Towing. Am I nuts?

[rusty ol ranger]

We will note from a previous discussion; that the Cdn U-haul tow dolly's have surge brakes - they are next to impossible to back up.

What I might do, and what I recommend doing in this forum are completely different.

I have 10s of 1k of km towing trailers (Ottawa to Regina, 3-4 times a year for a decade with S10, then Ranger; Calgary to Houston and back, on top of lots of short hauls). So, I won't be asking on this forum if what I am doing is nuts or not - I already know.​

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So, I'm assuming if the individual is asking, it's because they don't have that level of experience. And I provide recommendations that are safe for individual with limited experience.​

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May be its conservative, but its within legal limits.​

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I don't want someone sueing Jim, because someone on the forum recommended something illegal.

The dolly i rented here in MI had surge brakes.

 

[901wd#2]

Backing up a dolly with a car on it is not something you really wanna do. Unless you’ve got experience with gravity, wagons, hay trailers and such.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Backing up a dolly with a car on it is not something you really wanna do. Unless you’ve got experience with gravity, wagons, hay trailers and such.

Those farm trailers I think back up better than a dolly with the swivel plate…

 

[ekrampitzjr]

With my 2011 Ranger with 4.0 and factory tow package, I wouldn't try to pull a full-sized pickup on a trailer, except possibly for a very short distance at slow speeds on a good level back road, and that would be in a dire emergency. This isn't meant to be one of my funny one-liners, either. Too much can go wrong.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

With my 2011 Ranger with 4.0 and factory tow package, I wouldn't try to pull a full-sized pickup on a trailer, except possibly for a very short distance at slow speeds on a good level back road, and that would be in a dire emergency. This isn't meant to be one of my funny one-liners, either. Too much can go wrong.

Full size pickups though come in alot of different ranges.

The OP's 1/2ton 90's chevy shortbox probably dont outweigh his ranger by very much.

If he wanted to try towing a K3500 crewcab then yeah...im with you

 

[Ranger850]

Full size pickups though come in alot of different ranges.

Speaking on this subject: I just saw ( on tik tok ) SC F250 body swapped onto a 2023 Ranger Tremor Frame. Just goes to show how much trucks have grown

This is the best pic i can find. The videos go into detail of how it was done.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Speaking on this subject: I just saw ( on tik tok ) SC F250 body swapped onto a 2023 Ranger Tremor Frame. Just goes to show how much trucks have grown
View attachment 118992
This is the best pic i can find. The videos go into detail of how it was done.

I seen that somewhere.

Blasphemy in my opinion

 

[Lefty]

I have towed before. I definitely prefer something with a longer wheel base and more weight.

 

[don4331]

Full size pickups though come in a lot of different ranges.

The OP's 1/2ton 90's Chevy short box probably don't outweigh his ranger by very much.

If he wanted to try towing a K3500 crew cab then yeah...im with you

The biggest issue is the U-Haul auto transport is going to put about 1,000 lbs. on the hitch based numbers from post #7. That's just how auto transport balances when you strap the tires in. And a Ranger isn't up to carrying that much weight. Even my F-150 isn't without weight distribution bars and U-Haul does offer those on its trailers..

Aside: K1500 extended cab/short bed wouldn't even load on U-haul auto transport, the front wheels would hit the stops before the rear wheels got off the ramps, my Ranger SuperCab just barely sits on the deck. No chance for a crew cab.

We will also note that U-Haul limits weight on tow dolly to 3,900 lbs. And K1500 will be well north of that.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The biggest issue is the U-Haul auto transport is going to put about 1,000 lbs. on the hitch based numbers from post #7. That's just how auto transport balances when you strap the tires in. And a Ranger isn't up to carrying that much weight. Even my F-150 isn't without weight distribution bars and U-Haul does offer those on its trailers..

Aside: K1500 extended cab/short bed wouldn't even load on U-haul auto transport, the front wheels would hit the stops before the rear wheels got off the ramps, my Ranger SuperCab just barely sits on the deck. No chance for a crew cab.

We will also note that U-Haul limits weight on tow dolly to 3,900 lbs. And K1500 will be well north of that.

No way theres 1000lb on the hitch with a dolly.

The dolly itself is easy to pick up by hand empty, and the front tires of the vehicle barely sit in front of the dolly axle. Depending on vehicle i bet you *might* have 3-400lb tounge load.

Gotta remember too that the dolly is really only supporting roughly 50% of the weight of the vehicle.

 

[Lefty]

The biggest issue is the U-Haul auto transport is going to put about 1,000 lbs. on the hitch based numbers from post #7. That's just how auto transport balances when you strap the tires in. And a Ranger isn't up to carrying that much weight. Even my F-150 isn't without weight distribution bars and U-Haul does offer those on its trailers..

Aside: K1500 extended cab/short bed wouldn't even load on U-haul auto transport, the front wheels would hit the stops before the rear wheels got off the ramps, my Ranger SuperCab just barely sits on the deck. No chance for a crew cab.

We will also note that U-Haul limits weight on tow dolly to 3,900 lbs. And K1500 will be well north of that.

U Haul stores have trained and qualified "Hitch Pros" who are very helpful.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

No way theres 1000lb on the hitch with a dolly.

The dolly itself is easy to pick up by hand empty, and the front tires of the vehicle barely sit in front of the dolly axle. Depending on vehicle i bet you *might* have 3-400lb tounge load.

Gotta remember too that the dolly is really only supporting roughly 50% of the weight of the vehicle.

It won't get there.

U-Haul will see a Ranger and 1500 and say no way.

 

[Brain75]

It won't get there.

U-Haul will see a Ranger and 1500 and say no way.

Back on page one I said Uhaul wouldn't allow any of my first half dozen choices.... You couldn't tell them the truth to get to check it out at the store... (tell em you are towing an empty dirt circle track car frame/no engine) either that or show up with the home depot biggie, they probably wont even let you with the home depot, and insist on their 26' truck.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

No way theres 1000lb on the hitch with a dolly.

The dolly itself is easy to pick up by hand empty, and the front tires of the vehicle barely sit in front of the dolly axle. Depending on vehicle i bet you *might* have 3-400lb tounge load.

Gotta remember too that the dolly is really only supporting roughly 50% of the weight of the vehicle.

I think he was talking about hitch weight using the trailer, which why he’s discussing what was already decided as a not valid solution two pages ago I dunno, but anyway, even at that, I’d be surprised if there’s 1k on the tongue of those auto transport trailers. 5-800 loaded probably.

A loaded tow dolly will pick up off a hitch just about as easy as it does empty. I do not really recommend it, but it can be done. I would suggest if you try to be straight so there’s no side load on the hitch and to block the front and back of the rear tires well, plus be on as level ground as possible. If you’re not, you’ll know it because it will come off the ball violently. If you really got it right, you can lift it off the ball and just leave the tongue of the dolly float in the air so you can easily hook back up later.

A full-size truck is a squeeze on a dolly and big tires can beat up the fenders. I suspect a lot of that “weight limit” is that they don’t want the fenders beat up by full size trucks and also they don’t want to encourage people overloading their hitches by towing bigger stuff.

 

[bobbywalter]

The biggest issue is the U-Haul auto transport is going to put about 1,000 lbs. on the hitch based numbers from post #7. That's just how auto transport balances when you strap the tires in. And a Ranger isn't up to carrying that much weight. Even my F-150 isn't without weight distribution bars and U-Haul does offer those on its trailers..

Aside: K1500 extended cab/short bed wouldn't even load on U-haul auto transport, the front wheels would hit the stops before the rear wheels got off the ramps, my Ranger SuperCab just barely sits on the deck. No chance for a crew cab.

We will also note that U-Haul limits weight on tow dolly to 3,900 lbs. And K1500 will be well north of that.

i understood it as 98 k1500 reg cab short box truck .



there is absolutely no issues with a 4.0 ranger dolly towing that truck. especially with surge brakes. it weighs under 4 k. they are good for 5500 plus.













you dont really back up with a dolly unless you have to. if it becomes a consistent issue you shouldnt be towing anything anyway because your situational awareness for the task at hand needs work.

there is a way to lock out the surge brakes if you did want to back up, but i would drop it and reposition before that if it was something extensive for some reason...