Hi everyone Mac Mclean here, just bought a 2002 ranger.
It has a 1 7/8 ball on the rear bumper.
My question is can this ball on the bumper haul a 1200 lb pop up or should I take it to Uhaul to have a stronger one installed?

Thanks

 

The bumper mounted ball can only handle a 200lb tounge weight max so check that on your pop up, 1200lb pop up is within the factory 2000lb bumper rating but personally i would recommend getting a real hitch mounted as it will save any headaches or hassle from the bumper mounted unit messing up. I personally removed the bumper ball because it is too weak to use for much of anything but plan on replacing the entire bumper with a heavier duty version that i can build a tire carrier on anyways and am going to have a hitch built into it as a class 3 device.

 

Welcome to the forum

+1 to above

Check the trailer's hitch for what ball size IT takes, then use that size.

When towing a trailer, any trailer, there needs to be more weight in front of the trailers axle than behind it.
So you need to keep that in mind when loading the trailer with gear/supplies, its a balancing act.
But all trailers need to be tongue heavy, so the back end doesn't start fishtailing while driving.
But you don't want to exceed the 200lbs tongue weight that the stock bumper has.
balance it