Am I Screwed? (Tow rating question.)

[Glocker]

I found a truck I like but it doesn't have the tow package installed. I was going to install an aftermarket hitch and an OEM harness and plug receptacle. Someone in another thread on this site just said that without the tow package I'm limited to 5000lbs? Am I?

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[RedlandRanger]

I found a truck I like but it doesn't have the tow package installed. I was going to install an aftermarket hitch and an OEM harness and plug receptacle. Someone in another thread on this site just said that without the tow package I'm limited to 5000lbs? Am I?

In a word - no. As long as the hitch you install is rated at 7500 lbs or more and you install a brake controller you can tow to the trucks stated limit.

 

[Glocker]

In a word - no. As long as the hitch you install is rated at 7500 lbs or more and you install a brake controller you can tow to the trucks stated limit.

See my reply in the other thread. I'm breathing a little easier now! LOL

 

[FX4Offroad]

In a word - no. As long as the hitch you install is rated at 7500 lbs or more and you install a brake controller you can tow to the trucks stated limit.

To reiterate, you are correct. The truck is rated to tow a maximum of 7,500 lbs. As you said, he just needs to ensure the aftermarket hitch is rated for that.

He should be good to go.

 

[llm.flyfisher]

I would not try to tow 5000 lbs with a Ranger if it did have the tow package. Mine does have it and I dont feel comfortable AT ALL towing 4000 with it. Great little trucks but just not enough truck and brakes to tow much over 3000. Just because Ford says you can does not mean you should.

 

[Rviator]

The Ranger is rated to tow up to 7500 lbs. See the owners manual for limitations on that. This is per a universal federally mandated standard used by all manufacturers, anyone who doesn't believe that is stating a personal opinion.

 

[RedlandRanger]

I would not try to tow 5000 lbs with a Ranger if it did have the tow package. Mine does have it and I dont feel comfortable AT ALL towing 4000 with it. Great little trucks but just not enough truck and brakes to tow much over 3000. Just because Ford says you can does not mean you should.

If you want to tow that much, you need a trailer with brakes and a brake controller. Trying to stop more than 3000 lbs with just the trucks brakes is asking for trouble. The 7500 pound limit requires a brake controller.

 

[langlais]

If you want to tow that much, you need a trailer with brakes and a brake controller. Trying to stop more than 3000 lbs with just the trucks brakes is asking for trouble. The 7500 pound limit requires a brake controller.

I towed 4000 or 5000 pound with mine. The trailer had brake it was easy and not scary...

 

[P. A. Schilke]

If you want to tow that much, you need a trailer with brakes and a brake controller. Trying to stop more than 3000 lbs with just the trucks brakes is asking for trouble. The 7500 pound limit requires a brake controller.

Hi Rob,

Yep! a trailer of that weight needs brakes and a brake controller. Ford tests trailer tow at the listing in the owners manual. So for those that do not feel they can do at the max recommendation, that is their call, but to imply that Ford recommends something that is not safe, which another poster implied is not at all accurate. If Ford max is 7500lbs then it is 7500Lbs. It is a personal choice if you think the max is less than this...Do not blame Ford. We kick butt in trailer tow thanks to the Ecoboost engines and transmissions and light weight trucks that the competition is scrambling to meet.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Sandman Ranger]

Not the tow package of old.
Ranger basically just has a tow bumper/bar option. All Rangers built for towing wit correct tow bar.

 

[GTGallop]

The Ranger is rated to tow up to 7500 lbs. See the owners manual for limitations on that. This is per a universal federally mandated standard used by all manufacturers, anyone who doesn't believe that is stating a personal opinion.

There are three factors to consider where a vehicles performance is concerned.
1. What is the Vehicle Capable of?
2. What are the Roads Capable of?
3. What is the DRIVER Capable of?

You ALWAYS drive to the LOWEST ability in that trifecta.

Example:
1. A professional long haul truck driver can tow 7,500lbs in a Ranger on warm sunny dry roads with good visibility.
2. A professional long haul truck driver should tow LESS when going up mountain passes in the rain in a Ranger.
3. A 15 year old first time driver should not tow anything at all.
4. As is evidenced in the Colorado Bent Frame posts, you tow less weight as the roads become more aggressive or rugged or technical.

And if someone says they aren't comfortable towing more than 3,000 lbs, GOOD FOR YOU! Most people never stop to question what they are comfortable with. Manual says 7,500 so they tow 7,500 regardless if they are ready for it or not. No shame in not being comfortable towing more than 3,000 or 4,000 lbs. You probably have a greater appreciation for what you are doing than some people who wished the Ranger could pull 13,000 lbs.

We all fell out of our mamma soft, wet, and stoopid. Everything you are capable of today, you learned.

 

[2.7EcoBoost]

I would not try to tow 5000 lbs with a Ranger if it did have the tow package. Mine does have it and I dont feel comfortable AT ALL towing 4000 with it. Great little trucks but just not enough truck and brakes to tow much over 3000. Just because Ford says you can does not mean you should.

I don't understand this logic. It's everywhere on this forum. Most states, if not federal law, require trailers over 3k to have brakes. A ranger weighs about 350 lb less than a comparable F-150 that people have no issues towing over 10k lbs ( which I think is reaching). Towing over 6,500 lbs for long distances is working the truck ( I think, but maybe I'm wrong?), towing 6k-6.5k doesn't even make this truck sweat!!

 

[2.7EcoBoost]

There are three factors to consider where a vehicles performance is concerned.
1. What is the Vehicle Capable of?
2. What are the Roads Capable of?
3. What is the DRIVER Capable of?

You ALWAYS drive to the LOWEST ability in that trifecta.

Example:
1. A professional long haul truck driver can tow 7,500lbs in a Ranger on warm sunny dry roads with good visibility.
2. A professional long haul truck driver should tow LESS when going up mountain passes in the rain in a Ranger.
3. A 15 year old first time driver should not tow anything at all.
4. As is evidenced in the Colorado Bent Frame posts, you tow less weight as the roads become more aggressive or rugged or technical.

And if someone says they aren't comfortable towing more than 3,000 lbs, GOOD FOR YOU! Most people never stop to question what they are comfortable with. Manual says 7,500 so they tow 7,500 regardless if they are ready for it or not. No shame in not being comfortable towing more than 3,000 or 4,000 lbs. You probably have a greater appreciation for what you are doing than some people who wished the Ranger could pull 13,000 lbs.

We all fell out of our mamma soft, wet, and stoopid. Everything you are capable of today, you learned.

1. Agreed
2. He should drive a safe speed for the road conditions, not lighten his load.
3. 15 year olds are not aloud to drive in my state.
4. Same as #2 above

* Just my opinions

 

[DHMag]

My .02 - only tow to maximum of 80% of rated towing capacity

 

[Michel Jeanneau]

I remember exceeding the tow rating on my second Ranger (98 XLT 3.0 4x4 supercab with 3.73 and 5-speed manual)...it was rated for 2800 pounds or something like that. I pulled an almost 4000 lb boat fifty-some highway miles. Could it pull it? Sure, no problem starting on a flat surface; a little extra clutch work starting on an incline; I stayed out of 5th gear and kept it at 60 or less MPH because of the BRAKES, which this boat/trailer combo did not have. Can't really slam it in second and engine-break either because the trailer will jackknife on you. So the question is not so much the engine/trans but will the brakes handle the load? By the way, the price I paid for hauling that big boat was two warped front rotors and my clutch started squeaking at 120k miles.

The moral of the story...tow over 3000 lbs if and only if you have trailer brakes

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