ford ranger pulling my boat

[Exotic4x4]

Hey all recently upgraded my boat to a 1989 Larson all American dc170 with a 140 mercruiser I/O my previous boat was a 1989 glastron ssv162 w a 70hp Johnson, needed a bigger boat to play on the rivers basically. So here's my question I have a 2004 Ford ranger fx4 level II extended cab 4x4 with a 4.0 automatic trans with 4:10 gears truck also has a small 4"lift wonderin my truck weighs 4500lbs boat weighs 1750 I believe the book said.....my truck has plenty of snort to pull it trailer has tongue activated surge brakes no controller....think I'm in "ok" shape to be pulling this with my ranger?

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: ford ranger pulling my boat

your power should be fine. My worries would be with the rear leaf springs with the lift. You may get some sag and not be as sure-footed as you would want.

 

[JB]

Re: ford ranger pulling my boat

I take it that your "small" 4" lift included bigger tires. That is like putting her in overdrive and negates much of the value of your gearing.

Nevertheless, I can't see that idea bad enough to reduce the safe load anywhere near the weight of your tow. Congrats on the wisdom of trailer brakes.

 

[Exotic4x4]

Re: ford ranger pulling my boat

I'm using stock leafs with an overload in the rear a 5 leaf pack,also I'm running 265 75 r16. Tires I don't run 33" tires anymore. And truck had factory 373 gears I added 4:10 Yukon gears (posi) to the front and rear diffs.truck honestly doesn't sag much if any at all. Just needed your info on my tow rig, just looking to be as safe as possible also I use my emergency brake along with wheel chocks at the ramp to ensure I won't sink the truck trailer and boat if I ever had a transmission or brake failure

 

[glastron09]

Re: ford ranger pulling my boat

i pull our 09- gt 185 with a 04 ranger 2wd , trailer has brakes , i have no issues , but i only pull the boat 5 to 6 miles

 

[ready4lake]

Re: ford ranger pulling my boat

I pulled a 1992 sunbird 190 with my 94 ranger 4.0 / 3.73gears 5 speed. The truck had no problems as far as power. I also didn't have any sag as I also have a 4" lift. My problem was I didn't have trailer brakes. Now I have upgraded to a 1989 Bayliner trophy 2152, but I have not attempted to pull that with my ranger.

 

[chris.j.marshall]

Re: ford ranger pulling my boat

I've pulled a 19' 600miles round trip with an S-10 a couple of times. You'll be fine.

 

[Chriswalden]

Re: ford ranger pulling my boat

I used to tow cars with a tandem axle 1600lb. trailer with electronic brakes and a 1995 Ranger 4.0L 2WD 5 spd., that truck had to do a little work when I had an old domestic car on it or something, but never got in a situation where I felt like I was being unsafe. That ranger will handle that load no problem, as long as you have trailer brakes.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: ford ranger pulling my boat

You should be just fine with your current setup. Give it a shot.

If you're running stock tires now, have you considered taking the suspension back stock--if possible? Take it from an old Ford Motor Company employee--Rangers don't take to suspension lifts (and big tires) as well as other truck brands.

Resale on a stock 4x4 of any brand far outstrips the small fortune spent on Gumbo Mudder tires and big lift kits. Every retail customer is afraid to purchase such a truck due to not knowing how the truck was treated, and the inherent problems with drive shafts and CV joints on lifted trucks. With $110 per hour mechanic's labor, stock is the reliable way to keep'em. Handling is also much better on a stock truck if you put a good set of Bilstein shocks on them.

 

[Exotic4x4]

Re: ford ranger pulling my boat

I know bamaman, I've owned several ranger, I installed lifts on them all and generally rebuilt the ifs near 80,000 miles on the all, ball joints cv's wheel bearings tie rod ends blah blah blah. I know the trucks inside and out ;-) but thanks for your .002$ they're a Damn good truck I think to bad they weren't a 4 door with a 4bt Cummins

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: ford ranger pulling my boat

I've had a couple of Ranger 2wd's throughout the years, and just loved them. My 4 cylinder automatic got 29 mpg on the open road. My 4.0 automatic got 22 mpg--but ran well and would pull a boat trailer.

Last new truck, I went with a new 03 F250 Lariat Crewcab 2wd 7.3 diesel. It's got 99k miles and still looks current. With an 80 hp chip and 700 ft. pounds of torque, I've never pulled any load that I couldn't pull @ 90 mph. We seldom get any snow, and a 2wd just suits me better. Modern 4wd maintenance can be so much (@ $110 per hour labor), and my truck never has seen a dealership for warranty work. I've just put brakes on it--and nothing else. It still has more miles left in it than a new F150 has--and is a great value.

The only drawback with diesels is that they eat rear tires with such strong acceleration. I figure that for a $5000 price differential (with 4wd), I can pay for 75 visits by a tow truck.

 

[GlastronNWGA]

Re: ford ranger pulling my boat

I pull my 17' Glastron ssv175 i/o with a 97 Mazda B4000 2wd, 4.0 automatic. Same thing as a Ranger. Pulls it like a champ to the nearest lake 20 miles from me. No trailer brakes, the truck's stock brakes stop just fine but I wouldn't want to pull anything heavier. I just make sure I've got extra braking room just in case. I also disengage the overdrive so as not to take a chance on burning up the top gear.
At the ramp it pulls the boat right out just as easy as the big monster trucks that are sitting everywhere.