will the ranger work for me?

[alexl]

hi, i am new here and would like to have a few questions answered. I am on the market for a truck, but with rising gas prices, i think the wise desision would be to get a ranger, mostly because im a ford guy. now my question is this. I am a dj, so i am wanting to know if the ranger will suit my needs. I will need to pull a 10-12 foot enclosed trailer to put all my gear in. The gear weighs between 1000-1200 pounds, plus the weight of the trailer(i dont know what a 10-12 foot enclosed would weigh? What model ranger, if any, will work for me. I am not dead set on either 2wd or 4wd, but 4wd is a little more desirable for me. could you guys tell me a good year(or generation)motor, trans, 2x4 or 4x4, that is right for me. Also extended cab, standard, or short or long bed? Would it be beneficial to get an air bag assist system, or custom build a 5th wheel/gooseneck style tounge for the trailer?

Thanks for all of the help,
alex

EDIT: i would of course use a trailer with electric brakes.

 

[mkpecor]

i would get the extended cab, more leg room, and make sure you get a ranger with the 4.0 motor, that will tow what you wont. i dont know what your budget is but probly a newer rig 98 plus, if you put a add aleaf in the rear you should be o.k., for got to say welcom. good luck.

 

[alexl]

id like to keep it under 5 grand, but could posibly go a little higher. What is the difference as far as towing capabilitys between the 3rd gen(93-97) then 4th (98-present) Would a third gen tow just as good?

 

[Will]

I'm looking at a little trailer, 6x12. This is the 2008 Ranger towing guide. They really want to sell you a 4.0, don't they? There was a time that the lowly 2.8 V6 was rated to tow almost 6,000#. I would say that any Ranger would tow a 2,500 load without blinking. You certainly don't need to fabricate a gooseneck for that--but it would be cool.

 

[koda6966]

Id say you could get a 3rd gen with that budget. I got mine for only 1000.
But since your budgets around 5k, you could get a nicer truck. Some third gens get "tired" and lose power. My 3.0 V6 only has about the same amount of power as a little 4cyl.

You also said that gas prices is why you chose a ranger, so you would want one thats only 2wd, and with a manual tranny of course. Gets better gas milage.

Mine doesnt have a hitch, so ive never been able to tow. So I wouldnt know how well each does. But I would say a 3.0 would be capable of towing.

 

[rickcdewitt]

if you are going to tow try to find a 4.10 geared truck

 

[racsan]

lower gears are your best bet. i have a 6x10 haulmark that weighs about 1,000 empty. it has a high roof, about 8' (6 ft interior height) my biggest problem is wind resistance on the front of the trailer while going down the road. i have the 4.0 with 3.73's sometimes i wonder how 4.56's would do. i get 17-19 without the trailer and about 15 at best pulling the trailer, i dont use o/d. i almost think a 1/2 ton 302 would do the job just as well and have a litle more power behind it.

________
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

lower gears are your best bet. i have a 6x10 haulmark that weighs about 1,000 empty. it has a high roof, about 8' (6 ft interior height) my biggest problem is wind resistance on the front of the trailer while going down the road. i have the 4.0 with 3.73's sometimes i wonder how 4.56's would do. i get 17-19 without the trailer and about 15 at best pulling the trailer, i dont use o/d. i almost think a 1/2 ton 302 would do the job just as well and have a litle more power behind it.

A 302 half ton might get 15 empty, I can't see it getting any better than your Ranger pulling your trailer.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

your talking less than 2,000lbs...probably closer to 1800. you could do that with a 4 banger if you were patient...and you'd get 25+ MPG unloaded.

i'd go with a 3.0 though (but then...im biased ). you have a medium load, get a medium engine. i average 20 MPG unloaded (closer to 24 with proper gearing)...and got about 17-18 towing a 3,000lb enclosed trailer across state.

if you wont miss 4wd...dont get it. it adds weight (less MPG and less power for towing) and complexity (higher maintainence costs).

i dont mind my single cab (personally, i think they look better)...but if you need a lot of junk within arms reach, get an extended cab.

i always vote for a 5 speed. more
reliable, cheaper, better economy. of coarse, for someone thats never towed with a stick before, your clutch life may not be long. lower gears will help save the clutch.

for that small of a load, the stock rear suspension will be just fine. just make sure you learn how to PROPERLY load the trailer. trailer brakes are also unnecessary, and you'll probably find most trailers in that range dont come equipped with brakes.

 

[alexl]

Thanks for all the replys guys, they help alot. the reason i am wanting a 3rd gen is because even though my budget is 5 grand, id rather spend less, because i also have to purchase a trailer. Allthough i will probably get a flatbed trailer and make it inclosed. My idea is to build removable 4' tall sides, because i woudlnt not stack my equipment more than 4 feet high anyway-SCARY. and have bows that go across and a heavy duty tarp to cover the top. Being 4 feet tall, it would also have considerable less wind resistance.

EDIT: the reason i will probably go with the 4.0 is because i want to make sure if i haul a little more at times it can handle it. I currently drive a 5 speed, and do just fine with it, i will take a manual over auto any day. Although i havent towed with a stick, i think i could learn quickly. Also, i am a country boy, so loading a trailer right...no sweat.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the 4.0 is a trade off. it has more power than the 3.0...but also gets 15-20% lower fuel economy. i can almost guarantee a 3.0 will be able to accomplish what you'll be asking of it (i tow with mine all the time, and i have bad gearing to boot), but its up to you.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

I would get a 2wd 5-spd with one of the V-6s. The one thing you don't want is an auto. Ranger auto's aren't all the great to begin with and daily towing duties aren't going to help.

FWIW, I've towed a 6x12 enclosed trailer with my 4-banger ranger. I did it just fine, except it wouldn't go much over 45 mph.

My 4.0 explorer on the other hand is capable of maintaining 75 mph with the same trailer in tow so long as there's not much of a headwind. Those enclosed trailers will kill you if there's a headwind.

 

[BrokeRecord]

For towing 2,000 or less, the wind resistance on a box trailer is going to eat up more power then the weight. I tow 2 different trailers. one for my motorbike~900lbs, and my boat~1200 lbs. Both offer decent aero and I can do anything I want and get 18mpg on a 400 miles round trip on the hyway. 4 liter and 3.73gears.