1998 Ranger 2wd XLT 2.5L Towing Capacity
- Thread starter Kylar
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Not much. You're going to have two problems here.
1) Towing with a 4 banger is going to make for painfully slow acceleration.
2) Towing with the auto trans is a good way to destroy it. I'd get a nice huge trans cooler if you're going to do it.
If you had a stick (manual transmission), I'd say hitch it up and see what it'll do. You won't hurt a 2.5 trying to move too much weight with it, but you will probably get the finger from other drivers who don't like how you're slowing them down. But i'd be careful with the auto trans.
FWIW, I believe your truck is rated by Ford to tow 2000 lbs (this is the lightest tow rating for a Ranger).
1) Towing with a 4 banger is going to make for painfully slow acceleration.
2) Towing with the auto trans is a good way to destroy it. I'd get a nice huge trans cooler if you're going to do it.
If you had a stick (manual transmission), I'd say hitch it up and see what it'll do. You won't hurt a 2.5 trying to move too much weight with it, but you will probably get the finger from other drivers who don't like how you're slowing them down. But i'd be careful with the auto trans.
FWIW, I believe your truck is rated by Ford to tow 2000 lbs (this is the lightest tow rating for a Ranger).
I wouldn't tow anything bigger than a canoe with a 2wd-4banger 
If you really need to pull something, find a buddy with a 3/4 ton... granted, YES, you can pull loads with your ranger, but its a safer and more enjoyable haul to do it with a pickup with more weight and a bigger engine.
If you really need to pull something, find a buddy with a 3/4 ton... granted, YES, you can pull loads with your ranger, but its a safer and more enjoyable haul to do it with a pickup with more weight and a bigger engine.
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I wouldn't tow anything bigger than a canoe with a 2wd-4banger
Oh, they're not THAT bad. I have comfortably trailered TWO canoes behind my 4-cylinder Ranger.
Seriously, though- mine's a stick with 4.10 gears...but she had over a quarter million on the original engine when I took this pic. Hauled it about 300 miles, too.
Wasn't gonna win any races (nothing new there), but I've been a lot heavier with just stuff in the bed. The trailer adds more space to haul lightweight stuff. That's about it.
How much do those foam blocks under the blue tarps weigh?
jk
Looks like mowers or something...
jkLooks like mowers or something...
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Furniture. Not a clue what it weighs.
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You got the same sluggish setup as me, 2.5 auto
I have towed 5000 lbs 50 miles ONCE. Very slowgo and nerveracking. 2000 lbs is really where you wanna be.
I haul scrap in mine all the time, it might be slow but it does it. I hauled a double axle trailer full of steel weighing over 3500 pounds plus some in the bed.
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I haul landscape supplies, scrap and all sorts of stuff all of the time in mine.. Also, tow a landscape trailer with 2 commercial mowers loaded on trailer, along with all sorts of equipment piled on the bed...
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I towed a 1500lbs camper plus supplies, tipping the scales at 2100lbs with my 4cyl manual for 10 years now in my Ranger. Never had an issue.
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Holy thread from the dead, this is from 2 years ago.
At any rate, this is with a 2.3L 4 banger (albeit with a manual)
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1116003&postcount=220
However with the auto, I'd limit it to roughly 3,000-3,500 lbs absolute tops.
At any rate, this is with a 2.3L 4 banger (albeit with a manual)
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1116003&postcount=220
However with the auto, I'd limit it to roughly 3,000-3,500 lbs absolute tops.
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I pull a 20 ft all steel (heavy as hell) car hauler with my Colorado all the time empty, the suspension and brakes are pretty much maxed, but the trans and engine do ok. (5sp/2.9L 4 banger), but it makes 185hp and 190 ft lbs quite a bit more then your 2.5Ls 115 or so. 
later,
Dustin
later,
Dustin
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Download the manual and it will give you the towing capacity. Search Google for "Ford fleet manuals" you can download manuals for rangers from 1996 and up from there...
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