Overloaded Ranger
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: MichIgan
Overloaded Ranger
A friend of mine has a 2000 Ranger 4by.
He has the 4.0 with 410 gears and limited slip.
He wants to carry a fully loaded bed once a week for about two hours and 30 miles until it is unloaded, and was looking at helper springs for it. I suggested Hellwings Load Pro (progressive rate) helper springs for $119. He wants to get by on something called "Quick-change" Helpers which are bolt on coil springs ($32) that he thinks he can add and remove when he wants to. I see the likelyhood of adding and removing them becomming a tedious pain in the butt, until he finally leaves them on all the time, making it ride rough when he doesn't need them. Plus I am not all that confident they will do the job.
His other idea is to use air adjustable shocks, ($65) but I am really against that thinking they aren't made for, or simply won't hold the extra weight.
I drive an F150 myself and won't call myself any kind of an authority on this, so does any one have any suggestions for him?
(he doesn't have a PC if you are wondering, but I will have him read your replies, and decide for himself)
Thanks in advance,
ATST
He has the 4.0 with 410 gears and limited slip.
He wants to carry a fully loaded bed once a week for about two hours and 30 miles until it is unloaded, and was looking at helper springs for it. I suggested Hellwings Load Pro (progressive rate) helper springs for $119. He wants to get by on something called "Quick-change" Helpers which are bolt on coil springs ($32) that he thinks he can add and remove when he wants to. I see the likelyhood of adding and removing them becomming a tedious pain in the butt, until he finally leaves them on all the time, making it ride rough when he doesn't need them. Plus I am not all that confident they will do the job.
His other idea is to use air adjustable shocks, ($65) but I am really against that thinking they aren't made for, or simply won't hold the extra weight.
I drive an F150 myself and won't call myself any kind of an authority on this, so does any one have any suggestions for him?
(he doesn't have a PC if you are wondering, but I will have him read your replies, and decide for himself)
Thanks in advance,
ATST
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,759
Likes: 71
From: Elk River, MN
Overloaded Ranger
Just a couple thoughts. Make two trips or consider a two wheel trailer to put half the load in the box and half in the trailer. This is considered thinking outside the box!
What kind of weight in pounds are we talking about here?
What kind of weight in pounds are we talking about here?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,205
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver WA
Overloaded Ranger
Extra springs won't help the other things that will break if you overload a vehicle. Rear axles have a weight rating for a reason. Granted, you can usually go over that rating a bit and not have a problem. But why enhance the problem with extra springs? All that will do is make it LOOK like the truck can haul even more weight because it doesn't squat down as much.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: MichIgan
Overloaded Ranger
I know what all of you are saying. When he got his Ranger, he wanted a Ranger. He still does. He doesn't like driving a big ol F150. The Trailer may be the better option.
OR
He got a raggety s10 to use when he dosen't want to scratch his Ranger, but the bars under bed are rusted, maybe he should slide some 2x4's under it, and abuse that instead?
OR
He got a raggety s10 to use when he dosen't want to scratch his Ranger, but the bars under bed are rusted, maybe he should slide some 2x4's under it, and abuse that instead?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 339
Likes: 1
Overloaded Ranger
I have a 92 ranger 2.3 5sp 2wd. I have been hauling my race car, tool's, air tank,pit scooter, generator, cooler, and a passenger for 6 year's. I've been as far north as New Jersy, and as far south as Gainsville Fla. using only the air bag's
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 2
From: Eastern WA
Overloaded Ranger
When I bought my 94 4x4, I opted for the stiffer springs, expecting that someday I would need them. One day I overloaded the thing to the tune of about 2200 lbs of river rock (scale weight was 6260 lbs). Drove the thing home and unloaded about 1/2 of it, unloading the rest over the next 2 weeks as needed. I really don't advocate overloading, but I think this guy will do just fime if he keeps the load at 1/2 ton or less. Besides, they ride better with a load than without; it's a truck.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: MichIgan
Overloaded Ranger
Thanks for your suggestions.
I like the idea of abusing the s10 myself. The s10 is a 6cyl, but it is about 15 years old, and we don't think it can move the weight, even if it can hold it.
I just weighed one of the boxes. It weighs 12 lbs. There are 180 of them making the load 2,160 pounds. This is only one day a week.
So for one day a week, he is carrying slightly over a ton, which he unloads over a two and a half hour period. The route is 56 total miles out and back. Two thirds of the weight is off by one hour, 20 miles. He comes back empty.
I have done this amount of weight in my truck and it sits down pretty good, but mine isn't a 4WD. It seems his 4WD suspension on the Ranger is beefier than mine. Don't even suggest he use my Truck, besides the fact I don't let anyone drive it, (and he doesn't want to) I am already using my Truck at the same time. My current load is smaller, around 1,680 pounds.
I like the idea of abusing the s10 myself. The s10 is a 6cyl, but it is about 15 years old, and we don't think it can move the weight, even if it can hold it.
I just weighed one of the boxes. It weighs 12 lbs. There are 180 of them making the load 2,160 pounds. This is only one day a week.
So for one day a week, he is carrying slightly over a ton, which he unloads over a two and a half hour period. The route is 56 total miles out and back. Two thirds of the weight is off by one hour, 20 miles. He comes back empty.
I have done this amount of weight in my truck and it sits down pretty good, but mine isn't a 4WD. It seems his 4WD suspension on the Ranger is beefier than mine. Don't even suggest he use my Truck, besides the fact I don't let anyone drive it, (and he doesn't want to) I am already using my Truck at the same time. My current load is smaller, around 1,680 pounds.
Last edited by Andthensometoo; Mar 11, 2003 at 02:05 PM.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 265
Likes: 2
From: Cleveland
Overloaded Ranger
Was putting bout 1000# in my 91 Ranger for two runs in one night for a while, was killing the suspension, broken leaf spring, replaced a front spring seat. Settled on the F150 solution just yesterday.
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