Is my truck capable? Do you have any XP with this much trailer?

[J Krutsch]

21’ Ford ranger, STX, tow package, fx2, 5 seater:
Tow capacity 7500lbs
Wheel base 126.8
Tongue: 750lbs
Payload: 1,860 lbs
Max weight capacity: 12,500lbs
*tow package is on vehicle, along with trailer brake system*
*seeing that this is a ranger forum, I didn’t attach its spec via photo, I assume you know what it can do, but will provide if needed*

Trailer I desire:
UVW 6120lbs
Length 29’3”
Hitch weight: 612lbs
*I will attach spec picture of the trailer as well*

Doing travel nursing for next couple of years (hence the extra large trailer), and this necessitates taking a 2nd car for the other responsibilities of the travel gig.

What this means is - and I know it sounds like a hassle - we will just be loading up the 2nd car with travel items and then transfer to camper when we get in location.

The desired trailer will then remain at the listed UVW, will be under the Tow Vehicles rating and roughly around the 80% recommended weight mark for the TV capacity. Tongue weight is below vehicle max weight.

Plan on going all out with WD hitch and friction sway control for extra extra safety.

Can this little ranger handle all the weight (I think so) and length (I’m not certain) with the given accessories? Are there other accessories recommended? Will the accessories I plan for help mitigate much risk with this giant box in the wind, or not so much?

Am I good to go, or is this just simply a bad idea in the whole?

Thanks in advance for your help

With a trailer of that size, I would highly recommend a Hensley hitch. It is spendy, but it eliminates the problems with cross winds, trucks, and sway. Much safer.

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[BOB RAD]

I tow a 20 ft TT that is about 3500 lbs all loaded up and ready to go. I use to tow this trailer with a shorter wheel base SUV that had a max tow capacity of 4500 lbs and it was never a real comfortable tow. Now with the Ranger I am close to that sweet spot of not knowing it’s back there. I think you will be in the same place I was and wishing you had a bigger tow vehicle.

 

[Big Blue]

With a trailer of that size, I would highly recommend a Hensley hitch. It is spendy, but it eliminates the problems with cross winds, trucks, and sway. Much safer.

While I'd agree the Hensley is an excellent hitch choice, I would never say it "eliminates" the problems with cross winds, trucks and sway. It will reduce them as much or more than most other properly setup weight distribution hitches. No hitch will eliminate them especially with a trailer that size and a tow vehicle the size of the Ranger.

 

[Willarded]

hensley begs to differ.

 

[Big Blue]

hensley begs to differ.

Let them say what they want! Nothing can eliminate the effect a force of nature like wind has on a sail the size of a 20 foot plus travel trailer. Reduce, yes, ELIMINATE, NO!

 

[Grumpaw]

hensley begs to differ.

When you have been towing as long as some of us have, you learn to take manufacturers claims with a bit of "Oh Really".
Hensley's are nice, but as Blue stated, will not "eliminate" sway, and it dosen't do much more in controlling sway then a properly set up hitch with a simple sway control addition, for 25 % of the cost of a Hensley (reconditioned unit).
Most of what you read as too the ability of the hitch comes from Hensley.
Not saying their stuff isn't good, it is, but don't believe everything you hear/read.
Is it a good hitch...yes, but is it worth $3000.00 or more...that's up to the buyer.

 

[Kemo Sabe]

21’ Ford ranger, STX, tow package, fx2, 5 seater:
Tow capacity 7500lbs
Wheel base 126.8
Tongue: 750lbs
Payload: 1,860 lbs
Max weight capacity: 12,500lbs
*tow package is on vehicle, along with trailer brake system*
*seeing that this is a ranger forum, I didn’t attach its spec via photo, I assume you know what it can do, but will provide if needed*

Trailer I desire:
UVW 6120lbs
Length 29’3”
Hitch weight: 612lbs
*I will attach spec picture of the trailer as well*

Doing travel nursing for next couple of years (hence the extra large trailer), and this necessitates taking a 2nd car for the other responsibilities of the travel gig.

What this means is - and I know it sounds like a hassle - we will just be loading up the 2nd car with travel items and then transfer to camper when we get in location.

The desired trailer will then remain at the listed UVW, will be under the Tow Vehicles rating and roughly around the 80% recommended weight mark for the TV capacity. Tongue weight is below vehicle max weight.

Plan on going all out with WD hitch and friction sway control for extra extra safety.

Can this little ranger handle all the weight (I think so) and length (I’m not certain) with the given accessories? Are there other accessories recommended? Will the accessories I plan for help mitigate much risk with this giant box in the wind, or not so much?

Am I good to go, or is this just simply a bad idea in the whole?

Thanks in advance for your help

Sorry, but just too much trailer for a Ranger. You’ll need a full size, just to be safe

 

[20scabstx]

You lost me at 29 ft. a solid no.

 

[SKULLZONE]

Having towed campers for about 20 years with SUV's and trucks, the longer the camper, the longer wheelbase of the tow vehicle comes into play and 29 foot is too much for a rangers short wheelbase.

The Micro Minnie 2108DS would be max I would try to get down the road safely.

I would not put anything behind my Ranger longer than 22 foot. Many people might do it, but not me and that would be with an equalizer brand hitch with built in sway control.

 

[RickyDean]

I have a 20 foot Lance travel trailer (about 5k lbs fully loaded) that I tow with my Ranger with a WD hitch. I only have about a thousand miles towing that trailer but also have thousands of miles with other trucks and trailers. With that kind of experience I WOULD NOT attempt to tow a 29 foot travel trailer with my Ranger. My truck/trailer is OK at lower speeds (55-65 mph) on roads with light traffic and no cross wind but, driving on interstates or in somewhat windy conditions is a white knuckle experience. And that’s with just 20 feet behind me. As everyone else has said, the Ranger can handle the weight just fine, it’s the “sail area” of the trailer that makes the experience very uncomfortable.
I’m not saying you can’t tow that 29 foot trailer, but I am telling you if you don’t kill yourself or some else on the road, you’ll get down and kiss the ground every time you park that rig. And your wife/SO will probably refuse to ride with you (which I suppose could be a plus).

 

[JimG_AZ]

Let them say what they want! Nothing can eliminate the effect a force of nature like wind has on a sail the size of a 20 foot plus travel trailer. Reduce, yes, ELIMINATE, NO!

Actually, it can eliminate sway, but it doesn’t eliminate the force of wind. I am not a mechanical engineer, but I to get sway, I believe you will need (1) a pivot point; and (2) you need the trailer to be moving faster than the tow vehicle. The Hensley does not allow the trailer to pivot at the hitch ball like a standard weight distributing hitch does. When both the trailer and the tow vehicle are in a straight line, they are locked together by the hitch cams. If a gust of wind or some side force occurs, both the tow vehicle and the trailer will get pushed as one. This is what makes the Hensley superior to a standard weight distributing hitch.

 

[Aonarch]

Way too long.

Get a full sized truck.

 

[Big Blue]

Actually, it can eliminate sway, but it doesn’t eliminate the force of wind. I am not a mechanical engineer, but I to get sway, I believe you will need (1) a pivot point; and (2) you need the trailer to be moving faster than the tow vehicle. The Hensley does not allow the trailer to pivot at the hitch ball like a standard weight distributing hitch does. When both the trailer and the tow vehicle are in a straight line, they are locked together by the hitch cams. If a gust of wind or some side force occurs, both the tow vehicle and the trailer will get pushed as one. This is what makes the Hensley superior to a standard weight distributing hitch.

If you re-read my post, I did not say it could not eliminate sway. I said " Nothing can eliminate the effect of a force of nature like wind on a sail the size of a 20 foot+ travel trailer." Whether the end result of that effect is sway is up for discussion, but it will have and effect and it will not be fun.

 

[JimG_AZ]

When you have been towing as long as some of us have, you learn to take manufacturers claims with a bit of "Oh Really".
Hensley's are nice, but as Blue stated, will not "eliminate" sway, and it dosen't do much more in controlling sway then a properly set up hitch with a simple sway control addition, for 25 % of the cost of a Hensley (reconditioned unit).
Most of what you read as too the ability of the hitch comes from Hensley.
Not saying their stuff isn't good, it is, but don't believe everything you hear/read.
Is it a good hitch...yes, but is it worth $3000.00 or more...that's up to the buyer.

A someone who has towed with a standard weight distributing hitch with a friction sway, an Equal-i-zer with 4-point friction sway and the Hensley, I would put my money on the Hensley in a tow test any day of the week. The add on friction sway controls are garbage. That is what I was using when I was towing 24’ Sunnybrook travel trailer with a Ford Expedition. Under normal conditions it was fine. Semi’s and strong winds induced mild to moderate trailer sway. Thankfully, we never had an issue of out of control sway. I got lucky and stumbled on a used Hensley. No more sway after that! Absolute night and day difference. That hitch was worth every penny, and because I purchased it used, I sold it for what I paid for it when I sold the trailer. Used is the way to buy a Hensley.

Actually, I wish I can kept the Hensley. A few years after I sold the Sunnybrook, I purchased a 26’ Toy Hauler. I was pulling that with a Ram 2500 and the Equal-i-zer hitch. When I put 3 ATV’s in the trailer, I had an issue with the tongue weight getting too light. I had to compensate for this by adding weight to the front storage compartment. The Equal-i-zer did it’s best, but it could not totally stop sway with that trailer. I have no doubt that the Hensley would have taken car of it. Oh, my eventual solution was to sell the bumper pull toy hauler and buy a 5th wheel toy hauler. That solved the problem!

 

[JimG_AZ]

If you re-read my post, I did not say it could not eliminate sway. I said " Nothing can eliminate the effect of a force of nature like wind on a sail the size of a 20 foot+ travel trailer." Whether the end result of that effect is sway is up for discussion, but it will have and effect and it will not be fun.

Fair enough, I stand corrected. So which situation would you rather be in:
a) The force of wind pushing your trailer sideways where it could pivot at the hitch ball.
b) the force of wind pushing your trailer and tow vehicle sideways at the same time.

Personally, I'll take b since it is much more controllable.

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