How many here own a 2002 ranger fx4 off road or 4x4 off road =)

[gw33gp]

I have towed my race car all over the country. The combined weight of the trailer and car plus some gear is close to 4,000 lbs. I also had about 800 lbs on the bed.

The 4.0 SOHC engine has enough power to pull that comfortably. It takes some pretty steep inclines on Interstates and highways to require shifting down to third. There is one place on I-70 in Colorado that I have to get down to 2nd gear, but that is really steep. I normally ran it in 4th because I found out it is hard on 5th to tow in OD with the manual transmission.

I also have spring helper air bags to keep the rear from sagging and they stabilize the rear also.

I retired from racing during the Pandemic due to races being cancelled. I didn't renew my racing license, but still get on the track with the car. I store the car in Kansas now, so I don't have to tow it back and forth every year. That means I don't do long haul towing anymore.

 

[JoshT]

Can't tell you the weight, but dad used to pull a 5th wheel camper all over the state with his 01/02. I think it was a Coachman Catalina Ultralight 24ft 5th wheel, but I don't recall the year and can't seem to find specs without that. That truck has always been on stock brakes, the usual Wagner Thermoquiet is his go-to brake pad/shoe.

 

[86_FX4]

I have towed my race car all over the country. The combined weight of the trailer and car plus some gear is close to 4,000 lbs. I also had about 800 lbs on the bed.

The 4.0 SOHC engine has enough power to pull that comfortably. It takes some pretty steep inclines on Interstates and highways to require shifting down to third. There is one place on I-70 in Colorado that I have to get down to 2nd gear, but that is really steep. I normally ran it in 4th because I found out it is hard on 5th to tow in OD with the manual transmission.

I also have spring helper air bags to keep the rear from sagging and they stabilize the rear also.

I retired from racing during the Pandemic due to races being cancelled. I didn't renew my racing license, but still get on the track with the car. I store the car in Kansas now, so I don't have to tow it back and forth every year. That means I don't do long haul towing anymore.

Wow, that's respectable weight and driving. Interesting, interesting. I'm surprised one thing or another didnt push you towards a bigger truck, even if just a 150.

 

[86_FX4]

I don't actually tow hardly ever, but do frequently load up the bed as full as I can get it with firewood or tools/gear/etc. I also recently did (10k mi ago) a major brake overhaul, front/rear and lines flushed, and spent time picking out better than OEM, and the brakes feel just fine especially after doing the rears that were in really bad shape, much like gw33gp said.

I probably don't NEED discs, but the design overall just seems much better, stronger, simpler, and confidence inspiring. Drums seem antique in comparison. Also, who doesn't like a junkyard upgrade? Those are my favorite!

This reminds me, once I used a poorly fitted U-Haul trailer to move some where around 1ton of gravel on my 99 2wd small cab 4.0 ranger just a few miles and there was one point that I was creeping to a stop but the cars in front of me suddenly slammed on their brakes. My tires locked up, ABS going crazy and I was moving just maybe 2-3 mph but since I was towing way too much and it was not loading the tongue right it was just pushing my truck, and for the life of me I couldn't stop, it was the slowest, scariest slide, wheels chattering like crazy. Luckily since I gave myself plenty of room, there was no accident but was absolutely terrifying to be going so slow yet so out of control and just 50feet from disaster. I'd have to check but I feel like my current 04, 4.0 FX4 with extended cab weighs significantly more and probably tows better. But that experience convinced me that if I've ever towing real weight, I'm probably going to get a bigger truck unfortunately

 

[JoshT]

I'd have to check but I feel like my current 04, 4.0 FX4 with extended cab weighs significantly more and probably tows better. But that experience convinced me that if I've ever towing real weight, I'm probably going to get a bigger truck unfortunately

Having a vehicle properly sized to the load is definitely important. In the situation you mentioned it was probably a combination of a bunch of things. Improper tounge weight would have had the truck imbalanced possibly removing weight from the back instead of adding to it. I'd say that a load balancing hitch and trailer brakes would have likely helped that situation a lot. U-haul trailer might have had surge brakes, but those suck from what I've heard.

 

[gw33gp]

Wow, that's respectable weight and driving. Interesting, interesting. I'm surprised one thing or another didnt push you towards a bigger truck, even if just a 150.

I do lot of 2 to 4 week wilderness trips. A full size truck has difficulty making it through some of the trails I take. My Ranger does it well and is very capable of towing what I needed to. I was a big rig driver for many years and know the precautions to take when towing. I actually carried nuclear weapons when I was in the Navy Seabees.

 

[sgtsandman]

How heavy do you tow with it? I have a bass boat that weighs 3500-3800 lbs and I thought about pulling it with my Ranger once just to see how it does.

Depending on your axle gearing, it can do it as long as you give yourself plenty of room to brake and brake early. Ford says you can't since you have a manual like me but if you know what you are doing, you can do it safely. Being that it is a boat trailer, it probably has surge brakes. That will help even more. You might not want to be in 5th gear much, if at all. Even with my 1,200# trailer, I tend to stay in 4th.

 

[00t444e]

Depending on your axle gearing, it can do it as long as you give yourself plenty of room to brake and brake early. Ford says you can't since you have a manual like me but if you know what you are doing, you can do it safely. Being that it is a boat trailer, it probably has surge brakes. That will help even more. You might not want to be in 5th gear much, if at all. Even with my 1,200# trailer, I tend to stay in 4th.

I have 4.10 gears.

 

[Gary DuBois]

I have 4.10 gears.

I have the R7 4.10 Limited Slip Rear Axle on my 02 ranger fx4 off road =)

 

[sgtsandman]

I have 4.10 gears.

Depending on your tire size, that could be just fine. Ideally, you want to be in the lower portion of the green in this chart or in the red: https://www.therangerstation.com/how-to_pages/gear_ratio_tire_size_chart.shtml The taller the gearing, the more your engine is going to work and the longer it will take to get you up to speed. Right now, I have 3.73:1 with 31" tires. Not great for towing but do able with the trailer I have. Since your's is heavier, being that high on the chart like I am, may make towing more of a chore.

 

[djfllmn]

going to bump this thread, some of you will recognize this truck from my FRF days. It was a 2003 FX4, Sonic Blue, 4.0, 5 speed