Towing with a 2.3l ranger

[wkola]

Hi folks
I'm new to this forum . My question is I have a 1985 ranger 2.3l fuel injected , 5 speed transmission , 3.08 rear end . When I pull a trailer about 1800 - 2000 lbs behind this thing it seem like I going to burn the clutch up and like you throw a boat anchor out back of the truck no power . But with no trailer the truck runs great , on a incline it seem that is hard on the clutch . truck is tuned the best that I can get no problems with the running just when it comes to pulling . I was thinking and reading here that if I was to put a 3.73 rear end in this truck it should pull better or should I put a 4.10 rear end instead . I live in a hilly area and I would like to be able to pull with this truck 1800 to 2000 lbs. with out the fear of burning the clutch out. Any help would be appreciated

 

[fastpakr]

I'd throw in a 4.10 rear end and never look back. 3.08 is an awful setup for that rig.

 

[Haywire6000]

The 2.3 is more of a hauling groceries engine. You can go the 4.10 route, just note that that thing with be turning out 3k+ on the interstate, especially if your running the 14" wheels still.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

4.10

 

[wkola]

the wheels are 15 inch so if I would be turning around 3k plus with a 4.10 then I should be better with a 3.73 have pulling and highway so the engine doesn't turn as fast would this be right

 

[fastpakr]

It's not going to hurt a thing turning it at 3000 rpm all day long. Go for the gears.

 

[Mark_88]

I hauled quite a bit with my old 2.0 before I blew it out and replaced it with a 2.3...changing gears was always on my list of things I really needed to do but never got to it...so I would suggest it also before you break something and need to fix instead of upgrade...

 

[fastpakr]

And scour craigslist for parts. I just found a 4.10 axle drum to drum on my local Craigslist site for $50.

 

[pjtoledo]

depends a lot on your tire size.

assuming a .75 overdrive for 5th gear, and calculating not measuring.

at 70 mph a nominal 225-70-15 tire is about 2727 rpms with 4.10 gears, drops to 2481 with the 3.73 gears.
a 3.08 calculates to only 2050 rpms at 70. is that about what you get now?

the 235-75-15 calculates to 2583 rpms at 70 mph with 4.10, 3.73 is 2350.

these numbers are very close to what I get on my '05, I've had both tire sizes on it, 3.73 gears.

 

[1993rangerxl]

Have done a LOT of towing with my 93 (2.3,5spd ) as much as 4000 lbs. Originally had 3.45 gears, tore it up wore out 2 sets of bearings, could see just by eye the wear in the axle shafts where they rode on the bearings. Swapped that out for what was supposed to be 3.73 gear axle. When I got the part it was a 3.08 gear. I'm on 14" wheels and had to go from 225/70 /14 to a 205 for both performance and to get my speedo close to right. The site has a calculator to figure out tire sizes and gear ratios, and I would highly recommend starting there. FYI my odometer reads only 370K +!

 

[wkola]

Thanks to all that replied back to me . I cant remember the tire size I think its 215 or 225 x70 x15 . I bought this truck in ruff condition it had only 72000 miles on it . the head gasket was blown , there was no ridge on the cylinders and all right close to the same bore size . Ive fixed the a/c on this truck and new rad . and hoses ,clutch , fuel pump , brakes all around . the transmision is leaking fluid so when I do the rear end im going to fix the seals and gaskets in the transmission . the shifter has play back and forth so im trying to figure out how to fix that . the trans a koyo koygo . Ive put a flat bed on this truck . My crew cab dually gets 10 to 11 mpg so thats why im trying to use the truck for pulling a trailer instead of the dually. Ive found a few rear ends at junk yards 3.73 to 4.10 for about 150 to 200 they are 7.5 I was thinking of the 8.8 but dont know if I want to do all that modifiying. Im thinking simple bolt out bolt in .