I'm new at this, guys, so please be gentle with me. I've read all through the forum, but it's all Greek to me. Here's my story -- I have a 1999 Ford Ranger XLT Flareside, single cab, 2-wheel drive, automatic transmission. Not sure about the engine size, but let's assume the smallest. We're looking at a 21-ft. Rockwood Roo (hybrid tent camper) with a loaded weight maximum of 5000 lbs. With two human beings in the cab, plus two Border Collies and luggage in the truck bed, will my Ranger safely pull the camper? I know I'll need to add a receiver hitch.

Thanks you!!
[ellis@safezone.net]

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 11-Feb-02 AT 04:39 PM (EST)]I'd say you'd really need to determine the engine size. I don't know specific capacities, but a compact truck (such as you have) outfitted with the base engine (such as you wish to assume) normally don't have a capacity of more than 2500 pounds. However, I believe a ranger with the 4.0 engine has a capacity of nearly 6000 pounds. Once you have determined the engine size, consult your owner's manual for towing capacity. In addition, you mentioned that your truck did not come with a factory reciever hitch...meaning you probably don't have a towing package which includes essential equipment such as a tranny cooler, lower axle ratio etc. Based on your information, I would not try to tow the trailer you have in mind. Doing so could void the warranty and/or damage something.

captntim
'86 F150 4x4 300I6 SWB NP205 4speed
high flow cat; dynomax turbo muffler
stock tire size
Draw-Tite class III weight carrying hitch
home-made brush guard and roll bar
she's not quick...but it'll pull just about anything

 

99 Ranger, reg. cab with an automatic. The four cylinder is rated at 2200 lbs. 3.0 V6 is rated at 4000 lbs with the usual 3.73 axle. 4.0 V6 is rated at 6000 lbs with the usual 3.55 axle. This is maximum trailer weight. Also, if it is a Splash model, the rate is 2000 lbs regardless of engine- has to do with the suspension. This is out of the Ford book.

 

Man, all I can say is pray you don't have a 4 banger. If you do you're pretty much out of luck on towing much. I would say if you do have the 4 cylinder then you've got a lot of things to add before towing. Better spark plugs, Jacobs electronics, new air intake with a K&N cone filter, MAFS, headers, performance cat, exhaust, and a chip. And guess what, thats just the engine improvements to give you more power to tow with. And it still might not be enough. If you've got a 4 cylinder you're looking at like 90HP stock (or so I hear). With the things I just listed you should be able to hit about 250HP without even pulling the engine apart yet or changing gears. I guess the best I could say is load your truck with as much gravel as you can fit in the bed, then borrow a trailer from a buddy, strap about ten 10' logs on it and try hauling it for about 50 miles. Should give you a real good idea on what you can hual.

James

 

>Man, all I can say is pray you don't have a 4 banger. If
>you do you're pretty much out of luck on towing much. I
>would say if you do have the 4 cylinder then you've got a
>lot of things to add before towing. Better spark plugs,
>Jacobs electronics, new air intake with a K&N cone filter,
>MAFS, headers, performance cat, exhaust, and a chip. And
>guess what, thats just the engine improvements to give you
>more power to tow with. And it still might not be enough.
>If you've got a 4 cylinder you're looking at like 90HP stock
>(or so I hear). With the things I just listed you should be
>able to hit about 250HP without even pulling the engine
>apart yet or changing gears. I guess the best I could say
>is load your truck with as much gravel as you can fit in the
>bed, then borrow a trailer from a buddy, strap about ten 10'
>logs on it and try hauling it for about 50 miles. Should
>give you a real good idea on what you can hual.
>
>James


Dude, I don't think a couple of bolt on parts will take a 4cylinder to 250hp

Chris

79 F-150 Lariat: Long-bed, 2wd, 460 (intake, headers, cam, early heads), C-6 (shift kit)
79 Mustang: 460 swap under way, balanced rotating assembly, forged pistons, truck rods, c-8 heads ported, Lunati solid lifter cam, more stuff...
98 Chevy Silverado ext. cab 4x4 (work truck)
95 Lexus SC300 (wife's baby)

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 13-Feb-02 AT 04:26 PM (EST)]maybe with a shot of NOS!:7

really though...don't tow the trailer, you'll regret it

captntim
'86 F150 4x4 300I6 SWB NP205 4speed
high flow cat; dynomax turbo muffler
stock tire size
Draw-Tite class III weight carrying hitch
home-made brush guard and roll bar
she's not quick...but it'll pull just about anything

 

>Dude, I don't think a couple of bolt on parts will take a
>4cylinder to 250hp
>
>Chris
>
>79 F-150 Lariat: Long-bed, 2wd, 460 (intake, headers, cam,
>early heads), C-6 (shift kit)
>79 Mustang: 460 swap under way, balanced rotating assembly,
>forged pistons, truck rods, c-8 heads ported, Lunati solid
>lifter cam, more stuff...
>98 Chevy Silverado ext. cab 4x4 (work truck)
>95 Lexus SC300 (wife's baby)



Its been done in the past and its going to be done again. Sorry if you haven't seen it done before. Just gotta know what you're doing or have a friend or two who does.

James

 

Thanks, guys, for saving my rear end! Looks like I'm trading in my Ranger for a bigger truck. Although I am a Texas girl, I'm not really wanting a BIG truck. Any recommendations on the smallest truck I could get that would safely haul a mid-size hybrid camper (5000-6000 lbs. loaded)? Thank you!

--Denise

 

Denise ..... An F-150 with the 5.4 V8, and Trailer Tow package would make a great tow vehicle for you. We previously had a '98 w/ 4.6 V8 pulling a 4800# TT and were not happy with it, especially pulling against a headwind or climbing mountains. Rear end gearing is important too, a 3.55 is good or 3.73 is better yet. When we bought our new truck I wanted a limited slip rear axle, but was warned against it by the owner of the dealership. We've towed almost 20,000 miles in the last 3 years and have never had the need for a LS.
Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

Yup. I think you'll be happy with an F150 with 5.4 litre and class III towing package.
If you are in southern Texas and don't get any snow and won't be towing anywhere tricky - you could go with the 4x2 and no limited slip axle. IF however, you have snow or icy roads and slippery camping areas, then limited slip and perhaps even 4x4.

I"ve been super happy with my 4x2 F150 with 5.4 with limited slip rear end, but I live in a snowy/icy area. I simply put about 6, 50 pound bags of sand in the back end of the truck during the winter.
With the 4x2 you can tow 5000 pounds of trailer and still load up the truck bed with other stuff. Don't go over 5000 pounds towing because the class III hitch is only rated that high. You can tow more, but you need to add a weight distribution hitch.

With a 4x4, you are still limited to 5000 pounds because of the hitch, but you can't pack as much stuff in your truck as with the 4x2 because otherwise you'll exceed your GVWR.

4x2 is better gas mileage whether towing or not towing. And it has LOTS of get up and go with the 5.4 litre engine.

I happen to know of a super nice 4x2, 2000 F150 that will be coming up for sale in the next few weeks... it's the one I just traded in. It's chestnut brown with gold along the bottom (like the King Ranch Crew Cab trucks) and has gold upper pin striping and red lower pin striping. It'll be priced around $16k and has less than 40k miles on it. It's the one I just traded in and will be going to southwest US for auction. There's no market in Detroit for used trucks.