Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

25thmustang

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Mar 20, 2008
Messages
1,849
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

It sounds to me, by some of your posts that your looking to do things on the cheap. You mentioned buying a used hitch, to save money. Knowing this, my guess is buying a new truck is out of the question? I also figure buying a used truck is out of the question? What about trying to sell your Ranger and buy slightly larger? You might be able to do it for even money? Personally when you are questioning whether it will or will not tow the load, I would just avoid it. Add into that it sounds like your going through some hills in the heat, not good for towing, especially with a questionable rig.

It sounds like a recipe for disaster if you ask me. I think your best bet is to try to sell/trade the Ranger for something larger.

I hope if you do decide to stick with the truck, it works for you!
 

bowman316

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
1,822
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

It will be hard on the clutch. I have a 07 V6 4.0 L ranger, and it tows a 3,000 lb boat no problem. But i did need 4WD on the ramp.
I still could feel the difference in letting off the clutch in 1st gear. Just shift later, and you should be ok.
 

Johnshan1

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 15, 2003
Messages
739
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

It is only 1700 lbs. You will be fine. I used to tow my snowmobiles to the northern mountains of Maine 200+ miles, that load was 2000lbs with a lot of windage on it. My 4cylinder Dodge Dakota did fine, my friend used an S10 with a 2.2L, it also did fine.

Have fun.
 

Mark_VTfisherman

Lieutenant
Joined
Nov 29, 2008
Messages
1,489
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.

Towing mountain roads, long pulls, lotsa heat- I am with most of these guys. You need a bigger tow vehicle with decent weight and bigger brakes. Without the mountain pass- maybe.

I live in Vermont, tow my 14' MFG with a Saturn LS, and other than pulling up some gravel ramps haven't had much trouble. But it's not usually over 75 degrees here :cool: and although it is hilly, I don't travel through our mountains. Crashing would suck, moreso if someone got hurt.
 

bowman316

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
1,822
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

I have never seen a gravel boat ramp.
don't get me wrong, we have some decrepid boat ramps here, but they all have concrete on them.
I guess they just have to drop a slab of concrete into the water after it is dry.
 

reelfishin

Captain
Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
3,050
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.

I don't know about dime a dozen on that year F150, maybe with lots of miles but nothing anyone would want. I've been looking for a clean 1992-1996 for years and haven't seen one yet that was worth owning. Most are either rusted, beat up or just plain worn out. From what I've seen around here, $500 won't get you anything that will ever pass NJ inspection.

The last $500 truck I looked at would have needed a fork lift to load it on the truck to get it home.

One major problem with those year trucks was mileage, My 1987 with a 302 V8, 2 wheel drive, never got better than 13 mpg, my '89 with a 5.8L got only 10 mpg, and my '92 with a 5.0L got only 14 on the highway. I did have an '86 4.9L stick shift that got 18 mpg, and that probably towed as good or better than the 5.0L trucks.

If I could find a nice clean 4.9L F150 4x2 long bed that's not rotted out or got a 100,000 miles on it, I'd buy it in a heartbeat, but so far nothing but junk has surfaced. The few I did look at that were borderline passable at the very least, were priced way over what they were worth. (Inflation doesn't mean that a 15 year old truck is now worth more than you paid for it new).
 

avenger79

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 5, 2008
Messages
1,792
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

First I wouldn't waste even $5 to put a hitch on your truck. Partially because the bumper hitch will work for your application. Secondly because if you attempt to pull it you will only do it once. Going through those hills and what not especially in heat you are going to get very tired of going so slow and listening to your engine work so hard.

I use to pull 4 wheelers with a 4 cyl 2wd Isuzu truck. went ok on the flats going straight. Hills were never fun. Used the bumper hitch on that truck as well as a bunch of full size trucks. They are actually there for a reason. They do work, just not for heavy pulling. I moved up to a v6 F150 that was so much nicer. Now days I have a F150 V8 set up for pulling and I would never even think about using a smaller truck again.

I would be willing to bet if you ran an ad you could find someone to trade you even up, your truck for a fullsize. They would get better mileage and still have a truck and you get better towing capacity. Never hurts to try.
 

avenger79

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 5, 2008
Messages
1,792
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

second thought, just seen your last post. My current truck is an '02 F150 big 5.4 V8 4X4 supercab. It has 125,000 mi and I would not hesitate to pull a boat from Wis to Calif with it. Gets 15.7 MPG. and the body looks almost new, even with Wis road salt in the winter.

Look for something '98 or better. The new engines do much better on fuel. And the sheet metal seems to stay intact much better. Granted you won't get one for $500 though. I would stay away from the 4.2 V6. Number one they have a couple issues, and number two the mileage is no better then what I get. In a 4X4 anyway. The 2WD 4.2 we had got about 21 MPG. The 4X4 4.2 did about 16. I have had a few varieties of this truck. I would also stay away from the '03 to '08. Quite a few people I know have had trouble with them. Not sure about the '09 I have looked at them but I think this time I'm going up to a super duty if I get another truck.
 

reelfishin

Captain
Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
3,050
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

I can't complain about my 94 Ranger, it's got 130K on it, tows regularly all over, I rarely use it without some type of trailer. It's fine for up to about 1500lbs launching but has towed everything up to a car trailer with a full size F150 short bed on the deck.
I have the heaviest hitch that Drawtite makes, and a full array of light connection options. Its a 4x2, and I've never seen the need or want for anything bigger with what I tow. If I need a bigger truck I have a 1 ton van parked right next to it. The van however gets only 11 mpg.

I've owned both F150s, and Rangers, for the mileage and price, you can't beat the Ranger, I'd never own the 4.0, but would consider a 3.0L if one came about at the right price. I'd never own the auto trans.
I had 1984, 85, 86, 92, and 95 300 inline 6 cylinder f150's, they got no more than 18 mpg highway, empty, and could drop down to as low as 12 mpg with a trailer on. The 302 or 5.0L trucks were far worse. The sole purpose of my trucks here is to haul my boat, nothing much else. It don't leave the yard without either going to get a boat, or to take one to the water.

I'd buy another Ranger in a heartbeat if I found one with an American made engine, I won't buy one with the Mazda engine, if I wanted a Mazda, I'd go buy one. They dropped the 2.3L/2.5L Lima engines and the 3.0L engines so the new Ranger is no longer an option. Two bad Explorer 4.0L SOHC engines in a row were enough for me. I'm used to getting 200K plus out of my engines, a blown oil pump and timing chain at 44K twice isn't acceptable on a vehicle run strictly on synthetic oil and the oil changed every 3K miles.

The F150 needs to be better on gas, I am a die in the wool Ford guy but there's something wrong when a new Chevy truck with a 4.7L V8, their smallest V8 can out pull a 4.6L and get 21 MPG doing it. I drove a brand new F150 last summer for two days, a local dealer was trying to sway me into buying one and donated one for my use for the day, the best I could milk out of the 4x2 4.6L automatic was 13.7 mpg for two days of suburban driving making deliveries. About 50/50 highway and in town driving. A buddy of mine loaned me his truck to use to pick up a boat in NY, about a 255 mile round trip, loaded with a boat up and back, about 6400 lbs in tow each way, it averaged 19.2 mpg on that run and pulled the load just fine, far better than I had expected out of it. The load on the return trip was a bit heavier than the boat I took up there, maybe about 7300lbs trailer and boat. It felt the load but didn't struggle.

I know my Dodge van would have struggled and gotten less than 7 mpg or worse. It's been that way since new, and I own 4 of the same truck, not by choice but they came with the company and simply weren't worth replacing for the low miles they see. The highest mileage van is a 1995 with 67,000 miles on it, the 1999 has only 17,500 on it. If they were used for longer runs or heavier loads, they would eat me alive in fuel. I can't justify spending $120K or more to buy 4 new trucks to gain a few mpg. The only vans left are the Ford and Chevy and the Chevy vans.

The Ranger I have has towed for 15 years, the last one did the same. I've had 2.3L stick Rangers since 1988, none have ever disappointed me.
I don't tow in the mountains, only here on pretty flat land and rarely more than 30 to about 60 miles at a time each way. I usually take the Ranger if taking a smaller boat on a longer trip, the less the truck burns, the more I can afford to burn in the boat. I've gotten to the point where if the Ranger won't pull it, I don't want it. If I can't tow it with my 4 cylinder stick, then it most likely burns far too much gas for me to bother with. I've been slowly getting back to smaller boats. I find I have far more fun with a 15' tinny than I can ever have with a 42' cruiser. There's something about chopping bait over top of expensive upholstery and making payments on a high dollar boat that just didn't set well with me, that along with dock fees, $2500 fuel bills, etc just didn't work.
I like the fact that I can toss two 6 gallon cans of gas onboard and head out for a day of fishing, catch fish, slop up the deck, hose it off and tow it home when I'm done. All along not worrying about the boat being broken into while its docked, stolen, or vandalized.
 

freddyray21

Commander
Joined
Jun 10, 2006
Messages
2,460
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

this is where the experience you have had makes all the difference in your recommendation. Reelfishin has had bad luck with the 4.0 and okay with the manual trans. I have had four vehicles with the 4.0. two Explorers, one Mazda, and one Ranger and have never had an engine problem. One of the Explorers had 205,000 on it when I traded it in and still did not use any oil. It still had the original alternator and power steering pump. In fact the guy who drove it to determine the trade in made a comment about the ps pump being a little noisy and it must be low. I said yep. I didn't tell him it has sounded that way for 60,000 miles. The only problem I ever had was with the Mazda. It would tow my boat okay, but the clutch was too small on the ramp and it would smoke. Have never had that problem with the automatics. If I were pulling a smaller boat then they would probably be okay.
 

crackedglass

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jan 4, 2009
Messages
203
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

I've been a transmission tech for over 20 years, the better part of that at a Ford dealer.

I currently have 3 Ranger/Explorer automatics awaiting overhaul, I did about 12 others so far this year, and that's not counting complete factory replacements done under warranty contracts. I've done a fair share of slave and master cylinders on manual trans Rangers but only one or two manual trans overhauls come to mind in the past few years.

I too use a 2.3L 1995 Ranger with a manual as my primary tow vehicle, it's a 2 wheel drive, with 120K on it, the clutch and slave cylinders have gone out a few times but more so the master cylinder. No I don't like the clutch set up but a good driver should have no problem launching a boat up to say 1500 lbs or so on a good clean ramp. The truck runs great and has no issues that come to mind, I would buy a new one in a minute if they still made the same truck. I too had a 4.0 die early, I had one lock up tight in my first Ranger, a 1999 4x4 at 8,800 miles, they replaced it under warranty citing a defective batch of oil pump drives. The new motor broke a right timing chain at 24,000 miles, I fixed that along with 2 new heads and a piston, then dumped it after seeing what an abortion that motor was inside. Never again would I ever consider owning that motor.
The 2.3L/2.5L motors were rock solid and with even the very least amount of maintenance will run several hundred thousand miles, the 3.0L is another solid motor being used from the early 80's till just last year. Its a good alternative to the 4 banger but for one, they dropped it this year, two, it gets a bit less mileage overall, and is more affected mileage wise when towing.
The most important thing on any 4 banger Ranger is the rear axle ratio, the lower the better. Even the lowest 4.11 ratio will no prevent normal highway use with overdrive and it actually makes 5th gear a functional gear.
I tossed my stock 3.05 gears in mine in favor of a set of 4.11:1 gears out of a 4x4 Explorer, also gained rear disc brakes in the swap. The truck runs great with the lower gears, the motor never lags, and feels like it was meant to work. My mileage towing improved by 5 and my empty mileage for the most part didn't change. I may have lost a mile or two per gallon but it still averages over 24 mpg, and rarely drops below 20 towing. I don't run it super fast, but it does fine at say 70 mph or so on the freeway. I don't have a tach but I'd guess it's still under 2500 in 5th gear at that speed.

In the 9 years I've owned this truck, I've replaced the clutch master twice, the slave cylinder once, (I did the clutch for peace of mind then but it wasn't really bad), one new battery, one fuel pump, (it stalled once and I had been running some trash fuel so I figured that the 115K fuel pump had been the problem, besides I had a new for it in the garage so it tossed it in just in case).
The truck had no other issues, I bought it with 33K on it in 2000 from an older guy that used it to tow his small boat, I had known the truck since it was new at the dealership.

I had four F150 trucks, a 1985, 1987, 1989, and a 1992, All but the '85 were 5.0L trucks, none ever broke the 15 mpg mark empty and would drink pretty heavy with even a small trailer. The 1985 got a solid 16 towing, and 18 empty. All were 4x2 trucks.

None came close to the economy of the Ranger. My first Ranger was a 1986 2.3L stick 4x2 truck, no air, nothing, I kept it for 240K, towed with it almost daily. The rear axle pinion bearing failed at 235K, I fixed the rear and sold it in favor of one with less miles.

In my opionion, they should build a Ranger with the 2.3/2.5/ or 3.0L engine, and a larger, heavier duty trans with a bolt on exterior clutch hydraulic system or a larger automatic, along with an optimum gear ratio. That would yield a great truck but for what ever reason, they've never done it.
The weak point in my opinion towing wise with the older Rangers was the 7.5" rear axle, the 8.8" is a much better rear. I'd even like to see one of the above motors pushing a 4R70W or AOD trans, even though the larger trans would eat up a few more horses, the added durability would be tremendous.
HP to weight ratio can be cured with the right gearing and an experienced driver. The Ranger isn't a light truck, it weighs in at nearly as much as the F150, my 1995 weighs in at 3890 on the scales with a glass cap, on a long bed truck with air and a full tank of fuel. I believe they only list an F150 at about 4100 or 4200 lbs or so. Thats only the difference of maybe some fuel and a big passenger. They list the 1995 Ranger 4 banger stick bare bones model at about 3600lbs.
 

bowman316

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
1,822
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

my 2007 ranger is listed at 7000 lbs.
the new rangers are what the old 150s used to be, and new 150s are what 250s used to be
 

redneckboater

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 11, 2008
Messages
43
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

I believe you will be perfectly fine with your setup. My dad has an '91 ford ranger and for 15 years he pulled his '89 19ft bayliner capri cuddy... and never had a problem. The truck still today has the original clutch in it and only second set of front brakes. If you just ease things along and dont try to make a speed record the truck will do just fine. Stay away from the really steep boat ramps, though he never had trouble with traction the truck is just a little under powered for steep ramps... Hope that helps :)
 

BigB9000

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
1,154
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

l_691ebf0100d44932add65a14cad5dad8.jpg


I put a ball on the bumper and used it to get it out of the garage. It pulled it just fine. Handled the weight no problem too. I was Impressed.


....stopping however, different story.

The breaks on the truck suck anyway, I think thats the real problem.

You tap the break pedal and the front wheels lock up, quite annoying. If I drove it more than 3 miles a month that would have been fixed. I probably just need to bleed the breaks or something.
 

reelfishin

Captain
Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
3,050
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

Fix the brakes and you'll be fine. The brakes on my 1994 are fine, I've never felt they're undersized at all. Chances are they just need some maintenance.
I've towed more than double what your hauling with no issues. I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to haul that boat there anywhere.
 

Mark_VTfisherman

Lieutenant
Joined
Nov 29, 2008
Messages
1,489
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

2813262175_d2fc2f5829.jpg

......bigger tranny and clutch.

Clutches aside freddyray21, that is a sweet looking boat. Not my style, but I love the looks of that thing. Thanks for the picture.

reelfishin: .....I don't tow in the mountains, only here on pretty flat land and rarely more than 30 to about 60 miles at a time....

Flat land is one thing- another thing is that 4x4's have bigger brakes, bigger springs, bigger shocks, and low-range to save the clutch.

It's real hilly here in Vermont- I am used to it. Most of where I tow is up-and-down, and I am careful. Couple of places my too-small tow vehicle needs to be driven real careful- steep, and brakes are an issue, but it is just a short distance. Having towed with a lot of different trucks and cars I say with some measure of confidence that any small 2wd truck like this Ranger would be a little scary in hills and mountains with anything over 800 or 1000 pounds behind it.
 

bowman316

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
1,822
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

try heel to toe down shifting when you are breaking. Put it in 3rd gear at about 35 - 40 mph, to break with the engine.
You probally know this, but give a little gas after you put the clutch in, and let the clutch out when you get the rpm's to where they need to be for that lower gear.
 

zebstarnes

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 11, 2009
Messages
37
Re: Towing with a 95 4cyl manual Ford Ranger?

I have never had a Ford Ranger but I towed my 1998 16ft Landau Aluminum Semi-V for a full season behind my Nissan Frontier 4cyl 5speed before upsizing to a Ford Explorer. The Nissan did great on the road . Myonly problem was coming out of the steep ramps we have around here. Almost everytime you smell clutch burn, and I really worked the heck out of the truck pulling out of the ramp. I figured it was only a matter of time before the clutch gave out and I ended up stuck at the ramp. But i also launch at some not so steep ramps with a more gradual decline and it did just perfect. So I think a lot of it depends on how your ramps are set up.
 
Top