Hey all, don't normally post in this section, but I picked up an '01 Ranger XLT with the 4.0 this summer to save some Fuel and have a winter truck.
I'm making a trip this weekend to pick up two engines and a rear end ultimately for my '65 F100.
I'm wondering if I could squeeze this in my ranger, or if I'm better off borrowing a bigger truck. Weight I would think is less than 1500 pounds, and its going to be about 600 miles so I'd like to take advantage of the better mpg if I could.

 

That would depend on your spring rating and body model. Look inside the drivers side door frame for the RAWR, rear axle weight rating. It will also list the gross vehicle weight, GVW. If your vehicle says you have a GVW of 5400 pounds and your truck weighs 4000 pounds, then 1400 pounds would be the recommended payload. If your RAWR is 2800 pounds and each rear tire weight on a scale is 800 pounds or 1600 pounds for the rear axle, the RAWR would recommend a payload of 1400 pounds. That being said, if you go ahead with the haul, you will probably make it without any problems, but make sure you air rear tires to the max psi listed on the sidewall. Put two old tires in the bed and set each engine on top of a tire, then tie them down with straps to keep them from moving around.

 

That is too much weight to carry in the bed of a stock Ranger in my experience.. the springs just aren't good for more than about 500lbs which is a 1/4 ton or what these trucks are rated for. The truck would have no problem towing that much weight on a small trailer however

 

Trailer it , no problems .

 

Were you going to be using a trailer, or will the entire load fit in the bed? I'm thinking 1500 lb. might be too much. The 4.0 won't have any problems pulling it all. I'd be worried most about the loading on the springs, axles, etc. Look up the max. weight allowed for bed loads. Where? No idea.

 

trailor it,,,,,,,,,, make sure most weight is in the front of trailor...

 

Like everyone has said, 1500 lbs. is a bit much for 600 miles. The truck can do that easily for short distances (I've done up to 1800 in my FX4), but the main problem is that the handling gets wishy-washy when that much weight is loaded. If you plan on going 45-55 mph max, then you might be ok, but even that's pushing it.

Ranger Pats advice is solid.

 

I have in the past WAY overloaded Rangers and had no problems...........but it was always for short hops, for that kind of distance and all the potential problems that might pull out in front of you during, I would put that load in a utility trailer.