To start off tow vehicle is as follows.

07 Ranger 4x4 FX4

The heaviest thing I see myself towing would be a Focus guessing 3300lbs. I don't see myself towing a full size truck and would never try with the Ranger.

I was going to look for a trailer next year but came across one on the way home today.

Primier FD162 (built 1/02). 7k GVRW (2 31??lb axles)Some surface rust in places but overall in decent shape from just looking at it parked. How would I check this thing out? Test driving it can only test how it tows?

What would this be worth? I know its a hard question. Anyone know what a new full metal deck 16' (probably 76" wide) would cost?

Also the big question. Would the Ranger tow this combo (car + trailer) fine?

Thank you

 

According to Trailer Life, your '07 Ranger has a towing capacity of 2300-3050#.

You are over your rating with just towing the Focus, not adding in the weight of the trailer, which is probably around 1000+#s itself.

IF you try pulling the trailer, make very sure you have a working brake controller in your truck, and that the trailer brakes are working correctly. You don't have much in the way of extra brake capacity for stopping the truck + trailer+load, with just the truck brakes.

Good luck

 

That trailer new in my area is around 2-3k depending on extra's. I dont think I would try and tow that load with a ranger tho.

 

Well, considering your truck is an auto, your tow capacity is 5560 lbs. per the Ford towing guide. That said, the trailer itself is not going to be a lightweight and when you combine that with the weight of the Focus, you'll be right at the outer limits of your rated capacity.

Unless you don't have any other choice, I don't think I would try it. Towing it is one thing but stopping it is another. IF you decide to try it, you'll need a brake controller on the truck to handle the trailer brakes. The other thing to keep in mind is that the Ranger, being a small truck, doesn't have the stability of the larger trucks and will be more prone to sway and probably harder to keep under control if things start to go south. If you have a larger tow vehicle available, I would use it or just pay someone to move the Focus for you.

FWIW, I had a '98 Ranger Ex-cab 4x4 auto. I used it to pull a Pontiac Fiero on a tow dolly one time. Towed it about 400 miles and it did pretty well but the dolly was no where near the weight of the trailer you're looking at and the Fiero was probably lighter than the Focus. The rated capacity for my Ranger was 5620 lbs. Looking back now, I wouldn't try it again.

Here's the link to the '07 Ford Towing Guide:

http://www.sunrisefordfleet.com/pdf_...uides/2007.pdf

 

A tow dolly is the only way I think I would consider towing the focus, issue is trying to keep the wt down as much as possible.

Also your trans probably does not have a cooler on it other than what is routed to the radiator and back. That is another concern since you would be maxing out the capabilites of the Ranger.

Good excuse for a upgraded truck if you ask me!

 

This is why I am asking questions.

I have known guys to use a Ranger to tow race cars to and from races a couple times a month. This is why I figured it would be possible. I know the ranger wouldn't tow a 20' with full size truck on it but figured a car would be fine.

It would be maxed out. And I really don't want to have an "accident".

I do have a '72 F250 with 360 and front disks but with its age I'd probably be in the same boat with the weight issue. It also isn't back on the road yet. I sold my '83 F-250 but when I looked into an 04 F150 (heavy duty version) it was almost the same weight rating (within 500 or 800 lbs) as my '83 and I was supprised.

As for upgrading I'd love to but I just bought the Ranger new in 07 and one of the reasons I bought it was ease of parallel parking and parking in general at work. Also the MPG but I did hear after the fact that the F-150 gets the same 18-20 MPG. Is that real world with the F-150? Maybe I will look into a new F-150. Probably can't afford it though.

Edit:
Yep. Just checked it out and a 09 F150 XL the way I want it (basicly waht the Ranger has now) or a base FX4 is 10 grand more than my Ranger was. Ya I can go used but......

 

I wouldn't do it. A Ranger isn't big enough to safely tow a trailer that size. I've seen people do stupider stuff (ie goosenecks!!) and its just not a good idea.

 

Afte some research that original trailer is out. Guessing it weighs in at 1800-2000lbs.

I did find a 15' open floor car hauler new for $2150 (guy is asking $2200 for the used one) that weighs 1350lbs. This would put me about 1000lbs under the Rangers rating. I do understand the Ranger is smaller and that "things" can happen.

Also after doing a bit of research the Focus probably weight in the 2600-2700lb range. Base weight 2551 and mine has a few extra options. I guess I have to find a set of scales.

 

sounds like you are getting it closer to working with your current truck.

 

I agree with senix. You're probably going to be okay at those weights. Definitely don't consider it though, without trailer brakes and a controller. I doubt the Ranger's brakes would be up to the task of stopping the Ranger and that much weight behind it without problems.

 

When in doubt, use your 72 F250. You'll feel a lot more stable in it, and you'll have the power to pull the hills, too.

 

Trailer brake setup is a definite.
If and when I get the trailer I will be setting up the Ranger and the '72 to tow it.

 

Looks like you plan to do this quite often. If you have hills to climb I'd think twice about going near max tow rating, you're going to be taking life off your Bronco. I wouldn't do that to your daily cruiser.

 

Rangers are great, tuff, rugged trucks, and I have towed plenty of boats/trailers with ones a lot less powerful than yours. However, thats a pretty good load, I would think twice about that one, use the 72 F-250!.......Rangers are great for towing 16ft powerboats and such, but that sounds like F-150 territory.