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I'm sure this has been asked and talked about ad nauseam, but I want specifics to my situation.
I have a 2005 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 with the 4.0 engine and an automatic transmission. I'm thinking about looking into a small camp trailer to use when I go to sheep dog trials. I particularly like the Casita or Scamp egg trailers. A 13-foot would work, but a 16 or 17 foot would be perfect, especially if weather is poor and dogs are inside with me.
However, I am concerned about what my little truck can actually pull without overheating or squashing the rear end, or wagging me right off the road.
A 17 foot Casita I think weighs about 2,000 pounds, plus add 25 gallons of water and the odds-and-ends one would travel with, so I suppose one could end up with over 2,500 pounds. Don't quote me on that, I'm kinda guessing. And I do have the weight of the camper shell to think about, as well as 2 dogs and 2 dog crates inside it.
What I want to ask is, is there anyone driving the same or similar Ranger and towing a small camp trailer? If so, what weight and trailer do you comfortably and safely pull?
It may be that I just need to wait until I get a newer, stronger truck! Thanks in advance.
PS.
The Aussie is not a trial dog, she is just the princess. :)
Last edited by DogLady; Oct 23, 2019 at 11:08 AM.
Reason: Clarification
Page 18 has Ranger's legal limits
Legal limit is used by police if they think a vehicle is over loaded, they have portable scales
If you have an automatic you will be fine
under 3,000lbs in a manual trans 4x4 Ranger is OK as well
Most states require trailer brakes on any trailer over 1,500lbs
But there is another weight you need to be concerned with
On above page 18 in the grid is GCWR, gross combined weight rating, this is the weight of the Ranger, all the gear in the Ranger, including cap and people, and then the weight of the trailer and its gear, water, food ect......
So overall weight going down the road
4.0l ranger with automatic has 9,500lbs GCWR, ranger 4x4 weights about 3,400,which leaves 6,100lbs, 9500-3400 = 6100
Say driver and a passenger 400lbs so down to , 5,700lbs
Dog 50lbs so 5,650, lol
Ect..............
4x4s weigh more because of transfer case and front axles, thats why they have less capacity on towing weight, only a few hundred pounds but thats what that stuff weighs
Trailers only "wag" when they are tail heavy, so stack any gear in the front of the trailer and secure it so it doesn't move to the back
Automatics should ALWAYS have a 2nd trans cooler regardless of towing
Don't "ride the brakes" going down hill, you will warp your rotors, overheat them, down shift and use the engine compression for braking, and then use brakes to slow down below desired speed then let off so they can cool down as you speed up again, then use them again
Oh Lord, I knew somebody was going to go all math on me. :-)
I edited my post to indicate automatic transmission.
I do know that the overall weight of the vehicle itself and all the stuff in it, including the human and dogs and gear will factor into what the vehicle can safely handle. I guess I could find out if there is a scale somewhere that will let me drive in and weigh my truck as is. I'm about an hour and a half from Reno, so not sure what might be available.
Thanks, I will look at the Ranger guide. I think I had that once but probably deleted it or lost it.
So, what does that boil down to, for people who are mathematically impaired and not very mechanical? I should not try to tow a camper over 1,500 lb?
I'm also hoping somebody will weigh in here with personal experience towing some type of camper with their Ranger, who can tell me what did or did not work for them. I may just have to wait until someday I have a heftier truck. :-)
Page 18 has Ranger's legal limits
Legal limit is used by police if they think a vehicle is over loaded, they have portable scales
If you have an automatic you will be fine
under 3,000lbs in a manual trans 4x4 vehicle is OK as well
Most states require trailer brakes on any trailer over 1,500lbs
But there is another weight you need to be concerned with
On above page 18 in the grid is GCWR, gross combined weight rating, this is the weight of the Ranger, all the gear in the Ranger, including cap and people, and then the weight of the trailer and its gear, water, food ect......
So overall weight going down the road
4.0l ranger with automatic has 9,500lbs GCWR, ranger 4x4 weights about 3,400,which leaves 6,100lbs, 9500-3400 = 6100
Say driver and a passenger 400lbs so down to , 5,700lbs
Ect..............
4x4s weigh more because of transfer case and front axles, thats why they have less capacity on towing weight, only a few hundred pounds but thats what that stuff weighs
I've towed trailers before, although it's been a few years, but they were horse trailers and much bigger trucks! I do tend to use lower gears and turn off overdrive on steep downhills, as I don't like riding my brakes.
Automatic transmissions are "killed" by heat, so vehicle makers put a transmission cooler in the radiator.
But this is often not enough cooling in all driving conditions
A 2nd trans cooler is under $100 installed usually and extends the life of any automatic transmission
2nd trans cooler is added to any Ranger with the "towing package" added when purchased new
You would be OK to tow a trailer thats under 4,000lbs, so your 2,500lbs 17ft would be fine
Okay, thank you! I don't have a trailer now, I'm just looking ahead. Sometimes some beauties show up on Craigslist.
I have a good local 4x4 guy, so I could talk to him about adding a second cooler. The question is also whether I want to hang on to this truck for the long term, she's over 200k miles now, or instead save my money towards getting a bit bigger vehicle, like a good used F-150.
Thanks for taking the time to offer all this info, I will look at the Ranger guide you linked.
