Hi everyone this is my first post in here and i am considering buying a 89 ranger and i need to get some info first. I need a vehicle that can tow between 1600-2000 pounds safely. I currently own a 94 t-bird but i have now put 2 transmissions under the car in a year im assuming and also according to my transmission guys because i pull a heavy trailor several times a month for my job ( i own a sound reinforcement company). The ranger im looking at has a 2.3 I-4 and a 5 speed manual transmission. I can seem to find anything on a ranger this old in reguards to its towind limits so i do appriciate any help that i can get. Thanks guys

Jess
p.s. Sense this is my first time in this forum i also reploset this message in the 4 cylinder page in the hopes of getting the best posible info.

 

Welcome to R-F Jess! Double posting isn't necessary though, some people might get onto you for that.

Does the ranger you're looking at have a class III hitch? Or just a trailer ball attached to the bumper? 2000 lbs. would probably be about the limit of the 2.3L with the manual transmission. The Ranger manual is usually rated to tow slightly less than the automatic. Also, is there a way for you to tell what axle and axle ratio you have? Those will also affect your ability to tow. If nothing else, the owner's manual should tell you how much you can tow with that truck. Hopefully someone with an I4 can chime in for sure though. I know my truck can tow ~5000 lbs, but I have a 4.0L engine with a strong axle and low gears.

 

I dont remember if it had a reciever or a bumper ball. i just remember there is a ball. when i saw it sense my trailor doesnt weigh more than 2000 pounds i wasnt to concerned with it but i was boing off the fact that my brothers s-10 which is of comperable size, his bumber hitch is rated at 2000 pounds and 250 pounds of tounge weight. I figured a manual would tow better than an automatic. Where would i look to see what the axle ratio is?? I will beable to see the vehicle agian either friday or next week. but im just trying to get a feel if there is a point to keep looking at it due to my towing requirements.

 

i think it will pull 2 k with no prob man.... i know a guy that does own a landscaping co and he uses some ranger 4 bangers 5 speed mans and they pull 1800 fine everyday... welcome to r-f man !

 

it will work out. i have the 1991 i-4. i pull people out of mud all day from my bumper and no flexing or bending on it at all. you'll be fine.

 

I love how absolutely NO ONE gave this guy a definite answer that he was looking for.

Thats what makes Ranger Forums so great I suppose...a large group of people who pool together their speculative knowledge which in turn creates more confusion and frustration that before anyone asked a question!


Oh by the way, SENSE has to do with "Do you have any COMMON SENSE?"

SINCE has to do with "SINCE I started coming to this site, it has really gone downhill, FAST!

 

What are the things that i am gonna stress the most towing a heavy load with this truck?? i know the clutch, but i can put a more durable clutch in. Also the engine is the only other thing i can think of. Sense it should be a full frame vehicle there shouldnt be alot of stress there, maybe on the suspension but agian that isnt to hard to deal with. Do they make a k&n filter kit for this year of ranger?? Would that help me any?? The biggest problem i really see is the engine's power or really lack there of. and thats my delima is that my current vehicle (94 ford t-bird this a v-8 and and automatic) has tons of engine power but i am chewing up transmissions at a rate of about 2 a year and i can keep sinking 1200 dollars every 6 months into my car. Clutches are easy to replace, and so are brake pads (at least for me), i am relativly mechanicly knowledgable. But i dont want to go from killing transmissions to killing engines because then i am just right back where i started. The reason its so crutual for my to have all the info is because i will have to sell my t-bird to buy the ranger, and around here larger trucks are out fo the question, The average price for a ford or chevy half-ton with 150-200,000 miles is about 4-5 grand if the truck is in good condition for a half-ton truck in my price range there would be so many thing wrong with it that is wouldnt be worth buying. So this is were i am at, i have gotten positive feedback about the ranger's capabilities so far so im hoping to get a few more words of encouragment from you all soon, and i will probobly get it, i would like to hear from a few more people with that same setup as what in looking at getting that tow heavy loads (1600-2000 pounds) on a semi-regular/regular basis. thanks for all the input so far guys.

Jess

 

the axle ratio is 3.14 and a freind of mine said that it should be rated to tow 2700 pounds with that ratio does that sound about right?