'96 2.3 5 speed towing

[birddog1148]

I suck at math. I am wondering if my '96 2wd 2.3L 5speed will be ok pulling a 6x10 enclosed trailer with a race kart some spare parts, tools, and a small generator. The axle code is "86" , front GAWR 2150, GVWR 4220, rear GAWR 2384 (from the door lable)
on the trailer the tag says GAWR 3500
Weights are in lbs
I live in northern ohio and the ground is very flat, overpasses are the biggest hills I go over to get to the tracks.
Any ideas? BTW tires are 235 75 15

 

[Mcleary316]

What's the trailer made out of? I'd say you're prolly fine. I have pulled overweight trailers with my truck before and it's handles it fine.

 

[birddog1148]

THis is the trailer I am looking at.

The truck

 

[birddog1148]

Looked up the MFG and it looks like the trailer itself weighs under 1300lbs. I expect the loaded trailer to weigh about 2000lbs then.

 

[Rogue_Wulff]

I doubt the weight will be much of an issue. The aero drag, on the other hand, may make 5th gear rather useless.

 

[Mac]

I doubt the weight will be much of an issue. The aero drag, on the other hand, may make 5th gear rather useless.

Yep, pretty sure the manual lists the max frontal area of a trailer not to exceed 50 sq ft and your at 60. Found a spread sheet that tells how much hp required at a certain weight, frontal area etc.
Dave

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Found a spread sheet that tells how much hp required at a certain weight, frontal area etc.
Dave

That would be useful. Care to share?

Richard

 

[Mcleary316]

Yep, pretty sure the manual lists the max frontal area of a trailer not to exceed 50 sq ft and your at 60. Found a spread sheet that tells how much hp required at a certain weight, frontal area etc.
Dave

Share please!


And like they said, no 5th gear which means your mpg will plummet.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Keep her to 55-60 tops and stay in 4th. It'll do it.

If you're expecting to keep this setup for a while I'd stick some 4.56 gears in that rear axle. That's the same setup I have and it's rather disgusting how well it works. Believe it or not my mileage has increased.

 

[racsan]

wind resistance with a box trailer is the worst thing you'll have to deal with (and stopping quickly) i have a similar trailer, even with the 4.0 V6, 5th gear isnt useable. my non-towing milage is 17-19, milage while towing is 10-12. my gearing is 3.73's with 235/15 tires. any hills you encounter will probly have you grabbing 3rd gear & holding it to the floor. regearing would help. id do mine but i dont tow very often & id have 2 to spend money on (since mine is a 4wd)

 

[351Mazda]

The V nose on the trailer may help, but that thing is going to be like pulling a sail the whole time. Back when I had my 2.3 Ranger I used to use the car trailer when I had to haul something, it pulled way easier than my 6x10 enclosed even though it was twice as heavy.

With my trailer, 6x10 flat nose, I wasn't going over 45 much unless I was floored in 3rd. That's with 3.08 gears though, yours may be better.

 

[4x4junkie]

Your big issue with that is going to be those oversize tires you got on your truck. Agreed, either get some 4.56 gears for the rearend or put the stock size tires back on (probably be be either 195/75R14 or 215/75R14... should be listed on your door sticker). I'd do the 4.56 gears.

 

[351Mazda]

You're buying used right?

Just ask the guy for a test drive, see if you are happy with it. What you would accept and what others accept may be 2 different things. For example I have an old Suzuki samurai that has a top speed of 55 on flat ground, 60 downhill with a tailwind. 50 if you don't hold it floored. I'm fine with it like that, others wouldn't be. It makes any drive take way longer than it should.

Gears would help, may be more money than they're worth. It'd probably be cheaper to swap in an explorer rear with 4.10's, plus you'd get the disk brakes.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[bluebombersfan]

thats going to be really tough to tow

I also had a 96 2.3 ranger and all I towed was a 14 foot aluminum boat and at times had a hard time just maintaining 100km/h. And when l was against the wind I was pretty much maxed out for power.
I had 3.45 gears on mine though, and my tow limit was 0lbs.

Like the other guys mentioned though ask the guy if you can tow it. Tell him your interested. Even if it tows okay but your not interested just lie and say you thought it would tow better. What does the seller have to lose anyway? If you like it he gets his sale anyway. Just when you tow it try to drive against the wind so you know for sure.

I don't think it will to tow that thing very well but if you can't afford another truck just try to tow it at none rush hour times so you don't have to worry about holding up traffic.