towing a car

[koldcustoms]

Hey guys.

I've read though this forum, but I still need some reassurance about towing. Others have posted questions who have a similar truck and towing needs to mind. However, most leave out important details. Here is everything:

-1987 Ranger extended cab 4x4
-2.9L engine
-5 speed mitsubishi manual transmission
-3.73 drive gear(s), with limited slip
-225/65R15 tires
-4480 lbs. empty weight
-class 3 hitch

I want to move a 3600 lbs. car on a tandem axle trailer that weighs approx. 2000 lbs.. The trip should take no more the 4 hours on the highway.

This is not the first time I towed a car with this truck. I've just been doing it 4 wheels down. This will be the first time towing 4 up with this truck. I know this is pushing the limit.

What do you think?
Does anyone know the towing capacity of this truck?

 

[07rangersport]

I vote no seeing as how 5600# would overload my 4.0 auto. Could you use a dolly?

 

[AllanD]

If you do it don't even THINK about using 5th gear....

You'd be far better off using a dolly my dolly (with electric brakes)
weighs 400#, my 16ft dovetail trailer weighs in at 1880lbs

AD

 

[Captain Ledd]

X2 on the Dolly, lost of places will rent them for a pretty reasonable price.

That's a bit much weight with the trailer... You might be able to get it to 55 (which is the minimum speed on highways now I guess, at least in Michigan) But I really wouldn't expect it to go much past 45, but honestly even then it may still have complaints about getting there.

 

[Will]

That 4,480# looks like the GVWR. If it's the curb weight you've added 1,000+# to your truck somewhere.

If you are interested in what the actual factory rating is, it's 6,000# GCWR for your truck. That is the combination weight of the truck and trailer. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume your curb weight is really about 3,200# and that with you and your CD collection and jumper cables and the hitch you installed and whatever else it's 3,500#. That means, without anything else in the truck bed you have 2,500# left for the trailer and the car.

Having towed with a Ranger before, I know it can be done. But I don't recommend it. Even with the tongue weight set correctly, at about 600# you will be pushing the back of the truck down and unloading the front. Stand 3 guys on the rear bumper and then jump up and down. Plus, you have a lot of weight on the back and it's going to affect you--it will push you around. A Ranger doesn't weigh very much and the stock springs aren't very stiff. And it has a narrow footprint. And without trailer brakes, I wouldn't even think about it. Hopefully the trailer you have in mind has at least surge brakes on it. There's nothing worse than stepping on the brakes and keeping going with the truck's tires skidding along the road as you watch helplessly the faces of the other driver's.

My opinion on Ranger's is that once you get above 3,000# you have to give some serious thought to what you are doing. U-Haul requires the vehicle doing the towing to weigh at least 80% of the weight of the trailer + vehicle on the trailer. I don't like U-Haul, but that is sound advice and probably statistically obtained. If you had an equalizer hitch and sway control as part of the aparatus, I would say tow 8,000# if you want to. But that trailer is going to excert more control over your truck than I would feel comfortable with. I don't like doing things with the thought "I'm going to do it this once and get away with it." I certainly have done it. But I'm not a believer in everyone having to learn for themselves.

Whatever you do, make sure the brakes work well and that you drive as slow as you can get away with. The badness of the things that can happen increases with the square of the speed.

 

[LEVE]

I towed a Caravan on a tow dolly with my BII.... once.

It was the scariest thing I ever did. The top speed was 50mph. Up a hill on the freeway it went down to 35mph. The shorter wheelbase caused the tail to wag the dog at higher speeds.

IMHO, that Ranger will be underpowered for what you're trying to do.

 

[tanbuddy]

Dude that is wayyyy overloaded. 5600 pounds i would want a 3/4 ton truck on the highway maybe a heavy duty 1/2 ton at the least. If u ever stop on a hill your gonna smell a lot of clutch and probablly wont go above 2nd gear.

 

[gw33gp]

I use to tow with my 89 Ranger, 2.9L, 4WD, 5 spd Mitsubishi, 4.10 gears and 31" tires. The trailer with race car weighed about 3500 lbs and I had an additional 800 lbs on the bed. I had to work that engine very hard on hills but it would do well on level ground. However, I could not safely go over 72 mph because it would start whipping under certain conditions above that. Initially, I did not have trailer brakes and was very careful to leave plenty of room in front of me. After I got trailer brakes I realized how stupid it was to tow without them.

I think I was near the limit for towing with a 2.9L engine. I could have towed a little more weight but not comfortably.

 

[Donnie strickland]

The badness of the things that can happen increases with the square of the speed.

Amen.

 

[reptile80]

I have an 88 2wd ranger with a 4.0 liter out of a 98 explorer with a 5 speed manual. I have towed a tandum axle trailer with a 72 maverick on it with no problems (over 150 miles) to the race track. I also had the bed loaded with all the items for the track. Now there is a huge difference between a 4.0 and a 2.9, I would recommend brakes on the trailer as it does push you alot with out them. I wouldnt try to tow it very far with a 2.9 though. Currently I have no problems towing with my ranger, up hill, down hill it keeps up the cruise control no problem.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

lol i occasionaly tow a trailer with a loaded weight of 900lbs, the trailer has no brakes and you can definitely feel that extra weight when braking.

i'd recommend using a 3/4 truck or 1 ton...

you'll be very sorry if something happens its probably not worth the risk

 

[rusty ol ranger]

If it was a short distance i would say go for it.

Towing something like that 4hrs down the highway (think wind drafts from semis) your going to either A- Lose it or B- Break something. Either is not good.

On a dolly it shouldnt be a problem.

Id want atleast an F150.

....and ask others here...if I say its a bad idea....its a bad idea

later,
Dustin