What are you guys towing?

[ctechbob]

NICE RIG! What's the weight/tongue weight? I'm looking to upgrade to a Salem FSX at around 4000/450 and not sure....

As built, our 26DJSE was 4779 Pounds which puts 600 on the tongue (Keep in mind that Forest River DOES include the weight of propane in its listed specs).

Loaded ready to go we're likely right on the 750# limit of the Ranger and probably 5500-6000#, honestly I haven't weighed the setup yet, but its on the to-do list.

I certainly don't recommend something this large as a first-timer though. It is big and you do feel the wind on the highway, however, my setup does not sway. It is rock solid up to the 80mph limit of the tires. I've tested that, and I've been towing for decades at this point, so I know what to expect.

I tow with an E2 Round bar hitch with 800# bars. Nothing gets loaded in the truck other than me, the wife, the dog, our Blackstone Tailgater, and a single rhino ramp in case I need to change a tire. Everything else is in the trailer. We also travel with about 10-15 gallons of water on-board in case the bathroom is needed.

Truck upgrades for me are simple. A little more tire pressure. Bilstein shocks in the rear, and a set of Blue Sumo Springs. Also the Redarc 'Ford' brake controller with the knob mounted to the left of my shifter.

Trailer towing upgrades are, Carlisle Radial Trail HD tires, and a Morryde CRE3000 suspension/wet bolt kit. Of course, if you're a single axle then that doesn't apply, but anyone with dual axles, I highly recommend.

--Edit-- Highly recommend the wet bolt kit for a single axle as well. The factory bushings/connectors are garbage.

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[Grumpaw]

NICE RIG! What's the weight/tongue weight? I'm looking to upgrade to a Salem FSX at around 4000/450 and not sure....

Your upgrade to the Salem at 4000/450 won't be a problem for the Ranger. We tow a 24' Jayco that comes in heavier than Shawn's Gray Wolf, bout 7000 lbs/700 lb hitch. Almost 2 years / 7500 miles without a problem.
Just be aware that even though your Salem is 4000/450, by the time your ready to hit the road, loaded up, you will probably be in the area of 5000/500, which depends on your loading. Still not a problem for the Ranger.
Like Shawn, highly recommend, if a dual axle trailer, the Morryde CRE3000 suspension kit with it's wet bolt kit. Will take a lot of the jarring/stiff ride away from the trailer.
Our rig...

 

[ctechbob]

@Grumpaw , you finally do the Morryde? I know you were looking at it.

To piggyback on what he said. I highly recommend a tandem axle trailer full stop. For some reason it seems like the single axle units are a bit more unstable these days.

 

[Grumpaw]

@Grumpaw , you finally do the Morryde? I know you were looking at it.

Yeah...got around to it. We took a trip just after you posted about your upgrading and traveled over some lousy roads...bad enough that the free standing dining table, screwed to the floor, pulled the screws out and fell, just missing the fridge.
Day after we got home, ordered the Morryde via ETrailer. Luckily, have a set of good jack stands and 2 small floor jacks. Took about 4 hours, taking my time. And, very true about the OE nylon bushings crapping out...they were all shot after only around 7000 miles of traveling...almost metal to metal.
Just returned this past Monday from a 600 mile run to the Delaware shore and back. Part of the run was going around the DC area via I-495 with lots of construction and for sh-t road surfaces. Trailer seemed to ride much smoother, and some of the stuff that usually gets knocked around, stayed in place.

 

[Simon Says]

Towing a Yamaha Jetblaster.

First time towing with the Ranger. I have zero experience doing it. I can't compare to anything else.

The Jet is only 549lbs. With the trailer it is around 750.

Didn't order the truck with the tow package. Went to the dealer to get one, they would charge me 1100-1200$ CAD plus applicable tax. Instead I have put a 320$ CAD Draw-tite aftermarket hitch that I installed myself. Can't believe the price difference.

 

[Arly]

Working on trails today. This is what I tow most days out. Ya boring.

 

[Arly]

Another and maybe a better pic. (not a photographer)

 

[Grumpaw]

Another and maybe a better pic. (not a photographer)

Is there a damper on the tailgate ???
Trailer tailgate could use a damper also.

 

[stufus]

Hauled the ATVs ~300 miles. Trailer weight was probably only ~2500 lbs but had ~1000 lbs of payload & people. Very impressed with the way the Ranger handled it - barely noticable. Averaged ~19 MPG. Was impressed with efficiency. Granted, it's a low profile load, but there was a decent amount of elevation change throughout the trip.

 

[David Schuster]

Towed my car to a Fairlane Club national meet this past weekend in Kingsport TN. First time towing with the Ranger and performed well with no issues. It does have the tow package. Engine temp gauge barely made the halfway point in 85 degrees, though I wonder how trans temp was. Anyone know if that data is a captured in computer to read with OBD plug and phone app? 1,100+ miles round trip. I'm guessing the weight at about 5,700 lbs. total. I kinda freaked the first time it went into engine braking in the mountains, everything seems normal now after unhooking it. Normally just use 87 octane gas but used premium for this trip and got almost 18 MPG.

 

[Grumpaw]

Towed my car to a Fairlane Club national meet this past weekend in Kingsport TN. First time towing with the Ranger and performed well with no issues. It does have the tow package. Engine temp gauge barely made the halfway point in 85 degrees, though I wonder how trans temp was. Anyone know if that data is a captured in computer to read with OBD plug and phone app? 1,100+ miles round trip. I'm guessing the weight at about 5,700 lbs. total. I kinda freaked the first time it went into engine braking in the mountains, everything seems normal now after unhooking it. Normally just use 87 octane gas but used premium for this trip and got almost 18 MPG.

When running solo the trans fluid temps will be very close to the coolant temps. I don't have an app. but have a Scan Gauge 3 which reads trans fluid temp, usually 195-200 degrees.
When towing, using tow mode, on longer straight runs, the trans fluid temps will again, be close to the coolant. When running up grades, the trans fluid temps will rise, especially on hot days, but will stay within 8-10 degrees of the coolant.
Our last trip towing a 7000 lb travel trailer, 85 degree temps, highest coolant was 205, and the hottest trans fluid temp read 211. But, once the top of the grade leveled out, both came down around 5 degrees.
I have found that in tow mode, and running in 7 or 8 gear, temps were actually cooler than if just left to shift up into 10 th gear. Leave the trans locked into 7 or 8...doesn't seem to lug and is more responsive.
Tow mode also has the engine breaking.... normal, and helpful on long downgrade braking and down shifting.
And, when towing a heavy trailer, always use premium/high test gas.

 

[Arly]

Ranger again at work today. Most I have ever towed with it. It was heavy!

 

[jawinner]

How much did that load weigh? I just towed my tractor, but had switched to an Aluminum trailer to make sure I was under 7000lb gvwr of the trailer. I should be around 6,500lbs in this photo - about 5,000 tractor and implements, 1,500 trailer weight. Had more power than I needed even going up steep grades. We do love our supercab.

 

[Stevedbvik1]

Maiden voyage with our new Gulfstream 24RLS. Around 6K loaded with all our crap. Pull’s good and is most comfortable around 60-63mph range. A step up for us going from a Surveyor 19BHLE that was around 4600 loaded and 5 feet shorter. Enjoying all the extra space.

 

[maxbottomtime]

Maiden voyage with our new Gulfstream 24RLS. Around 6K loaded with all our crap. Pull’s good and is most comfortable around 60-63mph range. A step up for us going from a Surveyor 19BHLE that was around 4600 loaded and 5 feet shorter. Enjoying all the extra space.

I'm sure the neighbors in F350s come over and go "you can't pull that!"

I had a fudd in an F350 tell me he had a ranger in the 90s and would never tow with one ?

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