Towing Boat

[Verdenc]

Currently in an f-150, thinking about adding a ranger to the fleet.

I store my boat about 1/2 mile from the ramp. Fuel is 2 miles down the road. All roads dead flat.

Dry weight is 5100lbs. With trailer and gear the boat is right around 7500 lbs. Loaded for offshore it might be 8000 lbs.

The ramp is very good quality and tires don't go into water. It is however a fairly steep ramp.

Does the ranger have enough power to launch and retrieve, and make short trips to gas station for an 8,000 lb boat? Or would this stress the truck too much... Thx for any thoughts.

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[Frenchy]

Put simple the Ford Ranger is rated for a maximum of 7500 lb from the factory with the tow package. Could you do 8000 lb? Maybe but I simply say it is not safe since it is not rated for that high. Does that mean you're going to listen to me? I would certainly hope so but I have no way of proving that. If the boat with load was going to be at or below 7500 lb then I would say it is okay. Since it is above 7500 lb I do not recommended whatsoever and be aware that if you were to get into an accident your insurance can deny a claim and you can get a hefty fine because you were overloaded

 

[JimG_AZ]

To get a fine you would have to be in violation of a statute. I have yet to see that a manufactures tow rating is a legal number. I also have yet to see how the manufactures derive the tow capacity. If it is going to be a legal number, there probably has to be a documented method to derive it. This is just a guess, but that tow capacity probably comes for a joint team that includes finance, marketing and engineering. So who knows about the legal aspects. What is probably a safe bet is that if something brakes while towing over the tow capacity, and Ford finds out that he exceeded the tow capacity, they will probably deny the warranty claim.

 

[towpro]

It will pull it, but can it stop it?

 

[Cabose-1]

Me personally, i would not.

Trucks got to know its limitations

 

[Pinecrestjim]

If the Ranger has the factory tow package and you have added a brake controller (the 2019 Ranger did not come with one from the factory, then
If the gross weight of your rig (trailer plus boat plus gear) is at/below 7,500# and tongue at/below 750#, AND the trailer has functioning brakes on all axles, the Ranger can handle it on normal roads.
Add a wet ramp at an unknown incline and the Ranger begins to become questionable. Even with a locking differential and 4x4, you may not be able to get that weight up and out of the water.

 

[Verdenc]

Thnx guys for the replies. I especially enjoyed the greasy frog comment! ?

I'm actually looking to add either another f-150 or a ranger and just want the optionality and it would be great to be able to keep the new truck in the garage (ranger) as keeping 2 outside will make the wife unhappy.

Interestingly, the f150 with class IV hitch only has 7,000 tow capacity unless you add tow package. And on a powerboost equipped model the package doesn't truly add much equipment wise to increase the tow capacity other than a number on the sticker. It's rather confusing.

I should add that the road between storage and ramp are all private and the drive for fuel would not be loaded for offshore. I'm primarily curious about launching and retrieving.

 

[Frenchy]

Thnx guys for the replies. I especially enjoyed the greasy frog comment! ?

I'm actually looking to add either another f-150 or a ranger and just want the optionality and it would be great to be able to keep the new truck in the garage (ranger) as keeping 2 outside will make the wife unhappy.

Interestingly, the f150 with class IV hitch only has 7,000 tow capacity unless you add tow package. And on a powerboost equipped model the package doesn't truly add much equipment wise to increase the tow capacity other than a number on the sticker. It's rather confusing.

I'm curious as to what year and configuration F150 you are talking about? If you look at the new ones the lowest is 5,000 lbs. The crew cab power boost trucks are minimum 11,000 lbs.

 

[Verdenc]

2022 lariat Screw 4x4 powerboost with tow tech package

 

[Frenchy]

2022 lariat Screw 4x4 powerboost with tow tech package

Yeah that truck has a towing capacity of 11,000 or 12,400. Not to sure what the tow tech package adds so that is for you to figure out.

 

[Cabose-1]

Thnx guys for the replies. I especially enjoyed the greasy frog comment! ?

I'm actually looking to add either another f-150 or a ranger and just want the optionality and it would be great to be able to keep the new truck in the garage (ranger) as keeping 2 outside will make the wife unhappy.

Interestingly, the f150 with class IV hitch only has 7,000 tow capacity unless you add tow package. And on a powerboost equipped model the package doesn't truly add much equipment wise to increase the tow capacity other than a number on the sticker. It's rather confusing.

I should add that the road between storage and ramp are all private and the drive for fuel would not be loaded for offshore. I'm primarily curious about launching and retrieving.

Well for my needs that is why i bought the ranger.
The max tow package just cost too much in the f150.
And between a plain jane f150 or an xlt ranger, 10k cheaper. Easy choice

 

[Frenchy]

Well for my needs that is why i bought the ranger.
The max tow package just cost too much in the f150.
And between a plain jane f150 or an xlt ranger, 10k cheaper. Easy choice

I agree with having the needs of the Ranger versus a full size truck. Also if you look at the specifications on the Ford website the towing capacity of the F-150 is much higher. It really depends on what configuration you get to what the towing capacity truly is

 

[Big Blue]

It really scares me the way everyone seems to take the published maximum tow capacity as a hard number that any Ranger can tow. Have you read all the fine print and disclaimers in the towing guide. That number is a MAXIMUM number. The actual number is based on the GCWR of the truck/trailer combination. It is arrived at using a single 150# driver and an empty bed. Not a normal situation.

The numbers that are important are the GCWR, the GVWR and the Rear AWR. The GCWR for the ranger maxes out at 12500# and goes down dependent on vehicle configuration. These are the numbers that can get you into trouble with warrantee work or liability of an accident should occur. The GVW includes the weight of the truck including all mods made along with all passengers, cargo, and tongue weight. The Rear AWR is the weight the rear axle sees with everything loaded and hooked up. This rating does not change with putting heavier springs, helper springs or airbags on.

That published tow capacity is really just an advertising number. Depending on your truck and the cargo you are planning to care, the actual trailer weight you should tow maybe much lower.

 

[Peragrin]

actually it doesn't go down. the GCVWR goes up based on configurations.

In some it is 12,250 in others it is 12,500 still in others it is 12,750.

Ford did this on purpose. to make sure every ranger can tow the full 7500 pounds. unlike every other truck out there (including other fords)

Ford adjusted the GCVWR based on factory trims and options.

It is why I went with a ranger. I knew what it could handle weight wise easily. now SQFT and wind is a different story, but hitting that max number is easy with all rangers.

Right from the ford tow guide Compared to the 4 pages for the F-150 and various options it is a breeze.

GCVWR	supercab 4x2	super cab 4x4	super crew 4x2	supercrew 4x4
12,150	7,500
12,250			7,500
12,400		7,500
12,500				7,500

 

[JasonTremor]

Dry weight is 5100lbs. With trailer and gear the boat is right around 7500 lbs. Loaded for offshore it might be 8000 lbs.

The ramp is very good quality and tires don't go into water. It is however a fairly steep ramp.

I'd love to see a pic of launching that boat with your F150 currently. A ramp steep enough to not get your tires wet intrigues me.

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