I'm looking at a 2009 Ranger Fx4. The important thing to me is that it has a proper towing package, or that it can be easily outfitted with one. I'm going to use it to tow a popup. We're hoping to get into a slightly used 2013-14 Jayco 10-12ft pop up camper in January or so. Wet weight is about 3200lbs, looking at about 400lb tongue weight. Says it has a class III tow package on the window sticker, and it seems that Fx4's are the strongest built for this model year (much heavier capability axles and springs, and a 5280GVWR package seems to come with the Fx4 supercab deal). The only thing I'm aware of through research is that it wasn't until 2010 that you could get rear disks instead of rear drums. That being said the 2007 XL long bed ranger (2.3L automatic) still could stop just fine, so as long as the drums are a good size this shouldn't be an issue.

Any thoughts? http://www.inventory.ford.com/servic...ZR45EX9PA05333

2009 Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road, - Cars.com

 

With 3.73 or 4.10 gears and a brake controller a Ranger won't have any problem with that weight, our '04 hauls a loaded dump trailer that often weighs in at 3500-4000lbs and it manages really well IMO.

 

Is there any way to tell from the window sticker what axle it has?

 

There's a website through FORD, the truck VIN will bring up everything, every option and standard component as it was built from the factory. Somebody smarter than me will have to dig the link up.

I think this is the one - http://www.fleet.ford.com/partsandservice/vin-decoder/

 

You need the VIN or a picture of the calibration decal on the drivers door pillar, there you will find the axle code that will decode to the axle gear ratio. The axle tag may or may not be present on a used vehicle of this age, sometimes they rust away and other times they just get left off if the axle has been serviced.

Ford 7.5 & 8.8 Inch Axle Tag & Door Codes

 

Yeah most of the dealers don't have any idea, that's why I was wondering if I could get it with a VIN. Otherwise it's going to be alot of listening to a dealer say one thing, then driving all the way out there to find another. Due to living in the rust belt, I'm looking in a 200 mile range to find one decently priced and not rusted.

 

Every off-road I've seen has the 4.10 rear ratio, L/S being an option. Sure looks like a good selection of options.
Dave

 

I'm looking at a 17K mile 2011 CPO. It's a Sport 4x4 Supercab. Looks like a 3.73. Looking in the fleet towing guide from Ford, it appears that L/S wasn't an option? It shows axles codes for 3.55/3.73/4.10. Under L/S it shows Not Available for all three ratios.

 

Heymrdj, I'm seeing the same selection as you see on the 2010 ordering guide, no L/S. That really surprises me.
Dave

 

On my 2007 2.3L 4x2, I had snow tires on the back and 300lbs in the bed over the axle (built a platform for it) and it handles snow like a tank, even unplowed roads to the frame weren't an issue. But making turns on ice was still alot of one wheel spin. Would it be super difficult to add LS?

 

I added one of the Richmond Gear "No-Slip" units for the snow and love it. Took little over an hour with common tools.
Dave

 

I like the look of these! I will be working on seeing if I can get a truck