ford ranger and trailer

[Hanr3]

Re: ford ranger and trailor

Re: ford ranger and trailor

Semi weigh more then the load they carry?
What about Suburbans/1 ton pickups hauling 12,000 pounds? The tow vehicle does not need to weigh more then the trailer weight. Thats a bunch of hoey. Don't exceed the manufacutres recommendations.


Trailer brakes are always a good idea, however not having them set properly is just as bad as not having them.

4wdr or a rear locker are always preferrred to an open rear diff on a 2wdr.

I also highly recommned Truck Tires if you plan on towing, they handle the load much better then passenger tires. Truck tires have stiffer sidewalls and reduce the likelyhood of wobble, especilly in a cross wind. I am partial to the BFg All-Terrains. Great tire.

If you have an auto tranny, install an auxilary tranny cooler, your tranny will live longer. If you find your tranny hunting for a gear, slow down, or downshift. All that hunting for a gear leads to excessive heat build up, and heat is the number one enemy of the tranny. The heat wont show up in your rad temp gauge, it is tranny heat and unless you have a tranny temp gauge you wont know its going up.

 

[oceansoul63]

Re: ford ranger and trailor

Re: ford ranger and trailor

Perhaps I shouldn't have used the word "rule" about the tow vehicle weighing at least as much as the item being towed. Of course semis don't weigh more than their load. But they are also configured a lot differently than your standard consumer vehicle.

Anyway, my point was that it makes it easier to pull a boat out of the water if the tow vehicle has more weight.

No need to call other members' opinions "hooey."

 

[Redneckboat21]

Re: ford ranger and trailor

Re: ford ranger and trailor

well tell you guys that the truck pulled the boat with no problem and my tires half way under water and pulled the boat out what no problem no spin or anything so no need to worry now

 

[reelfishin]

Re: ford ranger and trailer

I've owned more than a dozen various Ranger pickups, most were either 2.3L or 3.0L stick shift trucks, all but one was a 4x2 and only one had the 4.0L engine.
As far as I am concerned, if the 4.0, (in either version) was the only engine option, I'd buy something else. The one I had and many others suffered from head gasket failures, cracked heads and every type of oil leak imaginable. None of my 2.3L or 3.0L motors ever gave me a bit of trouble.
I've towed up to 7000 lbs on occasion and have towed and launched boats up to 2500lbs with no problems, but over that weight with a 4x2, on a wet ramp, it gets a bit iffy, but I've always been able to get the job done. All of my 2.3L engines have been the old Lima engine, I'm not sure I'd want to go to the newer 2.3L but I've heard both good and bad about those.

The weak link is the clutch hydraulics, the M5OD trans is a Mazda trans, and very similar to the manual in the F150.
There have been several manual transmissions used over the years.
I would not want one with an auto trans, whether it's an A4LD, 4R44, or 5R55, they are all built on the same platform or base design, and are all far too light for towing anything serious. I've not yet had a trans failure and my current truck has about 140K on it and is still going strong.
The best bet is a lower gear ratio, with the proper gears, a Ranger will do anything.

I've never understood why they would sell a pickup with a 2.3L 5 speed stick and a 2.73:1 rear ratio. It don't make for good milage and don't work for towing or hauling. I swapped out my tall gear rear for a later 4.10 Explorer rear and gained 6 to 8 mpg and it now pulls anything I ask it to with no problem.

 

[oceansoul63]

Re: ford ranger and trailer

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I had an '89 Bronco II, which is essentially the same as the Ranger. It had a 2.9 liter with 4x4 manual transmission. Ran great for a while, but then it blew a head gasket. I still feel like maybe I put too much strain on it by pulling my boats with it. I feel bad about it, too, because it was a cool little truck and fun to drive.

 

[HyperFox]

Re: ford ranger and trailor

Re: ford ranger and trailor

Semi weigh more then the load they carry?
What about Suburbans/1 ton pickups hauling 12,000 pounds? The tow vehicle does not need to weigh more then the trailer weight. Thats a bunch of hoey. Don't exceed the manufacutres recommendations.

I second that, and to put a bit more in the pot, a tractor carries the weight over the intermediate and rear axles, which changes its weight distribution. because the fifth wheel and king pin are above the R&I axles the brakes on those axles are slowing the front of the trailer down. Very little of the braking power is used for the tractor itself.

As well, all tractors have thier own separate braking system for the trailer itself. You'll know if its not adjusted right when you see the tractor jack-knifed in the ditch as the trailer axles didn't put enough braking power to the ground and the truck has simply been pushed aside.

That ranger will need trailer brakes. No if ands or buts. If the MTO (or DOT) catches you without them, there will be hell to pay.

As for pulling the boat. It shouldnt have too much problem. Id put it on a steep hill and practice a few starts from a dead stop just to be sure. And wheel chocks wouldnt be a bad idea either, unless your certain your park pawl and e brake will hold.