I'm thinking of buying a 2002 3.0 reg cab short box 4wd auto Ranger that has a 4.10 gear ratio. Does anyone who has a Ranger like this think that this truck will be able to haul a boat that is about 1500 pounds?

 

Sounds like you could pretty easy with the auto and 4.10 rear gear. Max towing on your truck is 9500 lbs. Be careful tho of the tongue weight if your planning on using nothing but the bumper and not a hitch. Even with my 94's 3.0 4x2 original bumber its tongue/tow rating was 200/2000.

 

What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Try more like somewhere in the neighborhood of around 4500 pounds. There is no way a 3.0 would even take off with 9500 lbs let alone be able to stop it.

But yes you will be fine towing that boat
-k460

 

I'm quoting technical specs on that model. I agree it'd be REAL tough, but that truck's fully capable.

 

I don't know if I would want to tow somethign that weighs more than my truck

 

Check it out boys. Looks to me like it's around 3800lbs. Remeber that it includes trailer weight.

specs/04ranger.php

The best capacity I've found is around 6000lbs. with 4.0l with auto and 4.10 gears. And I think regular cab.

 

I'm confused??????????
Do automatics can tow more weight than manuals?
with the same axle ratio, same size motor?
Maybe I read the wrong specifications?

 

The manufactures rate them higher from what I figure is that the average Joe can't tow at max w/o trashing the clutch. At least with the torque converter it handle launching all on its own.

 

Bingo...manufacturer keeping idiots from blowing up clutches do to the rather high first gear (only 3.72/3.40:1).

I've towed well over 4K with mine. Smart? Who knows... I'd NEVER do it with stock brakes.

I tow an 18 foot bass boat, 22 foot tandem axle trailer, and 12 foot single axle trailer on a regular basis. Never had a problem. Getting the boat going up the ramp was a total PITA...but that's my gearing, not the truck or transmission. I do have the 4.0L however.

The 3.0L, auto, 4.10 with 4x4 will tow that boat without breaking a sweat. Just plan ahead for braking.

 

Automatics can handle the extra load because of the planetary gearsets. More to do with gear surface area than anything else. It has nothing to do with a clutch vs a torque converter. Think about it for a second. A class 8 tractor has a 13, 15 or 18 speed transmission. But it has two countershafts to spread the load, and make it much much smaller than a transmission that is rated for the same load with one countershaft.

 

Not to offend bigrigfixer (can't really argue technicalities with somebody with that screename), but in the case of the Ranger, the consensus of the internet seems to be the manual is rated lower due to it's lack of a low first gear. Do people regularly tow with it? Yes. My truck had a receiver installed before I bought it and towed a trailer day in and day out. Can the auto tow more? Perhaps. Would I be comfortable towing the max limit of the Ranger with either? Yes.

That being said...I'd be much rather towing a large load with a manual transmission...less to get hot, more control of the RPMs. I'd always take the F-250 at the barn with the 6.0L and 6 speed over the TorqueShift...just my personal preference. To each his own. For towing, I'll take a manual.

And I would DEFINETLY take the manual in the Ranger up until '95...I'd never trust ANY load on the A4LD.

 

Well I guess If I use the clutch on the ramp should I hold the trailer somehow
using the brakes, cuz I don't know any other way?
I thought the clutch provides better torque than auto, maybe you guys can teach me what's the right way, do I need a different axle?
Right now I have a 3 73 ratio on the truck.
Thanks ..........

 

My '93 4.0L Manual Trans pulled 1.5 tons from Nashville to Knoxville along I-40 @ 70mph on cruise!

Half ton was in bed of pickup, the other ton was in a 14' covered trailer. I used the bumper ball too... guess I got lucky.

Yeah, I was impressed too... That was back when it had about 140k miles on it. Its got 200k now.

 

with regard to the low 1st gear,


1st gear with the manual is 3.72:1
1st gear with automatic is 2.47:1

 

ranger, i have the 4x4 auto and i can pull alot more than manufacture's limits. granted i put it in low and took it real easy. i pulled a 10k baler over 20 miles too.

Matt