gear ratio plays a part too, with the 4.0 and 3.73’s you can pull quite a bit, but your bigger thing to worry about is how much can you stop? I have a 6x10 box trailer, weighs 1,000 empty, can have 2,000 in it. and technically 3,000 is within its legal limits..... but...... the frontal area ( front of trailer that causes your wind resistance) makes for a hard pull, even empty. my ‘93 (4.0,4wd,3.73,manual) could get 17 mpg all day just truck alone. hook up the trailer and even empty I would get about 12. Was like pulling a parachute. In town was fine, but on the open road that wind resistance was a killer. stopping was fine unless I was loaded and wet, and I dont think Ive ever had more than 1,000 pounds in it. I have flat-towed other vehicles and even used a 2-wheel tow dolly to tow another ranger (with my 2.3 even) once for the “hell of it” , I thought Id see how fast the 4.0 could pull the box trailer, just the truck would go to 94 before hitting the rev limiter, well pulling the empty box trailer it couldnt quite hit 75, and the engine temp started to noticeably go up after a couple of miles. In a nutshell, You may want a bigger truck, not only for “go” power, but also for “whoa” power. The best thing about my 3/4 ton was the braking ability. granted the 14 mpg at best was awful, esp when 98% of its time I drove it to & from work (which is why I went back to a ranger chassis) I dont tow much now so I do get by with a ranger, but if I did it alot Id go back to a full size. Trailer brakes are a big help but not every trailer has them.