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what do you tow with your 4 banger?


Over 4000 lbs is all I'll admit to. With 3.73's at that.

Get the clutch up quick. Keep the motor in the power band. Assuming you take care of the cooling system you won't over heat it, but don't use 5th. If the temp does go up, full blast heater will usually fix it.
 
i pull a 16 foot alluminum trailer alot had over 2k on it several times i live in mountains so 2nd gear at 40 was it.i use a brake booster and i'm on my third clutch the springs are bigger i got tired of my mudflaps draggin but tranny and enginge are good
 
Over 4000 lbs is all I'll admit to. With 3.73's at that.

Get the clutch up quick. Keep the motor in the power band. Assuming you take care of the cooling system you won't over heat it, but don't use 5th. If the temp does go up, full blast heater will usually fix it.

+1. I hauled our grass trailer to the dump a couple times to unload. The highest the trailer ever weighed was just a pitchfork over 3800 pounds. The lady in the booth reading the scales and taking info was shocked. Her eyes got big and she chuckled and said "it's a mighty 'lil guy isnt it?"

The 2.3 isnt much fun to work with with that kind of weight though.

When getting started, KEEP YOUR REVOLUTIONS LOW. At higher RPM's youll burn you clutch really fast. At lower rev's its not so bad.
 
back in the day, my ranger didn't really notice the 13' aluminum boat, other than at the boat ramp of course, now I have low range to take care of that... the turbo ought to help in that area too... :)
 
Finnally got to take a test drive with my 14 aluminum boat hooked up and could barely feel like it was there, didn't try it out on the highway though but I got the impression that It could definetly tow much heavier things.
 
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i had 87 ranger long bed that i used to scrap with that i could carry 3000-4000 Lbs with it at once. i had it dragging the ground before my little 2.3l 5 spd would stop.
 
the very first thing i ever towed with my ranger was a 1998 Ford Windstar. Pulled 'er like a champ. Took it easy and was easy on the clutch and it turned out fine. I also tow a scrap trailer (12'), loaded with wood and also a boat from time to time (just a canoe in the trailer lol). I towed a Chevy cavalier as well (damn Z24 engines :icon_rofl:)! its a truck, might as well tow something, right? not trailer hitch, just bumper action.
 
towing test failed miserably on Highway

I tried towing my 14 almunum boat on the highway this time and it was pretty bad. Maximum speed 104 km/hr in 4th gear, overdrive just slows it down.
Looks like the highway test is what proves how good your vehicle is running

Not sure what else to do, engine light is off, new sparkplugs+wires, fuel filter, air filter, cleaned maf sensor with maf sensor cleaner, What other tune-ups is there? I hear changing O2 sensor is another good one.
 
what size tire and what gear ratio?
 
I wont even bother looking there

I have the factory 14"rims and 3:45 diff that I never touched, also I know when I first bought my truck years ago mpg's where higher and I could pass cars on the highway no problem so I feel like it's something more to do with the engine.

JUST NOTICED A PROBLEM TODAY
while the engine was running I noticed a noise, took a look and the main crankshaft pulley is wobbly thats got to be it
 
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yep, that'll affect timing, will hurt power...
 
i towed my 92 4.0 4x4 with my 89 2.3 on a trailer all the way home 30 miles had no problem at all and im still on the stock clutch
 
it helps a lot if you have a 4x4 for the low range.
i have towed a tractor, 7500 lbs about 20 miles,
a 70 wagoneer 160 miles, a ranger 150 miles, and
a fertilizer spreader, 11,000 pounds about 10
miles. i wouldn't do the last one again with a
3000 pound pickup. 84 2.3l 4x4 with 3.73 gears
and 235x15 tires.
 
100_0401.jpg

100_0402.jpg

100_0403.jpg


Unfortunately I don't have pictures of the rest. But many similar loads to this. ~4700-5000 lbs
 

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