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Towing a ranger with a ranger?

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Old 05-08-2008
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Towing a ranger with a ranger?

i want to tow a ranger on a flatbed trailer. can i do it with my truck? id be towing it up some small grades and some windy roads. i have a manual , check sig for full setup. thanks
 
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Old 05-08-2008
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You could. Just don't slip the clutch a lot and avoid hills if possible. Also you need a hitch if you don't have one.
 
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Old 05-08-2008
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ya i got the hitch. theres very very few hills the way im gonna be driving.
 
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Old 05-08-2008
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Originally Posted by mazzman
ya i got the hitch. theres very very few hills the way im gonna be driving.
Well then just watch that clutch. Don't slip the hell out of it trying to take off.

I also forgot, you might need a brake controller for the trailer brakes. I know Alon tows his dual axle trailer with his buggy plus a lot of firewood and a bunch of other stuff on it with no trailer brakes and he says its fine but I like trailer brakes especially on a small truck.

Talk to Alon. He knows more about towing than I do.
 
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Old 05-08-2008
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Originally Posted by fddriver02
Well then just watch that clutch. Don't slip the hell out of it trying to take off.

I also forgot, you might need a brake controller for the trailer brakes. I know Alon tows his dual axle trailer with his buggy plus a lot of firewood and a bunch of other stuff on it with no trailer brakes and he says its fine but I like trailer brakes especially on a small truck.

Talk to Alon. He knows more about towing than I do.
Yup...I think Zach and I are the 2 that do the most towing with these trucks.

I would not recommend pulling a ranger without trailer brakes. It can be done.. and has been done, but just think what will happen when you get cut off on the freeway, or need to stop because of something in the road.

I also have 4.56, I am assuming you have 3.55......?

are you doing a flat tow, front wheels up or will it be on a flatbed?
 
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Old 05-08-2008
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flatbed. im driving from san diego to ocotillo. the maunal says i can only tow 3300 or something like that. idk if its a good idea now
 
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Old 05-08-2008
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Originally Posted by mazzman
the maunal says i can only tow 3300 or something like that. idk if its a good idea now
I have heard that the manual tranny will tow just a much as a auto. The reason Ford rates them lower is because a lot of people don't drive stick properly and they burn up the clutch trying to tow.
 
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Old 05-08-2008
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ya i know how to drive a stick pretty well. i haent been driving too long (3.5 years) but ive owned only 1 other car and it was a stick. Hell, i learned how to drive on a 85 ranger with a 2.0 4 banger with a tranny from hell! . that thing was gutless with now power steering and 10 inch wide street tires. sry got carried away there... lol
 
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Old 05-08-2008
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I do alot of towing with my truck as well. I think you will be okay as long as you watchh the clutch like all the other guys are saying.
I have an auto with a tranny cooler and a Reece Class 3 Towing package so Im good to go for a little while. I have pulled Contours around quite a few times without Trailer brakes. It wasnt that fun trying to stop fairly quick but now I have a new Lighter trailer that I use and it makes it alot easier to tow with. I accually have to tow another one about 65-70 miles this weekend and then the next weekend I will probably do the same thing again with another one, lol.
I also pull an enclosed trailer alot and its pretty heavy but my truck doesnt have a problem at all pulling it.

Just keep the slipage to the bare minimum and you should be fine.
 
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Old 05-08-2008
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Well keep in mind, if ford says 3300 is max, then you went ahead and put way bigger tires than stock, i believe a ranger is around 3k, and then the weight of the trailer, plus wood, water, gear, everything else on the trailer.

I would not recommend it, but I am not saying I wouldnt do it...lol
 
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Old 05-08-2008
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I pulled my buddys crew cab f150 4x4 when he blew the radiator on the highway,I towed him 7 miles back to his house VERY SLOWLY. Hardest part was stopping,if someone would have slammed on their brakes in fron of me I would have plowed them,I think his truck weighed 7,000lbs. It picked up the rear of my truck 2 ft off the ground when loading it.
 
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Old 05-09-2008
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My Ranger XLT is a manual (5 speed 4x4), and the camper I pull is right at the recommended limit for towing, and it does it just fine. . Just do like the guys say and be careful on your clutch and you should be fine.
 
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