New guys needs direction, tell me where to go?

[Barrywan]

I have a 93 ranger, reg cab, mid size, stx, 4x4 4.0, stock everything except the bigger tires. 31x10.5 r15, 6" bed? Bigger helper rear springs, new shocks in back. OK, the question, where do I go to find a reasonable towing capoacity.

 

[Roert42]

Owners manual.

The tech section has most of the owners manuals too if you don't have the original.

 

[Roert42]

If you look on page 19 of the Brochure, you will find the specs for towing. It depends on manual trans or auto, and also axle ratio.

https://www.therangerstation.com/resources/pdf_documents/1993_ford_ranger_brochure-2.pdf

 

[Roert42]

anywhere between 2000# and 5900#

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

Yes, 1993 Ranger 4x4 LEGAL towing capacity will be based mostly on Transmission type
Manual transmission has much lower LEGAL towing capacity than Automatic transmission

As said LEGAL towing capacity is on page 19 of above brochure
You are there, we are not
So you need to see what your LEGAL limits are for your Ranger

Legal limit is what police and insurance companies use, also trailer rental companies, like U-haul

So its a "may" number, you May tow an XXXXlb trailer, meaning you are allowed to be on a public road if under that limit

"Can" tow is the ability of the vehicle to pull a trailer based on weight and road conditions(uphill/downhill)
This will be higher than the legal limit, and thats totally up to you
But if over weight you can be ticketed and will have to leave the trailer at that spot and return with larger truck
And if there is an accident(not even related to weight) your insurance carrier can "walk away", legally, since you were not operating vehicle in a "legal and lawful manner", a clause in all insurance contracts


There is a number that often confuses people, GCWR, gross combined weight rating, this is a high number
GCWR is the total weight of vehicle, people, the load in the vehicle, plus trailer weight/load

A 1993 Ranger regular cab 4x4 weights in at 3,300lbs(extended cab 3,500lbs)
So you first subtract 3,300 from GCWR number, the curb weight of that model Ranger
Then say 400lbs for 2 people in the cab?
Then any gear in the cab or bed, say 500lbs
Whatever is left will be max LEGAL trailer towing weight that day

So max trailer weight varies by how much weight is in the Ranger itself
If max legal trailer weight is 4,000lbs and you put 500lbs in the bed then max legal trailer weight changes to 3,500lbs that day

 

[sheep herder]

Reasonable towing capacity? At least an F150.

 

[RonD]

Reasonable towing capacity? At least an F150.

With an automatic transmission

 

[Rick W]

Helper springs can elevate the tongue capacity but not necessarily the overall load. Shocks help stability but not capacity. & oversized tires can actually diminish overall stability and capacity due to the inherent “wobble” factor of a taller side wall and a larger “balloon” effect.

I’m pretty new too, but I’ve realized anyone in TRS has to be careful/liability sensitive regarding alterations, what they can or can’t do, and if they’re safe.

I have a bad habit of pushing the limits, myself

 

[racsan]

lower gears help , but with a 4x4 you need to change front and rear, upping the effort and expense. sometimes you just need a bigger truck, and then you get all the things that are marginal on a ranger chassis (brakes, suspension) upgraded. I have put lower gears and rear helper coils on mine, but its still quite limited.

 

[pjtoledo]

consider the limitation of your brakes, especially with big tires.