Rear Wheel Drive Question
 

I have a remote job and I plan on getting a travel trailer and nomadding for a year or two across the country. I am definitely on a budget and the base Ranger with the tow package has the highest tow rating for the lowest price. I would like to avoid the few extra grand for 4 wheel drive if I can, however, I am concerned about having a rear wheel drive. How will a rear wheel drive Ranger perform on off the grid dirt roads? I know that it won't handle huge steep hills or snow, but I would like to take my Ranger and travel trailer off the grid in places like Arizona and Wyoming, etc.

RWD is usually fine as long as the road is relatively flat and isn't muddy. A rule of thumb is: if an RV like a motorhome or travel trailer can make it, so can you.

If the places you would want to be going to required 4WD, I don't think a travel trailer would make it there, to much over hang to be going over that rough of road.

Welcome to the forum

RWD will be fine since you will have some weight in the bed, gear, and also the tongue weight of the trailer

Only Rangers with automatic transmissions have the higher towing weight, just FYI

Most vehicles have OPEN differentials, FWD or RWD, this means only 1 wheel gets power from the engine, and its the EASIEST to spin wheel that gets all the power, so that can get anyone stuck if even one drive wheel starts to spin

If shopping for a Ranger then try to find one with a Limited Slip rear axle, AKA "posi-traction", this means BOTH wheels get power and if one does start to slip/spin then the other wheel gets MORE POWER

On the back edge of drivers door is the Build Label, for this specific vehicle, seen here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...le_codes.shtml
At the bottom of the label is the AXLE code
2 numbers is an OPEN axle
Letter and number is a Limited Slip(L/S) axle

axle ratio of 4.10 is best for towing, 3.73 is OK and more common


Invest in a small 12volt air compressor for off-road adventures
Lowering tire pressure on the 4 truck tires is better for traction and ALSO do that on trailer tires so it doesn't bounce around as much on uneven terrain
Lower tire pressure absorbs bumps better, and spreads out the weight a bit more so less "sinking in", think snow shoes, lol
Then refill with air as needed

EDIT:
oops, I see this is in the 2019 Ranger sub-forum, so above door label wouldn't apply
I think the trailer package either came with locking differential or it was an option you could add to trailer package

Mine has the positrak, but also has an axle lock button, that makes the rear axle "solid", so no bullcrap no spin unless both wheels spin. Which they will do in mud. But it worked great last winter for getting out of holes. You obviously only want it to get out of where you are, since a "solid" axle is no good for general driving.

You may want to get that option if it is still available.

I have a 2011 RWD ranger myself, i've never had problems with slight offroad stuff. Granted im in a southern state so mainly we have mud, not snow or altitude heh. Tbh if your planning on actually moderately going off road i would say buy a 4 wheel drive one, but if its small trails or you at least have a buddy to tow you, you should be alright. You could also install a locking mechanism on the rear differential if you need to