Towing holiday trailers with my 3.0 3.73 Ranger?

[ahurtinalbertan]

I am looking into buying a little holiday trailer with my Ranger. I tried a few years ago to put a little 13 or 15' foot trailer a few years ago but my little girl had some troubles with wind resistance ont he highway. Also I notice that pulling our 3500 pound MasterCraft on a tandem trailer was a little hard on her.

Here is my set-up:

2001 Edge Regular Cab 2wd
3.0 without mods
31" tires
5 speed manual
3.73 LS

Anybody with a similar set-up pulling trailers? What size and weight should I stick to? Any suggestions?

 

[Jspafford]

I towed a 6x12 flat trailer with a huge tailgate loaded with a 650# ATV on it with the wife's old 1999 Ranger. I would guess total weight would be around 2K.

3.0L 4R44E, 4.10 gears, it didn't like it AT ALL. Especially when I turned the A/C on.

I think, though, if it were a manual tranny it would have been much better. I've towed that much with the B2 and it handles it much better.

 

[Rearanger]

Also I notice that pulling our 3500 pound MasterCraft on a tandem trailer was a little hard on her.

Looks like you're exceeding the safe towing limit as well as the power to pull limit on that truck.

What size and weight should I stick to? Any suggestions?

Follow your owners manual on towing/weight limits and stay out of overdrive. You also might want to consider if you can stop as well.

 

[ahurtinalbertan]

Thanks for the suggestiuons. I have a feeling that my truck is abit over rated as far as power goes.

I just noticed there is an actual towing thread so I will be going there for my answers! Mods, if you want go ahead and delete this thread.