Ford Ranger towing Travel Trailer
Gabe Czako
pickup. The trailers I am looking at have a max weight in the 5500-6000
lbs. range. You can get the Ranger in a configuration with a max towing
weight of 6000 lbs. Any personal experience and insight is appreciated!
Gabe
HHamp5246
Don't do it! It's too small...period. I don't care what the tow rating is....
it can't pull a trailer that size safely.
Hunter
chrisks
at all. And we went alot of miles pulling that thing. The thing is that
you can't expect to fly up steep hills so it does take a little extra time
to go places, and expect to stop at every gas station. When we first
started out we had a 2 wheel drive, then we got a 4 wheel drive and it
worked better for us. Make sure that you look for the lite trailers made
for the smaller rigs, and regardless of what Hunter says- who more than
likely doesn't have any experience in this - it can be done safely.
Have fun,
Chris
"HHamp5246" <hham...@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
news:20020828090218...@mb-fl.aol.com...
Will Sill
>Anyone have experience towing a travel trailer (20'-24') with a Ford Ranger
>pickup. The trailers I am looking at have a max weight in the 5500-6000
>lbs. range. You can get the Ranger in a configuration with a max towing
>weight of 6000 lbs.
Form letter for "Can I tow big XXXX with itty bitty YYYYYY?"
Dear __________,
Thank you for your inquiry about towing a large travel trailer with
(check one) Ranger [ ] S-10[ ] V-dub [ ] Vespa [ ] Schwinn [ ].
This is NOT a problem, as most truck & rv salespersons will tell you.
The only time you MIGHT have a teensy problem is under those rare
circumstances when you might have to:
- Go up hill
- Turn
- Stop
- Pass a tranny shop
If I were you I'd throw caution to the wind and try it. The worst you
can do is die trying.
Will KD3XR ---- the Curmudgeon of Sill Hill
Before flaming, pause. I post to help rv'ers
and annoy morons. Whichever shoe fits, wear it.
Andy S
"Gabe Czako" <gabe...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:4N3b9.3683$gb....@news2.central.cox.net...
Hi Gabe,
Here is a good article to read. It explains allot about tow ratings, weight
ratings, etc. etc.
http://www.popuptimes.com/articles/archive1/ruleofthumb_1.asp
It is an article about Pop-Up's but the details the article has covers
across most situations.
Also my advice to you is to ignore the people that say "...Aerolite 21 foot
5th wheel and had NO PROBLEMS
at all" with their Ford Ranger. Those of us that have true towing experience
know how stupid of an idea it is...no matter what they say. These type of
people have no clue about keeping their family, my family and your family
safe.
Vigilance Committee
Forget it. NO ONE gets experience towing such a unit with a Ford
Ranger. They are all in the cemetery.
LZ
Mo
Mo
"Gabe Czako" <gabe...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:4N3b9.3683$gb....@news2.central.cox.net...
Jonathan Russell
death and destruction the moment they leave the driveway, is there ANY size
travel trailer you people consider safe to pull with anything less than an
F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab with a V-8 diesel? While I wouldn't get a trailer
that big just because I don't need one, if Gabe had said it was a 16' TT, or a
pop-up, would there still be the dire predictions? I'm just curious because not
everyone can afford a $30,000 truck.
Will Sill
suffers from serious reading comprehension problems and a vivid
imagination. He whines:
>Since this question gets asked so much and so many people immediately predict
>death and destruction the moment they leave the driveway, is there ANY size
>travel trailer you people consider safe to pull with anything less than an
>F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab with a V-8 diesel?
Not pretending to speak for "you people", but nobody here has said the
kind of blather you invent above. Here is some stuff for you. Get a
literate person to explain it to you.
==========
There is pretty general agreement that it is unwise and possibly
dangerous to EXCEED maximum ratings, but many of us with long
trailering experience have found that tow rating information is
often misleading - or at least not applicable to everyone.
Recognizing that safety is always relative and not absolute,
I offer the following reasons for urging very conservative towing
weights:
1. The tow rating is ALWAYS a maximum figure, and is as large as the
manufacturer dares make it. They hope you will buy their stuff for
towing. Their rating may or may not be right for you. Every maker
has his own methods of setting tow ratings. Some are conservative
and some are ludicrously over-stated (many Jeep Cherokees are rated
at 5,000 lbs, and IMO are hopelessly overloaded at that figure).
2. MOST tow ratings (nothing personal or specific vs your brand)
do not allow for long steep grades - up or (especially) down.
3. Most tow ratings make no allowance for bad road conditions.
4. Most tow ratings are accompanied by asterisks that call attention
to special equipment "required". Your rig may not have those features.
5. Most tow ratings make no allowance whatever for emergency
maneuvers. I assure you your vehicle WILL NOT turn or stop as
fast or as safely with the maximum load as it will with a lot less.
The difference can be dramatic. Don't believe me? Try a few tactics
in a large parking lot.
6. Vehicle tow ratings make no allowance for the DRIVER'S "tow
rating". No insult intended, but if you have to ask how much your
rig will tow, you have neither the experience or the knowledge to
handle the maximum load safely. IMO.
7. One of the most-overlooked factors in safe towing is a COMBINED
maximum (GCWR = Gross Combined Weight Rating, often only found in
a towing guide) that dictates a much lighter-than-maximum TOWED load.
Most of the weight of cargo & passengers in the tow vehicle must be
deducted from the permissible towed load to find the true rating.
Some towing guides appear to gloss over this issue because the
marketing types want to put the best possible face on their product.
8. What is reasonably safe and comfortable at 45 mph may well be a
lethal weapon at 75. Tow ratings, IMO, do NOT reflect any respect for
this hazard.
9. One party wrote to say "I live at 6200 feet above sea level and
since an internal combustion engine loses about 2 1/2 to 3% efficiency
per thousand feet I'm losing 15-18 % of my performance unless I have
a turbocharger or supercharger. I would not dream of loading past
75% of capacity regardless of what the engineer says."
10. Regardless of weight ratings, SUV's and "1/2'-ton" pickups are
mostly useless for serious towing. They will handle pop-ups and even
some of the short "lite" trailers - and will haul yer big one out to
the lake if you are careful. But competent handling of a large TT
requires a long wheelbase & short overhang.
Someone once wrote: "You can tow anything with anything - the question
is how far, how safely?"
BOTTOM LINE: IF you trust the experienced trailerists who have been
there and done that and don't want to go back, you will not exceed
about 75% of the rated maximum. The number is of course not writ by
the finger of God on a stone tablet - it is merely an indication that
you should stay well below the manufacturer's maximum allowance if you
want a safe, comfortable trip. Some say the figure ought to be as low
as 50 or 60%. But except for a few macho braggarts, most experienced
folks agree in principle if not detail with these concerns. For
example,
go to http://www.popuptimes.com/articles/archive1/ruleofthumb_1.asp
----------the end. Class dismissed. ------------
Make up your own mind who to believe. I don't have a nickel invested
in your rig, so you can do as you please.
Will KD3XR ---- the Curmudgeon of Sill Hill
Before flaming, pause. I post to help rv'ers
and annoy morons. Whichever shoe fits, wear it.
Will KD3XR
HHamp5246
<jonl...@hotmail.com> writes:
>I'm just curious because not
>everyone can afford a $30,000 truck.
Not everyone needs a brand new truck either....... if you want to tow safely
you need a tow vehicle. Not a little trucklet made for going to Walmart and
brining home geraniums.
Hunter
Andy S
"Jonathan Russell" <jonl...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3D6D1464...@hotmail.com...
> Since this question gets asked so much and so many people immediately
predict
> death and destruction the moment they leave the driveway, is there ANY
size
> travel trailer you people consider safe to pull with anything less than an
> F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab with a V-8 diesel?
I'm curious Jonathan, where did you read anywhere in this thread that "..you
people consider safe to pull with anything less than an F-350 Super Duty
Crew Cab with a V-8 diesel.." Did I miss a message in this thread? Did I
say this in my message? Where specifically did *us people* stated only a
F-350 is needed to safely pull a TT?
>While I wouldn't get a trailer that big just because I don't need one, if
Gabe had said it was a 16' TT, or a
> pop-up, would there still be the dire predictions?
This isn't what the original poster asked, he asked advice for "...towing a
travel trailer (20'-24') with a Ford Ranger". We answered what he wanted
suggestions on.
> I'm just curious because not everyone can afford a $30,000 truck.
Again, where did anywhere in this thread did *us people* suggested to go out
and purchase a $30,000 truck?
Hugh
I'd make some suggestions but I'm tired. I'm giving up the battle for
light truck towing information. It isn't worth the hassle. Most folks
apparently would rather have that Ranger/S10 pickup wallowing down the
road at them. Since most folks feel this is more viable than giving
honest advice, I'll yield.
We could impart helpful information to people wanting to tow close to
tow rating but we won't. We'd rather piss the people off, who more than
likely will tow anyway, and send them on their way, none the wiser. We
may have been able to help some guy with advice about adding a leaf to
rear springs or adding air shocks but screw it. It's better to advise
some guy with a low budget he needs to dump his "little" pickup and buy
that 350/3500 to tow a legal load. We all know he will take our advice
right?
So long, it's been fun.
Hugh
AcoldBrew
rear end anyway.....
Jonathan Russell
tails out of your answer...
Your answer to me is the type of info I think should've been given in the first
place. With the exception of the link Andy posted the answers before this were
more ridicule than information. I know they were meant in jest but just saying
"Don't do it" begs the question in the original posters mind "Why not? Personal
experience? Personal opinion? Professional opinion?" Without giving him a response
like the well reasoned one you gave me he may've just decided "What the ---- do
these people know?" and then gone out and tried it.
Jonathan Russell
Andy S wrote:
> I'm curious Jonathan, where did you read anywhere in this thread that "..you
> people consider safe to pull with anything less than an F-350 Super Duty
> Crew Cab with a V-8 diesel.." Did I miss a message in this thread? Did I
> say this in my message? Where specifically did *us people* stated only a
> F-350 is needed to safely pull a TT?
Did I say it was stated in the thread? No. Most of the answers implied, or
otherwise stated that the Ranger wouldn't pull the load. Ok. What will then? Why
won't it? Do you have to go to the other extreme to be able to? The man was
asking for opinions or experience and all he was told was the Ranger wouldn't do
the job. Fine. If that's the only tow vehicle he's going to have for the next 5
years what can he get that he can tow?
> This isn't what the original poster asked, he asked advice for "...towing a
> travel trailer (20'-24') with a Ford Ranger". We answered what he wanted
> suggestions on.
>
Actually until Will answered my post the only person that provided useful
information was you. Hunter essentially said "Don't do it, it's not safe" then
Chris said "Don't listen to Hunter, it's ok" Who's Gabe to believe? Apart from
what in his post appears to be nothing more than opinion, Hunter didn't really
offer anything but a warning which Chris then poo pooed and said his experience
tells him otherwise. Not being the wiser, which would you go with, opinion or
experience? Apart from those two posts which offered opinion without anything to
back the opinion up (apart from Chris' experience), there wasn't much there to
base a decision on.
> Again, where did anywhere in this thread did *us people* suggested to go out
> and purchase a $30,000 truck?
In this thread no one did. Nor did I say anyone in this thread specifically had.
I generally don't read the towing threads since they're generally nothing but a
pissing match anyway but from the ones I have read the consensus of opinion
(implied or stated) seems to be that if you're planning on towing any kind of
load other than the occasional furniture during a move you need the biggest
beast you can lay your hands on. Rather than making that suggestion directly or
indirectly if someone has a Ford Ranger or an F-150 for that matter and wants to
know if they can tow that huge 5th wheeler they have their eye on, instead of
just suggesting that they're signing their death warrant what's the problem with
suggesting they look at something smaller unless they want to shell out the
additional money for the right tow vehicle for that 5th wheeler? Like I said,
you provided a link to useful information. Will, in his reply to me has as well.
This is what Gabe should've been provided with to begin with. Nothing wrong with
a little humor but what's wrong with actually giving a useful answer as well?
agcysrvcs
"Andy S" <selz...@oz.net> wrote in message
news:akjm27$rkk$0...@216.39.135.148...
>
> > I'm just curious because not everyone can afford a $30,000 truck.
>
> Again, where did anywhere in this thread did *us people* suggested to go
out
> and purchase a $30,000 truck?
Andy,
I got the impression that Jonathan was just using a little hyperbole to make
a point.
There does seem to be a certain attitude among many on this NG that "small"
(meaning anything less than a 3/4 ton)
truck can't be used for towing.
I agree to a certain extent that "bigger is better" but there are
circumstances where 1/2 ton trucks are adequate.
"I" wouldn't try to pull 5000 pounds of trailer with the stoutest Ranger
Ford makes but I have my own reasons, puny acceleration being number 1.
The biggest reason I keep hearing in favor of larger trucks is brakes. If
trailer brakes have that bad of a record (and I agree they do) then RVers
should raise hell about getting something better. I think most of us are too
complacent about that problem.
Personally, I have not had any bad experience with faulty trailer brakes but
I pay close attention to proper maintenance AND proper set-up of my brake
controllers.
End of rant. With all good intentions,
Mike D.
R & A
>
>
> Andy S wrote:
>
> > I'm curious Jonathan, where did you read anywhere in this thread
that "..you
> > people consider safe to pull with anything less than an F-350 Super
Duty
> > Crew Cab with a V-8 diesel.." Did I miss a message in this thread?
Did I
> > say this in my message? Where specifically did *us people* stated
only a
> > F-350 is needed to safely pull a TT?
>
> Did I say it was stated in the thread? No. Most of the answers
implied, or
> otherwise stated that the Ranger wouldn't pull the load. Ok. What will
then? Why
> won't it? Do you have to go to the other extreme to be able to? The
man was
> asking for opinions or experience and all he was told was the Ranger
wouldn't do
> the job. Fine. If that's the only tow vehicle he's going to have for
the next 5
> years what can he get that he can tow?
Gentlemen, the Ford Ranger's (2000) maximum tow rating is 6060
pounds and that's with the 4.0 liter V-6 and a 3:55 rear axle ratio.
That's also with an automatic transmission. Sorry to piggyback here,
but I inadvertently deleted the original message.
Being on the conservative side, I wouldn't tow anything greater in
weight than 75% or 5450 pounds. With these figures, the trailer that he
would be able to tow isn't going to be very big. Keep in mind that the
ratings the mfgr assigns are usually at the extreme upper end of what
they believe they can get away with and stay within design specs.
--
Ram
RV Safety
www.rvsafety.com
ramanda...@direcpc.com
Fix address to reply
Deano
"agcysrvcs" <agcy...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:jkgb9.5330$%D6.4...@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
> "I" wouldn't try to pull 5000 pounds of trailer with the stoutest Ranger
> Ford makes but I have my own reasons, puny acceleration being number 1.
It would be fine accelerating with a stiff wind at it's tailgate and rolling
downhill, but I have a small Ranger pickup, hell, it barely pull's itself up
a hill. I don't think it could make it with even the smallest of trailers.
Or maybe our hills around Washington State are a tad steeper than most? We
use ours as a toad and for that, it's great...
Deano
Wade
"Deano" <happyc...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:akk5vk$1jpbi8$1...@ID-62943.news.dfncis.de...
assume things next time.
Wade
Just Me
news:20020828214545...@mb-cm.aol.com:
>>Most Ford Rangers wont pull a hair out of a sick cat's
>>rear end anyway.....
>>
>
> A Ford Ranger couldn't pull a fat woman away from a buffet bar.....
>
> Hunter
>
>
Hunter,
My BH says "As a current fat woman, it would all depend upon what they're
serving at the buffet!"
JanOrme99
>>
>> Anyone have experience towing a travel trailer (20'-24') with a Ford Ranger
>> pickup. The trailers I am looking at have a max weight in the 5500-6000
>> lbs. range. You can get the Ranger in a configuration with a max towing
>> weight of 6000 lbs. Any personal experience and insight is appreciated!
>>
>> Gabe
Hi Gabe,
The Ranger and the Explorer share the same basic chassis and have somewhat
similar tow ratings. I have owned both and still have an Explorer. These
vehicles are good for many uses but towing a 6000# Travel Trailer is not one of
them.
I have towed a long distance with a 4.0 1999 Ranger 4X4. Last year I drove to
Wisconsin from Northern California pulling an empty used tow dolly (yes Will I
lowered the tire pressure when empty 8^).
I bought a SCCA Showroom Stock Class B (SSB) car there including many spares.
That car weighed about 2450# at the time. Some of the spares were then loaded
in the car and some in the bed of the Ranger. I estimate that my additional tow
weight of car, dolly and spares to be about 3000#.
I then drove back to the Bay Area from Wisconsin towing all that stuff on Hwy
80. That weight for the Ranger, on that highway, was just fine (other than
boring as hell...thank the lord for books on tape) as I had calculated ahead of
time.
But Gabe, that is about the most I would ever want to do with a Ranger. I have
towed a good deal and towed all types of heavy and lighter stuff. After some
years of it going over various terrain you get a feel for what will work well
and what may really be on the edge of wetness. I still tow that race car
occasionally with the Explorer and dolly, and that is fine also. But I prefer
to do it with my motorhome.
Here are some things to remember. Towing a travel trailer and towing a 5th
wheel are two different deals! The 5th will be much easier to yank safely
without spending big bucks on a hitch. But, a 6000# 5th is still to much for a
Ranger. Pay very close attention to the small print on the tow ratings. The
ratings between the manual transmission and the automatic usually vary VERY
WIDELY. As soon as you get above sea level, the ratings change. If you look
closely at Ford's ratings you will see that the rating drops a percentage for
each 1000' elevation. As previously pointed out, to be on the safe side, good
rule is nothing more than 75% of the REAL ADJUSTED rating should be towed. This
will allow for all of those weird circumstances you might get into like VERY
steep up or down grades.
Also, BEWARE of what that trailer is REALLY going to weigh. The salesman may
say, "it's about 5500 to 6000#." Trust us, the sales types and the
manufacturers lie like a rug on the weights! Their "approximate weight" is for
sure dry, no extras, none of the stuff you will put in it and maybe not even
the weight of stuff like a refrigerator. Make them weigh it on a public scale
and go with them. Then start from there on what it will really weigh when you
put it on he road fully loaded for a trip.
Bottom line is you have to do your homework and put the right and safe
combination on the road with your family.
That way we on this forum won't cringe when we see another post about a bad RV
accident where a family got hurt when the tail (trailer) wagged the dog (truck)
into a roll into the ditch or worse. Yes, we see those posts every year.
Jan Eric Orme
"Always drink upstream from the herd."
-Will Rogers
Will Sill
words, in the order shown:
>Golly Mr. Sill, with those big words like "or" and "the" I can't make heads or
>tails out of your answer...
>
>Your answer to me is the type of info I think should've been given in the first
>place.
Make up your mind! Bitch or say thank you - but not at the same
time!
Will Sill KD3XR
"I get tired of explaining the obvious to the oblivious" [bill horne]
Ralph Lindberg & Ellen Winnie
"Gabe Czako" <gabe...@cox.net> wrote:
The largest thing I've towed with a similar truck (a Nissan) was a 17
ft 3500 lbs 5er. Based on doing that there is NOT A CHANCE IT #($($ I
WOULD CONSIDER WHAT YOU SUGGEST.
Get a smaller trailer or a bigger truck
--
Ralph Lindberg personal email n7...@amsat.org
RV and Camping FAQ http://kendaco.telebyte.com/rlindber/rv
If Windows is the answer I would really like to know what the question is
Vigilance Committee
Okay, so we were remiss in our obligation to give chapter and verse of
why Rangers are not the tow vehicle of choice. The Ranger is not suited
to tow the trailer he mentioned. Period.
My son owned a Ranger and although it was a fine little vehicle it had
its hands full towing a boat. A light weight popup or a Casita type may
be fine but I would not go beyond that. Remember that pulling it is
only part of the equation. Stopping it and remaining in control at
various speeds is something else.
LZ
Chris Hill
<agcy...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>Andy,
>I got the impression that Jonathan was just using a little hyperbole to make
>a point.
>There does seem to be a certain attitude among many on this NG that "small"
>(meaning anything less than a 3/4 ton)
>truck can't be used for towing.
>I agree to a certain extent that "bigger is better" but there are
>circumstances where 1/2 ton trucks are adequate.
Maybe the attitude is because we've been there and done that already.
You can get by with a 1/2 ton, but a ranger isn't that. We towed a
22-foot Hi-lo with a 1/2 ton suburban. It did okay, never towed in
overdrive, got a pull-rite hitch so the truck stayed in charge of the
trailer, and never got in a hurry. We felt the trailer the whole time
it was back there, listened to the old 350 ping on every hill, and
basically didn't enjoy the experience much.
---Windows excuse #38 as applied to cars: You have a door ding, no wonder it won't start!
Fixing computers in Columbia Missouri or thereabouts.
HHamp5246
"agcysrvcs" <agcy...@earthlink.net> writes:
>There does seem to be a certain attitude among many on this NG that "small"
>(meaning anything less than a 3/4 ton)
>truck can't be used for towing.
Hi Mike,
*I* don't think you need a 3/4 ton truck to tow...... I just think you need a
truck. Not a trucklet. A 1/2 ton will tow the 20-25' trailer the original
poster asked about.
Frankly, I think he already knew that or he wouldn't have asked. He knew that
trucklet isn't big enough, long enough or powerful enough, he was looking for
someone who has done it and lived.
Hunter
CruzMastr
regarding towing TT with an SUV...
I towed a 24' TT with similar weights (carefully loaded to stay at/under
5000# across the scale) with a '93 Explorer 4dr with tow package and 3.73
rear end, weight-distributing hitch, sway control, etc. I can attest that
this was marginally safe at best. The Explorer has a short wheelbase, high
center of gravity and relatively low weight compared to the trailer. IMO all
this combines to make the Explorer (read that any small or mid-sized SUV) a
poor choice for TT towing. Wind was always a major issue with the Explorer.
I generally got off (or stayed off) the roads if wind was over 20 mph
sustained and/or when gusts approched 40 mph range and always if we
encountered rain with wind. Many will give heartfelt personal testimony
about how well this combo works but they are generally people who confuse
luck with safety and good practice. In hindsight the scariest part of
driving this set up was that tooling down the Interstate wasn't scary! While
we never had a wreck or other disaster I am convinced it was simply a matter
of luck. We switched to a 94 Roadmaster wagon for towing the TT (longer,
lower,
heavier, more power, etc).
Gee it keeps getting easier to respond to this question... CruzMastr
"Gabe Czako" <gabe...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:4N3b9.3683$gb....@news2.central.cox.net...
> Anyone have experience towing a travel trailer (20'-24') with a Ford
Ranger
> pickup. The trailers I am looking at have a max weight in the 5500-6000
> lbs. range. You can get the Ranger in a configuration with a max towing
> weight of 6000 lbs. Any personal experience and insight is appreciated!
>
> Gabe
>
>
>
racem...@webtv.net
six cylinder. Try this first. Pull a 5-6000 lb. car or truck as a test
and see what it feel likes. It will give you an idea. I would use a
bigger vehicle..Passing with an under powered car will be difficult and
it wil eat the motor up. Just my opinion.
Bryan
Hattmakr
Will Sill
Though the idea of towing a heavy car to test is not _totally_ without
merit, this author seems to be laborinbg under the common delusion the
power is a limiting factor in towing. It ain't.
Want to wreck two moving vehicles at once with only one driver? Hook
a mid-'80's Caddy to a Ford Ranger with a tow bar, and make ONE abrupt
turn with the brakes on.
Will KD3XR
HHamp5246
>rear end anyway.....
>
A Ford Ranger couldn't pull a fat woman away from a buffet bar.....
Hunter
ceil...@yahoo.com
> Anyone have experience towing a travel trailer (20'-24') with a Ford Ranger
> pickup. The trailers I am looking at have a max weight in the 5500-6000
> lbs. range. You can get the Ranger in a configuration with a max towing
> weight of 6000 lbs. Any personal experience and insight is appreciated!
>
> Gabe