I have a 5x14 trailer that holds 2 quads. My foreman weighs 630lbs, maybe more with tires/winch, and my wifes popo weighs 395lbs. I have pulled it 4 hours from home with no problems. I'm going to be towing my trailer and quads down to Jacksonville TX for the Mud Nationals in March. I want to know if a 300ex that weighs 377lbs is going to be too much more for my ranger. It's a 2000 ext 4x4 with 410 gears and a 3.0 with 103000 miles on it. I will be puting the popo in the back and the 300ex on the trailer with my foreman. And (I know I ask a lot of questions lol) how much more gas do you think it will use? I think with just my quads it will get around 15, that's about what it gets when I check it pulling the quads.
THANKS FOR ANY INFO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

one factor is the trailer, single axle or tandem? does it have brakes? can you load the 4 wheelers so the tounge weight is optimal and not get too much tounge weight? You will have to plan to go slow with that load and that engine. I have pulled much more than your load with a little S-10 Blazer for 1500 miles, but it was slow.

Last year I had to leave a single axle 14 foot flatbed in the middle of Nebraska with a busted axle, so I got a tandem 10K pound trailer so that won't happen again.

 

When I load it I put my wifes popo on the front and then a toolbox with helmets boots etc (50lbs maybe) in it and then my foreman. Is that an ok tounge weight?

 

Try and get the popo over or just in front of the axle if you can. Toolbox and what not further forward.

Expect mid to low teens for mileage depending on how fast you drive. The 3.0L isn't a high-powered engine to begin with...and it's gonna have to rev a bit to get that load moving. Unless you're cookin' pretty good at highway speeds, keep it out of OD as well.

 

Keep it out of OD the whole time or just on hills? Is that with the 3 quads or just the trailer and 2 quads? I'm thinking I'm going to tell my buddy to drive himself down, I don't want to slow us down or hurt the ranger.

 

If it starts hunting gears, lock out OD. If you get out on the open highway though, you can leave it engaged.

I wouldn't worry about having 3 quads or a trailer and 2, it's just a matter of being careful about it, remembering that you're not gonna be the fastest thing on the road, and that you need to be ahead on the brakes, as that's quite a bit of weight for the arguably small Ranger brakes.

 

What is the maximum gross loaded capacity of the ranger?

 

Depends. Yours is newer than mine...so I can't reference the manual for it.

It has to do with your engine, tranny, rear-end gearing, 4x4 or not, etc.

Pop open your manual, it has a nice lengthy section on it, and probably a chart showing the various capabilities (that's what mine has). The max bumper rating is listed on the bumper, but also check in the manual to make sure the truck isn't rated for less than the bumper.

 

You will be perfectly fine with that load. Your Ranger will pull a lot more than that. Is it an Auto or stick? Either way you will be fine. That 300ex won't make much difference. I can pull that same load (and more) with my 4.0L 5-speed using overdrive on slight hills at about 60mph.

 

I want to be able to go 65mph or better. I have pulled my quads at that speed with no problems for about 250 miles.