Big Blue
Well-Known Member
Been following the the various towing threads, and there are plenty of them, for some time, and ans many of you know, commented from time to time. I've seen people towing what I consider IMO too big of TTs and many towing sensible TTs. What you can and should tow ae two different things. Yes the Ranger can tow up to 7500 pounds and maybe a little more. Should you tow that much is something else. Many variables go into this consideration.
1. What are you towing and how frequently. Are you towing the occasional load of lumber from the local Home depot or load of dirt for a home project? or are you pulling a TT across country on a extended family trip. Or are you pulling that TT once or twice a year to the lake as a cottage.
2. What is your towing experience? Are you new to towing and want to take your young family on summer vacations to make memories. Or, are you a retired over the road trucker with millions of towing miles under your belt. Or, are you somewhere in between? Big difference there.
3. Is you vehicle/trailer properly equipped and setup to tow what your towing? (see #1 and #2 above) Hitch type, brake controller, etc?
4. This question really goes to the TT question in #1. If you are cross country vacationing do your really need that big of trailer? Think about what you may get into and need to maneuver that big trailer into or out of. Do you really need to carry half your household with you on a 2-3 week vacation?
5. Again on the TT subject, remember TTs are huge wind sails. towing in calm weather in a straight line is easy, anyone can do it. Get into a heavy/windy storm (it will happen) and have a semi blast past you. Part of controlling that wind sail is the weight of the tow vehicle. Is the Ranger big/heavy enough to do this for your trailer? Or, will the tail wag the dog into the ditch.
6. one last thing if you are buying your first TT. it has been said before and needs repeating. Do not listen to the RV sales person that "OH your truck will pull this no problem". They are out to sell you the biggest, highest profit margin trailer they can. Start out smaller more reasonable and if down the road your plans/needs change, and they will. Upgrade then, you may find what you have works just fine. I've heard most people go through at least 3 RVs/TTs before settling on a size/style.
These are just my musings in no particular order, take them as you will. I'm sure others will disagree or add items to the list. I'm personally in the camp of 20 to 22 foot and around 5000 pounds dry max for our Rangers. Lot of nice trailers in that range but, that's just me.
Happy and safe trailering
1. What are you towing and how frequently. Are you towing the occasional load of lumber from the local Home depot or load of dirt for a home project? or are you pulling a TT across country on a extended family trip. Or are you pulling that TT once or twice a year to the lake as a cottage.
2. What is your towing experience? Are you new to towing and want to take your young family on summer vacations to make memories. Or, are you a retired over the road trucker with millions of towing miles under your belt. Or, are you somewhere in between? Big difference there.
3. Is you vehicle/trailer properly equipped and setup to tow what your towing? (see #1 and #2 above) Hitch type, brake controller, etc?
4. This question really goes to the TT question in #1. If you are cross country vacationing do your really need that big of trailer? Think about what you may get into and need to maneuver that big trailer into or out of. Do you really need to carry half your household with you on a 2-3 week vacation?
5. Again on the TT subject, remember TTs are huge wind sails. towing in calm weather in a straight line is easy, anyone can do it. Get into a heavy/windy storm (it will happen) and have a semi blast past you. Part of controlling that wind sail is the weight of the tow vehicle. Is the Ranger big/heavy enough to do this for your trailer? Or, will the tail wag the dog into the ditch.
6. one last thing if you are buying your first TT. it has been said before and needs repeating. Do not listen to the RV sales person that "OH your truck will pull this no problem". They are out to sell you the biggest, highest profit margin trailer they can. Start out smaller more reasonable and if down the road your plans/needs change, and they will. Upgrade then, you may find what you have works just fine. I've heard most people go through at least 3 RVs/TTs before settling on a size/style.
These are just my musings in no particular order, take them as you will. I'm sure others will disagree or add items to the list. I'm personally in the camp of 20 to 22 foot and around 5000 pounds dry max for our Rangers. Lot of nice trailers in that range but, that's just me.
Happy and safe trailering
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