I need the help of experts because I'm new in the world of trailers.

I have a Ford Ranger 2011, 4 x 4 with a V6 4.0 liter, automatic transmission. I also have the towing package from the manufacturer.

Today I visited a MPG Heartland trailer (2011), 19 feet weighing 2988 lbs (Dry Weight), 368 lbs (Hitch Weight) and 3800 lbs (Gross Vehicle Weight). I do not understand how this works and of course, the salesman told me that I won't have problems in towing this with my Ranger.

I don't usually trust salesmen as they want to sell their product which is normal so I would like to know if I can be comfortable with a trailer of this weight with my vehicle.

My wife and I including our dog travel across the country so no more than two days at the same place. I want to be comfortable in all circumstances and I want to drive at a reasonable speed (100 km hour) even while driving in the Canadian Rockies.

The price of the trailer is very interesting but I would like to be reassured before making an offer.

If it’s possible, do I need to add something to my truck like a transmission cooler? Is it better to have torsion bars or the standard hitch is sufficient?

All information that you have will be welcome.

 

You should have no troubles at all towing that. I believe your Ranger is rated to tow 5500lbs, so 3800lbs wouldn't hurt it. And your truck "should" have a transmission cooler installed from the factory, trailer brakes would be what I would recommend with towing that much weight.

 

Even though the hitch weight is rather low I would still consider a WDH, it will add alot of stability to the system. If you dont have a trans cooler I would suggest one as well as a trailer brake controller if the trailer is equipped with brakes. The truck should have enough power to get it moving but stopping is whats most important. Also with travel trailers, weight is an obvious consideration but you also need to consider trailer frontal area, travel trailers are usually very high in wind drag and that does factor into the load rating equation. There might even be info regarding that in your trucks owners manual. Anyways, happy camping!

 

We had to tow my girlfreinds car to the shop last year, and U-haul would not rent a tow dolly to me, I have the tow package as well, when i asked why, they said it has to do with the braking power of our trucks, too many lawsuits. they were putting everything in the computer and it was going well, even had the dolly hooked up to my truck and when they went to finalize the order, the system would not let them finish, so we had to rent one of their trucks. One guy called up with a full size Chevy 1500 and they told him no as well.

 

Personally I think that is an unreaslistic expectation with a 3800 pound brick attached to the truck. Some of the grades through the rockies are long and steep

 

There is info regarding frontal area in the owners manual, or there is in a 2006 manual. I would imagine there is for a 2011 as well.

 

Thank you very much for the information. I think I will settle for something smaller, a T@B trailer or a Prolite. They have trailers weighing from 1400 to 1800 pounds. I find them a bit expensive but they have features that meet my needs.

 

Wish I would have saw this weeks ago. Don't come here often anymore.

You would have been perfectly fine with that trailer. Brake Controller (required by law) and a WDH hitch (just work well, as noted above) and off you go.

I pulled a 1995 20 foot Shadow Cruiser 5th wheel, which is much heavier. I was right at 9500 pounds GCVW the one time I scaled it. We drove through the Smokey Mountains without a single problem. Had plenty of power going up the hills, and wasn't hunting for gears. That camper is very aero-friendly, but I assume the one you were looking at was the same way.

 

I towed a 17ft Terry Trailer (3800lbs gross weight) with my 07 4x4 XLT. I had a WDH and a brake controller.

I towed it from Bellville, Ontario to Sudbury, Ontario, and let me tell you what I wouldn't have felt comfortable towing anything much heavier then that. I did however have lots of power to go up some pretty steep inclines.

But that's just me.

 

ok, ill help the best i can. you have a trans cooler, so dont let them touch your truck! (serious, they screw stuff up)

2900lbs weight dry is good. rangers are ok up to 4, after that it becomes a bit much. toung weight is the weight on the hitch. 400lbs is fine again. the back will sag a bit, but shouldnt any more then a atv in the back. GVWR is the max the trailer can weigh.

so the sale guy is correct that your truck will tow this.

the rockies will slow you a bit on some steep hills, to maybe 80. be sure to drive gentle, dont stab it off the line or you will overheat the transmission.

 

I'm not the original poster, but I was about to log online and ask a very similar question - so thanks for answering. I found this thread to be very useful. I'm new to towing and wanted to make sure I was doing things safely. Up until last month I owned a car - now I have a truck and ordered a class 3 hitch from these guys:
Discount Trailer Hitch - Trailer Hitches

Anyway, my hitch is installed and I'm ready to hit the road! Cheers.