Advice Please...

[RangerRandy]

As you can tell by my profile, I am new here, so please bear with me...

I just picked up my first Ranger, a used '06, about a month ago. I really like it and I'm looking forward to the spring (just about 90 days away)

Anyhow, I am wondering what type of campers you haul with your Rangers. I am looking at some small light weight camper trailers, known as teardrops (like this), and I think they do the trick; however, I thought I'd seek out some advice as to what some of you do for camping, hauling, etc...

I figure if I keep it at 1000 lbs or less, I should be good to go. Thoughts? Experiences you can share with me?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[LittleBigFoot]

Don't sell your ranger short. If you have the 4.0L it's quite a bit stronger then one would expect, with the proper towing equipment.

There's a thred about the heaviest thing people have towed with their ranger. Very suprising


Welcom to TRS!

 

[JohnnyO]

You didn't say what engine and transmission your Ranger has, but any of them will tow 1000 lb. no problem, even a 4-banger. A 4.0/automatic is good for about 5000 lb. Get a Class III hitch if your truck did not come with the factory unit. That's overkill but extra security, a Class III doesn't cost much more than a Class II.

 

[metalmacguyver]

1000lbs or less in the bed of the truck. 2000lbs or less towed on the bumper. 3500lbs or 5000lbs if your truck can handle it and your using a 2"reciever Class III hitch.

these are the normal semiconservative numbers. having told you those i can now tell you what i have done with my ranger.

my truck was a 1996, 2wd, 2.3L 4cyl, 5spd, extended cab. no tow package. no modifications at all.

i used it to tow a 4000lb trailer on the bumper about 200 miles. the trailer weighted more than my truck did. it was managable because it had electric brakes (a life saver).

dont underestemate your ranger. if it has a manual trasmission, you can tow alot more than the manual says as long as common sense is used. you just need to understand how the truck will handle and react when trailering.

good luck!

 

[Simple_serf]

I towed my '83 Coleman jamestown Limited Popup (the smallest one with a hard top and only one slide out) From Chicago (where I purchased it) to Jamestown NY (IT was a Jamestown Limited BEFORE I got it), where I camp with it regularly, and I just towed it to seattle and back this past september. I have a 2.5 4 cylinder. I also regualrly haul around antique engines and other heavy objects.

I just installed a Class 3 2" reciever this past spring, before that I just used the bumper...I once used the bumper to haul a 4K lb trailer to Clevealnd and back with NO trailer brakes....THAT was an interesting trip.