I have a 1992 ford ranger xlt 4.0 4x4 limited slip rear end I think 3.73 gears. I also have a class III hitch I believe (3000 lbs towing 5000 weight distributing). I am looking to get a 23 foot four winns ski boat. We only live 1 mile from the boat ramp. My main concern will be pulling the boat out of the water. Any other concerns you think I should have? Or do you think the truck will even do it?

 

Get specs for boat weight and trailer weight. A 23 footer is going to be surprisingly heavy, add trailer weight and you are going to be close to or above the rated trailer weight for that truck. A Four Winns H230 is 3850 lbs dry. Look in the Owner's Manual for your truck, I think you will find max. trailer weight to be a little shy of 5,000 lbs. That doesn't leave much room for the weight of a two-axle trailer. Don't forget that gasoline (in the boat) is 6.183 lbs/gallon, so 20 gallons is a little over 120 lbs.

Pulling up a ramp? Is it paved? Unless there is lots of algae or the ramp is oily there should be no problem in 2WD. Is is gravel? Use 4L.

I had a 17footer that weighed 2100 lbs on the trailer and towed it with a '94 Ranger, 4L auto 2WD from Dover NH to as far as Littleton NH and Sandwich MA, never a problem towing, launching, or retrieving, always paved ramps. On one nearly flat gravel ramp I needed a couple of pals to sit on the tail gate to get enough traction to pull it out, another gravel ramp was rather steep and I refused to launch the boat for fear I wouldn't get it out. We chose another nearby lake that day.

Makanak

 

i appreciate it man. It is a paved ramp. It is a public ramp that is used ALL the time so I highly doubt it has any algae on it. Surprisingly enough it actually is a four winns horizon 230. I just don't wanna get embrassed of not being able to get my boat of the water. The truck is rated to pull for 5800lbs. With a class 3 tow package and does have a tranny cooloer.

 

Trailer brakes needed, that boat and trailer weighs more than the truck(3,400lbs), lol.

 

One mile from launch.... No issues. You can probably get away without trailer brakes, and can probably even get away without the load leveling hitch. I trust that one mile is less than 30 mph on paved roads and not often patrolled.

Enjoy!

Makanak

 

The bumpers towing capacity on my 1999 ranger 3.0L is 2000. But if I get a class 2 Reese hitch that mounts to the frame would I go by the Max towing on the hitch or the bumber?

 

First off buy a class 3 receiver not a class 2.

As for capacity, Use the capacities for the hitch used bumper ball vs receiver. At no time exceed the truck's towing limits regardless of the hitch capability.

 

Each model and year will have a GCWR rating, gross combined weight rating
This is the legal limit for truck, trailer, people, and loads in truck and on trailer

Your 1999 could be 6,000lbs GCWR depending on model

Truck weighs 3,200lbs
That leaves 2,800lbs for people, trailer and loads

"Can" you tow more, yes of course you "can", can is the ability to do something.

"May" you tow more, no you "may" not, may is the permission to do something

Legal limit, is the "may" part, it is the weigh limit determined by the manufacturer that the vehicle can safely travel on public roads without endangering other drivers.
It is part of the VIN, no changes to the vehicle can change the GCWR.
i.e. trailer hitches, axles and springs, even a V8 with an heavy duty automatic trans.
These can all change the vehicles "ability" to tow more weight, but legal limit stays the same