How much can my Ranger tow?

[Moto_Rex]

I'm thinking of getting an enclosed trailer to haul a couple motorcycles, about six times per year I'd say. I was thinking of getting a 6x10 with an advertised weight of approx 950 lbs. The motorcycles combined would be 900lbs. I have a 4.0L with automatic transmission. I would be travelling over rolling hills at worst...no mountains. Can my truck handle it, or is it too taxing on it? Would I need a bigger truck? Thanks

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

ive towed full size trucks with my ranger, i think it can handle 3 bikes just fine.

 

[Ozwynn]

not a problem for the 4.0L............ the wind drag may get you and never tow with an A4LD in OD

 

[IamMonsterMan]

Even with my 2.9 and A4LD I towed a Mazda 626 with a broken CV axle out of the woods and 5 miles to the Parts Store

So i think you would be fine

 

[JohnnyO]

A 4.0 automatic is rated to tow about 5000 lb with the proper hitch. Under 2000 lb will be no problem power-wise, brakes are a different story. Laws vary by state but I think all 50 require trailer brakes for over 2000 lb, some for over 1500 lb. Leave the OD off and allow for longer stopping distance.
My jetski with a full tank and the trailer goes about 1000 lb, with the Ranger I knew it was there when it came time to stop. The Sport Trac with the 4 wheel discs, it's "trailer, what trailer?".

 

[Will]

I'm thinking of getting an enclosed trailer to haul a couple motorcycles, about six times per year I'd say. I was thinking of getting a 6x10 with an advertised weight of approx 950 lbs. The motorcycles combined would be 900lbs. I have a 4.0L with automatic transmission. I would be travelling over rolling hills at worst...no mountains. Can my truck handle it, or is it too taxing on it? Would I need a bigger truck? Thanks

I don't think you can get 2 bikes into that narrow of an enclosed trailer. I guess it depends on the bikes. My parents have a 7x14 that you can stand up in and they put them in staggered. They ride big road bikes--I think my dad's is a 1500cc Nomad and my mom's is an 800 of the same type. Granted they are old people and climbing off a pile of chrome next to another pile of chrome in a space about 6'6" wide would be impossible without the firemen cutting the side out of the trailer to free one of them. I would take the bikes to the dealership and see how easy it is to get them in.

 

[keviinxk]

i have a 98 ranger auto 3.0 i tow with. my trailer with all my tools in it has to be in the 3k range. the trailer is a 6x10 like you want. im not gonna win any races but i think youll be able to put the 2 bikes in there fine. i rigged my truck up with a trans cooler and adjustable air struts in the back to stop the sag. (the pic on the left)

 

[RunBaja]

you might want to look into trailer brakes, there about $300 installed with a controller in the cab. There a life saver when it's raining or your coming down hills. We use them at work on all our tow rigs.

 

[Captain Ledd]

I don't think you can get 2 bikes into that narrow of an enclosed trailer. I guess it depends on the bikes.

Having towed a 6x10 trailer, I'd be dissapointed if you couldn't get 3 bikes in there. 2 in forwards, one in backwards, and have room to spare.

The factory rating is between 5-6,000 lbs max. For a 2000lb trailer, your Ranger would be fine. The auto's don't like doing much in OD, and really the drag on the highway will probably play a larger roll on transmission strain than the weight (thanks to it being enclosed).

I like trailer brakes, and feel they should be run reguardless. 2,000 lbs might not be all that much, but under the right conditions... And people seem to be drawn to cutting people off who can't stop as fast. I'd look into running them.

 

[Will]

What kind of bikes could you fit 3 of in a 6x10? Maybe dirt bikes. My parents have a 7x14 enclosed and they have his/her Kawasaki Vulcans (dad's is a 1500 Nomad and mom's is an 800)--they're both about 41" wide, 99" long and 800#/650#. They put them in one behind the other at an angle.

 

[Captain Ledd]

What kind of bikes could you fit 3 of in a 6x10? Maybe dirt bikes. My parents have a 7x14 enclosed and they have his/her Kawasaki Vulcans (dad's is a 1500 Nomad and mom's is an 800)--they're both about 41" wide, 99" long and 800#/650#. They put them in one behind the other at an angle.

Well obviously you can't put them all right next to eachother, and I can't think of any bike nearly 10' long, or 8' for that matter. there's plenty of room to put one in the back in some sort of configuration, either sideways or backwards. I had 2, 3 person couches and 2 very large office desks on mine and had room to spare, none of which stacked.

He said all 3 weighed 900lbs combined, so I don't think they're very big.

 

[fastpakr]

Those would have to be tiny bikes to be 900 combined. Even my Rebel 250 is comfortably over 300lb's wet.

 

[warrior24]

I towed my dads 83 chevy Scottsdale more times than I can count when its refused to start or stalled. But not up any hills, I hated it when he would slam the breaks cause he thought I was going to fast, talk about whiplash. You should be fine.

 

[Droidac]

I found this on the Ford website, which gives the towing ratings for all trucks back to 2002 - www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/rv_trailer_towing/default.asp

This raises a question for me. I have a 2009 Ranger with 4.0 and 5 speed manual. Can anyone explain why there's such a big difference in the towing ability between and auto and manual trans? This has me concerned a bit - is the tranny in my truck not very strong? Or is the clutch the weak link? Is there any way to increase the capacity for a 5-speed? What do you guys think is the "real" max capacity for the 5-speed?

All thoughts are welcome!

 

[fastpakr]

It's clutch related. If you're smart about it, feel free to use the automatic weight limit as a guide.