Can I tow with 1st gen ranger?

[bobbywalter]

My standard disclaimer: I provide legal information on the forum.

Your owner's manual limits the '85 Ranger to 2,200lbs trailer towing for the 2.8/manual/4x2.. (It's really 5,000lbs GCWR, as the 4x4 tows 200lbs less) See the attached Towing guide - its a copy of a copy but the best I have.

Note: The 2,200lbs is based on the truck having 3 - 150lb occupants* in the cab and full tank of gas, no junk stuff behind the seat/in the box, etc. The 3 occupants is derived from the number of seatbelts, 150lbs was (still is for J2807 trailer standard) the average weight for an individual. So, in theory you could tow a little more than the manual, legally. Just no sandwich maker in passenger's seat(s), etc...​

Arizona trailer law requires truck with trailer having less than 3k lbs. GVW to be able to stop within 40'; a number of other states (Pennsylvania, Washington) add a caveat; the trailer needs brakes if >40% of the GVW of the towing vehicle ('85 Rangers start at 3,800lbs GVW = 1,750 lb. GVW trailer). The fine print: The trailer weight is the GVW of the trailer, not the actual weight of the trailer. (There is an assumption that you might fill up to limit but not overload the trailer.)

To address some points above:

A Cologne V-6 (2.8) is a Cologne V-6 (2.9) is a Cologne V-6 (4.0 OHV) is a Cologne V-6 (4.0 SOHC) as far as mating transmissions goes (OK, there is an extra bolt hole for the SOHC, but it isn't critical for this discussion). Therefore it would be possible to replace the weak Toyo Koygo with the stronger Mazda M5ODR-1.​

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It is possible to upgrade brakes on '85 Ranger:​

Replacing knuckles with '95+ to get larger rotors/2 piston calipers)​

Upgrading to 10" drums/Aerostar drums (finned) if you only have 9" ('85 will have smaller axle hubs, so Aerostar drums should be a simple install.)​

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The above don't change things in the eyes of insurance, but they help with peace of mind.​

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@Terrys87's comments are spot on:​

Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) - for the latest small SUVs, they are making them for 350lbs tongue weight 2,200lb. trailer * 15% = 330lb tongue weight - close enough for me. Heavy on the tongue is OK; light is not. WDH will weight ~50lbs, but are worth every ounce e.g. https://www.blueox.com/swaypro-weight-distributing-hitch/?weight=0-350+Lbs​

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Trailer brake controller (The state of the art ones with accelerometers are pretty hands free)​

To stay under 2,200lbs, tent trailers like @85_Ranger4x4's are your best bet. (There might be older Scamp trailers in that weight range too.)

p.s. The trailer sales guys will sell you way too much trailer given the chance - bigger trailers cost more = higher commission.

to be fair though, that is because the average driver will overwork the clutch and ford had to tank those ratings... i knew they were over 5 k and that the manual was a bit less.....seems i would remember it being that the manual may as well have had a non existant tow rating, but i did not.

great post Don.

with that, a heavier trans/clutch combo or swap to an auto would make that a rare case in which you could have the title and gcwr legally increased. at least there is that.

we had a member for ahwile that made an adapter that allowed sbf transmissions to be installed...going to a zf or t18/19 would bump ya to chassis matched max of the auto. the t18 had 8k plus applications with 410 gears iirc. i dont have any manuals handy for that. but that rating could exceeds the ranger chassis max so componant matching the chassis would allow that.

might be a data set worth compiling.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

to be fair though, that is because the average driver will overwork the clutch and ford had to tank those ratings... i knew they were over 5 k and that the manual was a bit less.....seems i would remember it being that the manual may as well have had a non existant tow rating, but i did not.

great post Don.

with that, a heavier trans/clutch combo or swap to an auto would make that a rare case in which you could have the title and gcwr legally increased. at least there is that.

we had a member for ahwile that made an adapter that allowed sbf transmissions to be installed...going to a zf or t18/19 would bump ya to chassis matched max of the auto. the t18 had 8k plus applications with 410 gears iirc. i dont have any manuals handy for that. but that rating could exceeds the ranger chassis max so componant matching the chassis would allow that.

might be a data set worth compiling.

My 78 F350 was a 10000gvwr truck and had a T18.

It would handle anything a ranger can handle

 

[superj]

If i can get it to roll, i will pull it. Thats my mentality also, ha ha ha.


I towed the kids 83 bmw 318 home with a uhaul tow dolly. I think that car is 2400 and then whatever the dolly wieghs. And my 04 ranger is a 3.0 5 speed with 4.10 rear end

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You can do whatever you want with the driveline... but going heavier only hurts your towing capacity.

You can't change the door sticker... so if you want to tow a lot with a 5speed... 5speed swap an auto

 

[bobbywalter]

You can do whatever you want with the driveline... but going heavier only hurts your towing capacity.

You can't change the door sticker... so if you want to tow a lot with a 5speed... 5speed swap an auto

depending on state, this is the rare case you can get a new vin / sticker with the right combinations of parts. get a vin with the max tow rating so you have a template of the targeted certification....the old trucks are very simple in this manner....modern trucks will be easier to go with a custom build.. duplicate with receipts what is needed to match that construction. in this case if you are in love with a manual, you will be installing a heavy duty manual from something that can tow the moon. you need all of the receipts manufactured or otherwise to duplicate in position what was the max tow of the target vehicle. the say....t18, zf5 or whatever will certainly exceed that which was the actual limitation originally. biggest verification is making sure stolen parts are not being used.

this will be a giant pia. but it is possible to still have it called a ranger and legally tow the chassis max if you do the work.

my trucks are assembled vehicles to allow me to live in the grey. i am fine with that.

if you are not....you just have to do the work.

 

[Shran]

Just getting a title transferred and license plates here is enough to make my blood boil, I don't even want to think about explaining tow ratings and GVWR to neckbeard gamer or 20 year old girl who just got her first real job. I needed two forms filled out and signed last week in addition to the title itself just to prove what I paid for a trailer, it is getting ridiculous!

 

[bobbywalter]

Just getting a title transferred and license plates here is enough to make my blood boil, I don't even want to think about explaining tow ratings and GVWR to neckbeard gamer or 20 year old girl who just got her first real job. I needed two forms filled out and signed last week in addition to the title itself just to prove what I paid for a trailer, it is getting ridiculous!

funny thing is SD is a great place to do custom title work. unless you actually live there.

 

[bobbywalter]

the big issue is insurance....once you custom title.

so just leaving it be is always the easy button.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Just getting a title transferred and license plates here is enough to make my blood boil, I don't even want to think about explaining tow ratings and GVWR to neckbeard gamer or 20 year old girl who just got her first real job. I needed two forms filled out and signed last week in addition to the title itself just to prove what I paid for a trailer, it is getting ridiculous!

Who we have:

 

[Shran]

funny thing is SD is a great place to do custom title work. unless you actually live there.

It may just be a Pennington County problem. We don't have to pay sales tax on vehicles that cost less than $2500 but the treasurer caught wind that people have been posting junk online for ludicrous prices and whether it even sells or not, they think they need their cut. They made me bring in the title (signed with my name and the price) plus a bill of sale, signed, with the price, and an affidavit of sale, signed, explaining why I paid what I paid and that I'm not lying. Death by paperwork.

Back on subject, I have towed my car hauler trailer (empty) with my V8 swapped Ranger. I am guessing it weighs about 2000lbs. I didn't think it was much fun, it's just so much bigger than the truck that it seems to push it around. Just kind of annoying. I've pulled it around a lot with my F150 and that is a night & day difference... and towing it with my F250 is night & day over the half ton.

Little trailers like 4x8 size or thereabouts up to like 1500-2000lbs or so are real easy to tow with a Ranger. I have a 4x9 that I used to use for scrap hauling, yard waste, 4 wheelers, stuff like that...it just tows so sweet behind a little truck.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Here's Ford's 1986 Towing Guide. It includes the Ranger and the different specs for the 2.0, 2.3, 2.8, and 2.9 (page 14).

 

[superj]

wow, the difference between stick and auto

 

[sgtsandman]

wow, the difference between stick and auto

It's always been like that. The difference is still there in my 2011 manual.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Here's Ford's 1986 Towing Guide. It includes the Ranger and the different specs for the 2.0, 2.3, 2.8, and 2.9 (page 14).

View attachment 131804​

So an automatic lima can, in theory, outpull a manual 2.9?

lmao. right.

I see they dont even bother listing the 2.0

 

[bobbywalter]

Here's Ford's 1986 Towing Guide. It includes the Ranger and the different specs for the 2.0, 2.3, 2.8, and 2.9 (page 14).

View attachment 131804​

thats the one don posted.


5 k not an issue for those slugs.