Re: Worst tow vehicle you have used !!!
you need to do what I did.. its called research,ask 8 different transmission tech's about how the A4LD's are for towing!!!and my towing weight is 2000lbs..you really should do research before responding to a post like this,the tallest gear ford makes is a 3.27?? try a 3.07 code #43 for 1991// my vehicle has a 3.07.. this is for the explorers from 1991. the tech's say the A4LD is designed for a 3000lb vehicle,the 4 door explorer weighs around 4100lbs,its already overworked before towing.the A4lD is a light duty trans,and if you towed without any problems you were just luckey..and if you really like the A4LD,I'll be glad to sell you mine..cheap..they stopped useing A4LD's in 1994,in 1995 much better trans..
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The A4LD isn't much different from the newer versions of that trans. The newer electric shift 5R55 and similar are still the same basic light duty trans. The clutches are just as small and it has the same weak points. It just cost more to overhaul now.
I have a 94 Ranger with a Manual trans and 3.08 rear, it's probably the worst set up for towing, a gear change would fix most of that. The clutch set up in these isn't much better than the auto trans is. I've gone through a clutch master cylinder every year and about half that as far as clutch slave cylinders. The clutch itself has lasted 121K so far. The next time the slave cylinder pukes I will most likely replace everything since the trans will be out. I am hoping that I'll have replaced the truck by that time though.
I've towed some pretty heavy trailers considering they rate these for 2,000 lbs towing capacity. My problem isn't towing weight down the road but launching the boat. Backing down the ramp unloads the rear wheels and this tend to shift the weight rearward enough to let the rear tires just spin on a slick or wet ramp.
I've tried adding weight but it does little to help, I'd need to add so much weight it would become a hindrance itself.
What bothers me is that Ford never really solved the trans problem in this class of truck over the years, the Ranger/Explorer series has always had trans and engine concerns, which is too bad since the rest of the truck is fine. The older 2.3L/2.5L and the 3.0 are the best engine choices, but they never offered them in the Explorer, only the problem ridden 2.9/4.0L engines and now that DOHC 4.0L that's had all sorts of issues.
On my Ranger, two changes would make all the difference, one is a lower rear ratio, probably a 3.73 gear and then if nothing else, a trans with an external slave cylinder or cable operated clutch.
Also, someone mentioned that Rangers use the 8.8" rear, that's not normally the case in those years, most had the smaller 7.5" rear that was never much of a work horse. The 8.8" rear for these trucks is hard to find since so many Ranger owners are after them to swap out the lame 7.5". The 8.8" rear from an Explorer will bolt into the Ranger and makes a marked improvement. If I was to change my rear axle ration, I would also upgrade to the 8.8" rear.
