F150 4.6 4X4 vs Ranger 4.0 SOHC

[mmz77]

Hello! I was wondering if you guys could help me out here with a towing/hauling question. Please take any regards to gas mileage completely out of the question. Do you think a newer 06+ 4.0 (3.73) Ranger could out haul a newer 04-08 F150 4.6 12V 4X4 (3.55 gears)? It is obvious that the F150 has better suspension for hauling and beefier leaf springs than the Ford Ranger. Currently I haul some dirt bikes in the bed (about 650lbs including gear and a 7x14 enclosed trailer loaded with quads to various riding events, not too much weight for that trailer). Long distances are traveled but the terrain is relatively flat (about 375 miles roundtrip every other month). Is the F150 a better choice or would a ranger do just fine? Sounds weird but I do want a smaller truck for my daily driver as I park in a city parking garage. 08 F150 4.6 is a dog it seems but it does pull fine when I get up to speed! F150 also has the tow package with tranny cooler, class 5 hitch, etc. One other note is that I carry three people that weigh about 200lbs each.

P.S. This post might have fit better in the towing section. I thought that was where it was going to post, sorry!

 

[gribly]

A Ranger will not out-tow an F-150. I know they say there are no such things as stupid questions, but that one is. The F-150 is heavier and has much better brakes - towing is not a question of "Can it pull it?" but a question of "Can it brake and handle this much weight?" I tow a 25' full keel sailboat with an '05 Ranger, and put the boat in and out of the water with the Ranger, but it's only a quarter mile down the road to the landing from my house, I never get above 10mph. The Ranger has plenty enough power to do this.

 

[gribly]

Oh, and good luck fitting 4 200lb people in a Ranger. You'll squeeze in, but the dudes in back are going to hate a 375 mile ride.

 

[mmz77]

Thanks. The only reason I bring up this question is that the trailer towing weight is relatively close to that of the Ranger if I remember correctly. It would be three people including me as the driver.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I wouldn't even have thought about using a Ranger if I had a '150 at my disposal.

I actually have both, the only things I pull with the Ranger are things in tight places where I need the manuverability or a small utility trailer I have that I can't see behind the '150. Otherwise anything the Ranger can do the fullsize can do better.