Towing with a Ranger?
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New User
Joined: May 2003
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From: Lacey, WA
Towing with a Ranger?
Hello All,
I am new to the forum and to towing. I have towed with my 2000 5.4 Expedition. I am getting a 1989 Ranger with the 2.3L and 5spd. I was wondering if the ranger could pull a car weighing 1780lbs, on a car dolley 1800miles one time? I am planning to sell my Expidition, so I can't tow with that. I was planning on putting on a class2 hitch, airide helper springs, new cam. and new gear set. can anyone tell me if this would work? I am getting a good deal on the truck so I hope it will work? Thanks in Advance!!
I am new to the forum and to towing. I have towed with my 2000 5.4 Expedition. I am getting a 1989 Ranger with the 2.3L and 5spd. I was wondering if the ranger could pull a car weighing 1780lbs, on a car dolley 1800miles one time? I am planning to sell my Expidition, so I can't tow with that. I was planning on putting on a class2 hitch, airide helper springs, new cam. and new gear set. can anyone tell me if this would work? I am getting a good deal on the truck so I hope it will work? Thanks in Advance!!
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 7,298
Likes: 45
From: Southern California
Towing with a Ranger?
Welcome to FTE! 
You posted this topic twice, so the newest one was moved to the Ranger forum. I'm sorry you're not getting the help you need, but now you've got two places to look. Keep checking back and hopefuly someone with the information you need will post a reply.
You posted this topic twice, so the newest one was moved to the Ranger forum. I'm sorry you're not getting the help you need, but now you've got two places to look. Keep checking back and hopefuly someone with the information you need will post a reply.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
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Towing with a Ranger?
Originally posted by fordfreek2k
Hello All,
I am new to the forum and to towing. I have towed with my 2000 5.4 Expedition. I am getting a 1989 Ranger with the 2.3L and 5spd. I was wondering if the ranger could pull a car weighing 1780lbs, on a car dolley 1800miles one time? I am planning to sell my Expidition, so I can't tow with that. I was planning on putting on a class2 hitch, airide helper springs, new cam. and new gear set. can anyone tell me if this would work? I am getting a good deal on the truck so I hope it will work? Thanks in Advance!!
Hello All,
I am new to the forum and to towing. I have towed with my 2000 5.4 Expedition. I am getting a 1989 Ranger with the 2.3L and 5spd. I was wondering if the ranger could pull a car weighing 1780lbs, on a car dolley 1800miles one time? I am planning to sell my Expidition, so I can't tow with that. I was planning on putting on a class2 hitch, airide helper springs, new cam. and new gear set. can anyone tell me if this would work? I am getting a good deal on the truck so I hope it will work? Thanks in Advance!!
Just remember, keep it out of overdrive, be careful with speed, you don't have a lot of braking power. As long as you don't try to set a new land speed record, you should be fine.
Of course, this is assuming that the truck is in good working order, IE recent tune up, shocks, springs, brakes, tires, clutch, ect are all in good shape..
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 664
Likes: 129
From: Columbia, MD
Towing with a Ranger?
Assuming you're within the weight ratings (truck and hitch), I suspect your weak point would be brakes- and handling under braking.
I pulled a nearly 3000 lb rig with my 96 S-10 extended cab (no flames please, I've been under same era Rangers and they're built notably lighter than the S-10), and quickly got surge brakes on the trailer. Before the surge brakes, I had to be real careful about highway speeds, following distances, lights (seriously stretched some yellows before I got the surge brakes), braking distance & speed approaching turns (especially going downhill), and guessing which idiot was going to cut me off. NOT FUN.
On the plus side, you've got less load and a manual- be prepared to downshift to help stop. Car on dolly will likely also be very well-behaved. On the downside, if you've got a 4x4 or standard cab, you'll have to be more careful because you're less stable under braking. If your brakes are in anything other than very good shape, I suggest you get them fixed.
Be paranoid, keep speed down, keep long following distance (if traffic lets you!), and brake early for turns. Be more paranoid going downhill.
I pulled a nearly 3000 lb rig with my 96 S-10 extended cab (no flames please, I've been under same era Rangers and they're built notably lighter than the S-10), and quickly got surge brakes on the trailer. Before the surge brakes, I had to be real careful about highway speeds, following distances, lights (seriously stretched some yellows before I got the surge brakes), braking distance & speed approaching turns (especially going downhill), and guessing which idiot was going to cut me off. NOT FUN.
On the plus side, you've got less load and a manual- be prepared to downshift to help stop. Car on dolly will likely also be very well-behaved. On the downside, if you've got a 4x4 or standard cab, you'll have to be more careful because you're less stable under braking. If your brakes are in anything other than very good shape, I suggest you get them fixed.
Be paranoid, keep speed down, keep long following distance (if traffic lets you!), and brake early for turns. Be more paranoid going downhill.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6
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From: Lacey, WA
Towing with a Ranger?
Thanks for the info! I was wondering if the 2.3L has enuff guts to pull itself and the towed car up a real steep grade? Let alone have the braking power to get me down the other side? thanks for all the help!!
New User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15
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From: SOCAL
Towing with a Ranger?
I've used my 2001 Ranger Edge 4x4 with 4L engine to tow. Its rated at 5K lbs BUT when I tow that much weight its VERY marginal for climbing and stopping, so I only do short trips (<20mi). My 2 horse trailer with both horses is about 5K. I did that for about 2yrs, about once a month. The 4x4 has slightly larger brake rotors and heavier suspension, though added weight.
I recently towed a 1700lbs car hauler with a Deere 1300lbs tractor over 500 mi without much problem, EXCEPT for grades. The 4L struggled with 3K lbs even at moderate grades. I think your 14yr old 2.3L will be barely adequate even with the mods you're adding. I recommend at least a class 3 hitch. I wouldn't do what you are planning without at least a newer 4L engine with an automatic, ideally with a tow package (tranny cooler, posi, heavier suspension).
When it comes to this towing stuff, it pays to be conservative.
I recently towed a 1700lbs car hauler with a Deere 1300lbs tractor over 500 mi without much problem, EXCEPT for grades. The 4L struggled with 3K lbs even at moderate grades. I think your 14yr old 2.3L will be barely adequate even with the mods you're adding. I recommend at least a class 3 hitch. I wouldn't do what you are planning without at least a newer 4L engine with an automatic, ideally with a tow package (tranny cooler, posi, heavier suspension).
When it comes to this towing stuff, it pays to be conservative.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2001
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Towing with a Ranger?
I've done the following towing with an 83 Ranger 2.8 5-spd:
900# trailer w/ 900# contents, estimated 500# in the truck itself, 3000 miles cross country. No problems, but the trip was a bit slow.
3000# car on 1000# trailer, three people in the cab, estimated GCW of 7500# to 8000#, 4 to 5 miles. VERY MUCH NOT FUN, but it worked. (Decided to get a bigger truck soon thereafter.)
2000# car on 500# trailer, two people, 400 miles including a 5000 foot mountain pass. No problems, the Ranger didn't flinch, but I wouldn't call this fun either.
Oh, all of the above were with no trailer brakes.
900# trailer w/ 900# contents, estimated 500# in the truck itself, 3000 miles cross country. No problems, but the trip was a bit slow.
3000# car on 1000# trailer, three people in the cab, estimated GCW of 7500# to 8000#, 4 to 5 miles. VERY MUCH NOT FUN, but it worked. (Decided to get a bigger truck soon thereafter.)
2000# car on 500# trailer, two people, 400 miles including a 5000 foot mountain pass. No problems, the Ranger didn't flinch, but I wouldn't call this fun either.
Oh, all of the above were with no trailer brakes.
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Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6
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From: Lacey, WA
Towing with a Ranger?
Thanks for help!
I ended up buying a 1985 2.8L 4X4 5spd std cab Ranger. I'm hoping this will pull my 1800#car and car dolley. It has 3.73gears front and back. I will have installed 4.10s, cl3 hitch? and rebuilt 2.8L by the time I tow. Let me know what you all think?
I ended up buying a 1985 2.8L 4X4 5spd std cab Ranger. I'm hoping this will pull my 1800#car and car dolley. It has 3.73gears front and back. I will have installed 4.10s, cl3 hitch? and rebuilt 2.8L by the time I tow. Let me know what you all think?
Elder User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 818
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From: northeastern ohio
Towing with a Ranger?
Its not worth it to go from 3.73 to 4.10.
Cost would be 800+ for gears and labor (if you can do the labor its cheaper of course)
and you wont feel the difference.
Rand
Cost would be 800+ for gears and labor (if you can do the labor its cheaper of course)
and you wont feel the difference.
Rand
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 508
Likes: 0
Towing with a Ranger?
The cost can be a lot less if there are good wrecking yards in your area and you are willing to run used parts. I could probably pick up a complete (drum to drum, or rotor to rotor) axle for under $100.
