Can I do this with a 2000 Ranger?

[jondoze]

I have a 2000 Ranger 4 X 4 extended cab, V6, 5 speed. Truck came new from Ford with towing package & class III hitch. I need to tow a car (69 Plymouth I'm guessing 3500 lbs.) on a trailer about 400 miles. Is it time to rent a bigger truck? I agree with some of the other posts here, I can't decipher all of the weight and capacity information. Many many thanks in advance.

John

[ranger pat]

With a manual trans, your total load (GCWR) is only 7000 lbs. With your 3500 pound Ranger pulling a 3500 pound car on a 1500 pound trailer, you are 1500 lbs over. Consider using a tow dolly in place of the trailer. They tow very easy, but you will not be able to back up. They rent for $35 a day or so from U-haul. If you decide to tow the car, do not use 5th gear except downhill and consider engaging 4 low for the first 20 feet or so to get rolling up any of the steep grades and then shifting to 2 high.
I have used both tow bars and tow dolly's with my Ranger like yours and had good results. Best to keep the towed load less than the tower load. Remember brakes will have to stop twice the normal load.

[webguyrich]

I agree with ranger pat. Remember, a tow dolly doesn't have any brakes on it. I might be wrong on this one, but I believe your ranger weighs more than 3,500 lbs. This cuts your GCWR down. Also, watch the tongue weight on the trailer or dolly so that you don't exceed your GVWR. You can usually push your weight limits by a couple hundred pounds or so if you don't do it often and you are VERY careful.

Rich

[jondoze]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 30-Aug-01 AT 04:34*PM (EST)[/font][p]Thanks guys for the info. I was just looking at U-Haul's website, and allegedly the car I want to tow won't fit on a tow dolly, but will fit on their full size trailer. (Kinda weird...)

I guess option 2 is to rent a trailer and truck from them. (Unless anybody wants to loan me there 350 for the weekend! )

Thanks again!

[farmpaw]