Towing a travel trailer with a 2011 ranger

[superj]

I just reread this and realized you said a casita. I believe you will be fine. Those are smaller travel trailers for smaller vehicles.


I have looked at them a few times. I really like them and had considered one for my 04 ranger for when i go to bike events out of town but they want so much money for used ones

 

[cmcolfax]

A lift has no effect on the LEGALITY of towing.
I've towed full sized travel trailers with a lifted Suburban (32' / 6800#) and a lifted F250 (36' / 8800#).

It will however have some effect on your power, acceleration, and most importantly braking.

Depending on how much you plan on lifting you may want to consider a dropped hitch to keep the trailer level when hooked up.
And depending on the weight of the trailer a weight distributing hitch and sway control may also be good ideas.
Raising the center of gravity of the tow vehicle changes all of the geometry.

 

[cmcolfax]

I think your max tow rating is somewhere in the 6000lb range.

Being a 2500lb trailer.....youll pry be 3500...MAYBE 4k loaded.

How long is the trailer? Anything over 20ft and sway is going to be an issue even with control devices. The trailer *should* have its own brakes so stopping should be to much concern. The sway will be the killer.

At that weight youre probably in the 17ft range. Remember campers catch ALOT of wind so thats the big factor. I used to tow a 33ft (nose to tail) 7200lb trailer with a 97 F250HD. 460/4.10. I wouldnt of wanted to go much bigger despite only being a bit over 50% of its max tow rating.

That said ive had much more weight behind it on regular trailers and it pulled eaiser then the camper. Just to show you weight isnt the only factor with these.

Personally...id stay away from the lift unless you plan on buying another tow rig.

OP - Also keep your maximum PAYLOAD in mind.
You will run out of payload long before you max out the "tow capacity" of just about any vehicle.
Remember, payload is the weight of driver and passengers, anything in the bed of the truck, and the tongue weight of the trailer.
Which brings up another point. Tongue weight. It's generally considered 10-15% of the trailer's weight.
A camper with a "dry" or "factory" weight of 2500# will have a 250-325# hitch weight.
You LOADED weight with all of your gear, etc can be substantially more.
Water is 8.3# per gallon.
A full "20#" propane tank weighs +/- 40#

Things to think about.