Would I be able to tow a '96 4x4 ranger on a flat bed trailer behind my truck.

I looked in the manual and it said my max trailer weight was 5180 lbs. And the max frontal area of the trailer can only be 50 sq ft. Does that mean that the trailer can only be 50 sqft in the front, or is that the overall size of the trailer?

 

this might not be the best thing to say persay but i know Zach beard has towed constanty over 6000 pounds here...

 

And that 50 square feet applies to the frontal area of a box-type trailer, or a camper. It's a wind resistance thing. You'd be surprised how much drag a 12' box trailer puts on your truck!

 

u should be finewith towing the truck cause i no i have towed a NewHolland deisel tractor with a bucket and all and the truck towed it fine with no problems.

 

If you're towing that much weight, you'd better be using a Class III trailer hitch. A ball on the bumper won't handle anywhere near that much weight.

 

electric trailer brakes are a must... or drive slow.


i have/had a weight ticket from the gravel pit with 6800lbs of stone on a trailer. trialer weighs 1400. that is 8200lbs, with 33s. i had plenty of power, but the transmission was at its knees.

id say you will be fine. but make sure your brakes are good and take your time.

 

Correct. And Ford says that a weight distributing (equalizer) hitch must be used for any trailer over 2000 pounds behind a Ranger.

 

that will definatly help, but why not learn how to properly place the weight on the trailer. itstead of placing a patch over the problem?

i can understand if you dont have a choice, but i really dont think that is needed.

 

Ford Motor Company disagrees.

It is not about weight placement - that must be done regardless of the trailer weight. It is about pitch and sway control. You're talking about pulling 5000 pounds plus with a 4000 pound vehicle with a very light tail.

I know that this recommendation is almost universally ignored by Ranger owners. However, the fact that it is possible to pull a heaver trailer without an equalizer hitch does not mean that one is not needed for safe towing.

 

Remember.... Lowest common denomenator. Design your manuals for those who have no clue what they are doing so they don't kill themselves.

 

for what you are saying you are gonna have with pulling with a ranger it would have alot to do with weight placement. i mean i dont know the terminology that well but you are talking about the side to side movement and swaying of the trailer which cause the rear of the truck to sway also. correct? if so then there is not enough weight on the tongue on the trailer, which means your weight placement is off.

im not trying to argue that the equalizer isnt needed, because i know it would help and definatly make it safer.

i just think if one was to pull a trailer that they would know in there mind they have to look at driving in a whole new way. but i know that prolly isnt true with alot of drivers.

so if you are smart, take your time, load the trailer right you sould be fine without the equalizer.

i think Matt(fireranger) sums it up. lol

 

how come your truck isnt squating a bit in thoese pics Zach, AALs?

hell i put 500-600lbs of stuff in mine and you can definalty tell.... it squats like Chuck Vogelpohl...

 

tandem wheel trailer
proper weight distribution on trailer
or - I believe I see the trailer swivel jack down...

 

Yeah, the AAL's help...ALOT.

 

acully it is squating his rear is normally alot higher.

 

If you've never towed anything before, I would suggest practicing a little bit before you go on whatever trip you're going on. Braking, turning, and backing up become a lot more thought provoking than before.

 

haha it does look like its down. but i know its not. lol



and yes aals help.


for the most part neil is right with the first two comments about weight distribution and a tamdem wheel trailer.

 

Yes, improper weight placement can make sway much worse, but it is a very real possibility even if the tongue weight is spot-on.

Saying that you did it and got away with it is not the same thing as proving that it is safe. I think that the manufacturer can back up its recommendation with more than one data point.

I have driven many Ford trucks doing trailer tow testing at the max GCWR. They are much safer and much more predictable with an equalizer hitch. Without one, it becomes more a case of the proverbial "trailer driving the truck".

 

Ok so it can be done, I just need to make sure to take the proper safety precautions. If I do go with a trailer I could be towing it for an hour or for days so I will probably go the safest route possible.

Plus I will really just do what bob says.

 

Lol Good plan Kyle!

Where would you get one of those crazy hitch dealy-ma-bobbers?

 

^^ you dont need it....

 

Lets pretend its not necessary. But for the cost of my '03, the trailer, and the parts going into the '96 if a few hundred bucks more makes the load more stable and safer to drive, then why not?



Kyle,

here is the article on it.

http://www.mrtruck.net/wdh.htm.

 

i say that the best way to find out is by trying it. but if no luck, call a buddy with a bigger truck

 

Are you sure that you can keep the loaded trailer weight to 5180 pounds? A 96 Ranger 4x4 supercab is pushing 4000 by itself. A Regular cab is close to 3700.

Also, remember that the 5180 max trailer weight assumes that the truck carries no passengers and no cargo. What you're actually limited to is the GCWR of 9500 pounds total. Every extra pound added to the truck should be subtracted from the maximum allowable trailer weight of 5180.

 

If I end up needing a trailer to haul the '96 then it won't have a bed and would be replaced with a cage. I won't go that route unless I know I would be able to tow it behind my current ranger.

Are the factors for towing just over size and weight. Or can brakes, transmission, drive train and hp all be upgraded to compensate . Writing it out I would figure all are factors.

I would think just increasing the abilities of the '03 would allow for an increased trailer weight. There are full size trucks that tow trailers much larger than their weight and wheel base.