towing with a ford ranger

[fiveaday1975]

New guy here. We have a 2006 model 2106 starcraft popup and a 2004 6 cylinder ford ranger pickup. Is this sufficient for towing?

[mike4947]

A Ranger with automatic and a 3.0L has a GCWR of IIRC 7000 pounds. The truck will weight empty between 3500 and 4200 pounds depending on the model and options. Your trailer has a GVWR of just about 2100 pounds.
2100 + 4200 (worst case) gives 6300 pounds allowing you 700 pounds for crew and cargo in the truck.
 
My Ranger an automatic with the 4.0L SOHC has a GCWR of over 9000 pounds. That's why I bought the 4.0L so I could tow just about any PU.
 
Now if you have a 5 speed manual, you're pushing your luck with any engine. Even the low 1st gear doesn't provide the torque that the automatic does and it's hard on the drivetrain.
 
here's a good link for Ford towing: https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/rv_trailer_towing/

[tlhdoc]

Fiveaday welcome to PUT!

Check out the website Mike directed you to and then you will be able to figure it out.  Without knowing all of the specifics on your truck it is hard to say.

[fiveaday1975]

Fiveaday welcome to PUT!

Check out the website Mike directed you to and then you will be able to figure it out.  Without knowing all of the specifics on your truck it is hard to say.

Hi - The vehicle I drive is  a 4 liter 5 speed manual. the PU is approx 2100 lbs and according to the Ford site i can tow up to 3500. Are they bs'n or would you know that to be true/ Thanks for your feedback.

[mike4947]

What you need to look at is the GCWR for your combination which is 7000 pounds. Then get a scale weight for the truck loaded like you would for camping, including the family, etc. That gives you a true towing limit.
My supercab is listed the same as yours at apx 3600 pounds by subtracting the "tow rating" from the GCWR, but my truck actually weighs 4150 pounds when loaded for camping with just me in the drivers seat. That's 550 pounds that would have to come off the "tow rating".

[copcarguy]

Hey there fiveaday1975!
 
Everyone above is spot on with their advice. You can click here https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/rv_trailer_towing/2004/2004RVTrailer_F150_Heritage.pdf
for the exact page of the 2004 Ford Trailer Tow manual with the Ranger specs on it.
 
Based upon the specs you said - 4.0L V6 / stick, we would still need more info to determine your tow rating. From the Ford chart the only Rangers available with the 4.0 and a 5 speed are a 4x2 Supercab which has a tow rating of 3,400 pounds, if you add the Edge Package as well it drops to 3,320. If your Ranger is a 4x4 Supercab it's 3,100 pounds. If you have a 4x4 Supercab with the FX4 Level 2 Package the tow rating falls yet again to 2740 pounds. Those are the only Ranger models available with the 4.0 and 5-speed in 2004. Also, you really cannot go by the Ford rating chart because when any manufacturer does a tow rating, it's on a base trim level no frills vehicle with NO options and usually a 150 pound driver aboard. Add power windows, that weight comes off the tow rating. Add A/C, subtract whatever those components weigh and take that off the tow rating too, and on and on. However as said above the GCWR on all with this drivetrain is 7000 pounds. That means the total weight of your truck +camper +gas +food +you +passengers +the dog +bugs on the windshield +etc, etc, etc cannot exceed 7000 pounds. I personally would load up the truck as you would for a trip and take it to get weighed. I think you'll be shocked at the amount you see. Now take whatever that weight is and subtract it from 7000 pounds and that is the tow rating for your particular truck loaded for a trip the way you load it. Or to make a long story short, what mike4947 said above. LOL!
 
I have had 3 brand new Rangers in my life so far. The two that were sticks seemed really maxed out when towing. The one that was automatic really was a stump puller. It's amazing that you lose 2500 pounds off the GCWR (and almost that much on the tow rating) by going with a stick in a Ranger instead of an auto...

[fiveaday1975]

Since the last time i posted something approx 1 week ago I have changed fro a ford ranger 4.0 stick to a ford ranger 4.0 automatic. Based on what some of you folks have said any towing concerns are now history. thanks for your advice.

[trumpet87]

New guy here. We have a 2006 model 2106 starcraft popup and a 2004 6 cylinder ford ranger pickup. Is this sufficient for towing?

our Coleman pop-up weighs 2200 lbs.  We also own a 6 cyl. Ford Ranger.  We can't go real far with it, it is just too much strain for the truck.  We want to be able to go anywhere.  So we are selling it and in the market for a shorter, lighter Coleman pop-up.  So if you don't plan on going far/live in the mountains, etc. you will be okay.  But if not, I sure wouldn't do it, based on our own experiences.

[trumpet87]

our Coleman pop-up weighs 2200 lbs.  We also own a 6 cyl. Ford Ranger.  We can't go real far with it, it is just too much strain for the truck.  We want to be able to go anywhere.  So we are selling it and in the market for a shorter, lighter Coleman pop-up.  So if you don't plan on going far/live in the mountains, etc. you will be okay.  But if not, I sure wouldn't do it, based on our own experiences.

Oh, now I see you own a 4.0 - you should be fine, then.  I think ours is a 3.0 or 3.3.

[trumpet87]

New guy here. We have a 2006 model 2106 starcraft popup and a 2004 6 cylinder ford ranger pickup. Is this sufficient for towing?

Also wanted to add get educated on tow limits/ratings before you go buy one from anyone.  Dealers especially will tell you just about anyting to get you to buy that camper they know you are in love with.  We know a guy that has a 9500 lb. Fifth wheel and the dealer told him he could tow it with a half ton pickup.  Now is that nuts or what?? :eyecrazy: