I have a 2011 Ranger Sport Supercab with 40k miles and a 4.0L automatic and a factory tow package. My research has found its towing capacity is as much as 5000 to 5800lbs. I'm thinking of towing a 24' skiff with an outboard on a tandem aluminum trailer for a grand total (boat, motor and trailer) of 3500 lbs. My route would take me from Long Island, NY to Boston, about 250 miles with a fair amount of hills. I've done some towing in the past but not that distance or weight. Looking for comments. Thanks.

 

I've always thought the 4.0 with tow package topped out around 3200 or 3400.

 

I would have thought the same until I saw the towing capacities on www.towstats.com and one of the ford websites.

 

Get your 2011 Ranger owners manual here: https://www.ranger-forums.com/genera...1-models-3747/

Most owners manual will have the towing limit AND GCWR(gross combined weight rating), GCRW is the weight if the Ranger, with passengers and cargo, and the weight of the trailer and its cargo, so a total weight on the road
Regular cab ranger weighs about 3,100lbs
Super cab about 3,300lbs
4x4 adds 300lbs to either
Thats for GCWR

On page 143 of 2011 Owners Manual is the 2 wheel drive Tow Rating, 4.0l with automatic is 5,800lbs
4.0l with Manual trans is 3,500lbs

GCWR for 2WD supercab 4.0l w/ auto is 9,500lbs
9500 - 5800 = 3,700lbs <<<< the weight of Ranger with cargo, so if you did tow a 5,800lbs trailer then you would only be able to have the driver(200lbs) + another 200lbs of cargo or a passenger
Just an example of GCWR which can be important

So no problem towing a 3,500lbs trailer even with another 1,000lbs gear in the Ranger

Most states require trailer brakes on all trailers with a loaded weight over 1,500lbs, so heads up

Manual transmissions are only rated for 330ft/lb torque, automatics 550ft/lb torque, this is why the tow ratings are ALWAYS LOWER for manual transmissions, its not a "driver thing", lol, and not a Ford thing either, just physics