Ranger 5th wheel
New User
Joined: Nov 2003
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Towing
I have a 1986 Ford ranger Super cab 4x4 with a 2.9 5sp I tow a Scamper 5th wheel which ways about 2000 lbs, we just play it safe observe the speed limit and we have no problems, The 5th wheel also has its own brakes.
Last edited by Nate123; Sep 20, 2004 at 10:20 PM.
New User
Joined: Feb 2021
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Towing
Please tell me you're kidding. Most fifth wheels are too heavy even for an F150. There might be an ultra light weight fifth wheel out there that is technically within the tow limits for the Ranger, but I would not recommend towing anything larger than a small travel lightweight travel trailer with the Ranger at best. It's as much of a control issue as it is a weight issue.
Enclosed, and they weighed it of 7200 lbs fully loaded. I pulled it from Baltimore City To Las Cruces NM with no issues. Not a single drop of oil burned, no overheating, also gas range was about the same going up. took 4 Full tanks going up and almost 5 coming back..I love that truck. Never doubt a vehicle on what it can do.. Anything can fool you
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,147
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From: Texas
This thread is not true, I have 2002 Ford Ranger Edge 3.0 and I hauled the biggest trailer at Uhaul they have had which is 6*15.
Enclosed, and they weighed it of 7200 lbs fully loaded. I pulled it from Baltimore City To Las Cruces NM with no issues. Not a single drop of oil burned, no overheating, also gas range was about the same going up. took 4 Full tanks going up and almost 5 coming back..I love that truck. Never doubt a vehicle on what it can do.. Anything can fool you
Enclosed, and they weighed it of 7200 lbs fully loaded. I pulled it from Baltimore City To Las Cruces NM with no issues. Not a single drop of oil burned, no overheating, also gas range was about the same going up. took 4 Full tanks going up and almost 5 coming back..I love that truck. Never doubt a vehicle on what it can do.. Anything can fool you
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,694
Likes: 12,819
From: Wyoming
Heck of a first post though. 
I blew the transmission on my '91 Ranger 4.0 pulling my Polaris Ranger 900XP up I-70. That was before I had a good understanding of cargo capacity and trailer capacity.
I blew the transmission on my '91 Ranger 4.0 pulling my Polaris Ranger 900XP up I-70. That was before I had a good understanding of cargo capacity and trailer capacity.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 417
Likes: 24
From: Greeneville TN USA
I had a 1988 Ranger 4wd 2.9 V6 and towed a 21' Sunline 5th wheel all over the country with no problems except for putting a few bearings in the trans at about 125,000 miles. It was a great combination. The only towing problem I had was when encountering tremendous headwinds in a western state (don't remember which state), I could only do about 45 in fourth. Never had any handling, overheating or other problems. All good memories.
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Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Chaz
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Fleet Mechanic
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I had a 1988 Ranger 4wd 2.9 V6 and towed a 21' Sunline 5th wheel all over the country with no problems except for putting a few bearings in the trans at about 125,000 miles. It was a great combination. The only towing problem I had was when encountering tremendous headwinds in a western state (don't remember which state), I could only do about 45 in fourth. Never had any handling, overheating or other problems. All good memories.
You do you, but most of us just get the right tool for the job so we’re not replacing transmissions at 125K miles (88 Rangers had trans coolers and trailer brakes from the factory? Doubt it. An A4LD is definitely an LD transmission.) or getting blown/dragged all over the roads by our loads.
Just saying.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 417
Likes: 24
From: Greeneville TN USA
Most of us consider those bolded parts a problem, though.
You do you, but most of us just get the right tool for the job so we’re not replacing transmissions at 125K miles (88 Rangers had trans coolers and trailer brakes from the factory? Doubt it. An A4LD is definitely an LD transmission.) or getting blown/dragged all over the roads by our loads.
Just saying.
You do you, but most of us just get the right tool for the job so we’re not replacing transmissions at 125K miles (88 Rangers had trans coolers and trailer brakes from the factory? Doubt it. An A4LD is definitely an LD transmission.) or getting blown/dragged all over the roads by our loads.
Just saying.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,147
Likes: 7,975
From: Texas
Well, I do have to say this. It was not like the bearings in the trans were completely gone, I am super sensitive to anything in a vehicle even slightly out of the norm. The bearings when removed were only worn under close analysis and possibly would not have needed replacement for a good many miles yet. I added a brake controller of course, common then for most vehicles. And a trans cooler for a standard shift? Sound like you may not have been born yet in '88. I certainly did not get blown all over the road, only slowed down a bit for a few miles. I have been blown around considerably in a loaded tractor trailer, would you suggest the tractor was not up to the job?
Now, with that out of the way, I have seen the internals of the manual trans from a Ford Ranger. They are almost as heavy duty as what one finds in a Lowes garden tractor trans.
A Ranger is almost as poor of choice for a tow rig and still have a “truck” as one can find. I can guarantee you when the big rigs are being blown over on I-80 across southern WY no Ranger is going to pull an RV type across there either.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 417
Likes: 24
From: Greeneville TN USA
I think both of you guys are missing the point. The Ranger was within the tow ratings for the little trailer I was hauling. I had no regrets then ( 30+years ago) or later. That Ranger was one of the most fun vehicles to drive I have ever owned. I wish I still had it. Interestingly, we sold the trailer to a retired farmer who towed it with an S10 or whatever the small Chev pickup was at the time. He kept it for a long time and when I ran into him he stated how thrilled he was with the combination. Prior to inheriting the family farm he drove tractor trailer for a living, which was my occupation, so we had something in common.
After the Ranger I built an F350 with a modified 390 and a 5 spd. Yes, a 5 spd in an F350. It took a modified bell (by me) and a throwout fork I made. This truck was to haul a 30' 5th wheel. Another whole story here.
And regarding transmissions, The Ranger trans was built by Mazda and Ford to the same design. The Mazda ones had fewer warranty costs than Ford's. If anyone is interested I will explain.
After the Ranger I built an F350 with a modified 390 and a 5 spd. Yes, a 5 spd in an F350. It took a modified bell (by me) and a throwout fork I made. This truck was to haul a 30' 5th wheel. Another whole story here.
And regarding transmissions, The Ranger trans was built by Mazda and Ford to the same design. The Mazda ones had fewer warranty costs than Ford's. If anyone is interested I will explain.
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