miles
2.3L 4CYL manual 5-speed

Boat:

18'
Old

trailer:
standard single axle without breaks.

ranger:

here is a shot of the boat:

I now also realize where my bow strap went

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

Install a receiver hitch, do not use bumper. i have towed many boats heavier than that with a Mercury Mariner, (Ford Escape) with an automatic, 2.3. your boat is light for it's size. Just make sure the truck brakes are in good shape, and do not tail gate. remember towing with a pickup, the tail end of the truck in light.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

I think you'd be okay

 

[JB]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

Well I don't.

Towing, and maybe even stopping on good, level surfaces should be okay, but the first time you try to retrieve her on a fairly steep, wet ramp you will be in trouble.

Been there and it was no fun. Had to put about 5 people in the bed and then burned up the clutch. I was towing a 16' Boston Whaler.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

That's why I have a piece of carpet I bring along for the steep ramps w/ my little Isuzu pickup. Had to do the same thing with my previous 6 cyl Ranger. And I only have a 13' whaler......

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

Good advice so far. I drag the Texas Maid around with a little Zuki grand vitara with a 2.5L V-6. Good brakes, no carpet or extra weight needed on our steep canyon lakes out here. If you need some ballast, you can get sandbags for not much $$ at a farm/tractor supply store. Just don't expect to haul that nice looking rig too fast. Here's a pix of what the Zuke drags around.

 

[timdan94]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

Here is my rig.

the boat is 15ft. the hull is 650lbs, motor 250, I figure about 400-500 for trailer. plus gear and everything else I figure I'm around 1900lbs total.
the car has a 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine and a 5 speed and it has no trouble even on steep ramps. it pulls hills and stops fine. the only thing I see different is that I have allwheel drive for the wet steep ramps. I didn't see if you have 4wd or not.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

I see some hills behind that Ford...could give you some problems.
My son had one of these. While we never towed anything, it didn't exactly breath fire.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

How is the terrain you are going to be towing through getting to the lake, where are you towing to - from?

Your biggest challenge is going to be at the ramp, getting enough traction to pull the boat. I had an old S-10 with a 350 in it and never had problems towing/stopping a 3000# boat/trailer, but had many problems pulling the boat out of the water, back end too light.

I used to launch out of Echo Bay/Lake Mead all the time and had a stack of rocks (3-400#) that I would load up in the back of the truck heading down to the launch ramp, then unload when I was don't. Kind of caveman style, but it worked...

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

Got the same truck. Just went out and checked, my bumber says 200 lbs. toung weight. Sorry but you are going to be very disapointed. You will be lucky if you get it out of 3rd. gear. I am at sea leval and I automatically turn the A/C off when I go to pass with just me in the truck, not towing. Wonderful truck but not a tow vehicle for anything more than maby a riding mower. Emergency brake will not hold on a ramp with a boat on a trailer. Non adjustable, I tried. Few time I have towed it is only for 3 miles, level ground.
Would not waste my time having a hitch installed. If you do though, add a box end wrench to your jack parts as the hitch will interfer with the bolt that holds the spare tire up. Also, directional signals are seperate from the stop lights. You will need a special converter, sold at iboats, for the plug to make the trailer lights work. Consider finding a ratty old larger, at least V-6, truck for towing. Like I said, you will be disappointed. regards FRED

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

Well, I just need to get it TO the river. There is an old carpy 4.3L S10 blazer up there we use to launch things, even huge boats, no problem.

Make no doubt about it the ranger is SLOW. Always. even downhill. I don't mind that. The only problem area would be going through the cajon pass. (going from Ontario california, to needles california) Once past barstow its a straight shot.

And I wouldnt have a hitch put on, my cheap *** is going to the junk yard and getting one.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

Hmmm,,,,, Cajon Pass, light 4cyl truck, 1700# trailer.... man I don't know.

If you are going for it, I'd make a test run on early Sunday morning to see how it does. On the way back make sure you don't get going too fast down hill. If you haven't experienced "the tail wagging the dog" before, the Cajon Pass isn't the place I'd want to have it happen the first time.

Also make sure you have 10-15% of the trailer weight on the tongue, 170-250#. From what you posted earlier, 75-100# tongue weight, you could get trailer sway, tail wagging the dog.

Another thing to think about, even if it does well during the winter, come summer it's going to be a whole different story with temps into the 100's. Coming out of Needles at 100-125* and pulling up hill for the first 10-15 miles is going to tax the 4 cyl engine. I wouldn't want to be stuck, on the side of the interstate, in the middle of the Mojave desert, in the middle of summer...

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

CAJON PASS, you are talking some altitude. Spent a few times there drinking beer by the side of the tracks train watching. 6 big diesels on the front with 2 pushing. All of them working their hearts out. No offense, you will probably be making the climb in 2nd. gear with 18 wheelers blowing past you. Am sure they have the truck climbing lanes there. Friend has an older S-10, V-6, auto that he has no problem doing short towing with, dont know why but it is quite a difference from the 4 cyl. FORD.
Just a hint, go to the local FORD dealer and be a serious buyer. F-150 work truck, V-6, stick, 08 leftover. Pick one up for around 11 to 12K. Even take $500 off if you finance. I cant figure that out. Came very close to buying one but refuse to do anything that supports the UAW right now. Thats another story not for iboats. Would not be surprised if you could get 2500 to 3K for the RANGER right now. Many trucks repoed, people still need a truck. Dont take downpayments and a promise, cash only, but we all know that. regards FRED

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

Hmmm,,,,, Cajon Pass, light 4cyl truck, 1700# trailer.... man I don't know.

If you are going for it, I'd make a test run on early Sunday morning to see how it does. On the way back make sure you don't get going too fast down hill. If you haven't experienced "the tail wagging the dog" before, the Cajon Pass isn't the place I'd want to have it happen the first time.

Also make sure you have 10-15% of the trailer weight on the tongue, 170-250#. From what you posted earlier, 75-100# tongue weight, you could get trailer sway, tail wagging the dog.

Another thing to think about, even if it does well during the winter, come summer it's going to be a whole different story with temps into the 100's. Coming out of Needles at 100-125* and pulling up hill for the first 10-15 miles is going to tax the 4 cyl engine. I wouldn't want to be stuck, on the side of the interstate, in the middle of the Mojave desert, in the middle of summer...

This looks like a recipe for a REAL BAD DAY!!!

 

[bren_ji]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

Just a Quick note my little 95 Ranger main problem is parking brake on steep boat ramps.I have managed for last 4 years.its also really hard on clutch

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

I pull my 18' Starcraft Starchief cuddy cabin on a full roller galvanized trailer with a Merc 115 Optimax and have no problems. I've slipped a bit on a few ramps but I know where I can and can't go. On the road, other than being slow, it's fine once you get moving. I often forget about 5th gear if running in the hills. I towed an older Wellcraft V20 on a Load right single axle trailer out of the mountains in NE PA last fall with no problems. That had to weight in at more than 2,800lbs, maybe more. Don't tailgate, don't try to speed and all will be fine. Your biggest concern will be power up big hills, for that, you have the advantage of the manual trans. It's not a freight train your trying to pull, just a small boat. So long as the boat is well adjusted on the trailer, you have proper tongue weight and a good hitch, all should be fine.
I have 136K on my 1994 and it's been towing since day one. I had a 1995 too but sold it at 210,000 miles, that towed as much as this truck does now but had a bit more power due to a lower gear and a few changes to the motor that year.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

not me. I wouldn't tow it on the road. The 4 cyl is not enough motor for longer tows and the clutch will be way too light. I had a Mazda B4000 and it had plenty of motor, but the clutch was way too light for the ramp towing this boat.

now grant you my boat will be heavier, but I also had a lot more motor and in theory a bigger tranny and clutch.

 

[sturdavj]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

I am willing to bet once, maybe twice over the pass and you?ll be looking to up size...... no less than a V6, stick shift.

Let us know how it work out.

 

[cadunkle]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

If I were you I'd just pick up a F-150 to use namely for towing. '80-'96 F-150 are dime a dozen with either 302 or 351W. A 150 should be fine for that load (use a real class 3 or greater receiver) and will have no problem on hills. Preferably a 4WD truck for ramp use. As I said, they are cheap. $500 will get you a decent driver, maybe some rust but who cares, just gonna be used for towing and maybe winter driving. They are capable and disposable. Fix any minor things that come up 'till you have a mjor failure then get another one. Safe and no worries. Whatever you do, I would not tow with a bumper hitch, except maybe moving around the yard if you don't have a buddy to help.

 

[garry454]

Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

I think you'll be fine. Not great, but you said you just have to get it to the water, once there you have a different rig to launch with, so the ramp slipping is a non issue.

I used to tow some crazy loads with my old 95 GMC Sonoma, 4 cyl, 5 speed..... Even towed a 3100# trailer (had it weighed at a truck scale in Marysville, MI) from north of Detroit to Va Beach, Va when I was in the service. It was slow as beans in the mountains, 2nd gear on some of the big grades, but it did it....................man I miss that little truck!!

Like most have said, just take it easy, no tailgating, you'll be fine.....