1993 ford ranger towing?

[Shazee1234]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this site but I had a few questions about my ranger. I have a 1993 ford ranger 3.0 V6. I believe my axle ratio is 3.45(I know not the best) with an automatic transmission. I have a class 3 or 4 hitch mounted to the back with a tongue weight of 400 pounds. I'm buying a boat and it's 21 feet long. Total weight with gear and fuel is roughly 2400 pounds. Can my truck pull it? I do have a transmission cooler in and the trailer is a duel axle with surge brakes to help it stop. I am just worried about causing damage to my truck. I would only be towing it to and from the water which is about 5-7 miles each way. Also this is going to be a really bad question but I always get mixed answers. Tow in over drive ? Or no overdrive?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

You're probably going to want to change gear ratios, 3.73 or even better 4.10 gears. It's easy enough to do, just get the rear axle out of a junk truck and new U-bolts. If your truck is 4x4, get the front pumpkin and swap that over (no need to change the entire front axle). If you get the rear out of a 4.0 Ranger or a 3.0 with the towing package, you'll get 10" rear drums instead of the 9" that's on your truck, which means an improvement on stopping.

I forget the specs, but if your hitch is only rated for 400# tongue, it's probably a class II. You'll want a class III for that boat. I don't think any class IV hitches are available for a Ranger, but with some mods you might be able to make a universal fit one work.

If you have the factory transmission cooler, you'll want to add a second, you can never have too much cooling.

Surge brakes suck in my opinion. Not to mention a lot of people never maintain the brake system on their boat trailer. Electric brakes with an inertia brake controller is the way to go.

No overdrive for hauling that boat. Generally speaking, overdrive is only permissible when loaded at less than 50% capacity, if I remember correctly.

Now, can your truck haul it as is? Probably. But you're going to want to think of upgrades to the truck before long. Especially the first time you try to stop if you've never pulled something like that, 2,400 lbs is roughly the weight of your truck....


Sent from my kite using a trebuchet

 

[Shazee1234]

Hitch

I looked up my hitch and it is a class 3 rated at 4,000 pounds and 6,000 max distribution. My truck is a 4X2 and the trans cooler is something I had put it when I towed a small trailer around.

 

[Captain Ledd]

They make hitched that large. I think mine is rated for 8,000 with a weight distribution hitch, it's a Reese, it was pretty beef.

No overdrive with something that heavy. Not on a Ranger transmission.

Tire size has a bit of a factor too. I'm guessing either 225/70R14 or 235/75R15? Either way a quick rear swap would help in the acceleration dept. THOUGH, you should be perfectly fine as it is, not sure if I'd tow it 100+ miles or more, but with your distances it shouldn't be a problem. Any axle switching you do, get the 10" brakes. Along with the extra inch in diameter, they are nearly twice as wide. when I swapped my rear axle it made a WORLD of difference.

BUT before you spend a cent making it go faster, make sure the brakes are good. Good brake controller, electric drums are way better than hydraulic surge. Or if you want to get fancy (or if your hydraulic drums/disk-setup are in good shape), use the electric brake controller with an electric over hydraulic unit. A bit pricier, but probably the smoothest and most powerful option for stopping power.

And you will want stopping power with that load.

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

No heavier towing with 3.45 ratio.
But look here to get what ratio you do have: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/axle_codes.shtml

legal towing is all about Gross Combined Weight(GCW) of the vehicle and trailer weight.
So curb weight of vehicle, driver, passengers, load in bed, trailer itself and in your case the weight of boat and ANYTHING IN THE BOAT.
So if you were to pull the truck and trailer on to a truck scale you would get the GCW.

Ford published GCWR(Gross Combined Weight Rating) for all its trucks.
And thats what the cops and insurance companies go by.
To drive on public roads you have to do so in a "legal and lawful manner" it's in you insurance policy
So if you are over the GCWR and are in an accident, doesn't have to be your fault or even a weight related accident, your insurance company can disallow any claims.
And of course the tickets for illegally driving on public roads.

GCWR is more about Stopping than Going, can the brakes stop the weight in an emergency

The above is for "may" you tow a 2,400lbs trailer

"Can" you tow it is about ability not any legal aspect.
So yes trailer hitch matters, rear axle ratio and engine size
And you "can" tow a 2,400lbs trailer, must have trailer brakes

1993 ranger 3.0l probably has GCWR of 6,000lbs
regular cab weights about 3,000lbs, extended cab 3,400lbs
Add 400lbs for people and cargo, 3,400lbs
That leaves 2,600lbs for trailer
extended cab only 2,200lbs

You need to dig up your actual GCWR for 1993 Ranger
And get actual rear axle ratio, it's important

No, Overdrive puts too much strain on transmission, but if you are on flat or slightly downhill road then up to you really.