General Ford Ranger Discussion General discussion of the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.

Moving in Aug - Towing u-haul question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 07-23-2006
buzzair's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: White Plains, NY
Posts: 2,341
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Moving in Aug - Towing u-haul question

Alright, I've got 3.73 L/S gears, 3.0, 4x2 auto. Plus I'm running 32's

According to my manual my GCWR is 7500 lbs and the max trailer weight I can tow is 4000 lbs.

The trailer I'm looking to tow is a 6' x 12' u-haul trailer



Capacity

* Volume: up to 396 cu. ft.
* Max load: 2,600 lbs.
* Gross vehicle weight: 4,400 lbs. max
* Empty weight: 1,800 lbs.

I'll be towing it for about 5 hours from New Jersey to Rochester, NY approx. 305 miles.

Personally I think it's fine but my fiancee doesn't believe me. She told me to post up the question here and get other opinions.

Soo..opinions? Anything I should be aware of?
 
  #2  
Old 07-23-2006
04lvl2's Avatar
RF Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Palm Bay, FL
Posts: 5,600
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You should be in good shape. I towed one of those exact ones with a 98 explorer, granted it was a 4.0 but had the 3.73 and it was fine. I didnt even have a hitch, just the ball on the bumper lol.
 
  #3  
Old 07-23-2006
Big04Ranger's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Avon, IN
Posts: 756
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
your fine in my book
 
  #4  
Old 07-23-2006
gumby's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: indy
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i give it a thumbs up, ive towed more than that with my 3.0 w/4.10s and its a reg cab.....the extra wheelbase will help you out.
 
  #5  
Old 07-23-2006
jtslmn720's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Kent State, Kent Ohio
Posts: 7,367
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
you should be ok, just turn overdrive off the whole time...

my brother did something simular to bill and towed a 15ft trailor packed with all his crap from south carolina to northern ohio and it did fine...
 
  #6  
Old 07-23-2006
Rolldogg's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Who ever you rent the U-Haul trailer from will tell you of you're truck can pull it.
They slap your truck info into thier computer and then a list pops up of whay you CAN tow.

I wanted to rent a car dolly to tow my brothers dead Corsica to the junkers, and the guy at U-Haul said that the trailer and car weight together was over the "recommended" limit for my Ranger.

It all comes down to the insurance side of things. They don't want you to be towing something that you're vehicle can't handle. They don't want you coming back sayin stuff like "that trailer killed my clutch", or even worse, having the trailer pull your vehicle off the road in a spin.

I've rented one of those 6"x12" trailers before and had it chalk full of stuff. You can definatly feel it behind you...at least with my 3.0....but that goes without saying. You should be fine....but it all comes down to what thier computer "recommends".
 

Last edited by Rolldogg; 07-23-2006 at 04:49 PM.
  #7  
Old 07-23-2006
nated0g's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Millington, TN
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
tell them you have the 4.0.
i tried to get a dolly to tow my cherokee and they wouldnt let me when i said i had the 3.0
 
  #8  
Old 07-23-2006
buzzair's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: White Plains, NY
Posts: 2,341
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Thanks guys,

I showed her the responses and I just booked it on-line.
 
  #9  
Old 07-23-2006
Join Date: May 2004
Location: CT
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
I've towed that one before too. You'll be fine.
 
  #10  
Old 07-23-2006
04edge's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Beecher,IL
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You would be fine pulling that as long as you have a hitch.
 
  #11  
Old 07-23-2006
ScottG's Avatar
Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Lewiston, Maine
Posts: 4,926
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i pulled one for 1k miles with my 2.3, piece of cake
 
  #12  
Old 07-23-2006
Ian's Avatar
Ian
Ian is offline
Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Finleyville, PA
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I pulled one of those just a few weeks ago. My truck is a bit more set up for it, but mine didn't really struggle at all. I think you'll be fine. Good luck!
 
  #13  
Old 07-23-2006
Chucks05EDGE's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: City, PA
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The max load on the trailer is BS, I had 3500 pounds in one last weekend!

That trailer has brakes, you will do fine, just leave OD off...
 
  #14  
Old 07-23-2006
HarryTasker's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 1,497
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
buzzair,

I towed that exact same trailer full to the top and door form Portland Or. to Madison Wi. 2000 miles and over the continental devide. You will be fine, the brakes on it help alot. I would suggest staying under 65 mph, the trailer says not to exceed 45 mph.
 
  #15  
Old 07-24-2006
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Lowell, AR
Posts: 1,836
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
I towed the same trailer with my 2.5L 4 cylinder, 2 wheel drive, automatic fully loaded down to the roof with all my junk for my freshman year of college. I drove it 1 hour one way, but drove it back and forth 4 times. Total of about 6 hours of hauling stuff (with traffic and slow up-hill speeds).
 
  #16  
Old 07-24-2006
r0ng5's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LA, CA
Posts: 2,575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I also pulled the same trailer. Went to about 60, 65 mph (recommended: 45 mph). Just brake early. Oh, and they wouldn't rent it to me unless I had a hitch (which i did).
 
  #17  
Old 07-24-2006
HAZZARDJOHN's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Wyoming MN
Posts: 2,400
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just change your fluid before you leave and after you get there. That might be over kill but it will be hotter than normal and Tranny's are expensive. Remember if your tranny fluid changes color you already did damage to the tranny.

~HJ
 
  #18  
Old 07-24-2006
zabeard's Avatar
who?
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: IN
Posts: 26,044
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
u have a hitch i suppose?

also since oyu have an efan make sure that sucker is running constant in slower moving traffic so air is constantly moving over the tranny cooler. it helps alot.
 
  #19  
Old 07-24-2006
buzzair's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: White Plains, NY
Posts: 2,341
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Yep, forgot to mention that. Got a class III hitch.

Thanks for all the responses guys. I did all the weight calculations...but the girlie wasn't convinced. Now with 15+ responses of everyone saying it's fine, she's convinced. lol
 
  #20  
Old 07-24-2006
HAZZARDJOHN's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Wyoming MN
Posts: 2,400
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by buzzair
Yep, forgot to mention that. Got a class III hitch.

Thanks for all the responses guys. I did all the weight calculations...but the girlie wasn't convinced. Now with 15+ responses of everyone saying it's fine, she's convinced. lol

So your girlfriend trusts our Judgements more than yours? Man is she playing with fire than!
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
HarryTasker
General Ford Ranger Discussion
10
08-12-2013 01:18 PM
wellcom2knoxvile
General Ford Ranger Discussion
14
06-18-2010 11:43 AM
PharmRanger4x4
General Ford Ranger Discussion
25
04-18-2009 10:35 AM
MattN03
General Ford Ranger Discussion
30
12-31-2008 03:27 PM
98rang
General Ford Ranger Discussion
19
05-08-2007 09:20 PM



Quick Reply: Moving in Aug - Towing u-haul question



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:39 PM.